Welp Friday I turned the big 2-2. Every year it's the same, I don't feel any older at all. I suppose it is weird though because I used to look at Seniors and say, "Omg they are so old." Yep that's me now, a 22 year old stuck in a Sophomore body. 

It was a glorious day. People went out of their way to make me feel loved. It was so special. This was the first birthday I really didn't want or expect anything to be made a huge deal and it was a million times better than all the others before. I am really grateful for Jesus answering my prayers from that week. He worked through people to make me feel ridiculously loved and cherished. So thanks to everyone who contributed to that day because it was the best. 

My favorite picture of the night.

Oreo cupcakes.

So many laughs.

You know me, lovin food.

Look at that face.

P.S.- I found out that September 16th is Mexican Independence day, even cooler. 

One Thing Remains

It's been so long little blog!! I have been so busy with school and work the past two weeks that I haven't found time to blog at all....

Good news: I DID IT!!!! First two weeks under my belt!!!! I got placed at a low-income school and I absolutely LOVE it. I thought I would hate it, I really did. Nope nope nope!! The minute my little (actually they are quite big, I am so short) 4th graders walked into the room, I felt SO much love for them. It was insane how much love and compassion I felt just leaping towards each of them. I knew it was my Jesus, I knew He was just loving them so much. It felt so good! Every morning, the Lord gives me so much energy for those kids. I love them so much already and it's only been two weeks!! I know without a doubt that I was made for this. I was made to teach. And the Lord has just blessed my socks off the past two weeks.

Second awesome thing: my parents fence caught on fire (they don't know how) and the Lord protected them from the whole house burned down!! You can read it on my mom's Facebook. The morning I found out, I was overwhelmed by emotion because they could have died but mainly because I was so thankful. SO thankful for protection! So thankful for our neighbor who happened to be smoking late that night and saw it!! WHOO HOOO JESUS ROCKS!!!!

Third awesome thing: this makes me cry every time I think of it. People started a fun run for my family. AH so humbling and SUCH a blessing and SO amazing. I have never experienced this before but the amount of people who have showed interest is overwhelming to me. The random people that barely know us and want to help. Coming home from a long day at school and finding my roommate inviting everyone she knows to the event on Facebook. WHAT A BLESSING!!! I feel so helplessly loved. So undeservedly loved! If you want more info, you can look at the event!

There are just too many awesome things to write out. Blessings every day. People are so cool. I wish I could hug everyone and tell them, COME ON JESUS LOVES YOU!!!!!!! At church this past week they put John 3:16 up on the screen and it just hit me. That verse is SO powerful and growing up in a Christian environment, I guess I became immune to it or something.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him."-John 3:16-17

One thing remains: His love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me!!! Get that song.

Dear Jesus, 

Thanks.

A Year Ago

One year ago today my Daddy was diagnosed with ALS. I can't believe it's been a whole year!! If someone were to ask me to sum up this crazy year in one word, it would be growth.

I feel like I have grown so much in this past year. In one year I have cried more than I have the past 20 years combined. In one year I have read more of the Bible than ever. I have been confused, frustrated, sad, encouraged, joyful, happy, loved and scared. I have felt as if I have been on a roller-coaster more times than I can count. I have watched my Dad fall on his face. I have watched him take action on his faith and walk on the treadmill.

