Changeling... only if you've seen it.

This weekend a few girls and I rode out the weather watching movies at my friend, Malorie's house. The main movie we watched was Changeling with Angelina Jolie. Now, the movie was great. It was very intense and emotional but an amazing movie. It's interesting that I am not blogging on the corrupt police at that time, women's rights, or kidnapped children. Those are all key issues in the movie. However, I am writing with the one character that I related to the most. There is one boy at the very very end of the movie who had escaped with the Collins boy from the house where a very bad man was keeping all the boys to be slaughtered. He comes forward to the police years later and tells them his story. He tells the officer that he and 2 other boys escaped one night and that he had been hiding out ever since. He had taken a train and lived homeless until he met a woman whom he told he was an orphan. She took him in and provided for him at a shelter with other children. When he heard the story on the radio, he was moved to finally come forth and find his real parents. Some may think it's strange that he didn't come forth sooner, especially since his parents thought he was dead the whole time. The boy tells the officer he was afraid; Fear that people wouldn't believe him about the other 2 boys and of the whole entire story. The boy's story reminded me of the Prodigal Son in the bible. 

Luke 15:11-32. 

Read it. This song is one that really reflects that parable. 

Still Calls Me Son- John Waller

I drug his name through godless places
And I've known shame that no child of his should know
I've seen pain on broken faces
Beyond all thought of hope
I was just too far from home
Still I always wondered when I closed my eyes

After all I've done
Could he run to me?
Would he kiss my face?
Could he even look at me?
After where I've been
should he take me back?
I would understand 
I've disgraced him
But it would be amazing
If he still calls me son

With nothing left for me to bring him 
I left my pride and turned my heart toward home
I saw my home on the horizon
And from a distance 
I saw my Father
Watching for his own with forgiving eyes

After all I'd done
He just ran to me
Then he kissed my face
He would not let go of me
After where I'd been
He just welcomed me 
I didn't understand 
But he put his robe on me
It was so amazing
That he still called me son

One day as I breathe my last 
And I know my days on earth have ended
When every hour is spent
I will close my eyes in amazement
And I'll hear angels 
They'll be singing 

Amazing Grace
Cause he will run to me
And he will kiss my face
He will not let go of me
After where I've been
He will welcome me 
I won't understand 
How he'll put his robe on me
It will be amazing
That he'll still call me son

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
When he calls me son 
I once was lost but now I'm found 
Cause he calls me Son

Listen to it. See if you can relate. 

The Movie- Watch it. 

Buddy Update. :)

Buddy Business!!

Here's an update on my best buddy, Emily.  The week before spring break I had a lot of tests so Emily and I weren't able to hang out. I was in Chicago all week for Spring Break but Emily and I met back up this week. On March 25, I picked Emily up from cheer around 6:45. We headed to eat dinner at a restaurant called Shakeys. It's a pizza parlor in Auburn. The restaurant allowed a portion of all they made to go to the Best Buddies Organization. It was fun to see all the other buddies again and get to spend some time with Emily. We talked and ate pizza. Chatty also came along for the night. After dinner, we went to Target so I could get a few things. I left Emily and Chatty in the car to jam out to High School Musical. When I returned, Emily was just a laughing and telling me all sorts of fun things she and Chatty did. They have so much fun together. I took Emily home around 8:15.

Today, Sunday March 29, I picked Emily up from her house around 3:30. Today was just a treat. We got to spend some time together at the Auburn softball game. Auburn played South Carolina. One of my good friends from freshman year plays for the tigers and had asked me to come. Emily and I were sitting there joking about foul balls. She said this game was real similar to the kickball she plays at camp. It was exciting because my friend pitched the 3-7th innings. It was a very relaxing time to just hang out with my sweet buddy. We had a lot of fun and really enjoyed watching Auburn. Auburn lost their game but we cheered loud anyways!! Hope you all had a great weekend!!! 

Ohh... Emily was in FL this weekend for a gym competition. She won first place, got a trophy, and got a medal. She is also in the middle of creating the dance routine for Greek Sing. She is a very busy girl. 

lyrics that change me.

Lyrics to By Your Side : Tenth Avenue North

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life(Chorus 2x)

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go

more on love

I don't have much time to blog and I can't wait to make that time to share about Chicago but here's a quick thing to share:
I'm in this period of experiencing God's love for me and what exactly that means and looks like. I was reading today in John and once again, the Holy Spirit opened my heart to another realization about the endless amount of love the Lord offers me.

