Puppy Love

I wanna puppy!!

Uhhh.... I'm here?

Yes... I just got back to my dorm like less than half an hour ago... I am, in a word, exhausted. Christina told me I can have the traveler award for the year because I was the first to experience Camron throwing up all over me.... on the plane. Bless his heart. I felt so bad cause he was exhausted and sick and was trying so hard to be good. I love that child, can you tell? Pretty much, today was the most dramatic traveling day I have ever experienced... I should have been here like 4 hours ago. I may as well have driven back, it wouldn't have taken me much longer ;-) ! But anyway, the week doesn't look so promising... praise the Lord, two weeks and two days and I'll be back at home, in my bed, dreaming dreams that I never remember. But for now, I will work my little hiney (or maybe it isn't as little as it used to be...hahahaha...) off to finish out my first semester as a Baylor bear... but, at this very moment, I am going to change into super comfy pajamas, do all those typical nightly routines... and pray myself to sleep.

There's no place like home....

Can we say, "true!"? There truly is no place like home. I cannot believe that I will be home in less than 48 hours, by the grace of God. I don't have too much to say except that I love you all in Tally (and surrounding area) and hope I get to see you while I'm at home... it looks like my family and I are gonna be away between thursday afternoon and saturday afternoon... but, we are going to Wild Adventures on Friday, so if anybody wants to get a group together and meet us there, call me! Cause I would love for any and all of you to come... My flight comes in at 1:35 Wednesday afternoon for all who want to know. If you wanna do something during the time I'm actually in town, feel free to call me... I love you all!

Mabel, you're my favorite

Pretty much, my roomie is amazing, that's all there is to it. I love you, Mabel! Thanks for putting up with me and for making me smile even if you're having a bad day. You rock my world, chick. May you fall more and more in love with Him with each and every moment!

I have four minutes...

I can only post quickly because I have got to get back to my homework A-Sap (haha, don't you hate it when people say that?). I just wanted to let you all know that you are in my prayers and that if there is anything that I can pray for you about... let me know! This week is ultra crazy for me, 3 tests, a paper, work, Turkey dinner with Cru, project due next Monday... then, Dallas on Tuesday, HOME on Wednesday! I'm completely psyched. You have no idea. So, just have to get through all of the craziness here in the next 7 days and then I will be able to come home and see all of my beloved people... I can't wait. I miss you guys so much.... But, the reason I wanted to post was to share this verse with you, so here goes:

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Psalm 90:14

Where are you seeking satisfaction? He is the only one who can satisfy you.

Weird habits??

First off.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY LERAH ASHBURN!!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH CHICA!!!

Now...I got tagged..... by Shannon

Ground Rules: The 1st player of this "game" starts with the topic "5 weird habits of yourself" and people who get tagged need to write a xanga/blog entry about their 5 weird habits as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose the next 5 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "You are tagged" in their xanga/blog and tell them to read yours.

1) I "stare" at people... but not really at them, more like through them... pretty much ask anybody from highschool or my roommate... or Nicole (who is from highschool so I guess that is redundant)
2) I pull out my phone and play around with it if I wanna avoid looking at people while I'm walking somewhere or something
3) Apparently I talk in my sleep, and supposedly open my eyes (but I don't think I'm really asleep then, my roomie is just paranoid)... I know that like the Stringer trademark is sleeping with your eyes (sometimes only one) not fully closed... so like you still can see part of the white of the eye.. this pretty much freaks people out (is any of this even a "habit"?)
4) I eat Fruit Snacks all the time... this is definitely since I came to Baylor... I practically inhale them... Welch's... yummy... gotta love em
5) I can spend forever in the deodorant aisle or the face products aisle... I smell every thing, I look at the ingredients (that sounds funny when you aren't talking about food), I look at the price... I love to smell stuff, I love the sense of smell... except when it's something gross...