I feel like this year has been the most amazing and ridiculously hard year I have ever experienced. How interesting that those two adjectives could describe the same experience! I'll tell you the story of my Junior year: My first semester of school after finding out that my dad had ALS was the most heartbreaking time. I felt like I was constantly on the verge of tears. It is/was the worst feeling. I got to the point where I was so frustrated with God. I remember vividly one time screaming in my car, "THERE IS NO POINT TO PRAY TO YOU AND ASK FOR PEACE BECAUSE YOU AREN'T DOING ANYTHING TO HELP MY DAD!!!!!" Man, was I wrong. About two weeks after that we got a christmas present. What a blessing. I have seen financial blessing in my life countless times, but nothing like this (funny how I have to re-learn this every time there is financial stress in our family). Over the next few weeks, I finally took my mom's advice to listen to some sermons. The man speaking talked about concepts so foreign to me. That we are already blessed, and that ultimately God wants us to be happy and blessed in this life. If you have time I HIGHLY recommend these sermons. With the help of those podcasts, and God's word, my spiritual life has been transformed (and continues to be).  From that point forward, I began to receive revelation that God not only didn't bring this sickness upon my dad, but that he hates it. Sickness is not from Him. Sickness is a curse, never intended for us. I began to have hope. I am sure my roommates can attest to this because I became less of a weepy wreck, to more of a delver in the Word or a searcher of Truth. Life felt like less of a hopeless journey with phrases like. "just make it through this hard time," to more of a battle! A battle. My second semester was spent winning and losing battles. But friends, I want to emphasize this: I beyond a shadow of a doubt KNOW that Jesus did not want this disease for my father. I KNOW that He hates that we suffer. I KNOW this isn't just something that I am going through to learn something. Yes, I will learn. And yes, I have. But that doesn't mean HE did this. This subject is so deep, and I definitely don't know near as much as there is to know, but I do know that I am learning. I do know that I have more hope and joy in my life because I know more now than I did that GOD LOVES ME. So immensely. And because of this, He would never do something to hurt me. Would you want to hurt someone you LOVED more than anything else? Now multiply that times a million bazillion. Yep, pretty sure He wouldn't ever want to see me suffer. 


Friends, this journey has been hard. Such a journey. I have been so encouraged and blessed by so many of you. Thanks. I know that some of the things I said may not make much sense because I have a hard time articulating things but I would love to talk in person if anyone wants! Just remember this right now because it is what I cling onto every day: 


You are loved. You are WONDERFUL.

{Weekend tafting}

tafting with adrie and april 

This weekend I finally got some much needed Vitamin D. I literally haven't seen the sunlight pretty much all summer! Some friends and I went to Lake Travis on Saturday. The lake is the lowest I have ever seen, so many islands! After being crispified, we went to Ape's and had pizza while watching the OC. I LOVE THE OC. Judge me if you want, Seth Cohen will always have my heart. 

I just love Adrie and April. April and I always just get each other. I love her so deep. I'm just really grateful that I have been able to have a friendship with her friends from school because that is so rare. Adrie is seriously the bomb and I have grown to really love her. Totally awesome fun times to be had with those two. Can NOT wait to go to Chicago again in the fall to visit them!!! :)

Also, today Micah informed me that he pooped in the dug out at one of his baseball games......how? Gross. That kid keeps me young.

{YES}

This video makes me just want to scream SUMMER!!!!!!! 
Also, it has so many colors and glow in the dark (eeeeek!). Reason #247 & 248 why I love Coldplay.

Challenge: listen to this while driving home from work, school, pool or anything with the windows down. Just scream! It feels awesome. This one's for you Bo...

{Summer Lovin'}

Dear Frozen Mini Reeses, we have a love-hate relationship. Right now, I hate you. Dear Barton Springs, your subzero water temperature makes laying out bearable but Apey doesn't like your "floaties" (fungi, algae) so we won't be back this summer. Dear Boot-campers, seeing you raise your hands during worship makes me cry. Dear Little Brothers, thanks for acting like you were embarrassed that I visited. I know you loved it. Dear Andrew Wommack, listening to you while working has made the hours quite meaningful. Dear Summer, I love you.

{Moments}

{via for me for you}

Don't you love those moments? All I can think about are trips I've taken in college so far. 

Yum. They have been wonderful. 

The best job ever.

Lemme tell you a little story about today.

