Blue-Eyed Breather

1. I'm thankful for my wonderful Mom, who drove five hours to Tyler and five hours back home, picking me up and dropping me off in Waco, to take me to a doctor's appointment. She is always willing to go above and beyond to serve me, and I am so grateful for such a sweet, caring, loving mom. My mom is the best, and I am reminder of how great she is every day! 2. I'm very grateful for movie nights with my best friend and roommate. On Tuesday, we didn't have much to do, so we decided to watch Harry Potter 5. I love spending time with my roommate. We are so comfortable around each other, and I know I can rely on her to be there for me. We have had so much fun this semester! She is probably one of the most awesome people I have ever met, and I'm grateful for the time I get to spend with her. 3. I'm thankful for the Baylor tradition of Christmas on 5th street. At the event, there is a petting zoo, a stage where multiple bands perform, a tent set up with Christmas ...

Even though it's only November 26, the Christmas season has begun. A short walk through any sort of shopping area and you see busy buyers, rampaging the store's shelves in search of this or that gift that Johnny or Susie just have to get for Christmas. Public places are decorated with festive lights and Christmas trees. The weather hasn't caught the seasonal memo, but everything else is pretty much on board to celebrate the holiday season. Christmas is such a fun time. For starters, it is a celebration of the birth of the King of kings and Lord of lords. What a cause for jubilation! Secondly, Christmas is a time to enjoy family and friends and a time to show love to others. I love finding the perfect gift for the precious people in my life and watch them smile as they open their presents. It brings me joy to make them happy! Thirdly, although I always have to have a course of IV antibiotics over the holidays, I don't have to worry about school work, deadlines, or tests....

God. Wonderful family Amazing friends. Highland Baptist Church Citizenship in the United States Music Technology the Vest All other treatment equipment The ability to learn A good book Jesus's gift of salvation Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Good grades Sunshine Rain Games Love Hope Faith Good deeds Direction of the Holy Spirit A sweet smile Texting Birthdays Holidays Baking Caring professors The show, Parenthood Photography Basketball Football Dancing Singing Blogging Life Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

It was bound to happen--I was "due " for a lung infection after being relatively healthy all semester. I was just waiting for CF to pounce. I'm just glad I didn't get the infection until right before break so I didn't feel miserable in the middle of classes. My lungs are suffering from upper respiratory problems. The sickness came on fast and furious--one moment, I was enjoying another spiritually challenging Sunday service, praising Jesus with my fellow believers, and the next, I felt like I was about to pass out, stop breathing, lose the ability to focus, or experience all the above at the same time. My blood pressure was low (but that's common for me), my pulse was high, and Advil would not make my headache go away. During my breathing treatment Sunday night, my sputum was pretty disgusting, and I'm pretty sure I coughed up a plug or two. To top it all off, I crashed around 8:30 last night and went to bed around 9. After some much needed rest, I...

Hey you. Yeah, you. Jesus is praying for you. Whether you're stressed about school, your future, your boyfriend/girlfriend (or lack thereof), projects, finals, sickness, family, or anything in between, you have access to the greatest source of comfort that there is. In this time of stress and anxiety, Jesus is praying specifically for you to stand firm in the faith. Here's what's mind blowing to me--He knows we will betray Him, yet He continues to intercede on our behalf. Jesus is outside the limitations of time; therefore, He knows all things past, present, and future. He knows when you're going to follow Him and when you're going to disobey His commandments. Yet He still loves you and wants to intimately provide for you through prayer. Jesus is for you, friend! No matter how many times you betray Him or turn away from His will, He will never let you go.

I have a very serious question for you. What does it feel like to be able to breathe? I'm not talking about breathing just well enough to get oxygen to your brain and internal organs. I'm talking about being able to get from class to class without huffing and puffing. I'm talking about exercising without getting winded within a minute. I'm talking about not feeling constricted when you take a normal breath. I'm talking about being able to take a hot shower and not feel like your lungs are slowly closing up the longer you stay in the steam. What's it like? You see, for me, it's normal to have to spend the first few minutes of class catching my breath (granted, if I didn't speed walk to class, I might be able to breathe easier). It's normal for the tiniest bit of exercise to be hard work. It's not unusual for me to feel the limits of my lung capacity as I'm sitting reading a book or trying to relax. It's common for me to come out of...

