Why I love my roommates, I.

That's Katie, going about her daily business, yep-- in overalls. So fearless! I love that my roommates are unafraid to be beautifully unique women. Such an inspiration! :)

On an unrelated note, I am trying to get myself together enough to start blogging about my Camp Wojtyla experience at Letters From a Teepee. Hold me accountable, okay?

My afternoon.

Yesterday (and by that, I mean Saturday), I was considering why I have been in such an out-of-sorts and generally grumpy mood of late. I realized that it was because I hadn't spent any real time outdoors all week. After two months of hardly ever being indoors, that weighs heavily on my soul! Auburn, for all her glories, is simply too hot and humid right now to enjoy any prolonged out-of-doorsedness.

However, I firmly resolved to spend a portion of my blessed day of rest outside.

So I went here:

And spent the afternoon with these friends:

A worthy afternoon, in my mind. Since returning from camp, I am much resolved to read more. I devoured any book I could get my hands on as a kid, but I let that passion slip away from me as I grew up. I am rekindling that love by making an effort to be constantly reading something either new or beloved.

Today, I was lost in the words of Sheldon Vanauken's A Severe Mercy, one of my favorite books. I think I love this book for a couple reasons: 1. It is a story, and I love stories. 2. It is a true story-- even better! 3. It is a story that is good and beautiful and thought-provoking; that engages the mind, heart, and spirit. (No, seriously.) 4.  It involves C.S. Lewis. Do I need to say more?

So, I won't. Goodnight!

The difference between talking and singing.

Read this: http://www.teacherlove.org/nadine-cole-academy-of-ballet-arts/

I had the privilege of receiving two years of ballet training from Ms. Cole. Two years that would shape me from an awkward dancer, who, as the article mentioned and we all heard so often, didn't know how to simply stand up straight, to a dancer who, through rigorous and meticulous training, was somehow deemed worthy enough to be Cinderella. (It should be mentioned that much of this is also attributed to the thrice-weekly classes I took from her daughter, Claudia Oates-- incredible dancer and incredible woman.)

Me and "Prince Charming". About 20 minutes before this, we ended the show in an unforgettable moment-- he put me down from a lift of top of a little girl's head. Traumatic. (c. 2007)

Ms. Cole was very straight-edge and unwilling to compromise when it came to her art. While she was never unkind, she wasted no time with sugar-coated niceties-- something that I believe to have made me not only a stronger dancer, but a stronger woman.

I remember her classes being hard, and I also remember many girls quit because they simply wanted to have "fun" and couldn't handle the strictures of Ms. Cole's ballet classes-- the strict attire and class behavior. The article puts it perfectly when it says "she was beloved by all who could endure the commitment, for she opened the door to an elevated and beautiful world we would otherwise never have known."

Sometimes, her classes were hard to endure. Really hard. But you know, I am proud that I persevered. Especially after reading this article. Because I understand now that sticking with her class is something not everyone could do. But I did, and I got to experience something really beautiful and rare because of it.

Ms. Cole and me at her farewell gathering. (c. 2008)

I am thankful for this article, because it has made me view my time with Ms. Cole with a renewed appreciation. It also makes me miss dancing very, very much. In Colorado, I was blessed beyond belief to take a class with Mrs. Mary Lynn Powell (co-director of Camp Wojtyla Scott Powell's mother). Taking with Mrs. Powell brought to mind many memories of classes with Ms. Cole, in that both women possess incredible experience and knowledge in the world of ballet.

I had not danced in 2 years. It was rough, but how my heart sang! The movements, though lacking in strength and finesse, were nonetheless familiar and beloved to my body and spirit. My friends who were with me told me they'd kill me if I didn't get myself back in to classes. Maybe... maybe not.

Me and some of my sweet dance friends who stuck out Ms. Cole's classes with me. This was taken at Auburn Ballet School on the last night of classes before it shut its doors for good. (c. 2008)

So what I want to know is... what will glorify You, Lord?

Auburn Oddities.

A headline from the Opelika-Auburn news. What on earth?! I hope they at least got some good bacon out of this.

The window in this picture is my living room window. This is what I came home to. Apparently the guys who lived above us had quite the raging end-of-summer-classes party, so much so, that Christmas came early. 

Poor little guy.

There and back again.

"Now I know what a piece of bacon feels like when it is suddenly picked out of the pan on a fork and put back on the shelf!"

-Bilbo Baggins 

In the throes of my post-camp agony and woe of what-to-do-with-myself-without-a-schedule-and-35-of-the-coolest-people-in-the-world, I decided to re-read The Hobbit. I did not realize how long it had been since I had read it-- there were parts that I didn't even remember.