I don't think my "habits" were that exciting... I don't really know what my weird habits are... observe them for yourself if you want, or feel free to let me know what they are... I don't really feel like tagging people... most of the people I would tag don't have xangas/blogs... blegh... sorry, I'm not continuing the game, but I "revealed" some weird habits for you, ok Shay Shay? I love you, chic...

Hmmm....

Well, I don't really know what to talk about but I guess I'll just tell you a little bit about my week... since that is so interesting and all... well, Sunday was pretty cool (normally I constitute Monday as the beginning of the week, but I wanna talk about Sunday, so...). We were late to church, but we were still there for part of the music and all of the preaching. The pastor spoke on Grace to Accept the Things We Don't Understand... it was good. Then, came back and after going on a trip to pick up Trish I went to Steppin' Out with FCC by invitation of Kristen. Steppin' Out is a big biannual service project that Baylor does where each group has a different project in the community for the day... we painted a small motel. It was fun. I still had paint in my hair even after showering, but it's all good... Monday was pretty typical... the guy who spoke in chapel was really good... Yesterday. Last night I got to babysit which was super exciting. YAY! It's actually a weird connection with these people, we have family in common... I only met Elizabeth cause Tim was in class (he's in grad school). She's really sweet and their kids are absolutely adorable. I was really excited because I miss babysitting so much. It has been a big part of my life for a long time and I miss all the kids that I babysit at home. I miss my preschool choir kids and having them give me hugs and sit in my lap and fight over the drum and beg to do their favorite song... I miss kids. I miss my nephew too... I was kinda upset with myself for always being asleep or away when he was awake during Fall Break while I was there... I got to see him a little, but not as much as I wanted to... my own fault though. I get to bring him home with me again for Thanksgiving, so that is exciting. I like getting him to myself :) I love Camron, yes I do :) I'm counting down the days till I get to come home... I miss you guys soooo much right now. Hopefully I will get to see everybody when I'm home... but I'll be back like December 13th anyways... YAY!!! I'm so excited about Christmas break. This weekend my cousin and fam are coming for a Baylor preview type thing (for the extra- smart kids, you know I love you, Matt :) ) so I'm excited about that. Matt, you're my favorite cousin :) Hehehe... they were here last weekend for homecoming... so here's a pic of me and my cuz... love all of you soooo much!!

Some thoughts of mine...

O God, you are my God,
I earnestly search for You.
My soul thirsts for You;
my whole body longs for You
in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

I have seen You in Your sanctuary
and gazed upon Your power and glory.
Your unfailing love is better to me than life
itself;
how I praise You!
I will honor You as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to You in prayer.
You satisfy me more than the richest of foods.
I will praise You with songs of joy.

I lie awake thinking of You,
meditating on you through the night.
I think how much You have helped me;
I sing for joy in the shadow of Your
protecting winds.
I follow close behind You;
Your strong right hand holds me securely.
But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.
They will go down into the depths of the
earth.
They will die by the sword
and become the food of jackals.

But the *princess* will rejoice in God.
All who trust in Him will praise Him,
while liars will be silenced.

~Tamara's slight personalization of Psalm 63~

Last night I was lying in bed awake... ready to sleep... but God had something different in mind for me for just a little while... He brought this song to my mind and I kept meditating on it, praying for God to always make this true in my life... I want to sing and praise God no matter what trials I may face, though I may not always understand why things happen the way they do in this world, I want to grasp that God is bigger than any disappointing circumstance that may come my way. He is good, and I trust Him...

Lord, you seem so far away, a million miles or more it feels today
And though I haven't lost my faith, I must confess right now, that it's hard for me to pray
But I don't know what to say, and I don't know where to start
But as You give the grace, with all that's in my heart

I will sing, I will praise
Even in my darkest hour, through the sorrow and the pain
I will sing, I will praise
Lift my hands to honor You, because Your word is true
I will sing

Lord, it's hard for me to see, all the thoughts and plans You have for me
But I will put my trust in You, knowing that You died to set me free
But I don't know what to say, and I don't where to start
But as You give the grace, with all that's in my heart

I will sing, I will praise
Even in my darkest hour, through the sorrow and the pain
I will sing, I will praise
Lift my hands to honor You, because Your word is true
I will sing

Then, today in chapel, they sang Hallelujah God is Near... how awesome is that... God, thank You that even when we don't feel You, Lord, You are near... nothing can separate us from our Father, PRAISE THE LORD!!

