Day 6- Undone

Sorry If you're getting sick of these hair pics but I think its fun, so hang in there. There is just something so great about the messy bun.

College.
It's really almost over.
5 finals left
4 pages to write on my last paper
3 groups of family coming
2 straight days of crying ahead
1 diploma

This is how if feels at the end of four years
Writing the last paragraphs of this chapter
Anticipating the writing of the next

Day 5- Flower Child

All I did was take the sides of my hair and make two braids on each side. then I just bobby pinned them together in the back. Just a fun boho chic look.

Day 4- Bow tied

The day after the concert I was EXHAUSTED so I didn't do ANYTHING to my hair. That day doesn't count. I picked back up today. Here ya go:

Day 3- concert day

Day 3 was the same day as the Needtobreathe show. So, of course I wanted to look nice, since I was going to be with the band all day and speaking in front of a full house (950 people). I didn't have time to take a shot just of my hair so here is a picture from the day. One that kinda shows the front and then one of the back:

I can finally breathe

Cheesy title? Yes. But I don't care

Monday night we finally had the Needtobreathe concert that was supposed to happen back in January. Now, I am so glad it got postponed. It could not have been more perfect. The weather was great (just a little rain in the afternoon, after they had already loaded in). I was so blessed to have been able to be in charge of this show, and that it sold out!!

They arrived around 11:30 and then the crazy day started. The guys were SO great all day. Super flexible and understanding. It was really neat to have David there ( David went to JBU and was the lead singer in the band Jackson Waters, he now plays keys for Needtobreathe.) He had lots of stories from when he went here, and he understood how it was to be a student here so we had our own little bond because of that.

The day really could not have gone better. My BLUE team showed up on time and pretty much ran all the tickets and lines and doors on their own. I have been beyond blessed with such a great team this year. We had a sold out show. The guys put on an INCREDIBLE show. People had a great time. It was perfect.

I got a little emotional. At the beginning of the show I looked around at the full house, then back at the guys playing. It all hit me at once. I did this, all that hard work produced this perfect night. I just started to cry. Happy tears. I love my job. I feel like I'm in my element, that this is right. I really feel like this is the industry I was made to be in. I feel comfortable in it. I feel like I belong. It's like I'm home. I can't fully put into words what I felt that night.

Here are a few pics from the day:

"Something Beautiful"

Me introducing the guys

My parents got to come! It was really great that we worked it out for them to meet the guys

Me and Seth, the bass player.

Father/Daughter love

Day 2

I wasn't a huge fan of this one. But I thought I'd give it a try. It's still not my favorite.

Just say the words, and we'll beat the birds

Last night was Jr/Sr Banquet. It was held at an old airplane hanger. The theme was "Come Fly Away". There was swing dancing, and horrible food, and a live Big Band. Michael came to take me. So, we got all dolled up and went out. It turned out to be a really emotional night for me. My last JBU event with all these people. I can't believe it's been 4 years since I first came to JBU. It's flown by and I have been beyond blessed with incredible friends.

Adam has been my friend since freshman year. I love this boy, and am so thankful for his friendship. He's been there since the beginning.

Michael came all the way down from Norman to take me to this thing. So thankful for him as well.

Danielle has been my boss this last year on Student Activities. She has kept me sane through the craziness of learning how to be a director and juggle all the details that come with planning concerts. I'm so glad I had the chance to really get to know this woman this year.

Haley. This wonderful girl can make me laugh on the spot. Even when there is nothing to laugh about. She brings so much joy to every situation. I am going to miss her beyond belief.

Now, I've gone and made myself all emotional again. So here is where I leave you.

Day 1- Come Fly With Me

Yesterday was the first day of this hair dare. It was Jr/Sr so I didn't do much with myself till that night. Here is what I came up with.

30 Day Hair Dare

I got inspired from an article I read online to do this "hair dare". Lately I have been in a funk with my hair. I wear it basically the same way everyday, which isn't a bad thing, but I thought it would be fun to take this little challenge.

Things in my life are about to MAJORLY change, so why not change my hair with it!

I kind of feel like Julia in "Julie and Julia", but with hair. And less intense.

So, I will be trying a new hair do "everyday" for 30 days. (Give or take a few days, since there will be some major packing and unpacking and "summering" happening soon I can't promise EVERY DAY I'll try something new, but I WILL try!)

I'll post a picture for every day so you can see the styles (whether you really care or not :))

Tomorrow is day 1!!

