Roommate Triple Date

Since we felt like this after the final toady and two weeks of intensive class are over:

We decided to adjust our attitudes and go on a little adventure.

As you know, if you live in Toccoa, after the beautiful first day of powdery snow, everything iced over and turned into 8 inches of glazed ice sheets everywhere. We’ve been slipping and embarrassingly falling these last few days going in and out of the dorm so we decided to actually make use of it and go ice skating on the soccer field with our humble and homemade gear.

The six of us (roommate triple date) consisted of Broski and I [rep room 207], Amy and Katherine [rep room 108], and Heaven Belinda and DeeDee [reppin' room 214]. We  hopped in Susan (DeeDee’s beloved car)…

where we all squished and piled on top of each other all the way to the fields to find no ice, but slush. boo. However, we found one small patch in the shade and made the most out of that!

Of course, the fun came with a bit of danger. Can’t really express how clumsy we are..

Broski tries to sled.

Belinda demonstrates a riskier option. (note DeeDee’s diva style.. )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Climbed the tower to get some glamour shots.

 

 

 

Not my fave picture of us, but eh.

 

We found poop on the field.. we had to. (for M. Poops.. er, I mean M. Coops)

 

 

Winterim is over! Hooray!

 

with love from the mountains,

H.

 

Timshel

You know when music speaks? When you feel a song and a melody seeping into your soul?

That happened to me today. I know everyone and their mother thinks they discovered the band Mumford &Sons, which makes them cool and yadayada, but I won’t pretend to do that (Megan Boylen actually did!). Instead, I’ll praise the Lord that someone did discover their art. Literally every song I’ve experienced by them moves me. Anyways..

Some days one song speaks to me more than the others and the Holy Spirit moves through it. Yep, I said the Holy Spirit moves through “secular music”. (Take that Professor Stuft!)

A recurring conversation I’ve had with a few of my friends here in Toccoa is how God has gifted us with passions and talents which He desires us to use all for His glory. I don’t have to be in an all-christian genre or write only christian words or paint only Bible verses. God wants all of me; this includes things that I love doing which certain stuffy, narrow-minded legalistic people think leaves room for Satan to enter and corrupt that action.. Whoa, tangent.

Back to the Mumford song:

I love when something that’s been happening in life comes through something another has created (through God) and it relates to me in a strikingly beautiful way. True art, ya know? That’s what I felt when I heard Timshel today on my playlist.

And death is at your doorstep
And it will steal your innocence
But it will not steal your substance

But you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this
As brothers we will stand and we’ll hold your hand
Hold your hand

Timshel means “Thou Mayest” in the Hebrew translation; we have a choice to let God and the community around us to hold our hand in times of despair. God is waiting for me (for you) to look to Him and say, “yes”. He’s been patiently waiting all along, even in our darkest, with an out-stretched hand ready to pull us up. Think of that on your worst day and tell me it doesn’t get better.

Another cool part? He’s placed the brothers (and sisters) to be that physical hand in our lives. Man, I need to remind myself this daily. I am NOT alone in my struggles which will ultimately just bring glory to Him anyways. So, that’s my rant about what God showed me through the creation of man’s creation.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Rest in His hand today. Choose Him.

Winterim Experience

Finally!

Living in the North GA mountains pays off: we received approx. 8 inches of white, fluffy, beautiful SNOW which cause class to be canceled for two whole days. This snow was so different than any I have ever seen in Georgia and made me feel as if I was actually in CO again.. only for a second. What made it about 300 times better was the fact that I got to spend it with some of my best friends, playing like 4-yr-olds for hours. So, even though we missed class and now have to take a midterm tomorrow and a final on Friday (yikes!) I wouldn’t trade this loooong weekend for anything. Here’s some pics to share my weekend with you. Enjoy!

 

 

Katherine displays our form of sledding..

 

 

Broski thought she was in Narnia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So excited to be in the snow!!

 

 

 

Broski and Kath

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My favorite people

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Falls.

Hope your snow days were just as fun!

 

Love.

Robots in Disguise?