May our hearts be broken

"Train me God to walk straight;
then I'll follow Your true path.
Put me together, one heart and mind;
then, undivided, I'll worship you in joyful fear"
Psalm 86:11

Jesus, You are good. You are merciful, pure, loving, true, gracious, just, abundant, unquenchable, unstoppable, unchangeable, amazing, awe-inspiring, righteous, perfect, holy, incredible, faithful, the giver of hope, my rock, my refuge, my redeemer, my friend, my love, my stronghold, my creator, my all in all, my awesome God. Yes, You are. And yet, I lose sight of that. I let Satan convince me that I should be "in control", that I should get to live my life the way I please, the way that "brings me satisfaction". But all that happens is I find disappointment, because I am weak without You, hopeless without You, desperate for Your truth. You are all I need. Lord, help me to embrace who You are and who I am in You. I want to worship You in joyful fear, undivided Lord, completely consumed by You. Lord, you have said that if Your people, who are called by Your name, will humble themselves and pray, then Lord, You will come, and You will forgive, and You will heal our land. God, our hearts are breaking. Lord, restore Your people in Your truth. May Your name be exalted above all. May only You be praised. Break us, Lord. Make us who You want us to be.

Break our hearts, oh God
Break our hearts
Break our hearts, oh God
Break our hearts

For the sin in our lives
Break our hearts
For the sin in our land
Break our hearts

We cry out, we need Your help
Come back to our land
We confess, we've lived in sin
Please show Your power Once again

Locks of Love

I finally gave my hair away this weekend. I've been growing it for what seems like forever, and well, it was just time. Though the lady cut it much shorter than I had intended, I really like the way it turned out... you are welcome to form your own opinion... I know there is a lot of stuff going on in a lot of your lives right now, and I want you to know you are in my prayers. I am so grateful to have been blessed with so many wonderful friends who have been there to encourage me through so much.... stuff.... you are loved. If you need someone to talk to or pray out loud with you, or anything, feel free to give me a call.

I always thought my hair wouldn't do this... but I was delightfully surprised.... yay for ringlets :)

I could say many things... but, I won't. I will however share something that has been encouraging to me recently... this verse continually reminds me of God's goodness and His grace... Praise the Lord

"So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
~Isaiah 41:10~

Mickey and Minnie

Leah, you inspired me....




Which DISNEY character are you most like?
brought to you by Quizilla

I'm not so sure about all this... but I'd love for it to be true. I'm definitely optimistic, but with some people, that just irritates them more.... so I don't know that I can lift anyone's spirit "just with my smile", but I don't know... the joy of Lord does that to people... and I pray His joy overflows through me. Ironically, my roommate is most like Minnie Mouse... no wonder we get along so well... we were made for each other! Hehehehe.

A Cow for Lerah

I have recently developed an obsession with modeling clay. So, in telling the amazing Lerah Ashburn about my new hobby, she requested that I make her a cow. So, here is a cow for Lerah...

You've got to admit, he's pretty cute :)

Lerah is such an amazing person and I love hanging out with her. I love that she watches Smallville with me even though she doesn't like it, but just because she wants to spend time with us. I love how she isn't afraid to try new things... well, except maybe new foods. I love that she is growing in Christ and that I get to watch her grow more in love with Him. I love that we can always pick up right where we left off and that she is always excited to see me and always gives me hugs. I love Lerah... yes, I do. "A friend loves at all times" Proverbs 17:17 ~Better believe it!