Dialogue:
Grace- "Ms. Caldwell, did you straighten your hair today?"
Me- "Why yes I did, thanks for noticing!"
Grace- "I really love it. You don't look like a cook today."
Me- "Excuse me, a what?"
Grace- "A cook! You usually look like a cook."
Me- "Um you mean like a chef kind of cook?"
Grace- "YES! Exactly."
Me- "Okay. Thanks? Is that a good or bad thing?"
Grace- "Definitely good. I love food."


I just really can't wait to be a teacher with my own classroom and my own, hilarious students that make life more exciting and adventurous.




P.S- One of my students' this semester is named Romance. Literally Romance. And he's a boy.

glass lakes and peaks so tall.

Norway, I love you.

ready for a break, so...

bye bye 2010.

january

my favorite event. nerds4life.

february

sing & snow.

march

rodeo & robots.

april

dia & dances.

may

boat times & birthdays.

june

weddings & reunions.

july

friends visit austin.

august

soaking up the last of summer.

september

21 & and the best trip ever.

october

homecoming festivities.

november

thanksgiving & the end of football.

december

christmas time is the best time.

bye bye 2010, you were good to me.

warning sign.

i have two favorite bands. mumford & sons and coldplay. 

coldplay was the first cd i ever bought and i never get sick of them.

this post goes out to my bestie anna. driving around d-town listening to this song last night brought me happiness.

i love that feeling. full.

 music does bring me happiness. so do my best friends.
do me a favor and listen to this song.

i miss you ans, loves ya!

chi-town.

it's been a while.  i've miss you, blog.

chicago is lovely. if it wasn't for the sub-arctic temperatures, i'd live there in a heartbeat. this weekend was so necessary. it was such a treasure because i got to see my best friend's life and understand her more. the gap between our college lives in austin and our college lives at school has been closed, i love that. seeing the sites and being touristy with april was just so....fun (for lack of a better word). sushi, laughing, spending money, walking and walking, late night pizza, people watching, salvation army, riding trains, tea, shopping, and talking. breathing. just breathing in the city. as i looked up at all the high buildings that made me feel so small, i couldn't help but contemplate the vastness of God. kinda freaks me out. i miss the air in chicago. the brisk wind that made me catch my breath and the impossible attempt to hold on to it like a fleeting thought. the miles of ground so hard and stable. stability. it was good to just be this weekend with "no regrets," as my dad would say.

as i grope for words to illuminate my excursion, i find that i can only settle on the deep friendship that i so appreciate. my bosom friend april. constant and true. what a treasure. i hope i can bless someone as much as she has with her shear ability to be afriend. the very essence of the definition. friend- a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter. love her.

well enough of that. on to pictures.

pumpkin spice cupcake. yum.

big red chair.

argo tea.

nervous about my first cab.

freezing at lake michigan.

beeeeaaaaaan.

rawr.

jump cuz i'm happy!

we'll meet again soon, chicago. sometime in the spring.

take it easy.

I encountered one of those moments on friday that makes you feel alive:

Listening to Take it Easy with the top down, in a jeep, with a coke in my hand, on the way to the pool.

Just one of those times that makes you think....I was made for this.

I love being outside, even if I am drenched in sweat.

four square.

Alright, last night we played 4 square in the parking lot of our house and I had a few thoughts:

1. Was I ever REALLY good? I mean really, I thought I was good. Maybe it was cuz I went to a private school.
2. How is Bo so good. He is always king.
3. I can't remember what cherry bombing is. I always say no cherry bombing though.
4. Why do I always lose.
5. I think it's sad I can't think of US city names quickly off the top of my head. There are 19,354. Yep, just looked it up.
6. How come the serve has to bounce in the King's square before another's.
7. Why do I always lose.
8. Do you have to be athletic to be good at this game.
9. I really like the acronym CLOAS. CLOAS for life.
10. I'm really bad at 4 square....yet I keep playing...
11. Boys always gang up on the girls. I don't know why though, we are the worst anyways.
12. Holy crap a ginormous ant just ran across my computer.
13. I really like luaus. And 4 square. And moo moos. And food.

Lauren's party was definitely a success. Even though I kept losing at 4 square.