what's in that frige of yours anyway?

i never truly understood how people's refrigerators could get so darn packed. i mean, how is it possible for things to get lost way back in the back - wouldn't you realize you hadn't taken a look at it in a while and would think to throw it out? plus, how many items do you actually need a fridge? surely not that many.

tonight i decided it would be a good idea just to rumble through my items in the refrigerator - knowing that with the caf closed for the summer i would need to go grocery shopping soon and wanted to make sure i wasn't going to double up on anything. plus, kevin and kara dropped off a lot of items earlier because they are moving (sad day - more to come in another post).

WELL, i threw away have of my refrigerator. i could not believe how many items had expired - it was quite disgusting. so i went from three stuffed shelves to about one. what was even worse is that i hadn't opened most of the items and realized i probably threw away at least $60-$70 worth of untouched groceries.

it's terrible.

thus, i am going to start fresh and new TODAY. i am going to plan out what i want to eat for the week and not over buy when i go shopping - there is no need for that and it is just wasteful.

no more wasting here. nope, i won't do it.

happy momma's day

my mother means the world to me.
she is the woman who encourages me every single day and always inspires me to be better.
she loves me even when i am ugly to her (and when she calls me every day, lets be honest - it happens too much).
she has many years under her belt and much experience, which only ads to her wisdom and guidance.
she is learning every day to love the Lord more and more and loudly shows her faith through her every day life.
she is strong and independent, yet tender-hearted and sweet.
she's my mom - and i love her.

thank you for being who you are mom, i love you!

oh golly, oh gee

today has been a great day. a day of celebration. a day of excitement. a day of busyness. but what is mostly on my mind and my heart is the fact that this is a day of goodbyes - bittersweet goodbyes.

today marks the last day of my first "academic" year at howard payne university. i have loved my job since day one and nothing has changed to this day. i was blessed with a great group of students to work with, to serve with and to do life with. this evening we had our end-of-year ra party where we got together to chat about and reflect on this past year - we also honored our students with gifts, awards and words of thanks. i am not one to cry in front of people so i knew i could handle a few words tonight; however, being by myself this evening is another story.

sometimes i wish i would have stopped and have a conversation with a resident - to be there for a lending ear, a huge hug, or an encouraging moment. sometimes i wish i would have spent more time in the evenings walking the halls, knocking on doors or going to all of the campus events. sometimes i wish....

but i live with no regrets - only hopes to be "more" next year.

to my ra's - i say thank you. i will miss you terribly this summer - our talks, our bonds, and our learning from one another. i send my prayers and love with you as you begin a new season of life.

my sunday friends.

these three amazing people (Joe, Sara, & Sarah) are my favorite sunday friends. well, they are my friends every day of the week but we set aside sundays for a group get together. the first few months i was in town, i sat at church all alone in the front row. luckily, God has given me a inner confidence (or a way to fake it) by myself when needed; however, i never felt i was getting the full "community fellowship" experience. THEN i met sara and joe at small group and finally had church-sitting-buddies. sarah goes to another church, but we always try to get together for a sunday lunch.

i love these friends and am SO super blessed by them. thank you jesus for sundays, but even more so for sunday friends.

Challenge

As a university, and specifically as a student life staff, we have been hiring for a new Resident Director and a new Director of Student Activities. Pretty plain and simple, right? Well, I LOVE the interview process and get so excited whenever we get the opportunity to talk to a candidate over the phone but even more so when they visit campus. Over the past two weeks we have had two gentlemen visit - both extremely different, but both with a heart to work with students. This process has been bittersweet for me because I am so going to miss the current staff who have befriended me, encouraged me, and just been great coworkers. BUT, through this process I have realized I miss the "language" of student development - I miss the provocative conversations, the challenges and the developmental theories I used to once know and study intensely. Thus, I have set a challenge before myself: I am going to learn to study again, I am going to be intentional in the developmental process, and I am going to engage in these conversations with my RA's.

I love learning, reflecting and processing! I love students and being an educator.

AND I love being a student of students.