Spiced Tea and Castles

So... it's the weekend, yay :) I love weekends... I didn't really even have plans for this weekend but it's been such a good weekend so far! And I even spent a good part of my Friday night working on a group project for next week! God has really been working in my heart this week and challenging me about relationships and stuff... I'm telling you what... God's word is amazing. I have definitely been challenged to not try so hard to water everything down so that my feeble mind can comprehend it and just embrace the mystery that God is God and He is bigger than my mind can handle! Anyway... I decided to jump on the bandwagon as Diane would say and dye my hair (I miss you people, thanks for the inspiration PCBSers...) It will probably all be washed out by the time I see any of you from home... we had fun taking pictures during the whole process and stuff... So here you go....

Before... these pictures are gross... and the sad thing is these are the better ones.....

Dang my hair is long.... I'm really starting to get anxious to cut it and give it away to locks of love.....

During... Trish is amazing and I convinced her that she should dye my hair for me... she's very proud of it now... it was kinda a long process because I have so much hair... very funny though, because it was like 2 in the morning.... yah....

Do you like my bleeding and dying picture??? Hahaha... dyeing... dying.... ok, I'm not gonna try to be funny because it just doesn't work out....

After... I like the change, what do you think?

Here are some pics of me spinning and dancing in the courtyard of Draper... pretty much my favorite Baylor building because I feel like I'm in a castle or something... I love it... it's so pretty... anyway... spin away....

Alright... me and my beautiful friends Trish and Mabel... I love these girls... we have so much fun together and I am so challenged to be all that Christ calls me to be through spending time with them... I love you Trish and Mabel...

Gotta love Trish's shirt.... "What Boyfriend?"

I looove this pic of me and Trish... I love Patricia Akinfenwa!!!

So... if you don't like my "Spiced Tea" dyed hair (yes, that was the name of the color), then it's all good because unless you are gonna visit me at Baylor in the next... hmm... 28 days... you won't have to be confronted with it... but if you like it... well, sorry, but you will just have to enjoy the pictures :)... In other news... I have started what I call a "Prayer Panel" on my wall.... let me know of prayer requests you have and you will get a sticky note on the prayer panel... it's cool because every time I see it I pray for people, and I can pray specifically for them and stuff (most of you are probably already on the Prayer Panel, I pray for you all a lot, so let me know of anything new or whatever that I can pray for)... I love you :)

Life is Precious

It's Sunday... my week was... different. I don't even remember a lot of it. Let's just go with the weekend. Friday I had a test in the morning and that was it, so I was done with school at like 9:30, sweet. I came back to the room and Mabel was still in bed, had decided to skip her class... sooo... the lights were off and everything... I got back in bed. We got up at like... 1 maybe? I don't even know. And then we went and worked with Habitat For Humanity for a couple hours... afterwards my amazing sister in law had left me a message to call them so they could tell me about their first doctor's appointment since she's pregnant... sooo... turns out... there are 2!!! How cool is that? I'm really excited... I still don't understand how they can be having twins when they don't run in our family or her's as far as I know... but, hey, I'm not complaining. Please keep them in your prayers as it is a very high risk pregnancy because of certain details about the environment the twins are in in the womb. I'm super excited though... I love being an aunt. It's so much fun. Now I get two more babies to spoil... yay! Hehehe... the rest of the weekend, since I haven't gotten past Friday afternoon... went to two movies Friday night... that was fun... then came back and was just chilling writing letters to some very special chikas in Tally and Chris called and wanted to go eat.... so we went to IHOP at like 2 in the morning... crazy college kids. Yes, we are. Saturday... got up late... went to lunch.... then went bowling for this Sorority tournament thing... I still don't really know what it was... I paid money, got a shirt, and got to bowl for like an hour and a half... it was fun. And I was bowling pretty good for a change... I got two spares in a row at one point... fun stuff... I love bowling, even when I'm not any good at it. So yah... I helped Chris and Mabel plan out their schedules for next semester... that was great fun. We are all planning to take guitar together. YAY :) Hopefully I can make it work... I'm not really happy with the way my schedule looks for next semester right now because of courses that are only offered at one time... dumb. But, we'll see... it will work out. Today was church... I went to Highland finally... and of course, I loved it. Go figure, why didn't I just go there the first week? I really like it and now think I may end up going there... crazy. I'm still praying about it though. Ooooo, Mabel and I went and enjoyed the swing on the porch of Alexander tonight... the weather is sooo beautiful right now, I love it!!! I didn't ever want to get off of that swing. OK, this post has pretty much just been me rambling... sorry bout that. I've been sick since Wednesday night and I'm finally feeling a lot better (Robitussin CF.... disgusting, but it works). Be proud Mommy, I'm taking medicine :) I'm really tired... so, I'm gonna take some more medicine, finish my laundry... and go to bed... good night....

