One Life Matters.

      Does what you do really matter...is it even significant at all? Does one life make a difference in a world full of billions of people? These may be questions that have all raced through our minds at one point or another, as we continously strive to find our purpose in life. And many times, we get so caught up in going through the motions, we come to believe some things are just simply meaningless. In the book The Purpose Driven Life, it goes on to state that most people struggle with three basic issues in life. The first is identity: "Who am I?" The second is importance: "Do I matter?" The third is impact: "What is my place in life?" For many, these are not easy questions to answer but I have come to firmly believe that nothing in life is arbitrary and every person matters.     
     This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a weekend conference with my church, in which the main theme was centered on how one life truly does matter...and this has been on my mind all week. I have always believed that a person's life is important, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much importance a person's life really holds. Each of our lives is of significant value and worth. We may not know it at times, but believe me when I say..it matters. When I was thinking about this, one quote came to mind. It states, "It's amazing how one person can change your whole life without meaning to. It's like they can be a big part of your world and not even know." To me, that is part of the beauty of life...where we have the ability to impact someone's life...the ability to impact their world....and the ability to form relationships and love one another. Personally, I am blessed beyond measure with the people the Lord has placed in my life, as they have impacted my life more than they will ever know.
       Recently, I watched "The Help" starring Emma Stone and after I watched it, I related it a lot to this main concept from the conference. In the film, nobody cared about the maid's point of view and treated them with nothing but disrespect...that was until the character of Skeeter came along. To make a long story short, she changed their world by just sitting down and listening to their stories, as her world was also changed. All in all, my point is that one life matters. Your life matters. Your story matters. Everything was created for a purpose, including us. The Lord reminds us in Isaiah 44:2, "I am your Creator. You were in my care before you were born."

#22, #41, #84

#22 Go ice skating
After the fall semester wrapped up, I got to spend some quality time with friends and we planned some fun Christmas activities. For instance, a few friends and I got to go ice skating in Market Square and then we walked around and looked at all the lights downtown (and had a photoshoot). It was such a great way to start Christmas break!

                                                     

                                                     
                                                       
#41 Visit a friend
As the new year rang in, I got to spend it with some good friends. I went to Murfreesboro to visit a good friend of mine and catch up with her (we even made a dance video). It was the best way to start the new year.                  

                                                               
#84 Try something new
I got the chance to go skiing with a group of friends before classes start back up. We went to Sugar Mountain in North Carolina and had such a fun day! I was excited that I got to try something new (granted I think every muscle in body hurts). But, I'm so glad I got to go and I hope to go skiing more now.

 

#50

50. see a concert

Last night, my good friend Cheyenne and I went to see a concert at The Square Room in Knoxville. It was such a fun experience and we meet many new friends throughout the night. But, we went to see Elliott Yamin perform and a guy named Mikey Wax opened for him. I never really heard about Mikey Wax before, but he was amazingggg! If you have never heard him...you need to check his music out becasue you are missing out! (I've been listening to his music all day today) Then, Elliott Yamin and his band played after. They were so good and so much fun to watch. After, we got to hang around and meet all of them. We talked with Mikey, Elliott, and his band. Overall, I am so glad I got to go and the night was so much fun..and one I needed because school has been kicking my butt! Hopefully, I will be making more trips to The Square Room soon!

                                                                       Mikey Wax

    

Elliott Yamin

At The Square Room

#27

27. go to the Tennessee fair!

When I was growing up, the fair was such a big deal..school                     
would even be closed for "fair day." I mostly went to the fair
to eat all the fried, greased, unhealthy foods...which was glorious.
It was the one day I could eat all this stuff and not feel bad about
it! But anyways, it has been years since I last went to the fair and I have really wanted to go back. So last night, a few friends and
I decided to go to the TN Valley Fair in Knoxville. It was definitely
an adventure to say the least.

-We watched the rodeo where one of the cowboys got hurt very
badly..an ambulance had to come and get him..it was scary! (they
believe he will be ok but please pray for that cowboy)
-We watched some bullriding...In my opinion, whoever came up
with the idea of riding a bull had to be out of their mind! But, those guys were intense and so good at it!
- I overcame a fear of mine as I rode the ferris wheel..I hate
heights..but it was fun (granted it wasn't the biggest ferris wheel I've seen).

