Moon river, wider than a mile.

Senior Academic Banquet! This photo makes me laugh.
It's impossible to get us to all look at the camera and smile.

The friends that torture each other, stay together.
That's not a real saying.

Happy Easter! How did you celebrate the Resurrection today? My alarm clock didn't go off so I missed bible class, was ten minutes late to church, then went to my Aunts for lunch.

I've got a lot of thoughts in my head about the Resurrection. Mostly questions:
Who would I be without it?
Where would I be without it?
How would I live my life differently?
Where would I go?
Would I be scared?

My entire life is defined by the fact that Jesus did and rose again. He showed that there is life after death if we believe in him. What if there wasn't? Would there be a point at all? If there was no life after death then I wouldn't find a need to follow any morals, love anyone, or care about anything bigger than myself. It's crazy how one thing sets a whole world in a different motion.

One re-life defined millions for the rest of the living world.

It's so hard to wrap my mind around this love. This craziness. The wonderful, supernatural occurrence who defines my heart and my actions and my being. I suppose the question should not be W.W.J.D. but What Would I Be Without the Resurrection of my Christ? Too long to put on a bracelet I know.

No one is going to go out and buy those rainbow bracelets.

On a different note- I've been in an extremely crafty mood lately. Yesterday I bought three plain chipboard letters (my initials) and decopauged them to match my dorm room. Today I'm doing the same to a bedside table I bought for 5 bucks. I painted it antique white, distressed it, and now I'm working on decorating it.

Before.

After! I used scrapbooking paper, mod podge, and sparkles.
The W is my favorite, the paper has little birds all over it.
The first one is pretty cute too, it's all vintagey.
The J mehh...it's okay.



Silly sociopaths, tricks are for kids.

I wish I had more time to spend on this blog, but I just don't lately! Terribly sorry.

This past week has been a little insane! I'm in search of a new roomate now! My roomate isn't going to Lipscomb anymore, and I'm feeling a little frantic trying to find someone new. I'm sure everything will work out, but I'm still feeling a bit stressed out.

On top of that I'm working on the most ridiculous paper for ACP class ever.

It's not that it's super hard.
Or super long.
It's just super stupid.
And I have super senioritis!

I got some heels for prom and earring so big they touch my shoulders.

They heels are like a grey/silverish and peep toe with ruffles. Mmmm . . . so good.
If I started wearing things like that everyday would you still talk to me?

I got my bedspread in for college! It's great! It's from Urban Outfitters, and it's light yellow and the entire thing is ruffles. Ruffles, ruffles, ruffles. I'm such a girl. I can't stop myself.

I don't have anything particulary deep or thoughtful to write about right now.
Thinking.
Thinking.
Thinking.
Nope, nuffin.

You know how on Baby Momma in the beginning of the movie when the main character (whose name is escaping me right now. . .) has baby fever and she just sees babies everywhere? Yeah, I have doggie fever. I've been seeing dogs everywhere. Googling pugs. Awwing over English Bulldogs. Ohhhing over Labs. I'm going crazy. I know how Beiber fever girls feel now. Poor little pre-teens.



Soapstone and Acrylics

I feel like putting down under jokes, but I
can't really think of any good ones. Or any at all really. . .

Sorry, I've been very neglectful of this blog! This past Thursday Rebecca and I loaded up the little Focus and headed to Nashville for the weekend. We got home Sunday late afternoon.
Okay get this, we ate at:
- Arnolds
- Loveless
- Carrabas
- Sweet Cece's
- Genghis
annddd McDonalds

So. Much. Food. Blahhh. . . I mean, but whatever. It was all good!
We visited Ethos church with Luke, Caroline, and Callie-ann on Sunday. The preacher's name is Dave Clayton. He's a young guy with a big vision! I was blown away. I've been listening to his sermons on podcasts and I cannot stop dwelling on them. It's sucked up my blog time, sorry!