I miss you already

This weekend was good. I knew I missed home... but I didn't really realize how much. In fact, I'm sitting here trying not to cry... home is where the heart is, huh? I love you guys more than you know. Being away from home has been one of the biggest growing experiences of my life so far... and I haven't even been gone that long. God continues to stretch me and pour His grace out on my life with every waking moment. I'm learning so much, but I have so much to learn. I can't even imagine what He has in store for us as His children... how amazing is it that we get to be a part of the story of the Almighty most Holy, Everlasting, Unfailing God of all that is and all that ever will be? You know, we always say the God of the Universe, but even that is an understatement. The universe cannot contain our God. I'm listening to my new Robbie Seay CD that I got in the mail today (Thank you, Paul :) )....

I will arise and go to Jesus
He will embrace me in His arms
And in the arms of my dear Savior
Oh, there are ten thousand charms....

Thank you guys for helping me have an awesome weekend... yay for parties, for Smallville, for birthdays, for orthodontist appointments (though my teeth still hurt.... grrr.... ). Yay for friends! You guys have no idea how much I value you. Being at youth was really encouraging.... God is gonna use all of you to do amazing things to further His kingdom. He is a God who answers prayers... and I sincerely believe that the youth group shows that there is hope in a dark world. You guys rock. Thank you for allowing Christ to take hold of your hearts and transform them... I have been realizing lately how shallow of a person I am... how I run away from a lot of things that I don't understand instead of wrestling with them... I want to know Christ in a deeper, richer, fuller way... I want to struggle through the things I don't understand and grow in my faith... I want Him to be bigger in me.... "He must become greater I must become less"- John 3:30...

Living it Up

I know, I know... I'm a horrible person for not having posted this sooner, but finally I am posting pictures of our room at Baylor :) I haven't had a digital camera till now so give me a break! ;-) But now that I do have a camera I will try to post pictures more often... Alrighty, here is a peek into the the living space of Tamara and Mabel... we'll pretend it looks like this everyday, haha...

Isn't it beautiful?

More, more...

And yet more...

This is our comfy chair that I love to sit in and talk to people on the phone... Good times... Now, hold, your breath....

Mood lighting!!

Alright, now to see the lovely roomies... here's me and Mabel... trying to take pictures was interesting... I think we need sleep.... haha

So, this is the best picture we could get... isn't she gorgeous?

Believe it or not, we were containing ourselves in this picture...

Now, that.... that is just us cracking up... I'm telling you, this photo shoot was hilarious... had to be there to understand. Well, I hope you all enjoyed that.... for those of you at home, don't forget to come out to the party on Saturday night!! Check my previous post for more info... I love you guys!!!

