Spring Breakin

Hello,
Spring break was utterly amazing!!
God is so good and He works in the most mysterious ways!
I went on the cross trip trying to expand my horizons and meet more people. Honestly I went for selfish reasons. I wasn't thinking about the people we were going to minister. Instead I was thinking about ministering to myself. Hoping to get my name out there so that later down the road it my benefit me more. I thought really all I was going to get out of the trip was some new friends, maybe, if I was lucky. I walked away with so much more. I needed this trip more than I realized. It was a beautiful time for me to get away and just bask in God's presence. He used that time to open my eyes and heart to things about myself. To how I was doing with friends in college...and how I was doing with him. I realized how much I missed being in a community like the one we formed on the trip. It was so nice to worship every night and then spend the whole day just serving. The church we stayed at had the prettiest prayer chapel. It was in between two lakes and the building had windows all around it. Inside there was chairs all circled around this huge cross with an alter beneath it. It was breath taking to go up there at sunset and just spend hours praying and just reflecting on His beauty. 


During the day we worked on 8 different houses doing various tasks such as painting, roofing, new screen doors, yard work..etc. It was hard work some days but it was fun! I learned how to do some roofing lol. We also had projects out at the boys and girls club and a homeless shelter and the toy shop!. Then at night we would have dinner at a different church every night and then head back to the church for worship and small group time. I got so close to my small group. It is funny how you can get to know such a small group of people so quickly. I'm glad God placed margaret into my life to place the seed of going on this trip in my brain. It really was what I needed and then some. 


This week is utterly ridiculous!! I gots 2 papers, 3 exams, 1 quiz, 1 project, and 1 lab report! Yet, as I sit back and carefully plan my days out it is getting less stressful and easier to deal with. I'm making my way through this week and this time next week I am going to be happy!! Well thats an update from the life of abby...no pictures because of this silly new facebook picture thing :/

I LOVE MY FAMILY!!

If you haven't caught on by now, I'm sorry, but I AM UTTERLY IN LOVE WITH MY FAMILY!! Seriously I wouldn't trade them for anything. I have the best parents in the whole wide world! It surprises me every day how well they did in raising me. Seriously, mom dad, you guys knew what you were doing lol. Its soo annoying I'm realizing that all those rules I hate..I now love that I learned them. It's funny how you don't realize what those rules are for when you have them but once they are gone you love them! I have the best little sisters any girl could ask for! Seriously they are all so unique and different but we all have the best times together! My brothers aren't to bad either! I love having a big family! I have had so many different experiencing that many other people will never get to experience and all I had to do was be born into it! :D!! I love you family!! 


It has been raining NON stop!! I legit don't have hair I just have a head of frizz...I don't think there is a defined curl on my head right now! It really isn't cool at all! One more day till Spring break!! Where I will hopefully be friendly and making myself meet tons of new people! I hope you are having a great day and If not make it better!!!

Dance for yourself, if someone understands good. If not then no matter, go right on doing what you love.

Hewwwwooooooo!!!
So this weekend was crazy!! It was boxing weekend, which is where the frats have at in a boxing tournament. All the proceeds' go to charity who would've guessed, violence=charity :/? Anyways, it's a pretty big deal and people from all over come out. Seriously I feel like half my graduated class came up here. So I really didn't sleep much lol. I also participated in the Library Fun Run with Freshman council this weekend. Although it was at 630 in the morning I had a lot of fun! I got to say "On your mark, Get set, GO" and shoot a gun! Then me and courtney made up a nice little cheer to yell at the runners as they passed by! It went something like "go runners, Go Runners, its your fun run".... I know aren't we such clever little princesses!

          So that was the weekend....This week is a really light week for me...I feel like everyone else is dying from their midterms but I fortunately am not all! So hopefully I can catch up on some sleep and prepare for next week! I'm really nervous about the cross trip. I know I shouldn't be and I know that everything is going to work out like it is suppose too...BUT i'm nervous. I am trying to give it over and be at peace with it. I was beginning to really regret my decision cause I wanted to go home and honestly the beach would be soo much more comfortable for me. I realize thats why I am so scared of the cross trip, it's not my comfort zone at all. I am placing myself in an environment where I really don't know that many people at all....and I don't do well with that at all. I love meeting new people, but the initial putting yourself out there is always the hardest part. Alas, I really think this week is going to be good for me. So i'm getting excited. I think me and Amber are going to go to goodwill and get some fun shirts that we can get all dirty!!

         I miss the family but I will try and sneak home and see them soon. Now I shall tackle some more homework. Remember that God has created you with a purpose. Don't miss out on the life He has given you. So go out and dance!

Home is where your heart is

Missin' Me Some Memphis!

Awww Hey Diaper Bestie!

Can't leave out Jackson Either!!

Well If it isn't obvious...I'm getting homesick :(! It has been 54 days since I was in the 901. I'm feeling it.... And yet I signed up to go on a mission trip over spring break instead of seeing the fam....But I'm learning to grow up and as my wonderful daddy said tonight. Growing up has growing pains but butterflies sure are pretty and they can FLY!! So I'm trying to learn to handle it on my own but boy do I sure miss home! 

I miss ya Mom, Dad, Lizzie, Anna, Emma, Peter, Aidan, AND Thomas.....

Miss me too!  