The book is awesome (and an easier read than the Trilogy) so if you haven't read it, you should. I just wanted to share this quote that had me laughing to myself for quite a while.

And in case you didn't know it: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903624/

Posts about my Camp Wojtyla adventures should be coming soon at Letters From a Teepee.

Also, props to JRock who captured the incredible image in my header.

Test Post!

Ignore this post... just trying to see again how well my phone works for blogging, because it is likely to be my only method this summer. Hopefully my phone won't break like last time!

This is my bible study!

They are great. (Can't you tell?) 

It has been such a blessing to share life, study scripture, and laugh weekly with these girls. I will miss them this summer, but can't wait for the growth the Lord has in store for us next year! They have taught me so much.

I was really scared when I started my bible study. I had a list of girls to call, and I hated talking on the phone... I was so nervous that no one would want to come, and that God could not work through me. God loves to prove me wrong (and how thankful I am for that!).

We had an end of the year dinner party tonight, and they made excellent dinner guests. They brought my day (filled with fundraising, finals, and studying) so much joy. What brought your day joy today?

Happy Easter!

Christ is Risen! Now begins a beautiful season of feasting... the Lord is with us! I hope your Easter is filled with blessings and joy!

[The product of Mary+Emma+Allie+Good Friday Fasting+Arts and crafts bought 3 years ago]

A beautiful birthday!

This past weekend, I entered the mystical realm of my twenties. The weekend was filled with numerous blessings and wonderful people. 


In planning my weekend, I knew there were a few things I knew I wanted to accomplish: First, it was important to me to spend time with as many of my friends as possible. I've been non-stop since Spring Break, and my heart was really aching to be with my dear sisters in Christ whom I'd been neglecting. Secondly, I knew I wanted to be outdoors. The threat of tornados and thunderstorms would not deter me from making plans. And lastly (thought certainly not least), I wanted to be sure that I was emphasizing the blessings the Lord has given to me through prayer and gratitude to God. 


Friday evening, I was blessed with the opportunity to have many of my closest friends come to my home (my "home-home"-- where my parents live) to celebrate. Though the original plan of a bonfire was rained (hailed, tornado-ed, etc) out, we cozily sat in the living room, sharing life, and fun (and hysterical) stories. (My mother may or may not have recounted the story of my birth.)


It was exactly what I needed. I have no pictures, but let's just chalk that up to having too much fun to even think of it. The highlight of my evening by far-- in fact, probably one of my most favorite and special memories-- was praying Magnificat evening prayer, by candlelight, with the women still remaining (including my mother) a few minutes before midnight. There was something profound to me about being in prayer with my beautiful sisters, and hearing their incredible prayers and voices raised to the Lord, as I turned twenty.

The next day, there was no evidence of the previous day's storms. I loaded up the car and headed to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA with 3 of my close friends.

 Mary, me, Emma, and KG in front of the chapel.

 Laughter was certainly a common theme of the day. I love laughing pictures. Aren't they beautiful??

 My dream lunch. Seriously. Mary's homemade chicken salad (complete with grapes and apples... delicious!) and Emma's homemade egg salad made for the perfect picnic.  After this, we passed out on the blanket for a little nap. I wish I had taken a picture of our surroundings, because it was beautiful... lakes, trees, hills. (We drove around a great deal to find the perfect picnic spot.)

 No trip to Callaway is complete without visiting the butterflies! I love the colors in this picture, KG looks so focused!

 Upon returning home, my roommates prepared a delicious dinner. (Pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes, cesear salad, squash... YUM!) We enjoyed each other's company, and reminisced over this past year as roommates.

 The spread. Complete with beautiful flowers from one of my friends!

 The evening with my roommates ended with blowing out the candles on a fruit pizza. Shortly after this, I was peacefully slumbering, content after an unforgettable birthday.

But the celebrations weren't over yet... On Sunday evening, I went home for birthday dinner with my family (with my favorite... Zuchinni pie!)

My mom made me her famous cake with her homemade buttercream frosting. I am one spoiled individual. Have you ever heard of such a birthday?! My family and friends love me a whole lot... Praise the Lord for their constant support!

I would say this birthday exceeded my goals above and beyond my imagination. 20 is looking pret-tay good so far!

P.S. Be sure to check out (and follow!) my new blog, Letters From a Teepee! Thank you, beautiful blog readers, for continuing to read my ramblings! God Bless you all!

The wonders of technology!(?)

I can now blog via my cellphone. Is this really as good and necessary as it's made out to be?

