Mountain of God

At the end of the semester a good friend of mine made me two CDs. I had only listened to one of them, tonight on my way home from my best friend's house I popped the second one in. The first song was Mountain of God. The drive home was probably the most peaceful I've been in weeks. I've been so uptight since finals week. This song made me realize I need to calm down and quit trying to do everything on my own. I don't have to do everything on my own and that's the greatest feeling in the world. I'm excited for what's to come. Life is finally starting to slow down and make sense. I'm finally realizing that I need to relax. Thanks to the simplicity of this song I've realized that I just need to open my eyes and heart.

Thought that I was all alone
Broken and afraid
But You were there with me
Yes, You were there with me
And I didn't even know
That I had lost my way
But You were there with me
Yes, You were there with me
'Til You opened up my eyes
I never knew
That I couldn't ever make it
Without You
Even though the journey's long
And I know the road is hard
Well, the One who's gone before me
He will help me carry on
After all that I've been through
Now I realize the truth
That I must go through the valley
To stand upon the mountain of God
As I travel on the road
That You have lead me down
You are here with me
Yes, You are here with me
I have need for nothing more
Oh, now that I have found
That You are here with me
Yes, You are here with me
I confess from time to time
I lose my way
But You are always there
To bring me back again
Sometimes I think of where it is I've come from
And the things I've left behind
But of all I've had, what I possessed
Nothing can quite compare
With what's in front of me
With what's in front of me

freshman 15

Freshman year of college is over and it flew by! No I didn't gain the dreaded "freshman 15". This post is to list the most important fifteen things I learned my first year away from home.

1. Meet new people and value close friendships. Don't let the fear of "not fitting in" cause you to miss out on some of the most amazing friendships you will find.
2. Setting multiple alarms is vital in order to make it to 6 AM practice on time.
3. Pulling all nighters only works if you actually study.
4. Don't be too sensitive. It will only bring you down and lead to entirely too much stress.
5. Finding a church is important. Don't wait until the last few weeks of school to finally decide where to go.
6. People are human, humans make mistakes. Pray, forgive, love unconditionally.
7. Umpires are always right. Check the box score.
8. Fighting is stupid and pointless. Love is not a fight.
9. Core classes are pretty boring, but classes for your major are great, and if you don't think so...you've chosen the wrong major.
10. Have no regrets. Do everything without holding back. Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.
11. Don't let society's definition of attraction and beauty bring you down. Self-confidence will take you further than make up and expensive clothes.
12. Life is precious. Value it. Respect it.
13. Don't try to be perfect, in the end you'll become someone you're not, and lose people that mean the world to you.
14. Stay close to your friends at home, don't shut them out just because of distance. In the end they will be the ones always there for you.
15. Value relationships. Show respect. Hold nothing back. Don't try too hard. Just be yourself.

This year has been one crazy time. Living on my own for the first time has proven to be challenging but rewarding. The memories made this year will last forever. I've learned so much more than what's listed above, I just find those to be the most important.