houston, we have NO problem

I came back from Knoxville and entered Final Four frenzy. It’s nuts here and I love it!  Everything is blue—the water in our fountains, the lights on the buildings, even the ketchup!  That’s gross.  Glad I don’t have to eat on campus.  There is so much energy and excitement and spirit on campus—posters and Butler shirts everywhere.

After the WIN on Saturday I was gung-ho about going to Houston for the Final Four.  Tickets went on sale Monday at 1 PM and since last year’s ticket distribution was a disaster, everyone was nervous about it.  Right before they went on sale—literally like 12:59—I backed out.  Then everyone was getting tickets, way different than last year, so I decided to try for one.  Success.  I got the golden ticket.  Then started the immediate trip planning, aka how we were getting down there, where we would stay, etc.  We had no idea!  I freak out about school while others take on the planning.  I’m pretty sure I’m the only one being productive on campus right now.  All people do is read articles about Butler, watch YouTube videos about Butler, make up raps about Butler, get interviewed about Butler, etc.  But I’m glad it’s kicking me into gear, it’s about time.

This Final Four deal hasn’t been easy.  Actually, it’s taken quite the toll on me.  I felt really guilty and selfish about going.  My parents were going to come down this weekend because I was getting an award.  That’s something that’s way more significant to them than it is to me and I kind of discredited that altogether.  School was stressing me out—I have 4 papers and a research presentation to finish before we leave.  It just kept getting more and more expensive as plans kept changing about how we were getting there, where we were staying, etc.  I was really convicted to think about what’s important.  What matters.  What my focus is and should be.  It’s okay to want to celebrate, to want to go.  But I need to make sure that I don’t get caught up in the hoopla.  This doesn’t only affect me and I need to be more aware of that.    

Our plans just became final.  Well, “final”.  They’ve changed too many times to count, but we’re pretty confident in where we’re at.  Good thing because our ETD tomorrow is 3:30/4 PM.  We finally have TWO cars!!!  My roommates dad graciously offered his Range Rover last week but we’ve been struggling to find a second vehicle until last night!  A Carmel YL committee family is letting the 10 of us take their van!  What?!  Yes.  So nice!  Praise Jesus for their generosity, really.  Things are just things.  I say that and I know that but I don’t know if I’d be willing to let 10 college kids drive my car over 2,000 miles for a basketball game.  I’m really struck by them.  They heard David talking last night about needing a second car and this morning offered theirs up, no hesitation.  I hope I can be that detached from things and ownership when I’m older.  They don’t even know us all.  I’ve met them once, and they know Dave and Mary Ellen, but that’s it.  Wow.  And that’s not it!  Someone offered their house in Houston!  A friend’s-girlfriend’s-family.  They’re going to be gone for the weekend and they’re letting us, complete strangers, stay in their house for FREE!!  We’ve never met them, but again, so generous!  So so generous.  I hope they know how appreciative I am.

Well, off to be productive.  One more paper to go.  Houston, prepare for lift off.  And, GO DAWGS!!!

Audio recap of Butler's great season.

knoxville

This weekend was perfect!  I drove down to Knoxville, TN to meet Katie, Megan and Ally.  It was so great.  I needed it.  I needed joy and laughter and honesty and truth and authenticity.  What a gift these girls are.  Truly, a gift.  Thank you Jesus for each way they individually show me the gospel. 

Prior to this weekend Knoxville had zero significance to us.  It was simply the best attempt of meeting halfway between Virginia and Indy.  But it was the best!  Knoxville is so cute and southern.  It has a lot of charm.  None of us had ever been there so it was a weekend full of exploration and adventure.  Really we were just celebrating being together in the same place.  We had absolutely no plans, none!  And it was cool to just be spontaneous all weekend long.  The idea of surprises has been sticking with me.  I feel like I’m learning to like them.  And it’s not the learning to tolerate learning to like.  I actually get excited and desire to be surprised.  The Lord has really been teaching me what great gifts surprises are.  And boy were there surprises this weekend!  Spots, concerts, cake, queso, one-way streets, band photo shoots…

Friday night we meet up at the hotel.  As soon as Megan “refused” to bring Spots upstairs, I knew it was going to be a good weekend.  We were laughing hysterically already and I loved it.  We went to find a place downtown to eat.  On our way we passed this cute local theater and surprise!  Drew and Ellie Holcomb were playing.  Megan asks questions while the rest of us freak out.  I quick pulled over the car and made Ally get out and see what time they went on (meanwhile Katie and I try to explain to Megan who they are and fail).  It was eight and they went on at nine.  So we got a quick bite to eat in Market Square (I loved Market Square, still not really sure why) and then headed to the concert.  Before we bought tickets I asked if there were seats.  Then I clarified, by seats I mean actually chairs.  Katie just tore her ACL, and shows the ticket-lady the brace she’s sporting.  Then the lady offers for us to sit in the ADA section, haha.  Really, there’s nothing funny about the ADA section just the way she said it and the schedule of events, we all thought it was so funny.  Anyways, Drew and Ellie were so good.  And so freaking cute!   Plus they played Ally and Josh’s wedding song.  She was so excited and started clapping really fast and sat up straight.  Katie cried.  Ally got to meet them and scored a pic.  After the show we walked down the street (full of local shops-love it!) and naturally ended up at Coolato Gelato.  Naturally.  The people working thought we were really funny.  Blackberry peach and mango all around.  So good.