1. Thanksgiving is exactly one week away! I love Thanksgiving. It is probably my favorite holiday. There are no expectations of receiving presents or getting lots of candy that come along with the holiday--it is simply a day to be thankful. Although we should count our blessings every day, not just once a year, I think it is really special that over the Thanksgiving holiday, we set aside time specifically to just think about all God has blessed us with and celebrate His goodness. 2. I am so thankful for an open note, open book test every once in awhile. I have one today, and I feel like I haven't had to stress about it at all. I feel confident in my knowledge in this class, especially now that we get to use our notes. If I do say so myself, I'm a pretty great notetaker! ;) 3. I'm thankful for the ability to learn. I love learning so much! There's nothing quite like absorbing new information. I cannot imagine not being able to learn and grow as a person. I'm than...

The past few weeks at church, my pastor has been going through a sermon series entitled "Roots." In it, he described six truths about doctrine that we as believers must hold on to and keep fresh in our minds. Storms of life sometimes have the kind of impact to knock the wind out of us, leaving us so breathless that all we can do is cling to what we know to be true about God. It is essential, therefore, that our foundation be firm before these times of sorrow and grief come upon us. The six roots are as follows: 1. The Bible is entirely reliable and spiritually medicinal.--Hebrews 4:12 2. Nothing is random. God is the gatekeeper of every event of my life. He has good purposes in mind, and He is worthy of my trust.--Romans 8:28 3. God sent Jesus to buy my freedom so I could be permanently adopted as His child. I am obligated to enjoy God as my Father while He loves me, leads me, and raises me in grace.--Galatians 4:4-7 4. I believe there is only one true God, and salvat...

Little things that make me smile: Seeing the sun peep from behind the clouds. A text from a friend saying he/she is thinking of me. Reading the Bible. Waking up before my alarm. Signing loudly, without caring who's listening. Hot chocolate. Seeing things fall into place. Loving on people. Giving people gifts for no reason at all. A Capella music. When someone surprises me with a simple act of service. Receiving an A in a class. Laughter. Skyping with a friend/family member. Being thankful. Catching someone smiling to themselves. Seeing God's awesome hand at work.

Two weeks from today, I turn 20 years old. Twenty?? Two decades? Ten times two? Two-Zero? Why does that feel so strange to me? For one, I will never be a teenager again. The teenage years are so unique--from going through puberty, to trying to form lasting relationships, to discovering who you are and who you are going to be. Teenagers experience many ups and downs, a roller coaster ride that is unlike any other in life. Somehow, it's hard to believe that I'm almost "off" that roller coaster, at least according to my age. In addition, I don't really feel old enough to be twenty. Being twenty means I am almost an "actual" adult. I am almost old enough to live completely on my own, paying my own bills, working a steady job, choosing what I want to spend money on and what I want to save towards. I am almost to the point where I must take responsibility for all my actions, decisions, and choices. Although my parents will always play a significant role in...

If you've been on Facebook, twitter, or any news website, you've seen political opinions posted EVERYWHERE. There's no escaping it. Finally, we have a president elected for the next four years. Does that mean we can escape the nasty, cruel political posts many people feel obligated to share? Of course not. Why is it that politics have become so emotionally charged, leaving a trail of hurt and discord along the way? People care deeply about certain issues in government that are being discussed today, like gay marriage, abortion, economic issues, and foreign affairs. The parties are so divided and focused on their own opinions, all active listening skills and knowledge about conflict resolution have gone out the window. Granted, it's good to form solid opinions and stick by them. However, I detest that politics have become a blame game, with each side refusing to engage the other in meaningful conversation but instead pointing fingers and acting like immature adults. No...

1. BU Homecoming is one of the most unique traditions at Baylor. It's a HUGE deal. Not only do the alumni come back to go to the football game, but there's also a pep rally, bonfire, parade, and multiple performances from student organizations. I love homecoming weekend because it is so special to Baylor. All those who graduated from Baylor in the past, present, and even those who will graduate in the future are one big family, and I love being a part of that. 2. It's November, aka my birthday month! November is one of my favorite months, probably because of Thanksgiving (which is my favorite holiday). It's hard to believe that it's already November again, but the calendar doesn't lie! 3. I am so grateful to live in a democratic nation that encourages citizen participation. Think for a second how much different your life would be in a dictatorship or another authoritarian government--we wouldn't have nearly the same rights aswe do today. I sent in my ab...