Embrace the Moments

Finally. I am finished with my Master's degree. Thank you to everyone for your continuous support this past year. It has been an emotionally exhausting journey.

I am finally settled into my new apartment in Alabama. I am so honored to begin the next chapter of life as the Fraternity and Sorority Advisor at The University of North Alabama. The job search process has taught me so much. First of all to be patient. Well easier said then done. I have spent so many nights praying for an answer. God where do you want me to be? Please provide a job for me. It was so hard every day sitting around and waiting for an answer, but the process only encouraged me to lean on God more not my own strength.

I encourage you to leave your worries, struggles, and doubts at God's feet. I know it is tough to do that at times. As human we want to fix everything right now. This world has taught us we can have instant gratification. The Lord teaches us to lean on Him and wait patiently. God's timing is perfect.

Today I went to a new church. Faith Church here in Florence. It was non denominational. I have always been raised in a Baptist church. I was excited at first to go, but once the music started I was a little skeptic. I got spoiled at First Hattiesburg. It is the kind of church that had everything I wanted in worship. I kept praying during the worship service for God to break down any barriers and allow me to learn something.

The sermon was entitled "Embrace the Moments". Life is not made up of memories, but of moments. Genesis 18: 1-3 If I have found favor in your eyes, my Lord, do not pass your servant by.
The student preacher had the opportunity to share this morning how God wants us to embrace the moment of Him and by doing so you will find favor with Him.

He talked about Elijah and "Elijah's spiritual boot camp" you can find the scripture in 1 Kings 17. Elijah was commanded by God to listen and obey. God called Elijah do to some crazy things in life, just like God calls you to things that are uncomfortable. We must listen and follow.

So what does God's favor look like? Psalms 103: 2-6 tells you...
God's favor is kindness, healing from sickness, love, compassion, plenty of good things, and can make you young again.

I have been so blessed in this past year. The Lord has shown me favor through education, family, a future spouse, friends, and infinite blessings.

I challenge you to embrace the moments as God is working in your life.

Psalms 84:11 The Lord God is our protector and glorious king. He blesses us with kindness and honor. The Lord freely gives every good thing to those who do what is right.

This picture is for you Tommy Horne
Keep calm and eat a cupcake ;)

Crazy Stupid Love

The past two months at First Hattiesburg the sermon series has been called Crazy Stupid Love! At first I was thinking oh yes this is going to be about relationships! Woohoo! This series has been much more than that.

It has discussed dating, engagement, marriage, how a wife should respect her husband, and how a husband should love his wife. All of these sermons were supported with scripture.

I always knew that the Bible talked about marriage/dating/etc, but never really thought much about it. I first watched a series called The New Rules of Love, Sex, and Dating. It was a series produced through a large church in Atlanta. A few of the First sermons resembled the Andy Stantley talks, but First has gone above and beyond that.

These past sermons have opened my eyes, mind and heart to the way we are suppose to handle relationships. I encourage you to read some of the scripture that clearly describes ways to have successful relationships.

Check out First Hattiesburg to watch all of the sermons!

You can be sure to visit First Hattiesburg's Facebook page for the videos there as well.

Here is a list of scripture for you...

Ephesians 5:25-29

1 Corinthians 11:3

Genesis 2:18, 21-22

1 Timothy 5:14

Titus 2:4

Eccl. 4:9

Ephesians 5: 31-32

Proverbs 31:11

Romans 12:10

Song of Solomon 1:2

Proverbs 5:18

My reasoning for this post is to share and celebrate today's date! I actually graduated from high school six years ago today. More importantly this date shares a special date for my parents... their wedding anniversary! They are celebrating 31 years of marriage.

I am so proud of them. Of course as a child you don't really see the grown up things that are occurring around you, but now as an adult I can see how difficult a marriage could be. One thing I have always told my mom is that I am so appreciative of my parents demonstrating a realistic marriage. I believe I was able to watch them set a good example for how to handle situations and deal with the crazy stupid love that they had for each other.

Congrats mom and dad on your marriage! I hope you are able to enjoy many many more years together! I love both of you so much and cannot thank you enough for being inspirational parents!