So I realize, with complete humility, that blogs are really for people who are important.

I am not.

However, even if 1.4 people ever read this, I don’t really mind. I’m terribly inconsistent. I really want to change that… maybe the habit of blogging will do that, eh? Possibly the unconscious feeling like someone out there in the great outerworld that is the web cares will be my motivation. Why else am I trying this again? boredom, possibly and honestly. Truly, I want to not waste my time and maybe my intellect will benefit by deep thoughts poured out onto a blog.

plus, it’s fun to look back on these public journals. Guilty pleasure=scrolling through random blogs for hours. I like feeling like I know someone by their blog. Little creepy, I know. Ah, well.

Anyways, speaking of change: this is why I’m writing. I know with New Year’s Resolutions floating around the word “change” is being thrown out into pop culture like the next cool thing, but I don’t really do those. However, there are things I want to transform in my life about myself.

I guess it’s been one of those periods in my life where God is humbling me and breaking me to pieces. And, even though it’s kinda rough, I love it. It’s a transformation, I suppose. And not like the infamous alien robots. It’s much much deeper and rooted somewhere in my soul that cries out for a renewing of my old skin- cracked and flawed- ready to be made alive and breathing in Christ.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Cor. 5:17)

I belong in HIM; not this world, but HIM. So why am I stuck in the depravity of this life? I am to be transformed in the renewal of my mind and living in power in the love of my constant God. I had a professor explain the other day that there’s a line that Christ transcended when He was transfigured. He was human, just like us insignificant bundles of weak flesh who are constantly changing because we are pathetic, and turned into the God who is unchangeable so we could live in His glory for eternity. He did that for me?

yep.

And we’re called to be transformed into other-worldliness because of it.

So, instead of tacking up a post-it in my dorm of a list flimsy insignificant things I hate about myself that I want to change, I’m changing my mindset, throwing it out the window even. I’m transformed because I’ve seen the GLORY of the Lord. How could I not be transformed in my way of life? He has changed it. Now, I want to live that. Truly and honestly. With every desire, I want only to bring glory to His beautiful name. The Creator is constant and never transforms from His character.

Oh, boy am I lacking when I think how small I am in comparison to that.

Okay, I’ll stop ranting. My next post won’t be so heavy. I just had to say my piece about entering 2011.

Happy New Year!

How YOU can get me to Africa:

Hello friends!

As some of you know, I am planning on traveling to Burkina Faso, Africa this summer (June 17-28) for a missions trip. Because it’s Africa and on a whole other continent, it’s going to cost quite a bit to get there, which is where YOU come into play.

The total cost of the trip is $2700 (yikes!) not including shots and all that entails entering a country such as Burkina. So, you might be asking, “Well, Hailey, that’s cool, but what do I have to do with this?” Great question! You have EVERYTHING to do with this. I am raising the money (yes, all 3 Gs of it) because I have no other way to get there. My idea of how you can help? A couple of ways:

1.Photography: As some of you may have noticed, I mess around with photography and art. (go check out some of my albums to check out my art) I will be offering my services in exchange for donations that will go 100% to my trip. I’m not setting a fixed price, because I feel it’s however you want contribute to my traveling. If you feel comfortable about it, you can even talk to your parents about sponsoring my trip/contributing (tell them it’s a charitable contribution, TAX deductible–I can give you details on that–and it’s for an excellent cause!)

I can shoot your senior portraits, couples, friends..whatever you want! I’m up for whatever venue you want, however you want to shoot, how many wardrobe changes you want to make, however long you want to “hire” me for, and whatever style of shoot you want to do..basically, I’m all yours if you’re wanting to help me out

2.ART: Some of you may have seen a bit of my portfolio or pieces of drawings.. I’m willing to be commissioned if you want a painting, drawing, etc.. just know that this takes me longer so: a)it might be longer to get to you and b)think about how much you want to donate for my time (and the cause,of course!)

3. Donate from the goodness of your heart!: Not photogenic (you think!) but have a heart for Africa and my trip? You can donate without making me give you something in return (but don’t get me wrong, I’m willing to work!!)