You're Invited

This is for everybody in the Tallahassee area that knows and loves either Janelle or me or both and wants to celebrate our birthdays with us ;-) I get to come home next weekend (I can't tell you how excited I am), and so, we are having a party to celebrate that Janelle and I are 18 (well, Janelle will be 18 on that day and, for those of you who missed it, I turned 18 last Monday, September 12). So the party is Saturday October 1 at my house (yes, my house in Havana, FL... more like pseudo-Havana, hahaha) starting at about 6:30 pm... good stuff. If you need directions or anything feel free to email me at Telise87@cs.com or call my cell phone (sorry, not gonna post that). I miss you guys sooo much and would love for you to come if you can, you can come whenever works for you... though we will be eating dinner and if you want to guarantee you get food you might wanna come towards the beginning :) .I just wanted to let you all know about this now, hopefully before you have jam packed your weekend with other plans. It'd be good to know roughly how many people are coming, so if you know you are coming, leave me a comment, send me an email, call me or Janelle or my mom, whatever. But, don't use the excuse "I didn't RSVP" if you don't show up... that won't fly, all are always welcome ;-) .Thank you guys so much. I love you all and can't wait to see you!!!

Blessed

I am blessed. We live in a "get more" society. We have a mindset that we need to accumulate and accumulate in order to be happy. But you know what all that stuff becomes, and ultimately, what it is? Filth. Rubbish. Trash. It doesn't last. It doesn't satisfy. It doesn't fulfill. There is more to life than material things. This weekend I got to see people who had no "stuff" left to fill their lives. Some of them didn't have hope... but some of them did. There is nothing in this world that satisfies like Christ Jesus our Lord. He is greater than anything. Our group had a time of sharing what we were taking away from the weekend of serving Katrina victims in Slidell, Louisiana and one of the guys said that he was taking away an appreciation of what he had, and a realization that it really isn't worth that much. So many of us don't appreciate how materially blessed we truly are. But I would bet that more of us don't realize how worthless our "stuff" is. Stuff isn't worth holding onto. Don't let the world suck you in. Let Christ be your all. I had the privilege to work in the homes of people who lost nearly all their material possessions through the havoc of Katrina. These people were so encouraged by our being there, but they encouraged us so much. They offered us everything they had... and they had just had nearly everything taken away from them. I don't think I have the words to describe what I experienced this weekend. I can't tell you what it is like to have a joy that wells up inside of you even in the midst of heartache. My heart hurts for you, but I know that God's purpose is bigger than your pain. There has been so much pain that I have seen in the lives of friends, family, people of our nation, people of our world. I'm sure the majority of you have heard the song Held by Natalie Grant... it has become a great song during this time of tragedy. I never tire of hearing it... Maybe you will find some encouragement from the words...

Two months is too little,
They let him go.
They had no sudden healing.
To think that providence would
Take a child from his mother while she prays
Is appalling.

Who told us we'd be rescued?
What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares?
We're asking why this happens
To us who have died to live?
It's unfair.

This is what it means to be held
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

This hand is bitterness,
We want to taste it, let the hatred numb our sorrow
The wise hands open slowly to lilies of the valley and tomorrow

This is what it means to be held
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved
And to know that the promise was
when everything fell we'd be held

If hope is born of suffering
If this is only the beginning
Can we not wait for one hour
watching for our Savior?

This is what it means to be held
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved
And to know that the promise was when everything fell
We'd be held.

Katrina Trip

For those of you who didn't read my super long post from earlier this week... I am going with Campus Crusade to Slidell, Louisiana to help with hurricane relief work all weekend. Please keep us in your prayers and remember to pray for all the victims of Hurricane Katrina. I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about this opportunity to serve these people, to go beyond prayer and financial support and get out there and help through my actions. I know God is going to do amazing things this weekend. We are meeting for departure at 5am today (Friday) and there is a group of 45 of us going (of whom I know one person!). Pray that God will use this trip to open our eyes to who He is and who He has called us to be. Pray that our lives will show that God's unfailing love exists beyond any circumstance. I love you all and wish that you could all share in this opportunity with me. You can though, through your prayers. Prayer is powerful... I think many of us have seen a glimpse of just how powerful it truly is... don't let that glimpse be enough... go for more. Thank you for your prayers.

Baylor Line Beauties

We are hot and you know it.... Tiffany, Patricia, Tamara, Diana, and Mabel being held cause she's a princess.... hahahahaha.... go Baylor Bears :)