This is it!

Well, its the morning of my last day of school here at LSU. My plans:

1. Make some breakfast
2. Go to the Library and buy some coffee with my Tiger Cash (I've got $2.33 left and if I don't use it...I lose it!!!)
3. Take my last final ever! (NeuroAnatomy...but its only on 2 days of lecture notes!)
4. Maybe tear up a little as I turn the final in
5. Bust out the doors of Huey P. Long and say, "I did it!"
6. Go to Alabama with Justin to find an Apartment and visit the beach!

I'm excited. Everything went by so fast!

The end is near!!!

With only 11 days of school left here at LSU, I find myself becoming a little sentimental. Well besides the fact that I am supposed to be making my NeuroAnatomy final study guide, I figure there is always time to reminisce. My mom took some 'Senior Pictures' of which she is so proud of about a month ago. I love this campus and I am really going to miss being here everyday. It's the most beautiful place in Baton Rouge. I have my favorite places all over campus, some that has already changed (the bowling alley in the union and the bench in the enchanted forest), and some that I can hopefully revisit later in life and someday bring my children to and say, "Look, that's where mommy used to study or take a break when she was stressed or eat awesome chicken Parmesan wraps..." I've had the most amazing time here. 2003 National Championship on my birthday while I was on a ski trip with the BCM, winner of the catapult war in my one and only engineering class, late night delirious study groups for Chemistry 1201 and 1202, for everyday one semester Hanna and I would pool our money and see what we could snack on from Foster's cafe, my Calculus teacher took me to eat at the cafeteria (nothing funny, we were both Walker High School graduates), sandwiches from the French House, on game days me and my dorm mate, Tara, would dress like twins and paint our faces, some friends and I had a pic nic in the quad once between classes, Spring Break 2005 I went to Gulf Shores with my current roommate, Denon, and other friends Jenny and Derek...we roughed it for 3 days in a tent on a camping grounds (cold showers, bugs, sleeping uncomfortably under the stars...we played twister in a tent...until our ex-convict neighbor told us to quiet down, then offered us alcohol), breakfast at Louie's with Morgan and the gang, my internship at the NeuroMedical Center, Highland coffee's flavored brewed coffee, 3 hour break on Thursdays last semester when Justin and I started hanging out, the most amazing...WICKED bus trip!, $3 lemonade on the parade grounds, ballroom dancing....so obviously I could go on and on. I have had so much fun here...and I have met wonderful people. Teachers that make me love what I'm learning and inspire me (and others that make me hate life!) I wouldn't trade any moment of my time here!

Well I'm going back to studying and learning the Alma Mater so I can sing it at Graduation.

Home Sweet Home

Is home where your heart is?...or where you make it? I know when I'm wrapped in Justin's arms I feel at ease, safe, cozy, happy...at home. Its a place of acceptance. Where you can be exactly who you are and that's just perfect. You can say whats on your mind even its mean or silly and it recepted. You are heard, you matter, and you are loved deeply.

It's a wonderful thing to come home. Today I came home from LSU and a drive that normally takes about 30 minutes took an hour, due to traffic and what not. But, when I finally took that Walker exit and made the final stretch to my home sweet home, nothing felt...I don't know...more cozier. At home, at peace, welcomed, safe...happy. Greeted by "Hey booger!" my dad, sitting under the carport and a "Hey Mal!" from my mom upstairs in the kitchen, I just love it here. I have the best parents in the world...their love and acceptance and guidance has and will be a true gift from God. The past 4 years I've lived 30 minutes away...and in August I'll be in a different state. Sweet home Alabama....we'll see. I don't think I am as excited as I should be. Maybe because I know where my home is, and its sad to move away? I don't know. Maybe I'm just concentrating on enjoying the moment that I am to the fullest I can before its gone.

After what happened this past Monday, my perspective has...well, not really has changed, but maybe intensified is the right word. Life is short...wait...life here on earth is short. We get one shot with this life...it blows my mind. Really, when you stop and think about the whole picture, you can't. I can't anyways. Eternity...it's forever....but for me, I know it's going to be as sweet as taking that Walker exit...I'm excited to spend time with my Father at home, at peace, welcomed, safe, and happy.

But while I'm here, I'll listen for my "Hey booger", "Hey Mal", and "You're my girl"...the words from the people that I love and make me feel at home. So, I guess no...home isn't where you make it...its where your heart is...although this house off the Walker exit was made, its just a house...its home because my mom and dad are here with hugs and kisses. Justin's embrace is home because he has my heart...and heaven will soon be home because Jesus lives in my heart and thats where He is...and we are going to party forever together!

Live

I'm listening to a podcast from a church called Mosaics in Los Angles...so good. Its a message from New Year's Eve and the pastor, Erwin, is challenging the congregation to make crazy friends this coming year...because Jesus was called crazy for making friends with the people who were least like Him. Thats what He was about...not remaining in the comfort of those who have the same beliefs and convictions, but living a life of craziness (not chaotic...but amazingly abundant). He wants to expand us...step out the box...reach our potential...fully live and love and learn more and more. Excitement.