“Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can’t make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college
student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity.

Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.”

Samson

Christmas break has been great. I miss Birmingham. I miss Newks. I don’t know what it is about my coworkers but I’m happy there. Truly happy. I feel so dumb saying this but I honestly believe I am happiest at Newks.

I’ve been working a lot but I’ve also hung out with good friends. Relationships make my life and not being able to really see my friends for months at a time leaves a hole in my heart. I miss them all so much and it is so great to be able to be with them this break.

The only downside of this break is that I have been working so much that I have not stopped to appreciate everything and enjoy this Christmas season. Of course, I have enjoyed working and being reunited with my coworkers but I haven’t really watched any Christmas movies or baked or those types of Christmasty things. There are also so many shows I need to catch up on and books I need to read this break… it’s overwhelming!

I’m currently reading Pride and Prejudice and I absolutely love it. I recently read The Fault in Our Stars and it’s pretty great.

Anyways, I’m hoping to do nothing but watch Christmas movies and eat food and read and watch tv for the rest of today and tomorrow.

 

Better Love

Life has been good lately. I think I can finally say I’m happy with Auburn. I would not go as far as to say 100% in general, because who REALLY is 100% happy with their life? But I finally know that I made the right choice, and that making friends takes time, moving to a new place with 25,000 new people takes time to adjust. I expected it all to happen right when I got here and when I didn’t I immediately blamed it on Auburn.

I will say, though, that I can NOT wait to go home for Christmas. Yeah, it is weird being home and having parents to answer to, but its home. And home is good. Home is home.

Me and my main guh, Abigail were the only 2 white people at a black wedding. It was DEFINITELY interesting, but very fun. I was the only white girl wobbling in a sea of 50 black people. It was hilarious, and probably something I’ll always remember.

Thanksgiving break was great! I got to work with my favorite coworkers and was FINALLY reunited with my best friends. I miss them so much. More and more as each day passes!

My sorority had our Christmas cocktail this week. It was a lot of fun and a great last time of all being together before Christmas break!

I got to work the merch table for one of my favorite bands, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors (see blog post about them, here) They are involved in Young Life, and I love them! I’m also going to see them on Friday in Birmingham, so I got to see them this past week (from afar) and then this Friday up close, again! I’m excited. They always put on a great show. Oh, and that is Drew Holcomb and I. Ellie (his wife and fellow bandmate) just had a baby so she didn’t take part in the meet in greet.

The only thing standing between me and highway 280 are 5 finals. Ugh. Ew. Shoot me. The reason this blog post is being written is because I am trying to do everything but study.