I am trying to find out how easy it is. I've been wanting to do a phone dump of pictures anyways, so let's see if it works!

Precious children that I was blessed to babysit a few weeks ago. I love them! We were making burritos...

See? (Bonus question: Okay, listen... is that a good burrito?!)

"I henceforth claim this burger for the United States of America!" Patriotic bison burger from Ted's Montana Grill. Prudence and I went there this past weekend after a shopping trip to REI.

Okay, so here we run in to a phone uploading problem... while it's convenient that I can transfer pictures directly from my phone to blog without having to get a cord, move them to my computer, and upload them to the internet, I can't rotate them via blogger. Sorry about that! The recipient of this photo was my Dad, because of the label 'alphabets'. I had a teacher last semester who constantly yelled at us to not write "ambiguous alphabets"... I never understood why she couldn't just say "letters"?

Auburn sunsets. Not in focus, and probably not taken in a particularly safe manner. But what can I say, I love "this guy".

One day, I went shopping with my mom and grandma for new lamps in the living room. Naturally, we had to look at new light fixtures for every other room in the house. This was my pick for the dining room.

Speaking of my momma, here she is! I love this woman... she is beautiful in so many ways, and I want to be like her when I grow up. We had just gotten haircuts, and I was showing my sisters via picture message.

I hope you enjoyed this adventure. It was interesting, but I think I will stick to blogging on my computer for now!

Allison at Camp!

I would like to debut to you, my patient readers, my new blog, Letters From a Teepee!

It revolves around my experiences (past and future) at Camp Wojtyla (a Catholic, outdoor adventure camp in Colorado, which also happens to be the greatest place on earth).

For the Greater Glory isn't going anywhere, but Letters From a Teepee will be an outlet specifically for expressing my excitement (and other sentiments) before Camp. And while I'm there, given that I have occasional internet access, I will update with what I'm up to, prayer requests, etc.

Hope to see you there! :)

Valentine's Day!

Scrumptious cupcake made for CSO's Sweetheart Swing!

This holiday was 20 times more fun when it involved decorating a mailbox and receiving valentines and candy while eating cupcakes in 5th grade. I always looked with anticipation towards this day... a day of wearing pinks and reds, and giggling over that cute boy a few chairs down. (The ones who gave me Harry Potter valentines always stole my heart!)

I still carry a little of that excitement with me. And though I've never had (nor will I ever desire) the routine 'candy-flowers-dinner' trio that has become the norm, this day will always be a little more than a normal day.

So, because I think this day is not about being miserable, but having an excuse to be especially excited about LOVE (GOD!), I leave you to mull this over. It applies whether you are single or taken:

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone,

To have a deep soul relationship with another,

To be loved thoroughly and exclusively.

But to a Christian, God says, "No, not until you are satisfied,

Fulfilled and content with being loved by Me alone,

With giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me.

With having an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone.

Discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found,

Will you be capable of the perfect human relationship,

That I have planned for you.

You will never be united to another

Until you are united with Me.

Exclusive of anyone or anything else.

Exclusive of any other desires or longings.

I want you to stop planning, to stop wishing, and allow Me to give you

The most thrilling plan existing . . . one you cannot imagine.

I want you to have the best. Please allow Me to bring it to you.

You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things.

Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I am.

Keep listening and learning the things that I tell you.

Just wait, that's all. Don't be anxious, don't worry

Don't look around at things others have gotten

Or that I have given them

Don't look around at the things you think you want,

Just keep looking off and away up to Me,

Or you'll miss what I want to show you.

And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love

Far more wonderful than you could dream of.

You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready,

I am working even at this moment

To have both of you ready at the same time.

Until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me

And the life I prepared for you,

You won't be able to experience the love that exemplified your relationship with Me.

And this is perfect love.

And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love,

I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me.

And to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection and love that I offer you with Myself.

Know that I love you utterly. I AM God.

Believe it and be satisfied.

St. Anthony of Padua

Answering the Call.

FOCUS Conference was incredible. Any words I have to say are going to cheapen the deep and profound impact it had on my heart, but I will try anyway.

Jesus loves me so much. And He loves you. His love is so faithful. In my smallness, I can't even begin to comprehend His greatness. He is calling out to you, desperately chasing after your heart, desiring to be in your presence, desiring to be carried to others through the tabernacle of your very body.

God knew what He was doing when He created you. That struggle you're going through right now, those questions you're asking (and maybe feel guilty about), He knew you would be there... He created you for this very moment. He didn't make a mistake.

He is calling you to be the person He created you to be. He knows you are capable. Even while you stumble there, He waits-- perfectly patient-- for you to walk in to His open arms.