I am also excited for my very best friend to be engaged! Congrats Sara and Joel!

the fifth cup

I was extremely excited for my parents and brother to visit First Hattiesburg for Easter Sunday with me! Of course the praise band was amazing as usual and they played some of my new favorite songs. We sat down for the sermon to begin and this video played. I had no idea where it was from so I was thinking mad props to the peeps at First for making this. Well then that afternoon I looked it up on youtube. This video made such an impact on me that I wanted to share it.

Does anyone have any thoughts on "the fifth cup"?

Vegas/SEPC/Easter

This semester has honestly been a roller coaster ride. I know I say that about every semester, but it is really true. Being in a one year program (3 full semesters) our pace for class has been intense! 

This semester I have been to Vegas for a professional development conference along with interviewing for jobs! Yes, can you believe I am already job searching? I just started graduate school in August! That's the one year program for you. My dad is really excited that I will soon be employed and off the Fletcher pay roll. 

During the convention I had some great interviews and learned a lot about the professional world of student affairs. There could be something amazing that is a result of attending the conference, but I don't want to get my hopes up just yet. So please say a prayer for me that I will understand God's plan about my future and professional career. Things are happening so fast it sounds kind of funny to even say that about myself, but yep I am leaving big girl purgatory (grad school) and hitting the real world soon.

Last weekend I had another opportunity to attend one of my favorite conferences. Southeastern Panhellenic Conference (SEPC)...this conference is where it all began folks! I realized I wanted to be a part of students affairs because of this conference back in 2010! 

I had the opportunity to attend a presentation by a lady named Stacy Nadeau. She has been alumni initiated to Tri Delta Sorority. She was a fabulous speaker at the conference. Such an inspiration to women!

She was one of the six women asked to participate in the Dove campaign where they posed in their underwear without photo editing applied after. This was a campaign by Dove to promote real beauty. Stacy showed us this video during her presentation and it will seriously make you sick! Just watch.

My reasoning for sharing this video and blog post is because as women we are our worst critics! Instead of embracing our own personal beauty and celebrating it we run and hide from it. Stacy presented a great message to young college women on how to love themselves for who they are. I think Stacy is making a difference in the lives of women across America. I know she did for me.

I've just been on a women's empowerment kick lately. I think it is from Facebook's COO Sheryl Sanberg's Lean in campaign and a book I recently read for class! Well enjoy the video and Happy Easter everyone!

PS-I get to see my momma today! She is headed to Hattiesburg! So excited for my family to be here and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus!

song in my heart

Music is my everything. Before I even get out of bed in the morning I immediately sync my phone to my jawbone jam box and find something to perk me up for the day (I am NOT a morning person). This past Christmas I asked my dad for a subscription to spotify premium so I could listen without the ads. It was one of the best gifts! 

The point I am trying to make is that music sums up my life at times without me even knowing it until that glorious 'ah ha' moment! There are people and situations I can plug into songs and think wow they wrote that song directly for me, which is obviously not the case, but I like to think that anyway.

Music improves my mood and sets my day in motion. I literally could not go a day without it. 

What are you listening to lately?

I found this picture on a tumblr today so it was the inspiration for the post. Miranda is my girl! 

Check out these albums...

Nashville cast (ABC television show)

Phillip Phillips-The World from the Side of the Moon

Florida Georgia Line-Here's to Good Times

Lauren Alaina-Wildflower

Best of Wayne Toups

:) and you need to listen to the whole album! enjoy!

school days. school days. golden rule days.

School days. School days. Golden rule days!

my dad would always tell Jack and I that when he'd wake us up in the morning for school, along with...

Good morning breakfast lovers a howdy do!

Last week was the first week of school! So it was basically syllabus week, which is fine by me! All of my friends and I have been talking and we definitely soaked up as much laziness over the break as we could! Well it is back to the grind now.

This semester of classes will certainly be interesting to say the least! Many of you know I am studying student affairs, but most of you probably have no clue what student affairs means. To sum it up really quickly, this profession is to continue working with college students in all areas other than academia, such as being a professor. Well I guess there are classes that student affairs professional could teach, but that could get tricky. Admission, Greek Life, Student Activities, Residential Life, Career Services, Student Success...Anyway you get the point.

