Songs of Summer 2011, Part 1

Day 23


Since yesterday was Memorial Day, for me summer is offically here.  And what would summer be without its own soundtrack?  Here are 5 songs that have made my summer playlist so far (I'll update throughout the summer, of course)...


1) Will Smith, Summertime.  I refuse to believe that a summer playlist is complete without this song.  It's a classic.

2) Leighton Meester, Summer Girl. The movie was ehhhh, but I am only a little obsessed with Leighton Meester.  So beautiful, so talented, what's not to love?  This song is light and fun...perfect for summer.

3) Andy Grammer, Fine by Me.  He's my new favorite artist and this song illustrates why.  So catchy.

4) Oh Land, Wolf & I.   Ever since this song was featured on an episode of Gossip Girl I've had it on repeat.  So. Good.

5)  Knee Deep, Zac Brown Band (feat. Jimmy Buffet).  First of all nothing says summer like Jimmy Buffet or Zac Brown Band separately.  Together, well it's just a clash of the summertime titans.  How could I not feature this song in a playlist devoted to summer?

God is good...all the time

Day 21


Why is it that no matter how far along we are in our walks with Christ we are still so susceptible to lies?  For me a big one is that God is short-changing me.  Especially as far as this summer goes.   I keep seeing friends' posts about their exciting summers abroad or working at camps or staying in Charlottesville and it's hard not to be jealous.  I want an exciting summer where the days fly by and I wish time would slow down.  Instead, here I am, marking each day that passes off my calendar and trying to find ways to make it seem like eighty-some days is not a long time.  And failing.  Miserably.  I hate that I'm such a Debbie Downer.  I hate that I'm blaming God and His plan.  I applied both to work at a camp and a mission trip abroad.   Neither one worked out.  And the internship I have kind of fell into my lap.  Evidence that this is definitely where God wants me this summer.  But I have yet to figure out why.  When I do, I will def let ya know.  But, I do fully believe that He has me here for a reason.  He is giving me the opportunity to pour into the youth group at my church and love others.  His greatest commandment.  I should be praising Him unceasingly.  Yet, all I can do is dwell on how I feel like I'm getting the short-end of the fabulous summer stick.  Kind of like how sometimes I believe the lie that real joy comes when distancing myself from God.  It's so easy to be deceived and I'm ashamed that I'm so weak.  But my weakness just displays the glory of God and for that I can't complain.  


Yesterday, my friend took me to the lake with her family and as we were taking a boat ride along the lake I was just struck by how God is so faithful.  Just in that afternoon I felt hope.  God hasn't left my side since I've been home and He will provide good things this summer that I could not experience if I were anywhere else.  Even in things as simple as going to the lake, God knows how to romance my heart.  I had such a wonderful time yesterday and I know that God was behind all of it.  I'm not here because God doesn't love me.  I'm here because this is where He needs me to further His kingdom.  Trust me, I'm still not completely content with being here, but through His grace, I'm working on it.  I'm not sure if I'll ever figure out a way not to think about how many days I have left until UVA, but for now  I'll just be thankful for these baby steps.

Oh, Smith Mtn. Lake

Source

Bored Already

Day 19


So, I haven't even been home a week and I'm already bored.  I hate having this much free time and being away from Charlottesville.  I thought maybe this summer would be easier as far as adjusting goes, but I'm back to the exact same place I was a year ago.  I'm not good at being alone so much.  I thrive off of being around people.  But I think this is God's way of teaching me that I draw too much on other people.  I'm actually really convicted that I don't love and trust God a whole lot when times are tough.  It's not something that I'm proud of but I will humbly admit that I am so weak.  As daunting as it is, I think that God is using this summer to help me grow and discipline me. "My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." Proverbs 3:11-12.  I know that God is disciplining me because He loves me and that is the Truth I must cling to.  I just keep telling myself that I just need to make it to June.  Then it's almost July and then it's almost August.  Right?  


That is what I've been struggling wth all week.  Hopefully once my internship picks up (I'm interning with my youth pastor), things will start to look up!  I'll let you know how it goes.  In the mean time I'm going to work on my baking and crafting skills.  Today's mission:  oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Om nom nom nom.  