Okay funny story: Rebecca and I were talking today after we told out friend Tanner Happy Birthday and she said, "I'm craving jell-o." She told me she thought it was because in elementary school Tanner's mom would bring in jell-o eggs for his birthday. I thought it was really funny, but she didn't find much humor in it. I mean, Tanner's mom conditioned the kids in Tanner's classes to crave jell-o on his birthday! It's like Pavlov's dogs but more fun!

Ah, I thought it was funny at least.

You are so dumb, for real! Chicago!

Entering Chicago for our fun-filled trip!

Hey hey girl! Who is that in the mirror?

The whole group at the big mirrored bean in The Park!
This multi-million dollar bean provided a lot of amusement.

Heading back to the church van after traipsing around trying to
find a Starbucks.

My very favorite animal in the zoo! Isn't she beautiful?
If I wasn't so into art I might consider working with animals like this!

Got back from Chicago last night! It was such a great trip!

Other than the people, my favorite part of the trip was the zoo. We looked at every single animal there and then went over to the conservatory that had a whole room dedicated to orchids. My favorite were the seals (above) and there was a huge polar bear that was so great. Also, the giraffes. I forget how amazing giraffes are!

The planetarium was super great also! Well, except for the 3-D movie about The Great Observatories of theWorld or something like that. . .I wouldn't have minded it if it was an exhibit or something . . . but why waste the 3-D technology on observatories when there is space? Anyway, the Imax movie we watched was good. It was narrated by Whoopi Goldberg and there was a bit about the Big Bang (which didn't impress me) but the images of the stars and space were so stunning.

Dad said we can get a dog. Finally. I'm so ready.

Okay, I'm going to go outside because it's soooo beautiful!

Family Feud.

The first crayon drawing I did back in September or October.

First off, on my way home a boy on a scooter was behind me. I turned left onto my road and his scooter was backfiring so much I thought it was going to blow up, so I looked at him. He gave me the eye contact and slow nod. . .like the "I know you're checkin me out" look. Fail. No larger boy with your hat backwards riding down the road on a backfiring scooter, I do not think you are the least bit attractive.



I have had an insane week. My art portfolio needed to be sent out last night, so I had been working my butt off trying to get it to look nice and sent in. It had to be in silde format, so I assumed Powerpoint. It also had to be in pdf, but I didn't know what that meant. So, I just went ahead and did it in Powerpoint. Thank you Jesus for Ethan Helfrich! He sent me a converter so I could get the Powerpoint into Adobe. . .whew. I started freaking out a little Tuesday night.

Anyway, add that to some homework, just chore stuff, and trying to keep friends happy by doing stuff I've been a wreck. Last night I had some time to myself, but it was quickly eaten up by the prom dress search. I paid for a dress online only to get an email saying it wasn't available. What a mess.

So, tonight I have some time to myself and I just want it that way. I'm cleaning my room, reading a story my friend (who started a blogspot- General Life Americana) wrote, and then I'm going to the dance team's pep session!  And, I am most definatly going to enjoy this amazing weather.

I'm really ready for Spring Flipping Break. I'm going to State to see Lizzy, Jordyn, and Kaitlyn dance and I'm going to Chicago with some people of the youth group. We are working at a soup kitchen, going to a zoo, conservatory, and a planetarium. We are also going to Ed Debevic's, a restaraunt who has the waiters be rude to you. I'm pumped.

Okay, this has been a long post about nothing really worth writing a long post about. . . there you go.

Yeah.

Me, Rebecca, and Lizzy at the boy's Sectional game!

I haven't written in a while, my internet was being silly for a bit. I will upload the other part of the video soonly. It wasn't working right. . .

Good news- Yesterday I went to Crawford with the Academic Team to participate in the Fine Arts category. It was all based around Latin America. We got fourth, the Math group got first, and the Science group got third! So, way to go Mitchell! (I don't really think that any of the categories besides Math test intellegence, but memorization skills. Oh well.)