We spend so much time running away from those arms, as if the things we face there will hurt us.

But that is impossible.

"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope.When you call me, when you go to pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you, says the LORD, and I will change your lot; I will gather you together from all the nations and all the places to which I have banished you, says the LORD, and bring you back to the place from which I have exiled you."

What a promise that is. What hope we have! Give thanks to the Lord for He is good... His love is everlasting!

Gearing Up.

iPod.... synched.

Rosary... packed.

Mind... restless.

Suitcase... (almost) ready.

In just a few hours, I'll be getting on a bus with 90(!) other Auburn students and heading to Nashville for FOCUS Conference 2011! God is going to do some big things at this conference, and I can't wait to witness it!

Also present will be my Mom, my Grandma, and my two older sisters, Amanda and CeeCee.

I am excited for the impending mini-family reunion, and all of the other awesome things that are going to happen. I think my grandmother is going to be blown away. She is a devout and practicing Catholic, but hasn't been exposed to the vibrancy and life of the Church of late. There will be hundreds of college students who not only know who Jesus is, but are madly and passionately in love with Him, and are laying down every bit of themselves to glorify and serve Him. It is beautiful.

I think getting to see that is going to encourage, enliven, and inspire my Grandma (a.k.a. G-unit). I have a feeling the Holy Spirit is going to be moving a lot in my family... Pray that it may be so!

Now if I could only get my suitcase to pack itself...

Life to the Full

Today was an absolutely beautiful day-- a wonderful, sunny break from the gray weather we've been experiencing. To take advantage of that fact, one of my best friends, Kathlene, and I made a trip over to Chewacla State Park. (I think it's one of the best things about Auburn... and for the record, so is she! :) )

We spent the first part of our time lake-side, swinging or laying in the grass with the sunshine beaming down upon us. (Complete with a 3 PM Divine Mercy Chaplet!) It was gorgeous out, and being in God's creation made me feel so alive-- sometimes it's so easy to forget that Jesus came that we might have life to the FULL. I've been trying harder to live a full life lately.

Before we left, we drove to the top of the park to look out over the quarry. The iPod was playing, and I was feeling inspired, so I couldn't resist dancing. (Yes, people stared when they drove by.)

It was a beautiful winter day.

We left the park with the intent to drive down county roads (a favorite pastime of ours). However, the car had a different idea.

The battery died three times, each time in a different place. The very last time was in the middle of an intersection. Kathlene got out and tried to push the car-- uphill-- but thankfully people were kind enough to help us... and instruct otherwise.

Needless to say, it was quite the experience.

It was pretty incredible just how many people stopped to help us. We even had a fire truck pull up to offer assistance, and one woman drove to get her husband and bring him back to help us. I guess two girls and a broken down car looks pretty pitiful. We were blessed by their kindness. (Thankfully, it wasn't dark yet!)

To recover, we treated ourselves to the ever-delicious Hibachi Express, and hung out at the Lower Center (ahem... Catholic Student Center) with another best friend, Mary. Thankfully, a few games of scatterball, Uno, some youtube videos, and a visit to Jesus in the chapel of the Mitcham House was enough to remove any traces of the traumatic car experience.

Praise God for such a beautiful day, full of beautiful people, and lots of laughter!

I have nothing to say.

So this will have to tide you over until my blogstipation is over. (Hi, CeeCee.)

Guess Who's Back?

... back again! And better than ever! (Hopefully, you'll think so too.)

I make no promises.

I am busy, probably too busy to try to start blogging again (especially at the start of the semester), but my fingers simply can't resist.

I would like to think my blog will now more accurately represent who I am-- it is strange to read my posts from only a year ago, and to realize that is no longer my voice. I have grown a lot. (No, I don't mean in height. I'm still praying for that one.)

So, who can say if I have been changed for the better (I do believe I have been changed for the better) but hopefully, you'll enjoy.

You're likely to see a shift from the essay/sermon/lecture style of before, and something that is a little more akin to what's inside my brain. Which just means I'm going to stop trying so hard to say super-profound things using smart-sounding words, and instead just sound like me. I forgive you if you stop reading now! (Hopefully, though, my unedited self is much less spastic than my 8th grade self, as my long lost xanga would give witness to. Let me know.)

There's likely to be a shift from talking about the things I've been thinking to the things I've been doing (... uh, who am I kidding?! I'm melancholic phlegmatic! Shall we call automatic fail on this one?) but, after all, you can't just THINK things for the greater glory of God... you must also DO them!

I'll leave you here. (I really like parenthesis.)