Boots + Owls + Puddles = !!OWL RAIN BOOTS!!

It is Monsooning outside!

I had a glorious weekend! I kinda had a cold so i literally just slept all weekend! It was some much needed sleep yet I really wasn't productive and didn't study as much as I should have for my psyc test :(... I feel like I have really been slacking in studying recently...Which is soo bad I need to get my life back in order! I Love the rain but today it is not raining it is flooding! Seriously it is impossible to stay dry! It really makes me want to curl up in my bed and take a nap! Which for the first time in a long while I actually could if I wanted too. But I am making myself be somewhat productive and working out! Spring break is right around the corner. Which I am soo indecisive about...well I'm always indecisive but seriously I can't make up my mind. Recently though I am really leaning to going on the Cross trip. It would be a great service project and also allow me to meet a lot of people and get more involved. I'm realizing that Chi O would be so much better with a best friend in it with me.

                      Which leads me a really controversial subject of college: Drinking.

It is weird to be around something so much that is illegal for the majority of the people doing it. It gets really confusing on what is right and wrong. Well not really it just makes sticking to what is right harder when everyone around  you is drinking. Now I am not a fan of drinking when it is legal either. I just don't like it. Never have. Part of that is how I raised and the rest is from my own experiences with it. Not that I can say I have personally experienced the effects of alcohol but i've seen the effects on those close to me. So for those of you experiencing the same thing or anticipating going to college. It's hard. It's not fun being one of the few that doesn't drink. I'm not going to lie. It gets really weary after a while. You can't ever be in the big circle of "Cool" people just because you won't have that to bond over with them. It makes sense. I'm not going to be besties with people who party 24/7 because I'm not like that. But just realize when you come to college, not drinking will set you apart. Not that I am encouraging you to give up now and just give in to drinking because everyone else is. I just wanted to get off my chest how much of a struggle it really is. It really isn't a struggle of drinking or not for me. Like I could never touch an alcoholic beverage and be fine  for the rest of my life. Its more of a struggle of not being as accepted as easily as many people around me. It is almost like I have to work harder for people to like me just because its almost like an automatic turn away because i guess they feel like you will judge or feel uncomfortable around them. I promise I will never judge someone for their decisions on drinking or not. I'm just here to spread the Love of my Christ and Savior. Not spread condemnation.

                 Such a random speal I know....I haven't been doing the best of spreading the love of my Savior. I feel like recently I've stepped into that mediocrity routine that I get caught up in so many times. I don't like it and I am trying to change it! I joined a bible study and I really enjoy it. We are reading a book called "the me I want to be". It is about becoming the best person God made you to be. It is really good and I encourage you to read it!

               Well, I'm going to go do some yoga with some RUF girls and try and branch out more to the people around me. Say a prayer for me that I continue to become the person God wants me to be. That I stop and listen to His quiet voice. Finally that I continue to force myself to meet more people.

xoxo

"Chase down your Passion Like it is the Last bus of the Night"

Oh My where to even begin!

   Second semester has been soo crazy! I can't believe it is almost march already and in two weeks is spring break, and that means half of the semester is over! First year of college flying bye!! The past like what two months that I haven't written have been crazy! Filled with tons of school work, working with the best campaign REACH!, freshman council, A billion interviews, RA class, Chi O, and social functions! Since I'm so far behind how about some pictures to catch you up...They do say A picture is worth a thousand words right...

Just chilling with some Chi O sistas!!!

 This is the DTD date party! The theme was "I'm Glad I'm Not..." Me and my date Walker went as nerd, obviously! It was a whole lot of fun! I finally achieved my goal of being asked to a date party. But honestly I'm good now. Not that I don't like date parties, I love them. It is just now I understand why I am not first choice on getting invited to them...Let's just say I am not your typically sorority girl...

Aren't we such cute little nerds!

<---- I love this picture! That is me and Aaron Bush, he is pretty much my bffl guy friend here at UT. It is just an epic picture!

 Taylor, Paige, and I went hiking last weekend. It was soo amazing! Look at that view! I love being this close to the mountains and when it starts getting cooler I am seriously going hiking every weekend! It was just so refreshing to walk in the mountains and then have a sweet little bible study when we got to the top. I really want to climb the chimney tops before march is over! I am so thankful for the friends God has placed into my life. They are such a blessing!

I made it to the RA class!! Which means I will hopefully, most likely be an RA next year! I am sooo excited and really nervous at the same time. It would be such a blessing and fun opportunity to be an RA. So keep the prayers coming and your fingers crossed. 

Okay it is another gorgeous saturday afternoon in Knoxville so I am going to go out and interact with the world!  I promise to try and keep up better next week!

xoxo

You've Got A Friend In Me

Wow! I'm sorry I haven't wanted to write in a while.
You know when you have a lot on your mind and you just don't want to write...Well actually a lot of people like to write when they have a lot on their mind. But I personally don't try and think about things when I have a lot to think about. I like to avoid it so I don't write lol. Also i have been sooooo busy!! It has been ridiculous...two date parties...campaign retreat...campaign in general...hiking...tons of school work...lack of sleep!

It HAS BEEN A CRAZY 2 WEEKS!!!
But I don't have time to write you a long message about everything that has been going on. but Im still alive and I am really doing well! Loving everything!

Will write soon,
xoxo