This should be fun!

To copy Grace, I had a photo shoot a couple weeks ago for Graduation announcements. Here are a few....
It was kinda awkward at first but once we warmed up to each other it was kinda fun

Lately she found herself missing that summer. She thought about it all the time.
She wasn't exactly sure why.
No, she knew exactly why. There were many reasons.
Some that made her smile, some that made her cry.
But this she knew, without a doubt.
There is a bond created with those she grew to love that summer.
One that those on the outside will never understand.
One that will never fade or weaken.
When you are a part of something that changes your life
Those that are changed beside you, with you, that experience those experiences, again that those on the out side will never understand, are a part of you somehow.

She loved this. It was her favorite part of remembering.
Sometimes it was painful
More often it brought her joy, tremendous joy.

She also knew she could never return.
Not in the way she had before.

All we have are instants

and they do not last forever

but the feelings they create can

we can hold them prisoner

or set them free....

Nash Town

I love this song. It makes me smile and miss the place I will one day call home.

Crazy Town - Jason Aldean

Exposed

Ok, It's time to get honest, vulnerable, transparent....

One of the biggest things I struggle with is physical appearance/beauty. I worry about it too much. I always check myself in the mirror or window when I walk by to make sure everything is in place.. I am not proud of this. In fact, it's hard for me to write it because I have always thought that, that was one way I was unique, that I didn't care as much as other girls. And that may be true to a degree, but I still let it control me a lot of the time. I am always worried about how others perceive me, what they think when they see me or what comes to their head when they think of me.

Lately I have been trying to free myself of that burden. That, "What does everyone think of me. I hope they like me. I don't want to look dumb" burden. I have been trying to let loose and let go of that fear.

Well, the next step is my personal physical appearance. It's a small step. But you have to take small steps if your ever really going to accomplish something..

The thing I am going to do, at least until graduation day, is to stop wearing make up. To let myself be "beautiful" as me. Just me, exactly how I am. I've been doing it for the past 2 days and I have to say I kinda love it. Not only does it save time in the morning but I do not have to worry about how my make up looks, if my eye liner is smeared etc all day.

It's not all easy though. It is definitely hard for me, it's denying myself. That part of me that tries to hide the fact that I, like a lot of girls, struggle with seeing the beauty in myself. I'm trying to see the beauty in who I am, every aspect, inside and out. It's a little personal journey I'm going on.

I don't want to look at this as a "self improvement effort"

It's much more of a letting go process, a letting the real me out journey.

And the Birds Sing

Today was one of those perfect days. When nothing hugely significant happens but everything thing is just how it should be.
-I went the entire day without shoes to support a great cause and it was great to have an excuse to be a hippie.
-The weather was absolutely beautiful.
-My Communication Law class was canceled so I got to eat lunch at a normal hour.
-We are sold out for our Needtobreathe show happening later this month. That's 1000 people. 1000!!!!
-In my school mailbox I got both a package AND two muffins from my old roomie Hannah, and $5 from a friend.
-As soon as I got home Lisa and Karissa walked in and we went straight to the park to lay on blankets and talk and laugh and nap.
-I ended my evening in Fayetteville watching my of my dear friends and best friend's husband Adam open for one of his favorite worship bands called The Ember Days. He did great!

The Ember days is a band that is part of an organization that gives all their music away for free. They believe that worship music should be available to anyone who wants it, whenever they want it. They have committed to spreading the gospel and living simply so that it is available to all. Check them out here and here

I love days like these. God always seems so very close.

"

to let go isn't to forget,

not to think about, or ignore.

it doesn't leave feelings of anger,

jealousy, or regret.

letting go isn't about winning or losing.

it's not about pride

and it's not about how you appear,

and it's not about obsessing or dwelling on the past.

letting go isn't blocking memories

or sinking sad thoughts,

and doesn't leave emptiness, hurt, or sadness.

it's not about giving in or giving up.

letting go isn't about loss and it's not about defeat.

to let go is to cherish the memories,

but to overcome and move on.

it is having an open mind

and confidence in the future.

letting go is learning and experiencing and growing.

to let go is to be thankful for the experiences that

made you laugh, made you cry, made you grow.

it's about all that you have, all that you had,

and all that you will soon gain.

letting go is having the courage to accept change,

and the strength to keep moving.

letting go is growing up.

it is realizing that the heart can sometimes

be the most potent remedy.

to let go is to open a door,

and to clear a path and set yourself free. "

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