drew and ellie

drew and ellie holcomb are so amazing. i am so glad that i went with the girls a couple weeks ago to listen to them. they did a free concert at town creek here in auburn and i fell in love. they are the absolute cutest couple. he plays the guitar, she the mandolin and they both sing. she is my inspiration for my voice, that is with her harmonies and such. she is so gifted and she blends so beautifully with her husband. they are p r e c i o u s.

so this weekend was the first football game of the season. it was a lot of fun for sure. there's something about football though, i mean there is something so spectacular about college football. especially in the south. we hold it so high. but walking around saturday, watching thousands of orange and blue clad fans, little family tailgates, empty solo cups and experiencing that intoxicating smell of burgers, hotdogs, beer, and fresh cut grass made me love it even more. honestly, the beginning video this year did not do it for me as it has in the past, however the band did it's job. i expect to hear a little more "sweet carolines" though . . .

i love how one week can be so different from the past weeks. how although this college experience gives you ample opportunity to create structure and a set schedule, there is also a great deal of freedom. let's just say my sleep doctor is N O T going to be very happy with me come october 13th.

still laughing about my french class. that is a whole other blog waiting to happen. haha.

praying for patrick and sara every day. watched blood diamond this weekend... did N O T help the desire to be back in africa. they said TIA like a bunch in that movie... ahhh

also CHRIS and LAURA are PREGNANT!!!!!! oh cannot wait. i feel like an aunt, but i'm just a little second cousin. this child is going to be so spoiled.

n e w n e s s

n e w place. n e w roommates. n e w classes. n e w friends. n e w alphas.

this year has brought a ton of new stuff; some expected things, some unexpected.

although it's been awhile since i've written, i felt tonight was appropriate. i went to the most amazing thing in the world tonight. ellie and drew holcomb are amazing. they were at town creek tonight and they rocked my world.

i started something else new. cornerstone asked me to start singing there. it's another new leaf, a new adventure. i really enjoy it a ton.

but back to what this newness means for me. a lot of deep thinking. a lot of heart aches. a ton actually. but this is what growing is. growing deeper, growing stronger. where this year will lead me, honestly i have no clue. i am so very excited about it though, i am experiencing a new freedom. so i will continue on, singing.

baby melanie.. youre in my prayers. youre in a better place now. i l o v e y o u

may 8

today is friday may the 8th. i leave auburn in exactly four days for Uganda.

yesterday, i took my last exams as a freshman. and i packed my car to the brim and drove home to mongtomery. as i was driving home and singing (totally normal) i almost had a wreck. yesterday there were floods in montgomery and my mom and dad had called to warn me, but i was kinda like "oh sure...floods". since when does it flood in montgomery. well as i was driving home, i saw the floods and was shocked. at one point i almost slammed on my breaks it was so crazy. i felt so bad for the families who had their homes messed up. as i was walking last night i saw a couple homes in my neighbothood that were having restoration work done to their homes. it reminded me to be thankful that the flood did not mess up my home.

then my train of thoughts went to uganda. restoration. restore. bingo.

that is what we are going over there to do, restore. bring restoration to the people in uganda looking for healing. we get to being restoration to eye sight which is something i am truly excited about. the Eyes for Africa organization gave us about two or three hundred pairs of eye glasses for the people in uganda. it is going to be a very fascinating experience, as will the rest of the trip.

today i am praying for a gentle spirit with people. not only my family, but with people that i will encounter daily on the trip. i am so thankful for our team. we all mesh so weirdly together that it is only by God's grace. i have just loved getting to be around them and growing together before this journey.

sometimes i find myself getting caught up in the whole schedule thing, but i know that it will not be a very tight schelule over there. i am learning to be flexible, well fluid. fluidity. just like water. i love that illustration.

well that is what is currently on my mind. until later... law and order calls.

for sara

shocking... i think not

is it shocking to you that i am not studying for finals right now. ha. not shocking to me at all. why? well because i am about to embark on an incredible journey across the world. yes i am referring to unganda. one week and one day away. goodness it is just so shocking to me that after so many years of praying and pleading with the Lord to send me, He is.

