God is incredible.

You know...sometimes I sit here, and wonder about life. How do we know what we are really called to do? How do we know if we are living the dream that God planned for us? There is so much in my life that I wanted to do differently, and when I look back now and see where I have been and where I am now it's amazing. TO be able to stand here and express the love to others I have for Christ, and yet be a new person aside from who I was when I was 18 is amazing. It's amazing to begin to understand how much love God has for me, and for all of us. I mean, for those of you who knew me in high school and my first semester of college, I wasn't the best person. I was selfish, shallow, rude, and so much more. I was such a person of this world. And then, I remeber who I've become and it's incredible. To know that God changed my life so much brings me to tears. It leaves me hope to know that if He can turn someone into something so much stronger, and so much more full of pure joy then He truly can do anything.

God is incredible. God is love. God is everything we could never imagine and more. God is the beginning and the end.

You never know how short your time is..

We had to put my dog down today. He suffered over 12 seizures in less than 24 hours. The vets thought he had a brain tumor, and there really wasn't much they could do. As the 24 hours went by he got progressively worse. You know something is wrong when your amazingly-strong pitbull becomes....not so strong over night.

It was more sad to see him go than I could have ever imagined. I never thought it would hurt this bad.

With this I have taken one thing away from it all. We take so much for granted, and we don't even realize it. All the days he greeted me with love and kisses, and I was too busy to notice. Why is it that we have to always be so busy to not notice the little things? Today it was nice, I got home and laid on the floor with him until it was time to go. I think that is one of the best memories I can have, other than the time he bulldozed me in the hallway when I was ten!

He was such a blessing to my family and I. He was definitely a Godsend. This experience has given me the opportunity to grow to understand that life is too short. Say I love you as often as you can. Mend your old friendships, and be there for the ones you love. Spend as much time as you can with your family and your friends. Because when it all boils down, all life is about is having intimate friendships. We are called to have a wonderfully fulfilling relationship with our Lord and Savior, as we are to have these amazing relationships with our neighbors.

Love everyone.

I would appreciate prayers for my family and this difficult time. I know letting him go was best for him, at least he isn't in pain any more.

I hope that, for those of you, who think pitbulls are terrible dogs realize that this was an AMAZING pitbull. He was full of more love than ANYONE I have ever know, other than Jesus. He was the first one to greet me when I walked in the door, and always there to say goodbye. All he ever wanted to do was get a little love and snuggle as often as he could. I just wish I would have snuggled with him more often.


I hope you walk away having learned something.

Looking back on LeaderShape 2008

Wow! What an experience of a lifetime. I just finished my junior year, but it was my first year at SMU. We spent six days learning about the core values of leadership, but I felt like I walked away from this conference knowing more about myself and the people around me.

This leadership conference really helped me begin to develop a sense of community with other students on campus. Not to mention having the opportunity to meet other students from DCCCD and UTA!


This experience helped me to really dig deep into the things that I value and things that I wish to change about myself. We had sessions where we met as a whole group (50+ students) and then we had sessions where we broke away into family clusters. The family clusters gave us the opportunity to share a little more about ourselves and our lives in a more intimate setting. I learned so much from the people in my family cluster; it was incredible.

I had no idea that I was going to learn so much in such a short time! Not only were we able to learn different values and aspects of leadership, but we formed friendships that will last a lifetime.

We've only been back from LeaderShape for just over two weeks, and we've already had a get-together with those of us who are in the DFW area for the summer. We all meet for bowling this past Friday in Addison.




The people I met at LeaderShape gave such a lasting impression of inspiration to achieve what I want to. It's nice to realize that I was surrounded by people who possess a true passion for making a difference in the world and in the future.

I would highly encourage anyone who is contemplating going to go for it! I learned/took away more than I could have ever imagined. It was such a wonderful opportunity!



TEAM INFINITY YOU KNOW!

How are you living?

Ceasar Moncada of Verizon was a guest speaker at the LeaderShape Conference this year.

I wanted to share something he spoke about when talking about how he defines leadership.