Please message me or talk to me if you’re interested in any way. I have details about the trip, how you can donate and get tax deductibles for it, or scheduling shoots. I really appreciate your efforts in getting me to a country that is in need of love! Well, I think that’s all.. you guys are great!

Much Love!
Hailey

Always

This is the start
This is your heart
This is the day you were born
This is the sun
These are your lungs
This is the day you were born

And I am always yours

These are the scars
Deep in your heart
This is the place you were born
This is the hole
Where most of your soul
Comes ripping out
From the places you’ve been torn

And it is always yours
But I am always yours

Hallelujah!
I’m caving in
Hallelujah!
I’m in love again
Hallelujah!
I’m a wretched man
Hallelujah!
Every breath is a second chance

And it is always yours
And I am always yours

———–

God, I’m always yours. I’ll run until my heart caves in. Here I am, Send me.  This is my life for You.

  

What’s in a Word?

Hello Blogging world!

I have to admit that this is all quite overwhelming. I have a blog… never really thought I would say that. Honestly, this may not last long. If anyone is actually reading this, I feel like I need to explain myself a little and my motivation for this spilling-myself-on-the-internet thing.

I’m not really the type to put all my emotions, thoughts, and dreams displayed for the world to see. I’m quite the opposite. I tend to really keep to myself in huge settings (I am trying to convince myself I don’t have agoraphobia.. how frightening!). If you know me, you probably know that I adore spilling my guts in small-setting situations.. it’s truly one of the things I live for. But considering this is the ultimate large-setting venue, I’m really stepping out of my comfort zone.. which brings me to my point.

(If you can’t already tell, I get distracted from my purpose.. probably doesn’t help that I’ve been journaling for years and no one cares if there’s a point!)

My Motivation for entering the Great Cosmic World of Blogging:

1. Growing Up and Away…. You may know that I have mere months before I fly the nest of my home and soar into the big people world. I’m going to college! I feel like I’ve been literally waiting my whole life to go to college. You think I’d be prepared then, eh? Absolutely wrong. I am utterly terrified to grow up now that it’s knocking on the door of my comfy little home. Maybe the correct term would be anxious.. I am truly ready to start living the life God has called me to and I know this is the stepping stone to that glorious future He has in store (more about that later). Anywho, I am planning on attending Toccoa Falls College next year. While still in GA, it’s about 2 1/2 hours away.. the perfect distance to lose touch and still be close enough to miss everything! Thus, I have created a tool of communication utilized in a blog. Of course, everyone and their pet rock have a facebook/twitter , so how much do yuo really keep up with on there? I thought it might be an effective way for all my lovelies to know what’s going on in my mind as I start this adventure. These first few will truly be a warm up for the next up-coming months.

2. Perfecting a Skill I Love…. If you know me at all, you know I love the art of expression known as writing. It has always been my most-loved subject in school as well as a relaxing and challenging past time. By rhe looks of this entry, you also know that I have trouble with the amount of candor while writing.. my thoughts are all over the place, yet sincere. I am convinced that some of the things I write I will never be able to say out loud (maybe another reason I’m soft for love letters..the boldness it requires!). I’ll admit I’ve been pointed out as awkward and even ill-prepared when it comes to speeches, but when I write.. oh! I feel like I am a complete other being.. someone who people care about their opinions and thoughts. I can write with eloquence and structure an analysis or idea with biting wit or effective persuasion with confidence that my mouth never allows me. In all, I wish to use this as a practice for a possible future in one of my passions. (I also need help in concisely producing an idea.. if you could’nt already tell.)

3. To Share with the World Who I am.. stylistically , that is. I love art and any definition that qualifies as such. Images or sounds or ideas created for a purpose– those are really the things that make my soul smile. So.. I paint, I draw, I write, I listen, I photograph, and I collect art. That’s something I will most assuredly be sharing on this good ‘ol blog.

Because I feel like this is already too long, I’ll leave you to digest everything I’ve just written.. of course that would imply that someone actually read this silly thing!

Happy Thursday!

Hailey