I played this song on repeat yesterday to cheer me up:

Andy Grammer, Keep Your Head Up

Beach Week

Day 15


So, last week I had one of the most incredible weeks of my life.  I went to the Outerbanks with 70 of my closest friends.  Well maybe not my closest friends, but some really incredible people in the Christian community at UVA.  I actually didn't know many of the 70 very well at first, but that's why I'm so glad I went.  I was able to build a lot of new relationships and that was probably the best part of the week.  The weather was great (a bit chilly sometimes) and it was so great to just be at the beach.  I loved the community and the place so so much.  I was able to play on the beach with so many people I love.  I couldn't ask for a better way to kick off my summer.  We did some really fun things, such as: had a dance party on the beach; made smores on the stove (we couldn't do a bonfire because of lightning, unfortunately); played octamate (ultimate frisbee with a dead octapus...so weird, but so fun); hot-tubbed; played many games of cornhole; swing danced; consumed a lot of ice cream; watched Tangled; took way too many pictures; read a couple books; escaped the real world.  I think that was the best part, getting away from my problems.  It was a much needed break from the high-stress atmosphere of UVA. God really blessed me with a week away from a lot of things that I've been dealing with.  I don't think it's possible to acurately articulate how wonderful and needed the week was.  Here are some pics:

2nd Year Memz

Day 4


So as I've been saying goodbye to friends and packing for the beach I'm starting to get a lil bit sentimental.  My apartment keeps getting emptier and emptier and I can't help but think about how fast this year (and especially this most recent semseter) have gone by.  I've been reflecting on all that happened this semester; here are some of the most memorable parts of 2nd year (in no particular order)...


-went to NYC for the first time on Agape's Alternative Spring Break
-moved my stuff up 5 flights of stairs
-led an amazing first year small group
-experienced heartbreak
-roadtripped to Georgia with some wonderful friends
-pulled my first all-nighters
-spent way too much $$$ on the Corner
-ran my first 5k
-was introduced to the incredibleness that is a frozen yogurt bar
-lots of unrequited crushing
-jumped off the rope at Blue Hole
-studied way more than I ever have in my life
-went to my first Apple Blossom festival
-made new friends and grew closer with old ones
-dressed up as unicorn
-started blogging
-lost my phone in D.C.
-faced a lot of rejection
-took a dance class for the first time in over a year
-experienced God in new, incredible ways
-went to my first DMB concert
-faceplanted on the tracks during a freak hailstorm
-learned how to speak up in discussion sections
-nommed A LOT of chips and salsa
-ran out of meal swipes way too early
-rushed the field at a football game
-took advantage of all the free food I could

OBX

Day 5

I'm leaving for the beach any moment now.  I couldn't be happier.  Soon I will be smelling like sunscreen and kissed by sun.  I'll be too busy enjoying the sand and shore to blog, so see ya in a week!

Listening to: "Summer Wind" - Frank Sinatra

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye...

Day 1 (of summer...attempting to use all this free time to become a better blogger)


So today is the first official day of summer.  It's a mixed bag of emotions for me.  On one hand I am just so relieved to be finished with finals and the high-stress lifestyle of a UVA student.  And the beach is calling my name.  No matter how cliche it is, my favorite place in the world is anywhere with sand, an ocean and warmth.  In several days, I'll be in the Outer Banks with many people I love.  It is absolutely the best combination of beach and friends.  Can I just go now?

(This is actually Wild Dunes and not OBX, but, whatever, it's a pic of a beach.)

Fortunately, I have an amazing summer internship with my church and the youth ministry program.  It'll be an incredible opportunity to pour into kids in the youth group and encourage them on their walk with Christ.  I'm praying that God will be so present in this job.  And, since I'll be at home I'll also be able to reconnect with my close friends from high school, which is such a blessing.  And living with my family for the next 3 months will be THE most wonderful part.  I love them so much and as I grow older my time with them is limited so I want to take advantage of time with them this summer.

Dream Team, circa 2010

On the other hand, I'll terribly miss all the people I've grown close to here. I'm such a relational person so being away from so many people I love all at once tears me apart. All of these people have encouraged me and helped me grow in countless ways and the thought of spending 3 months away from them is daunting.  It feels like an eternity even though I know fall semester will be here before I know it.  Tonight I had to say goodbye to several close friends and it was so hard.  I know I'm being irrational, it's not like I'll never see them again, but it's difficult nonetheless.  I trust that God is going to do so much with this summer and I don't want to miss out on it because I'm counting down the days until I'm back at school.  Yesterday, a very wise friend told me to "be where your feet are" and I am going to make that my summer motto.


"Wherever I go, whatever I do, I wonder where I am in my relationship to you."