After the show.  Some professional took our pic too.
Maybe I'll get that one.

Saturday was great.  The weather wasn’t kinda a bummer but we slept in.  Well, they slept in.  I think I got up around 9.  We barely made breakfast at noon—a feast—and then headed out.  We drove through the campus of UT, which Meg loved.  There was a some random cake competition going on in the stadium, random, so we went.  There were a bunch of different cakes and they were being judged and you could sample them.  It was fun.  Plus, we got to see and experience UT’s HUGE stadium.  After cake we went back to hotel #2 and I watched the Butler game.  SO EXCITING!!!!  It was a great game, intense.  Butler WON!! and I was freaking out.  The girls thought it was scary and funny all at the same time.  Ally tried to get it on video but failed.  I think I’m okay with that.  But GO DAWGS!!!  WE’RE
GOING TO THE FINAL FOUR!  Now I’ve got to figure out a way to get to Houston…

Because of the game we eat late (sorry girls).  We have to wait forever but it was good.  And we had free queso, which makes everything better.  After dinner we walk down the street and cannot help ourselves from entering Coolato Gelato again.  And yes, the same guy was working.  He remembered us.  And still thought we were real funny.  I had coffee something and something that started with an “S” that I can’t say.  That sounds bad, but that’s not what I mean.  Some “strea..”  I don’t even know.  It was good and that’s all that matters.  Katie and I had a little Coolato Gelato photo shoot.  And by that I mean I kept annoyingly taking pictures of her with her gelato.  She loved it.  Promise.  Before leaving we asked the guy working if he’d take our picture and he said yes.  Then we move over by the sign and he makes a comment about us being like school children.  Funny?  Kinda.    On the way to the car we hung out in an alley.  Not sketchy.  Funny pictures resulted.  Too bad they’re blurry.

Super nice, super huge stadium.

FINAL FOUR BABY!!!
Apparently this is what my happy dance looks like.

Spots.

She loves solo shots.

Side note, Megan went the wrong way down a one-way street at some point Saturday.  I don’t remember when exactly I just remember that it was hilarious.  We also took a scenic tour of the city.  Magnolia!  Also funny.

Whoops.

I can’t wait to meet up in Knoxville with these girls again.  They mean the world to me and it was so incredibly good to see them.  There is always joy when we’re together.  Without even trying it’s just there.  And I love that and I’m so so grateful for that.  These girls know the real me.  I love that we don’t hold back when we’re together.  We don’t hold back asking tough questions or loving each other or being silly or laughing until we cry.  Or I cry rather.  Jesus reminded me of what matters this weekend.  People, relationships, surprises.  He was present.  Thank you Jesus for that.  Thank you for these friends.  Thank you for the examples and encouragement they are to me.  Thank you for the joy and laughter they bring to my life. 

spring break 2011: what matters

Spring break was so great!  Relaxing, just what I needed.  The week leading up to break was crazy.  Hectic.  School work was piling up and I was trying to get a lot of stuff done for YL before I left.  Not to mention my computer decided to break and I had to update the system, which took 9 hours and still didn't fix the problem.  But it's fixed now!  Gotta love the Genius Bar at the Mac store.  Lesson learned, skip the university help desk and take the 20 minutes to drive to the store...

Refocusing, spring break.  I went down to Florida with a group of 8 other girls.  I should specify.  By "went" I mean drove.  8 of us in a Durango.  8 of us girls in a Durango.  For a week.  Saying we were cramped and had absolutely no leg room and pretty much sat on top of each other would be an understatement.  I wish we had a picture, especially when Mary Ellen was with us in the car on the way to the airport.  50 pound suitcase on her lap in the front seat, 4 people in the next row and 3 in the very back.  Not to mention it was 4:30 A.M.  Funny.

We left on Thursday the 10th and drove to Nashville.  Love that place!  We went to Opryland and walked around downtown.  Then we went to a cute cupcake place, bought them out of cupcakes, then went for a "hike".

ALL of us downtown Nashville.  Might be the only full group shot of the trip--both photographers present!

Took this very same picture my sophomore year of high school.

