It's Graduation Day! || Blessed to be a Baylor Bear

Four years. Four short years have positively flown by! Somewhere between 10:00-11:30am I will walk the stage and become a Baylor alum. I will have received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance and officially be a college graduate. Wow! They weren't kidding when they said your college years are the best and most transformative of your life! So far, they have been.

When I think about Baylor, the word THANKFUL immediately comes to mind. This school has been such a blessing and has opened so many doors for my future. At Baylor, I have been refined. My mind has been opened, the dreams of my heart revealed, and I have found friendships I know will last a lifetime. I have learned that God is the ultimate Comforter, Healer, Best Friend, Love, and Satisfaction. I have been thoroughly convinced that theatre is powerful and can be used to share the gospel and to point people to the deep questions of life. I have been taught the value of surrounding yourself with an encouraging community, and that it is vital to travel and be exposed to more of the world as often as possible. I have been forever impacted and changed by these last four years, and I wouldn't change a second of it!

Congrats to everyone graduating this month! In the words of Elle Woods, "We did it!"

Graduation Countdown || The Value of Community

I graduate in two days. TWO DAYS. Saturday morning I will don my cap and gown and walk across that stage completing my four years at Baylor University. If you had told me --which plenty of people did-- that college would fly by as fast as it did, I'd have brushed you off back then but allowed you an "I told you so" today. One of these days I'll hit the highlights from the past four years I'm not ready to cry yet ;)

Two weekends ago my friend Cameron and my roommates threw me a graduation party. These girls have such a special place in my heart! I came home from a picnic to find them carrying the living room furniture into our front yard under the shade of the trees. It was perfect! The weather was gorgeous, the breeze just right, and they had some of my favorite foods for everyone to share. So many sweet people came from both my church community and the theatre department. I felt so loved!

I am so blessed to know these men and women! They love Jesus and love me so well! I have never met a group of people that show God's kindness and compassion as well as they do. And they're so thoughtful! They had me sit on my "throne" and went around the circle encouraging me and saying what they loved about me. I thought my heart might burst! I don't want to leave them behind.

At the end of the party, they also asked me to share how could they pray for me in the coming months, and I thought I'd share this with you as well.

1. Grace in transition. One season of my life is coming to an end and another is beginning. Please pray for peace and grace to embrace where I'm at, enjoy today, and trust God with tomorrow. He has provided in the past and will provide in the future, and I know this door is one He's opened for me.

2. Deep friendships & community. Being surrounded by a positive, uplifting, encouraging community of friends and mentors has made all the difference these past four years. I'm moving to a city where I know so few people and am having to start from square one. Please pray that the friendships I find will be solid and encouraging, and sooner rather than later. I believe God answers even the smallest and most specific prayers, and I'm asking for friendships this summer.

3. Clarity of dreams & passions. I firmly believe this next year (and beyond!) are meant to be a time to find which dream He's given me that He wants me to chase. There are so many things I'm passionate about and want to pursue, but they head in every different direction. Some of them seem to run the same course, but I want to go after the one He wants for me. Please pray for continued surrender of my dreams and the courage to run hard after whichever one will bring Him most glory and follow His plan.

Community is something I so value, and the blogging community is one I have also come to love! You ladies have been so sweet and supportive. I'd greatly appreciate each of you. And I don't want to lose touch! I've heard rumors that Google Friend Connect disappears this summer, so I've added a link to where you can follow me on Bloglovin. I've used that site for quite some time to follow my favorite blogs and I highly recommend it!

Every Day in May: Better Late than Never

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I'm jumping late on the train of the link party happening at Story of My Life, but I love the idea! Blogging every day is something I struggle with, but also don't want to feel confined to. This challenge supplies prompts as well as a new community to meet and mingle with. Let's jump in halfway through, shall we?

Ten Things that Make Me Really Happy
1. Quiet Time. I like to call myself an extroverted introvert. I need alone time to recharge and relax frequently, but I also thrive on a busy schedule. I try to take extended time in the morning to do a devotional and spend time with Jesus, as well as leave time to nap in the afternoon or read a good book. My room is my retreat and I love to do many things alone.
2. Words of Affirmation. This is one of my top two love languages (along with gifts) that I love, love, love to receive! A thoughtful word of encouragement, written or verbal, can make and change my day altogether. It really speaks to my soul and warms my heart!
3. Cute Stationery. The Paper Source is one of my happy places. I love fresh journals, new pens, sticky notes, and thank you cards. I so dearly wanted a pen pal growing up and I adore beautiful handwriting!
4. White flowers. I love how crisp and clean white blooms are and make me feel. Especially white tulips and peonies, roses too. When in doubt, go with white!
5. Anthropologie Displays. Don't they make you swoon? I am fascinated by the displays every time I come into the store. A dream job would be to be a display coordinator or at least intern someday. Such a unique vibe! It is the biggest inspiration for my future home.
6. Shakespeare. I am making it my goal this summer to re-read his plays and see as many productions as I can. The language, detail, and characters are brilliant and I would be content studying, directing, and performing Shakespeare's works for the rest of my life. I have visited his birthplace twice and cannot wait to go back! Also, if you get a chance to see a show at The Globe in London, DO IT!
7. Wedding Photography. Be still my heart! Weddings are a joyous occasion and I have become quite obsessed with a handful of photographers that seem to capture these events beautifully! I just play around with my camera but part of me hopes to one day be able to shoot weddings as well as those I look up to.
8. Being Initiated With. When someone sends me a text asking me to coffee or someone comments on something I post, my heart swells. I struggle a lot with feeling as though I'm not pursued in relationships, always the pursuer even in friendships and mentor/mentee relationships, and the Lord's teaching me a lot about His character in how He pursues us constantly even when we don't in return. But it does my heart so much good when I feel initiated with. It makes me feel seen, valued, and known.
9. Cheesy ABCFamily Holiday Movies. I can watch them any time of the year! And I do. Absolutely guilty as charged. Plus, most of them are on Netflix. I highly recommend Holiday in Handcuffs, 12 Dates of Christmas, and Desperately Seeking Santa. Enjoy!
10. Stories of Adoption. They are all over the place which causes my heart to sing with happiness! We have been adopted into Christ's family and kingdom, so why shouldn't or wouldn't we show the Father heart of God as He asks us to in taking care of the orphans? I personally know many who have adopted or are in the process of adopting, and I hope to one day when I have a family as well. If you're looking for inspiration or encouragement in this, hop over to The Archibald Project. Isn't God good?

