back to the daily grind.

I've literally been in meetings all day. Not an exaggeration.

Advising, credits, financial, event planning, student government. 

I mean it really doesn't stop. 

And don't get me wrong...I am THRILLED to be so involved and have so many exciting things happening!

But WOW...I mean that will wear anybody out. Not to mention school work on TOP of all of the extra stuff. 

So, when this happens my natural human reaction is to get a bit flustered. 

I immediately resort to stress, worry, and panic. 

But I am DETERMINED to be different.

I want to be able to constantly 

 find the peace admist the chaos.

to manage the insanity.

to find the calm through the storm.

So I'm just going to breathe. 

I'm choosing to relax. trust. enjoy.

I'm going to work hard.  put everything I can into what I'm doing,

but golly gee, I'm going to enjoy it too.

& I'm going to remember no matter what this is NOT where my worth comes from.

this is NOT where my value is found.

In Christ Alone, my hope is found. 

He is my light, my strength, my song.

What a place of peace..

Tonight, I'm sitting in my room peacefully reflecting at what a week I just had.

This past week was truly one of the best weeks of my life....

nothing INSANELY overwhleming happened.

nothing TOO huge.

but this week was filled with an abundance of the Lord's guidance and peace.

I felt Him everywhere..daily. 

This week I felt the Father moving in my heart. I felt him teaching and stretching me.

He shifted my perception and He fervently pursued me.

Through this shift I started viewing my days so differently. 

I noticed EVERY small kind way that the Lord was loving me.

I saw him working out plans in my favor. 

I saw him leading me to things that taught me, shaped me, engaged me.

I saw him giving me precious, sacred time with people I love...just to replenish my dry soul.

He was watching out for me in every way.

I felt Him standing in front of me leading me, beside me encouraging me, and behind me supporting me,

On Saturday, I spent most of my day in Atlanta at my training for Uganda.

I left training completely overwhelmed and speechless...in the best way possible.

The things I saw and heard and learned about Africa were immense...

but I quickly began to tie together all the places and times in my life that the Lord has been preparing me for this. He has woven together so many people and experiences and lessons to lead me to this place.

WAY too many to describe- 

But as I reflect tonight on this precise, perfect plan He has laid out for me...

I am overwhelmed. I. Am. So. Blessed.

I am thankful and excited and nervous- 

But I cannot wait to spend 10 and a half weeks of my summer in Africa.

I cannot wait to meet these children.

I cannot wait to learn about this culture.

I cannot wait to be immersed in their lives.

The opportunities are endless and I am beyond thrilled.

So as I reflect tonight...I want to remember this feeling. This place of humble, patient, joyful servitude.

I want to remember this silent confidence in being reassured by the Creator.

I want to always come back to this place of grateful solitude.

"When peace like a river attendeth my way,

when sorrows like sea billows roll.

Whatever my lot,

thou has taught me to say...

It is well.

It is well with my soul."

-Horatio Spafford.

Be Still. It Matters.

So tonight I was completely shell-shocked. I am an extremely passionate person who cares very deeply for others. Justice is what I am passionate for. 

I have known about Invisible Children for almost a year now- but it has just recently exploded upon releasing a phenomenal- even life-changing video. 

No matter who you are or what you are like- you cannot possibly watch this video and not be moved.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE stop and watch this and act accordingly to your reaction.

STOP KONY 2012

click the above phrase to watch the link.

THIS MATTERS. THEY MATTER.

AND WE HAVE THE VOICE.

Long Time No Blog...

Apologies for my absence. Busy as always.

 But today was FUN. It was positive, efficient, energetic, and successful. 

One of those days that when you hit your head on the pillow that night, you just smile and praise.

I went to all my classes- which has been quite the feat as of late due to shingles reoccuring...

yep. you heard me. they came BACK.

then came the food poisioning. ew.

but after some rest, REALLY good meds, and some perseverance--

here I am! =)

So I wanted to start this Monday off prepared and with a jump-start for my week.

BOOM.

5 Classes: Check.

1 Exam: Check.

Homework Assignments: Check.

Meetings: Check.

Plan Quadrangle Formal: Check.

Type up Sustainability Speech:Check.

Clean, Clean, Clean: Double Check.

....eat somewhere in between. ;)

So after all the madness, choas, and business-- It was garden time. :) eekkk.

I spent two hours knee deep in dirt, hands filthy in the beautiful, 70 degree, February, Georgia sunshine- pulling weeds, turning soil, and planting. =) 

best. way. ever. to. relax.

everything about my little backyard garden is perfect.

To quote my 3rd grade teacher, "God made dirt, dirt won't hurt." 

Go outside. Play in the dirt. Grow some food or plants. :)

we all need a safe haven.

i've finally figured out why I'm so obsessed with starbucks...

...because it is my safe haven. When I need somewhere to just get away, have some quiet time, read the Word, people watch, study, drink fabulous coffee and just relax- I go to starbucks.