John 17:26
"I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the LOVE you have for ME (Jesus) may be IN THEM and that I myself may be in them."

It's ridiculous to try to even wrap my head around the amount of love God had for His son, Jesus. If the evidence of the cross wasn't enough to astound you in love, take what this verse is saying. The love that God has for Jesus is now able to be IN each and every one of us. That's a whole lot of lovin'. If Jesus is in you today, you are loved more than anyone, anything, or any idea could offer you. You are loved by the God of the universe. I am still being reminded of this daily.

MMMMMMMM Murray

So, for SB09 I am going to Chicago to do urban outreach. We will be serving with homeless people, children, and college students.
I don't have much time to write, but here's an update.
We drove from Auburn to Murry, Kentucky today where we will stay the night. Tomorrow we will wake up and drive the rest of the way to Chicago. I'm pumped.

So Far...
-ice cream competition at the only outdoor DQ left in the states
-dead rabbit completely intact next to me on sidewalk
-all in the family games with the 20 others on the trip
-fears/embarrassing moments facts from people in my car
-meeting some great people
-sunflower seeds all the way here
-rain the ENTIRE drive
-seeing people act out famous characters
-the Korean guy was Mariah Carey and NO ONE could guess him
-homemade choc chip cookies made with cake batter
-Jason's deli stop
-booty meat engagement conversation
-getting to share life with 20 new college friends.

More to come... Stay Tuned.

on my way to never the same

I'm on my way to never the same
More different today than I was yesterday
Tomorrow again I'll continue to change
My life is in total and complete rearrange
Changed by the things my eyes have seen
As changed as the size of all my dreams 
Only the beginning, that is true
As its obvious the Lord has a lot to do
Shape me, mold me, continue to refine
Who I am is not so easy to define 
I'm over the fact that I'll never again fit in
I'm well aware that I was not created to blend
Search me, try me, Lord please purify
Take me new places, continue to be my guide
So far I've seen people with nothing, give me their best
For I was sent by their Father, so they trust He'll do the rest 
I've seen people worship with every muscle, joint, and bone
People terminally ill say they know they're not alone
I've been loved by children who hold nothing back
I've seen others who are under complete attack
Each person I see and each place that I go
Comes with a story that's meant to help me grow
So for now there's only one thing I can claim

And that's that I'm on my way to never the same

by:Blair Brendle

Biology notes...

Highlighted

"You guys are all into that born again thing, which is great. We do need to be born again, since Jesus said that to a guy named Nicodemus. But if you tell me I have to be born again to enter the kingdom of God, I can tell you that you have to sell everything you have and give it to the poor, because Jesus said that to one guy too. But I guess that's why God invented highlighters, so we can highlight the parts we like and ignore the rest."

-Rich Mullins

Emily Journal #5

    As many of you know, Auburn got blessed with a bunch of snow this weekend! I slept late on Sunday and played with my friends all day long in the snow. The day consisted of extreme snow ball fights with one another, a truck full of little boys, and some other college students who joined in. When the fighting was over, we went to Taylors for some coffee and to thaw out. Most of my friends were tired or needed to study so many of them headed home. I decided that I would use my new burst of energy from the excitement of snow to entertain my best buddy, emily. I called Emily to see what she was up to. After I listened to the many things she had done alone in the snow, I decided to go pick her up. When I got to her house, Emily showed me this "town of little snowmen" that she had made (pictured). We headed back to my house to build another. When we got to my house, we immediately began working on our snowman. My roommate, Chatty came outside to help. The three of us worked very hard to roll up the snow just perfectly for the head, body, and base. When the three strangely shaped circles were finished, we went inside to find the appropriate apparel. We decided a black and white scarf, vanilla waffer eyes, carrot mouth, cinnamon stick nose, and a sombrero. Our snowman (pictured) was awesome! Some of our friends came over with their puppy so we played in the snow with him too. After a scary snowball fight (probably a little too much excitement for Emily in one sitting), we went inside. I made everyone some hot chocolate while we sat and fellowshipped. After about an hour and a half, I decided to take Emily home. It was one of my favorite days that we have spent together. We were both full of life and excited to share this day together. Emily really loves the snow just like me and I am thankful for a stress free time together!

  

SNOW in AUBURN!?!?!

The back of my house.

The front of my house

My amazing group of friends.

My girls. 

My crazy self.

My snowball fighting.

My life.