Blogging is Contageous

Ergo, Jessica posted a new blog... Which reminded me of how painfully behind I am on my blogging.

Hmm.. What has happened since our trip to Blanco?

LIST

Clayton left for South Africa
Michael, Steven, Jessica, Kaitlin and I went to South Padre for a week
The 720 Band led worship for the Wedgwood congregation
Jessica left for Uruguay
Steven and Michael started school
Kaitlin and I moved back into DBU and started classes
The 720 Band performed it's largest set to-date (12 songs, 720 NOW.. Night of Worship)

Yikes Yikes Yikes...
Where to begin.

Padre was amazing.
We had so much fun just being able to relax and be together before we all disbanded for the next semester. Kaitlin posted a lot of details on her blog, and all of my good pictures are on Facebook. It's just so much, we were there for a week. We spent a lot of time on the beach, got sunburned, went jetskiing, slept in the middle of the day, ate a TON of food, tried our hand and boogie boarding (I stink), hung out in San Antonio and basically just spent time together.

Jessica left us.
I am sad. I can't remember a time when Jess and I weren't friends. Maybe not always BESTFRIENDS, but we've always been friends. Over the past few years we've become even closer. I was worried that when we went to school, we'd loose track of each other. But thankfully, it was the opposite. Being apart really strengthened our friendship, and when we get together again, it's like we weren't ever apart. I've always said I'm thankful that I don't have a sister, but I'm going to be cliche and say that that's not really true. I'd do anything for her, and I think she'd say the same about me.
I'm really excited that she's fulfilling one of her goals and studying abroad. I know she's going to have an amazing time, I'm just sad that I won't see her until Christmastime. But hey, we've got the rest of our lives to be BESFRANS. I'm not anticipating a few months to take away a HUGE chunk of our time. ;D

The band has been doing really great. We exposed our semi-conservative congregation to some of the college group's favorite songs. It went pretty well, we had some issues with the people in the sound booth turning Steven and Matt's volume down.. Which was sad, but I had fun.
We also did a Night of Worship last Thursday. It went really really well. God has had that on my heart for a long time. I felt that our group was really apathetic about worship, and I knew God wanted to use us to try and change that. They were really responsive and seemed to loosen up a bit and really let God speak to them.
God-willing, it will happen again.

And, of course, school's back in session.
19 hours on the schedule. So far, I'm still standing.
I like a lot of my classes, and I'm so happy to see my friends again. It's a little daunting, but the challenges of my schedule have really served to bring me closer to God. Every night as I'm doing my homework, I start to get really overwhelmed. INSTANTLY I feel the need to pray. I've been reading my Bible and writing in my prayer journal every night, something that has proved difficult for me in the past. I love it. I'm so glad that God has used this challenge to pull me closer to Him. I continually underestimate His provision.

So there's your catch-up Blog.

OH and I dyed my hair.
Haha.

Life is good. It's a constant battle and I'm emotionally exhausted by the end of the day...
But I can't even begin to count the number of ways I've been blessed.

From my journal:
"I praise You for continually using me through my broken spirit and painfully sinful,
yet perfectly saved, body.

I can do nothing to deserve You.
I can do nothing to separate myself from You.
I can do nothing but praise You.

I am increasingly unworthy of Your love for me.
I am indescribably blessed by Your grace and mercy.
Who am I that I can call myself a daughter of the King?

I am nothing. He is everything."