Hatch Show Print Shop.  Easily my favorite place in Nashville.  If you haven't been there, go!

The journey continued on Saturday to Orlando.  We stayed the night in a hotel (full of cheerleaders) and ate someone else's fruit basket.  Most of the group went to Harry Potter World in the morning.  I opted out, I don't like Harry Potter.  But I was happy sitting poolside with Gabby.  

Our "complimentary" fruit basket.  Aka, they put it in the wrong room but let us eat it.

Sunday morning we drove to our final destination, Longboat Key, FL where we stayed the rest of the week.  A b-e-a-u-tiful place!  We had perfect weather.  Seriously, perfect!  Sunny and 80 every day.  If you added up the ages of the 9 of us you'd get the average age of a resident at the Water Club where we were staying.  Only slightly joking.  

Our home for the week!

The beach was quiet and tranquil.  

We hardly moved from our spot.

We dressed up and took pics on the beach before Sarah's aunt and uncle took us out to dinner.  I ordered almond encrusted tilapia, first time ever ordering seafood.  And it was good.  I enjoyed it.  I don't think I could ever eat anything fishier than tilapia and enjoy it though.  Not much of a seafood fan.  It was cool to talk to Sar's uncle and hear what matters to him.  To hear how he's on a journey to give away everything God has given him.  To hear how boldness pays off--putting yourself out there, owning and living by your faith, matters.  To hear him talk about having an exponential impact, doing Jesus math, getting 1+1 to equal 7.

Despite the smile on my face, I hate posing like this.  Sarah claims I love it...  And Kayla (right), you are funny.

Seniors.  Because of me, we're 3.75 for 4 on YL SB's.

A jumping picture, duh.  A must for any beach vacation.

The whole trip was special.  We shared life stories, had daily Bible studies, and took part in what God was doing in us and through us in Longboat Key.  It was a week of being available and vulnerable to God and to each other.  It was a week of expectation; of expecting God to be present in big ways and do big things.  It was a week of new experiences; swimming with the manatees and living outside our comfort zones.  It was restful and relaxing, just what I needed.  The theme for the trip was "What Matters" and that couldn't have been a more perfect topic for me to reflect on right now.  I've been asking that question in various forms for months:  What matters?  Does this matter?  Is what I'm doing significant?  Does the time I spend doing/pursuing various things matter?  To what extent?  How does my time reflect my priorities and what I say matters to me?  Here's my list of five things that matter:

1.  PEOPLE.  People and relationships matter.  Authentic community, people who know you well, people who you pour into and who pour into you.  I want my life and choices to reflect this.  People are a priority.

2.  VULNERABILITY.  This one's hard for me.  I resist it.  But I think it matters, a lot.  We must have the courage to share our hearts.  With God.  With ourselves.  With each other.  Vulnerability builds a foundation of trust that which significant and authentic relationships can grow from.

3.  LEARNING/GROWING.  It's important for me to keep growing in my faith, to keep learning, to keep pursuing.  I don't ever want to settle for "knowing enough".  There is always something new to learn or a new perspective to be seen.  I think a lot of learning and growing comes as a result of putting people first and striving for vulnerability and authenticity in relationships.

4.  SURPRISES.  I'm not a huge fan of surprises but they matter.  God has so many surprises for me I just have to let him do it!  I have to let him surprise me.  This means that I have to let go, trust God, and hang on to the truths I know about him.  I don't want to limit Christ's imagination for me by boxing him into something predictable, into something I can understand.  In addition to letting God surprise me, I must trust the surprises.  To have courage and boldness and follow the Lord's lead. 

5.  IDENTITY.  Being rooted in Christ.  Knowing myself truly and really.  Allowing myself to receive the grace of God in discovering my purpose matters.  Also, having the courage to follow it.  To go where I feel the Lord is leading me.  I read an excerpt from Breaking Bread by Basil Pennington this week:  "We need to come to know who we truly are, that uniquely beautiful person that God made us.   And to have the courage to live accordingly.  Each of us is a unique expression of the divine goodness and beauty.  If we do not live and express it in our lives, it will never be expressed in this world for the glory of God and the up-building of the whole Body of Christ."

Here are some pictures with the manatees.  They are big creatures!

MANATEE!

Wet suited up.  Kayla, again, you are funny.

Best part of the whole thing--this tropical lagoon!  It was crazy.  Unreal.  But absolutely beautiful!  The signs in this picture say "DANGER" (because you have to swim through a pretty strong current to get in) but I don't know who in the world would want to stay away from this place!  The water was so clear and so turquoise and is always 72 degrees, and the sand was so white!  We saw a manatee in here (unusual for this time of year) and it was crazy.  It was like I was swimming in this fantasy land and someone just Photoshopped a manatee next to me!  The trees and fish in this natural spring were so cool.  We even saw a colorful crab!