Have you seen my anthology?

I'm back! I am slowly crawling out of my homework/pledging cave and am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Being the great bloggees that you are I know you will understand. After being almost done with my first semester as an Aztec I have learned a great deal. My learning experience is far from over though. This week I have had to tackle Love Library. Oh my goodness. This has not been an easy task. So, I have to write a research paper on Polynesian Dance. Sounds fun right? Well I didn't realize how difficult it was to find books on classical Polynesian dance. That was an obstacle in itself. The SDSU library website makes things everything way more difficult. I'm not bitter or anything though.
So Tuesday I finally worked up enough courage to go searching for the book I needed. I had no idea where to begin so I just picked a random place and headed there. I ended up taking some hidden elevator to the special reserves. When I saw that all the books looked really old and were locked away I figured I was in the wrong place. So, I put on my sweetest smile and said, "I'm really lost." The nice lady pointed me in the right direction. However, as I'm about to get into the secret elevator a creepy guy gets in it. Being in an elevator with you someone you don't know is super sketch and awkward. I pulled the typical girl excuse, pretended I had to go the bathroom, and booked it out of there so I didn't have to go with him. Then another guy came so I was basically standing in the bathroom waiting till I could go in the secret elevator by myself. That shouldn't be so difficult! After going to two more wrong places it began to feel like the college version of "Are you my mother?"
"Have you seen my anthology???" I eventually found my anthology right next to the same place I go on the computers everday at lunch. I didn't care though. I had it in my hands finally and there were no more creepy elevators to go through.
Today was the sequel. "Have you seen my video of polynesian dancers?" I'm getting really good at smiling and asking for help. I'm pretty sure that is a skill I will use throughout the rest of my directionally-challenged life. To top things off though I had to ask where to plug my headphones in after I eventually found my video. The guy at the desk had his headphones on though so I had to say it three times and wave at him before he realized I was talking to him. Meanwhile the guy in the room behind him was just watching and laughing. You laugh Mr. Media Center Guy this Aztec has conquered Love Library against all odds!!

Alphabets and Bananas

Tomorrow is Friday and that is a reason to celebrate. I really wanted to write a blog for all you bloggees, but I am having a hard time developing any one thought well enough to be blog worthy. So instead of depriving you of a blog and myself of the fun of creating one for you, I will share with you some of the random things I think you need to know. Prepare to take a journey into... the brain of a teenage girl! (Shriek!! Ahh run away!!!) Just kidding please stay. 
Alright, well finals are in just a few short weeks. My classes have been going pretty well. In SLHS we are learning about how language and our brain interact. It is so interesting! I just love it. We are reading Freud in Lit. That guy is crazy. It is super interesting especially when you realize he coined the terms like "repression" and "death wish". However, he makes you feel just a little bit insane yourself. Also, why that is considered to be some of the greatest World Literature from the nineteenth century I have no idea. Nothing super exciting is going on in my other classes. I realized that only a 95+ is considered an A and worth 4.0. If you have a 90-95 it is an A- and it brings your GPA down. Who made that rule??? An A should be an A! 
Being a sorority girl actually does make you more intelligent. I just realized that the word "Alphabet" comes from the first two Greek letters: alpha and beta. How cool is that? If you ever go on Jeopardy and they ask you that question I get a cut k? 
Last week my car hit 77,777 miles. My redID has three 7's in it. My future apartment number also has three 7's in it. There are seven of us pledge sisters. The number of completion. I think God's presence is all over this semester. 
Please check out the company the BF is helping to start. Like it on Facebook and you might win a free lanyard!! Seriesof4
I'm attempting to be gluten free this week. I never realized how much pasta and Goldfish I eat. So far I haven't noticed any benefits and I just find myself being hungry all the time. On the bright side, I discovered protein style at In N Out is messy and delicious.
Need a laugh? Here you go!!! 