I enjoyed going back to the fair, but I think as a kid, you think the fair is this huge ordeal that is the best thing ever. I realized last night how much I 've changed since then. For instance, as a kid, I would have ridden every ride there, eaten everything in sight, heights didn't really make me nervous, and I probably would have stayed there for hours and hours. But, I just think that's what happens as you get older. However, I loved the fact of just walking around the whole fair because it brought back some good memories from when I was younger.
                                                         Pictures from TN Valley Fair

                                                                  On the ferris wheel

ferris wheel entrance

                                              

#31 and #45

Well hey there folks! So, it has been quite a while since I have last blogged, but I have been super busy with school this past month. So, I decided to take a break and for a little while and update you on some things...by marking off a  few things on my 101 list! woohoo!!

31. Learn to eat with chopsticks
Yes...I am just as surprised as you are about this one but I finally accomplished the task of eating my entire meal with chopsticks. If you know me at all, you know that I am not the most graceful person, which includes eating. But, I decided to put this on the list because I have tried to do it several times and never had any success..until a week ago! A few friends and I went to a sushi place one night called Nama, where I ordered sushi for the first time ever (it was delicious). I decided it was time to learn to eat with chopsticks..in which my good friend Amber showed me the right technique to use. So, I can officially mark this one off!   And you never know, maybe I will go buy some chopsticks and eat every meal with them...then people will be asking me for my techniques..but I'll take one step at a time :)


                                                                                    45. Sing around a campfire
So, this one is a little different than learning to eat with chopsticks and it's a little more meaningful. This past weekend I attended a college ministry retreat, also known as the "Get To Know Ya" retreat. It was the second year I went and I love this time where you just "get to know" other college students from the church. On Friday night, we had a huge bonfire outside (cause it would be dangerous to have one inside) and we just had time of sharing what God is doing in our lives. After that, one of the members of the college band began playing his guitar and singing, in which we all joined in. It was one of my favorite parts of the retreat, as a group of college students gathered aorund a fire to worship. Therefore, I can now mark off singing (and I might add beautifully singing :) )  around a campfire.

 

The Big Orange Mess...in The Big Orange Country

Tomorrow starts the first day of class..which will also be the first day of senior year...wait what?!! Yes, this will be my senior year of college. It's crazy to think about how this time has already come and it seriously feels like the past three years have happened in a blink of an eye.As I prepare to start my final year of college at UT, I think about my freshman year and starting this new chapter of my life. As my friends and family know, I absolutely LOVE Knoxville and it feels like home to me...but it was not always like that. My first year here was hard, overwhelming, and nothing I imagined it would be. There were many days that I would lay in my dorm room and just wonder if I made the right decision coming to Knoxville. But, as I decided to stay and continue my time at the University of Tennessee, I realized the Lord had a plan set out for me all along. One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11, which says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." This verse has held so much meaning for me as I have been on my college journey.

So, as I start the final part of my chapter here at UT, I look back and see how God really does make all things beautiful. I can honestly say that I would not be the same person if I didn't stay here and I can honestly say that I wouldn't have wanted my college years to be any different..because they have been some of the best years of my life.

                                        

Coming to the University of Tennessee, I have found many things here.
I found my best friends here...friends that have become like family.
I have found amazing opportunites here..such as going to New York City and Chicago.
I have found life-changing experiences...such as cherish the important things.
I have found traditions here...going to football games and singing Rocky Top every five seconds

I realize this is a more in-depth post, but I wanted to share a little of my journey at Tennessee and why it has meant so much to me.So, on that note, I hope that wherever you are in life, to never give up because you may not realize how much the Lord is working in your life and what a wonderful plan He has set for you.

Rocky Top, you will always be home sweet home to me!

                                             
                                       
                                         

#75

75. Read The Hunger Games

This past week, I decided to start reading the Hunger Games series, and let me tell you..it was awesome! Before reading, I heard from a lot of people that this series was so good and such an easy read. To be honest, I am not much of a reader but once I actually sit down with a book I can't stop..so maybe I should do it more often. I loved the fact of just sitting down and reading a book...there is something so relaxing about it. But anyways, I bought The Hunger Games and I started reading it and I seriously finished the book later that night...I always wanted to know what was going to happen next.



So, I would highly recommend this series for you to read. It was a great book and I think guys and girls would both enjoy it. There is a little of romance and action for everyone to enjoy. Also, if you have any free time, I encourage you to think about reading a good book before you decide to sit on the couch and watch TV.