Bad News- Images of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan are all over the news, so I'm sure you've heard. It's hard to watch. I feel helpless, besides prayer. We watched a newsfeed in my Psychology class and I cried and cried. My friend Kayle told me we could turn it off, but I told her it was okay. You just can't live your whole life ignoring sad and hard things. This seriously breaks my heart. I know that things like this have happened in Haiti, Chile, and other places as of recently.

There was this shot of the wave carrying mud, houses, cars, boats, and fire rushing toward this above ground highway with cars speeding past. It didn't show the wave meet the highway, but there is no way that some of the cars avoided the vicious wave. Those are families, wives, husbands, mothers, sons, daughters, grandparents, and friends. I see the Burrises in one car and the Parsleys in another. I see my aunts and their families speeding past this wave. I can't even imagine what the people in Japan are feeling right now.

Well, yeah. Rebecca, Lizzy, and Lindsay are coming over any time. Gonna watch Thr3e.

Mamas and Papas

Just caught the last little bit of Les Miserables on television. Nick Jonas was one of the cast members? Weird, but good.  I'm not so secretly a fan of his. . .but not so much the other Jonas brothers.

Today we had a really interesting discussion about the things that confuse us (about God). Allen gave us a list of things we could agree with.  Among them were:
1. That God was real (We all believed that, so no further discussion)
2. That He sent His son (No arguments there)
3. That God was good (We had a really good discussion about that one)
4. That God loves us (Another good discussion)
5. That there was life after death (Because we decided we all believed God was real, we all believed in life after death)

I think that was all of the points, those are the ones I remember.  I was really interested in what people thought about the goodness and intentions of God and how he loved them.  Most people agreed that they do not understand why bad things happen like the Holocaust or a small child getting cancer in dying.  We all agreed that we believe there are supernatural battles happening between the angels and demons, devil and God, and the like.  So, are these bad things a result of  fallen world and are lost battles?

If we decide that they are lost battles, then we have to move on to why God can lose battles in the first place?  I think that we decided that these battles are lost because the gift of our freewill.  I honestly can't believe with my heart that God takes the life of someone's baby to prove a point or change the world.  I think He lost the battle.  The question then becomes: how much influence in our future does God have if He can lose battles?  Would He not already know that the battles are coming?  So, does He lose them on purpose?

All this pre-destination stuff can really get you messed up if you let it.  We have to admit we are bound by things like time and mortality and we will never and can never fully understand God and His ways.  That's okay, God gave me a brain and I'm going to use it.  I suggested that a part of the trinity does know what every minute will hold and another doesn't. God changes His mind in bible. 

Gary said that in part of the bible God argues with Himself over Their plans.  Can you imagine?  "Part One, I really think this is a good idea but the girl we made named Melissa is praying for something completely different. What do you think?" "I know what this road holds. Do you think another could work out for the plan?"  You know? It's like the tie-dye analogy I made forever ago.  God has a plan and ties up the tee-shirt just how he wants it and dyes it, but the way the colors blend and unfurl is completely on their own.

This was a really long post with no end really.  There you go blogging world.

Accidents get you sent home.

Here's Part Three those of you that might be watching this. This one is more about the wonders of the human body which strangely isn't as fascinating to me as the universe and planet stuff. It's still really amazing though.

I like Augustine's quote, "Men go abroad to wonder at the height of mountains, the huge waves of the sea, the long course of rivers, the vast compass of the oceans, the circular motion of the stars, but they pass by themselves and they don't even notice."

Anyway, I love the message of this video in its entirety.

I got my roomate and I a room yesterday! It is across the room from Rebecca's and it has two closets and three outlets! Score!

Foreshadowing.

Here you go! Here's the second part!

Exciting news- I got my roomate for Lipscomb and I'm very excited about it! Her name is Kristen Bell and she's from Georgia. She loves coffee, glee, and zumba. How appropriate right? I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my body. Ugh, one less stress until the senior year is over and I can get to Lipscomb.

It's not helping my senioritis any though . . . I'm in Lipscomb state of mind now.