Lies in the Light: COMPARISON

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Comparison is one of the easiest traps to fall into. I do it all the time. Oh, I justify it and write it off and often sit in a heap of denial, but comparison has held too much control over my life and year. You beautiful ladies (and any gents out there) are people I want to trust with this fact and ask to be my accountability partners in my journey to freedom. Praise God there is freedom, am I right?

It can happen at any time and look many different ways. When reading your favorite blog your eyes might linger at the number of followers they have and mentally sigh at your own readership. Walking to class on the way to a final you spot the pretty blonde looking all spiffied up and fresh out of a magazine, not to mention three boys in tow. At your weekly Bible study you share your opinion but your neighbor voices a thought or insight that everyone swiftly writes in their journal. Your best friend gets the lead in the play you want when you auditioned at the same time. It can happen any time, anywhere. 

Comparison is believing the lie that we are unequal and of different values to God. Comparison is ranking those made in God's image according to worldly standards. Comparison steals your joy and denies your identity. Comparison leads to no fruit.

This verse is one I am trying to memorize and one that has resonated in my heart these past few weeks. It is from The Message, which is a poetic paraphrasing, but it shares the heart of God so well.

"Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Do not be impressed with yourself or compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life." 

Galatians 6:4-5

But how do we fight the lie and trap of comparison? 

First, put the lie in the light. Problems continue to rule us when we pretend they do not exist. Satan only has power when we keep our struggles in the shadow and try to handle them on our own. We have a God who is already victorious! Let him equip us for battle and lead the way!

Second, combat the lie with truth.  Memorize scripture. Print it out, write it on a sticky note, put it in your car or on your mirror. Wherever you find yourself struggling with it the most, put God's Word in arm's reach or have it ready in your heart and head. In the New Testament with Jesus was tempted in the desert, He refuted the devil with the Word of God.

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well!" 

Psalm 139:13-14

"But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work. God's instruments to do His work and speak out for Him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference He made for you- from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted!" 

1 Peter 2:10

Know your identity in Christ. Know it and believe it. He is the one who assigns your worth and value. And He calls us worthy and valuable. He paid any penalty and cost by sending His Son to the cross. Donald Miller tweeted this a few weeks ago and I suggest saving it to your phone for reference when you're feeling down, doubtful, or struggling with comparison.

Comparison truly is the thief of joy. Let's shine a light on this trap together and remind ourselves that we are fearfully and wonderfully made! Uniquely made! We are to individually love Him and use the gifts He has given us to bring Him glory. Don't try to do it like someone else or compare yourself to someone else and their gifts. God created you in His image! And He does not make mistakes ;)

My Mind's Eye {Floral on Friday}

Can you believe it's Friday already? This week has breezed past us. We had Monday and Tuesday off of school as study days, but there was hardly any studying to be done. "Dead Days" as the university calls them are always full of activity! The spring theatre banquet was Monday night and the advanced directing final shows happened on Tuesday and Wednesday. Forgive me for being MIA this week, but once finals are over I'll be back to the usual schedule :)

As far as today goes, I wanted to share a few of my favorite things from the week. Please enjoy!

 One/Two | Three | Four | Five | Six

One/Two. I've been a huge fan of Rifle Paper Co. for quite some time. I typically find their products at Anthropologie or The Paper Source, but Target now carries a set of their journals and I gifted them to myself for surviving the first week of finals.

Three. Monograms are a recent obsession of mine, something deeply engrained in the Southern culture. I now want my initials on everything and am hoping a necklace like the one above somehow winds up in my graduation gifts. Any takers? ;)

Four. I had my first calligraphy lesson last week and I'm in love! I'm really heavy handed and I hold my pen in a strange way, but I'm still learning. Practice makes perfect, right? I hope to really hone in on my skills this summer and we shall see what comes of it!

Five. Has anyone else heard about the new photo editing app from A Beautiful Mess? It is supposed to come out next week!

Six. The Great Gatsby comes out today! I have to wait until early next week to see it, but I love Baz Lurhman and Leonardo DiCaprio so I cannot wait to see what they've done with the film! I know it's had mixed reviews but I shall wait to pass judgement until I see it for myself. And who doesn't love a little 1920's glitz & glam? Be on the look out for some themed wedding inspiration coming to the blog soon!

Seven. As I said, Monday was the spring theatre banquet. These beauties are my Little and Grand Little in the theatre department! I positively adore Jennifer and Devin, and they've been such sweet sources of encouragement and fun this year. I don't know how I'm supposed to leave them behind.

Eight. And now a little encouragement for all of us: "Give thanks to God; He is good and His love never quits." 1 Chronicles 16:34, The Message.