But we all need our own "starbucks." Everyone needs a place for rest and a time of peace.

Those McRae Women...

If you haven't met these five women you are really missing out. These are my four aunts and my mother. =) Five of the most phenomenal women and people on the planet. And this blog is dedicated to them...

I write when I'm inspired. It's the times when they are the most genuine and passionate. This past week I've spent a lot of time getting my application for Uganda ready and it's been a lot of work. My mom told my aunts about the process and they did what they always do... shower me with love, support and encouragement.

The same night that my mom sent them an email I got FOUR emails of encouraging words and unbelievable love. As I was reading these emails and what all of them were saying about what kind of young woman I've grown into, I began to realize it's because of them. These five women and their mother(my gram) have given me the most incredible examples of what a beautiful, strong, compassionate, hardworking, funny, intelligent woman really is.

So in this blog I just want to say something to each of them as a thank you for what they've done for me.

To Aunt Michele: You are such a support system for me. You are always the first one to encourage and compliment me. You have always made me feel so special and unique. You've admired me as my own person not just your niece. You are so wise and loving... I hope to get that from you. You are so calm and patient and a wonderful Matriarch to your sisters. I admire you more than you'll ever know. =)

To Aunt Marquette: You have inspired me and truly set an example I strive to follow daily. You are adventurous, spontaneous, creative and passionate about your life. That has been one of my favorite things about for as long as I can remember. I try everyday to be exciting and enjoy life like you do. You are such a model for who I want to become. Your optimistic outlook has been a pivotal stepping stone in my life. =)

To Aunt Monique: You are such a hard worker. Your work ethic is incredible. If I can become HALF of the worker you are I would consider myself abnormally lucky. =) But you also have been a wonderful mother and raised two of my favorite people on this planet. :) And not to mention how stinkin' hilarious you are.... seriously....you ALWAYS keep me rollin'. It is my privilege to call you family. =)

To Aunt Marissa: You have such a special place in my heart. Your strong will and perseverance has always guided me. You have ALWAYS, ALWAYS treated me like your own. I have admired you my entire life. Your strength is captivating and I can only pray that I will be such a strong woman, wife and mother one day. Not to mention your HUGE heart and fantastic sense of humor! You have molded me in countless ways

And last but not least to Momma: You are the greatest woman I have ever known... (no offense to the rest of the McRae clan ;)) Your humble spirt. Your compassionate heart. Your love for others above yourself. Your sense of service. You are giving, smart, SO hard working, driven, humble, honest, loving and the best mother anyone could ever ask for. Everyday that I wake up I want to be more like you. I want to trust in the Lord the way that you do. I want to be peaceful and loving like you are. Above all, I want to be the kind of mother that you are. You have been a listening ear, a disciplinarian, an advisor, a partner, an encourager, an honest voice in a deceptive world, my number one cheerleader and my best friend. =) You know that I love you to the moon and back & I hope you always remember that not a day goes by that I am not on my knees thanking the Lord for you. I love you momma, =)

But it would be wrong to write all of this and not mention that I am who I am because of these women and they are who they are because of these two people: my grandparents. Thank you Grandmommy & Grandaddy for creating this McRae legacy that you both built from scratch on the importance of family, honoring your mother, loving everyone, serving, giving, LAUGHING, supporting, working hard and giving back. I could not be more proud to be apart of this family and I am BLESSED to know and love all of you. =)

Finally Catching Up to My New Year..

Happy New Year to me! Shingles got the best of my first three weeks of the New Year-- but NO LONGER! :)

I am pleased to announce that I am feeling MUCH better. This week has been great... I slowly started getting back into the pace of things. Cleaned my room & the house a bit, spent time with friends, worked on a few papers for school, went to a meeting, and I even started RUNNING AGAIN!!! WOOOOO!

Yep. That's right. I'm back. My new years resolution was to start running again..and working out and start getting in shape for this wedding! A year and a half is plenty of time..right? haha :) But mostly just to be active and do something that makes me feel good. So this is day #2 of running.... and it was HARDDDD. haha I've never run in this cold of weather...which is not that cold in reality, but it's cold for me. And the cold/blood feeling in your lungs is no bueno. But I'm moving past. Slowly but surely I'll get up to long distances...

My first goal is training for The 2nd Annual Panthers Pounce on Autism 5k! This fabulous run was organized by two of my closest and sweetest friends, Lauren Gledhill and Melody Hurston. That had SUCH an incredible turnout last year and are going for bigger and better this year! So I'm trying to get in real shape so I can REALLY run. Haha

If any of you are interested in doing the run that weekend or the walk, feel free to sign up here:

http://events.autismspeaks.org/site/c.nuLTJ6MPKrH/b.6132777/k.943F/Event_Details.htm?event_id=414

That's all for now... but I'll be back with some running updates. :)

Peace.