Star Breathing God

I figured out how to upload videos from YouTube today and I was hoping to load this video! Louie Giglio is a speaker we have been watching in church and who I have been very inspired by. I encourage you to watch these videos.

They are posted in five different parts, so I will do a series of five posts with each segment.

I know nothing about planets, stars, and space but I find this extraordinary. I cannot wrap my mind around these numbers and light years he is throwing out. They completely blow my mind.

5.88 trillion miles= a light year. Can you even picture that in your mind?

I can't even begin to imagine that.

300 billion stars in one galaxy. "This God we are singing to is enormous" in Louie's words.

This enormity, the vastness, hugeness, bigness, grandeur. This God we are serving is insane! And I mean that in the most amazing, my mind is blown sort of way.

I love how he says we are "worshipping a star breathing God". That mental image of worshipping a God who just breathes and the stars appear. Exhale, galaxy. Exhale, planets. Exhale, stars.

I hope you enjoy these videos as much as I did.

That will get you married.

Beth, Matthew, Lester, Luke, and Curt waiting
to get in to see Walling. Doesn't it look like a band photo?

Also waiting to get in for all the festivities: seeing Walling's

sweater, girls in the worship team, a guitar onstage, and

a very amusing IMPROV group

First time I had ever been in a Walgreens in my
life.  No joke.  My dad's a CVS guy. . .

Winterfest was really good! I enjoyed the theme a lot, it was Worthy.  I think i changed the theme in my mind from being Worthy to Resonating because they talked a lot about lives that resonate through others.  How our stories should speak and resonate within other people's lives.  They talked about Mother Teresa and people like that.

Although the worship time and the lectures were really good, I was more delighted in the fellowship time.  There was such an awesome group of people that traveled down together.  I was really happy with my car arrangement  (Beth, Alayna, Rebecca, Darci, and Me) and my room arrangement (Kedra, Rebecca, Darci, and Me).  It was pretty sweet. 

A lot of new people and people I love got to go too.  Maggie and Evie got to go with us this year! They are both crazy, but I wouldn't trade them for a lifetime supply of coffee.  Alayna Super got to go too, we wore old sweatshirts with the collars cut out on the way down. Gotta admit- we were cute.  Also, the Lipscomb kids got to come! Lukey, CallieAnn, Nikki, Lydia, Caroline, and Makenzie.  Good stuff, I'm telling you.

I found my very first pair of TOMS in my suitcase in a pocket a little bit ago.

That made me very very very happy.

These things are super decrepit, I'm surprised they didn't disintegrate in my suitcase.

You're So Vain

So, it's Valentine's Day and I've been racking my mind for ideas for a good post.

I had zilch so I'm going to stoop low and make the most superficial and vain post ever and you are going to read it and like it.

Here's the Top 5 Celebrities I wouldn't mind going on a Valentine's date with, kids.

Numero Cinco-- John Francis Daley.

The psychologist on Bones. Too bad he's with Daisy, she's really annoying.
Good thing he's cute, I'm not sure how I would handle someone analyzing me all the time.

Numero Quatro-- David Boreanaz

Ex-Sniper and FBI partner of the ever amazing Dr. Brennan on yet again. . .Bones.  I mean come on, the guy got blown up more than once to protect Brennan.  Let's get real.

Numero Tres-- Joseph Gordon Levitt.

Did you see his dance number in (500) Days of Summer?  Yeah, twas awesome.

Also, he has awesome taste in music (well, in the movie) and he aided in Inception.

Can you argue with me on this one? Nope.

Numero Dos-- Rupert Grint. 

He may not have been the best wizard, but he was my favorite!  Who wouldn't want to date a British, red headed, wizard?  Seriously.

Numero Uno-- Gerard Butler.

My youth minister says I have an accent fetish and this may prove it.
Gerard may be a little old for me, but I can't lie . . . he's my favorite.

Not only does he play an impressive Phantom that makes me cry everytime, but he's a good Law Abiding Citizen (who kills pretty much everyone).  He also writes love letters from the dead.