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Vitameatavegamin

Do you poop out of parties? Are you unpopular? I have something better than vitameatavegamin. This week has been surprisingly refreshing for the most part. Don't get me wrong, it has been the same amount of crazy as normal, but God has given me an extra dose of inner sunshine. At the end of spring break I was having a hard time remembering why the heck I am putting myself through all the craziness. I was finding myself treating everything as a chore. It was really weighing on me because I really wanted to have the bright and shiny attitude I started the semester with. So I asked for some reminders of why I am doing what I'm doing. Knowing that you have healthy and God-centered intentions or motivations help so much when you are driving home at 1:00 and know you have a test early the next morning or when you realize how long it has been since you have had a hug from your favorite people back home. 
Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. 
How many times have we found this to be true? God does not let us down. Instead, He will send us those little reminders to build us up. These tidbits of motivation may be an email from your SLHS teacher asking you to be a research assistant next year or maybe laughing until you cry with your pledge sisters (cough Romeo and lola cough). Where is your heart this week? Don't go through another week thinking the grass is greener on the other side. Ask God for some green tinted glasses and dance your way through work, school, and even play. Above all, if you are glorifying God you will be satisfied and He will delight in watching you. That is more powerful than anything this life could throw at you. 


P.S. I prayed that God would send me a lot of money at the casino on Saturday because it was my first time. Not that He is a fan of gambling or anything but I won $200 on the first penny slot I paid. I cashed out and that was the end of my gambling. Taylor Swift here I come!!!

The Youtube

As promised, a lighthearted blog typed up just for you!! Okay, so this is how it all went down. A few weeks ago, I find myself sitting in my Dance in World Cultures like any other Tuesday or Thursday. By the way, this class is not as exciting as I expected. Anyways, I'm sitting there minding my own business and watching the janky videos of clog dancers from the 90s. All of a sudden, the dancers start doing the jerk like professional gangsters. Yes, they were wearing dorky costumes. No, they did not realize how cool they were being... and to my dismay no gangsta rap took over the lone piano on stage. Despite all that, it was still amazing and entertained most of the class. We were all giggling when all of a sudden he looks up. He looks straight at me and says, "What's so funny?" I hate being the center of attention and I'm not one who thinks super quickly when put on the spot. So, like the eloquent individual that I am I say, "Umm they were jerking." Like I said earlier he is the farthest thing from hip so his reply was, "I know it is jerky. It was hard to film." The kind soul next to me can't just let it go and has to say no that's not what I meant. Let him think that's what I meant! How do you explan the jerk to an old dance teacher? He asks for more explanation and all I can say is, "Uhh they were doing the jerk. You know?"
"You mean their dance movements are jerky?" Thankfully, the girl next to me finally speaks up and explains that it is a dance that young kids do. He then goes on about how he has to get on "the Youtube" more often and maybe then he will know what his students are talking about. We continue on with the video and I get out of class the second he stops talking. Now that I have written all this out I realize it was probably even less exciting when it actually happened haha. I'm glad I could share with you one of my daily interactions with the (old)natives here at State. "You're a jerk!"
"I know. It was hard to film." :D

"You Ain't Nothin but a gold digga" does not apply to God

As finals and the end of pledging are getting closer and closer it does seem as though I may never make it out alive. If I have learned anything this semester though it is, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." I can talk to people I don't know, I can find my classes even if they are in the creepy corner of Peterson Gymnasium, I can be tired without dying, and yes I can get through things that are hard, scary, or just plain unappealing. Through Christ I can also learn more about myself, meet some of my true soul sisters, strengthen my faith, and be humbled more and more each day. One major lesson God has been teaching me this particular week is the importance of spending time with Him (coco how crazy is it that you have been thinking about the same thing???). This is something I always felt like I excelled at. I mean reading your Bible real fast every night before bed is good enough yea? That is definitely an excellent way to start. Why settle for that though? This week I made a valiant effort to not only spend more time at night reading through: Today In The Word (Look into it. I am not joking it will change your bible reading habits) but I also spent just a few minutes when I woke up before the chaos of the day took over. If I say I have a relationship with God shouldn't I at least spend as much time with Him as I spend on my other relationships? God is never a debtor. Sorry Justin Bieber, but this is a say "never" situation. He isn't a gold digger and being in love with Him is pretty cheap since it requires nothing but faith. If I could think of any other pop songs that talk about selfish significant others than I would probably make a joke about those too. Luckily for you I'm all out of ideas. End of tangent. Miraculously, I was more productive and on time this week than I have been the rest of the semester. Don't knock it till you try it. I can guarantee He will bless you more than we can bless Him through this small act. 
I realize that my blogs have been quite serious and important. I'm not going to apologize for that because when it comes down to it, God is the best thing going on in my life right now. However, Becoming An Aztec does come with some crazy antics... so tune in Tuesday for a reenactment of my conversation with my not-so-hip teacher about the "jerk". I think all you bloggees are simply wonderful!! Now my new favorite song by Switchfoot. Even the name is so beautiful it makes me smile. ;)