This semester my cohort has the opportunity to have a class taught by our current Vice President of Student Affairs! We are extremely excited for his class. It's on current student affairs issues. We are going to be talking and writing (A LOT OF WRITING) on all of the hot topics going on in student affairs divisions across the country! Should be a good class.

This semester I am in an Ethics and Law class for student affairs! Yikes! I am definitely nervous about this one. I know nothing about this subject. I guess that is why it is called learning...joy!

I am extremely excited about my last two classes! The American College Student (And their environments)  and Counseling and Helping skills for student affairs. These two classes are strictly focused on the student. As of now I think the counseling class will be my favorite...mostly because I am excited to share what I learn with my old roomie from NSU. She was a psych major and we loved to talk about all kinds of psych/counseling type things!

My classes are certainly going to be an experience, but what is more exciting/interesting/etc is my graduate assistantship! I have only worked one week so far, but I know it is going to be an amazing semester. I am working in the First Year Initiative Office. This office focuses on first year students through tutoring, programing, scholarships, and general support to keep them interested in Southern Miss, so they will not transfer or drop out, but will graduate from this university!

I have three areas of focus as of now, managing the tele-counseling center, managing the FYI tutoring labs, and assisting with the leadership lunch series! More on all of that later!

The semester is going to be crazy busy...so feel free to send good vibes and prayers my way!

Give Me Faith

Saturday I left Bunkie for Hattiesburg. I wanted to be back at my own apartment, sleep in my "college bed", and wake up and attend church on Sunday. I am so glad that I did. Being back in Hattiesburg has been much more quiet than Bunkie.  There's not four different TVs on at the same time, someone always in the kitchen, two cats running around or old friends walking through the door.
Sunday's service was amazing. Just what I needed to recharge. Don't get me wrong I loved being home for the holidays, but I missed First Hattiesburg. The last song of the worship service I wanted to share with you all.  The words ring true to so much right now in my life and I hope it can help any of you in some way.
"give me faith to trust what you say"....easier said than done right? This is always so tough for me. I always want to put matters into my own hands and that simply will not get me anywhere. "I may be weak, but you're spirit's strong in me"...I love this line. I'm not really big on new year's resolutions, but I am going to make a more conscious effort to know that I do not have to do it alone. I don't go through school alone, or study alone, or make friends alone, or overcome struggles alone. God is always right there. I just forget sometimes! "my flesh may fail, but God you never will"....how true is this!? 
Perfect example: I have been bummed out about starting my second semester without a graduate assistantship. Most of my classmates and friends all have positions on campus. Not only does this position help them financially, but with experience upon graduation. I've talked to my parents about it so many times trying to understand why I had not been able to get a position. Finally we chalked it up to that it was just not meant to be for the fall semester. God had other plans for me. I needed to focus on school and get settled. I did not realize how big of a transition this would be. Entering college as a freshman was a piece of cake for me! Entering graduate school WAS NOT a piece of cake! In the middle of the semester I adjusted well and learned how to be a student again ( a more prepared/engaged/active student). At the end of the fall semester I sent out emails to multiple people and departments about possible opportunities. No luck. So I figured well I guess I need to focus on just school again this semester.
Well folks today God did not fail me. I am excited to say I was offered a graduate assistantship in the FYI Office (First Year Initiative). This office works with new students and the orientation programs in the summer! I am so excited/happy/blessed. Things work out the way they should. The way God wants them to work out. He knows what is best.

So if any of you are kind of stuck in that "New Year rut" just have faith. Something will happen at the right time the way God wants it to happen for your life. Just surrender to him. 

Remember he loves you...all of you...just the way you are!

These are the lyrics to the song. It is called Give me Faith by Elevation Worship.
I need you to soften my heartTo break me apartI need you to open my eyesTo see that You're shaping my life
Pre Chorus:All I am,I surrender

Chorus:Give me faith to trust what you sayThat you're good and your love is greatI'm broken inside, I give you my life

Verse 2:
I need you to soften my heartTo break me apartI need you pierce through the darkAnd cleanse every part of me

Chorus

Bridge:I may be weakYour spirit strong in meMy flesh may failMy God you never will (repeat)