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...