Let It Shine

So, I have had an idea tumbling around in my head for a few weeks. It is something very important that I have recently discovered. I have tried several times to put it down in words for you bloggees, but it just hasn't felt right. Tonight, I have decided that I will conquer this thought and share it with you. I have been a Christian since the moment I could make up my own mind. Being a "strong willed child" this was rather early. Obviously through the years I have slowly grasped a more complete knowledge of what that truly looks like. However, from the beginning the concept that I accepted Jesus and he forgave me of all my sins was pretty basic. Growing up in a Christian home has been a huge blessing. Like everything though it does have some downfalls. Obedience came pretty naturally to me because it is easy to be obedient when you are constantly reminded not only of your parents love but also His ultimate love, which is a great motivator. Because of this, I really struggle with remembering that I'm not perfect nor will I ever be. I have always known that this was a "flaw" of mine, Recently, God has been giving me a lot of motivation to actually work on that. I think I wrote about this a little in one of my first blogs. No one wants to be friends with someone who thinks they are perfect. That's no fun at all!! He has been humbling me and teaching me what that looks like. Now for the next step! 
With my pride and feeling of perfection came a very judgmental and unforgiving spirit. I couldn't understand why people just didn't do what was right and wise. In my pledge Bible study (one of my favorite times of the week!!!!! love love) we are reading a book called Cast of Characters. If you have never heard of it, seriously look into it. Anyways, one of the chapters talks about the woman who washed Jesus' feet. Simon the pharisee is like, "Psshh he's no prophet! A prostitute is washing his feet and he doesn't even know it." Then Jesus pulls a David Blaine act, reads his mind, and explains to him how very wrong he is. He says: 
Luke 7:47
"For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."
This basically means that unless we understand how much we have been forgiven and how much we are loved, we will never be able to genuinely forgive or love those around us. God is love. He is our perfect example of grace and forgiveness. I can't remember if forgiveness is a real word. Either way, you get my point. This totally blew my mind because in that story I would not be the woman washing His feet. I would be the pharisee. It dawned on me that unless I realize how imperfect I am and how much I need Him, I will never be able to love those around me as I should. The author gave an analogy of trying to write a check from a bank account that has nothing in it. It is so ironic. Only when I understand how imperfect I am can His perfect love shine through me. You all know how much I love to shine. I'm sorry if this blog was a little heavy and serious, I really feel as though this is a concept many of us have never heard. I hope you all take it to heart and shine!

Sunshine!

1,000 hits! Holy cow. When I started this blog I had no idea what I was really getting into. I can't believe that so many of you actually read this. I have continually been praying that God is able to use this to speak his love into your life. He has blessed me so much through this. It is incredible to actually see myself change and grow through this experience. I can honestly say that I know who I want to be and feel confident about the direction I am heading in life. I hope all you lovely bloggees out there get an opportunity like this sometime in your life. 
So... I am taking the time to write during my spring break because tonight my dad told me I was "slack-a-lackin". My response was, "I'm on spring break, nothing exciting has happened." He told me I should write anyways. This is for you dad. 
If you couldn't tell from my last blog, I had reached the point of exhaustion. Motivation and optimism were no longer in my vocabulary. Thankfully this week has put the spring back into my step. Maybe that's why it is called "spring" break! I apologize for the corny joke. I couldn't resist. The highlight to my week has been the glorious sunshine. I'm not lying when I say that I have legitimately prayed for the sun everyday the past month. Thanks God! Today I got to do pilates and I even got sunburned! I have never been so happy to have a sunburn. My massage therapist got sick and the only other available massage therapist was Rico... no thanks! So I went and got some fresh strawberries with the BF instead. I would say it was an equal trade off. After that I played house and went grocery shopping, made cookies, and had dinner on the table by the time everyone was done with work. I would gladly do that everyday if I could somehow make money doing it. Alas, I am stuck at some super awesome university in San Diego learning about something I'm super interested in so that I can get an ideal job... sigh. I guess it is just my lot in life. I will turn the drama off now. 
I hope this blog thrilled your socks right off. I vow to have something way more interesting when I go back to school. For now I will fulfill my promise of "treasuring my foundations" and soak in every minute of this break. 

A joyful heart is like a sunshine of God’s love, the hope of eternal happiness, a burning flame of God…..And if we pray, we will become that sunshine of God’s love-in our own home, the place where we live, and in the world at large.

Mother Teresa