He's the winner.

Rock the Casbah!

Front: Me, Maggie, and Rebecca
Back: Carli, Megan, Evie, Lauren, and Alayna. Win.

I've realize that this whole photo to left side of the blog doesn't really work for the layout, so I'm trying something new! Woah! I think this will look a lot better.  Also, I got the new posting thing finally and I'm not really figuring it out so well . . .

Thursday after school Rebecca and I loaded up the Focus and headed down to Evansville to visit our friends at USI (Ashley, Jalayna, Aaron, and Chris).  Twas a good time.  Jalayna took me to this awesome used book warehouse.  I slept on Ashley's couch Thursday night and Rebecca and I slept on her floor Friday night.  It was so great to spend time with her again just like old times.

This whole growing up and growing apart kinda gets me sometimes. 

I've been friends with Ashley since I was four, so having to drive two or so hours to spend time with her is a little strange, but it's fine.  We are both going different places and I'm glad that we can still pick things up where we left off when we are together.

Rebecca and I ate sooo much this weekend . . . we ate Burger King on the way down Thursday, Friday was Starbucks breakfast for me, KFC lunch for her, Olive Garden first lunch for me and second lunch for her (hahaha), Mexican for dinner, and other random things thrown in.  Today was DairyQueen, leftover mexican food, and birthday cake at Maggie's.  Excuse me while I go throw up all over the place.

Do people live like this?  I couldn't.

Maggie turned 18!  She's the one in the photo with the mass amounts of hair.

Conversation hearts and chunky heels.

Last night was homecoming, woo!

Walking out in front of everyone was scarier than singing in Madrigal.

I'm having a serious case of senioritis and Gary says I have "seasonal depression". . . which I think means that I really don't care about anything in the winter.

I have been napping more than I need to lately. One minute I will be doing homework on my bedroom floor and then BAM! I will wake up on my bed an hour later without any recollection of falling asleep.

Rebecca said she was going to save me from myself because I was feeling especially careless and sleepy at school today. So, after I went to church I went over there to keep from sleeping. We made the cutest and least adultlike valentines ever.





















We had a Tacky homecoming dance and these are our dresses! I think they were awesomely awful. Alli's (far right) was actually slightly cute.

That's about all I can think of to report on.

Iron and Wine

Everyone is so afraid of the snow apocalypse, but we haven't got anything besides rain. If it freezes tonight I'm not going to be a happy camper, but there's not much I can do about it.

In reference to the snow (or maybe zombies, I have no idea) I heard my dad say this to my brother: "We are going to have to get a ton of water, cans of soup, ramen noodles, batteries, and 500 bags of brussel sprouts."

Those Wilsons, they are a special clan.

I finished reading Adam by Ted Dekker in two days. I physically could not put down my Kindle. I read until one in the morning last night (or is it this morning?). Ugh, Ted Dekker is a genius. I don't get scared easy, but I had to sleep with my bathroom light on Sunday night.

Here's to you Ted Dekker for creeping out a girl who has watched hundreds of movies hoping to be scared enough to leave the bathroom light on.

Speaking of weather, this Sunday we talked about the bible verses where Jesus tells the weather to stop being ridiculous and behave. I love that thought.

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side."

Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious storm came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to the disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!" -Mark 4:35-41

I find it easy to take bible verses I have heard over and over again and write them off. This Sunday I really listened to this one. A few things stood out: "they took him along, just as he was. . .", "rebuked", "Who is this?"

I found these things interesting. What was it about him that taking him just as he was is significant? Why doesn't Jesus command? I find it strange that he rebukes the waves, because rebuking someone does not necessarily mean they are going to follow orders. "Who is this?" doesn't strike me as something that I would be thinking when I watched someone control the weather.

I would probably thing, "How did he do that?" That's just me though. I don't know what that says about me and the disciples.

Oh, I found those photos of those cows I took forever ago. Thought I would make a collage.