ah so exciting.

i have been packing up my dorm room this week and on thursday when i went home with my parents, we took all my clothes. all but a few things for me to wear this week. my closet is completely bare, save my dress from church this morning and a robe ( yes a robe). everything in my room is boxed or in a basket or tub awaiting it's departure back to the Gump. i just cannot believe that i am moving out. i mean it feels like two days ago that i moved in hollifield. it's just craziness.

i am also pretty sad that i am not going to be living with mary evelyn. i am super happy about living with sara and laura! i really, really am. but i am sad not to see precious mev everyday. she has been such a blessing and gracious friend this year and she is sooo great. i'm just so happy she is going to be in montgomery this summer...

church was marvelous today. i have a new favorite song and i would sing it for you... but that would be dumb i guess. ha

i will fall at your feet, i will fall at your feet, and i will worship you. the feeling you gave your all for us. surrendered your life upon that cross, great is the love brought up for all, this is OUR God.

great words. powerful words. our God, the same God in africa, the same God in america. He is OUR God.

ending

i am quite embarrassed that i have not posted in so long. in preparation for ending my freshman year, a lot had been going on and a lot of things have happened. however, that is no real excuse not to write.

i have been really working on getting ready for uganda. i leave in two weeks. in two short weeks i will half way across the world, teaching and preparing hearts for the coming of the King. i honestly forget sometimes that i am going. next sunday is our commissioning service at cornerstone. then that afternoon we have our last meeting before we leave. it's remarkable to me how the Lord takes a desire in your heart and makes it happen. He is so faithful! the Lord does give you the desires of your heart when you seek after him with your whole heart!

i am looking forward to sharing the good news with the people in uganda.we practiced the other day and i starting think, Lord, what if i cannot do this. but then Christ showed me a picture of him on his knees with the children, just as i will be, just telling them the story of his Father. and that is all i have to do. share the story and show the story through my life. i am so eager to be there.

i heard this song today and it touched my soul. i wanted to share.

When there's nothing to believe in, I be live in you
Forget the past and let my hand in yours be the proof
Though the strong could be my company, you're the one I choose
So remember, I believe in you

I know it feels like every eye is watching you
Waiting for you to fall, expecting you to lose
But I see victory, so all you have to do
Is remember, I believe in you

I believe, even when I see you crying
I believe, let me dream for you
When nothing comes from trying
Remember, I believe in you

There will come a day when love will lift you out of here
There will come a day when love will bring the truth
There will come a day when love will free you from your fear
And you'll remember, I believe in you

I believe, even when I see you crying
I believe, let me dream for you
When nothing comes from trying
Remember, I believe in you

well until tomorrow, God BLess

rainy day

it's finally spring here, which means tons of pollen and thankfully tons of sun. with the exception of today of course. woke up to one of those stay in bed days, but i had class at eight. so i trudged through the rain to class, enduring the cold wet hours to follow.
although it is raining, and it has been for the past two days, there is something so refreshing about it. for example, i was sitting in music appreciation class when mr. dickerson quoted dolly parton. random, i thought, however the words were quite meaningful. he said, " you can't have a rainbow unless you go through the rain." perfect, i thought. that is life right there. a great application to our lives. our lives have rain like today and rain like ivan, but in the end, God always provides a promise of a rainbow in the end.

the other day i was thinking about uganda and i was praying for my team. then it hit me how close i am to leaving. it's less than two months away. two months! i am so eager to be there, soaking up the joy and pouring out the love of Christ. and in my eagerness to be over there, i did some research on Swahili words that i may use in uganda. i learner my favorite one, thank you very much... asante sana. it flows so well and i know that i will use it a lot. i know i use it a lot already, asante sana.

enjoying the rain the lord gives, as the earth soaks up the rain, i am soaking up the joy of the Lord through his salvation. Asante sana Jesus.