He said that leadership doesn't consist on the basis of what you know and the things you can do, but more so on your values and your self being.

It was really eye opening to hear him speak about a leader and even just an every day person needing to take a step back and a step out of the situation you are in and look in and evaluate it. Are you really acting the way you wanted to? Are you living up to your own expectations? Are your values showing through what you do on a daily basis?

I have never had anyone mention the need to evaluate your own actions. I know it's essential to have accountability partners to help give you guidance and feedback, but never did I think about the need to look inward in my everyday life.

I know from a spiritual context I do look inward and see if I am truly living a Christ-like life, but I guess I never applied that to my everyday little actions.

But it makes total sense.

Whether you believe in the God Almighty or not, I think everyone needs to see if they are living up to their ideal values.


How are you living?

Be...

ONE THING THAT EVERYONE MUST DO:


Be passionate about ANYTHING.




End of story.

I really enjoyed blogging this semester, and I hope to continue to do so from now on. Let's see how it goes!

There is a time for everything...

..and it was not my time for Creative Method.

You know, at first I was a little upset. This was something I have wanted for a really long time, and I blew it. I honestly thought I did a good job with my application, but there is nothing I can do about it. If I wasn't meant to be in Method Creative then I wasn't meant to be in it. My friend Erika emailed me a verse about the whole situation:

"There is a time for everything, and a season for everything under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace." -- Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

There is a time for everything. I need to keep this in mind.

It's beautiful.

After my final class of the semester was over todayI went to a picnic with some friends. It was really nice. We had snacks, hung out, and played Frisbee and passed the football.

I think this was honestly the first time I have really stepped out and actually noticed the beauty that SMU has. Of course it's nothing like being at the beach, but just having the opportunity to be outside with wonderful friends was a great time.

I cannot wait to be living here next year.

This rubs me the wrong way..

..when people assume stuff.

I mean, I get it. I go to a pretty good school that is way too expensive. That does NOT automatically mean that mommy and daddy are paying for everything.

NEWSFLASH: not all of us drive brand new mercedes or lexus cars, or can spend mommy and daddy's money like it's their own, and some of us are even PAYING FOR SCHOOL THEMSELVES.

Fine, maybe I shouldn't let it get to me, but I hate it when people AUTOMATICALLY assume crap like this. I went to this school because they have a great advertising program, not because I could afford it. I'm at this school because I busted my butt in community college and got pretty decent scholarships. I'm at this school because I work hard every semester/summer/break saving money to pay for the tuition.

It just really pisses me off when I run into people who are shocked that I have a job or whatever else is NOT like them. If there is one thing about SMU that I don't like it is the stereotype. But at the same time, I am very thankful and blessed to be at this school, I just wish people were more open minded about stuff like this.

My summer to-do list..

..consists of several things.

!) The internship that I find out about soon (I REALLY want this!) - or a different full-time job.
!) I have 15 books on my reading list and another 5 that I want to buy after the 10!
!) Spend more time outside.
!) Cherish my time with my family.
!) Find out what I want to do after I graduate.
!) Look at grad schools and portfolio schools.
!) Spend at least 20 minutes every day drawing. (I'm getting so much better).
!) Sleep! :)
!) Plan a couple of mini-road trips with my best friends.


I realized something today, which is something that I have probably heard a million times. Let it go. When there is nothing you can do about a particular circumstance you need to let it go. I'm really good at helping others come to that realization, but I have a hard time keeping it in my heart. I'm glad I have wonderful friends who remind me about this. I really need to let the future fall into place.

All I know is that I am really excited about the semester coming to an end! I really need a break!

Fail Harder - Wieden + Kennedy

David Kennedy came to SMU today. It was really interesting to hear him talk about how their business came together after reading Where the Suckers Moon: The Life and Death of an Advertising Campaign, which is about the Subaru Campaign that Wieden+Kennedy had a while back.

This was a project that a group from their 12 program worked on. They spent almost 400 hours decorating this wall.

I think it goes to show that sometimes failure is okay. The harder you fail the better you will succeed in the long run.

running?

tWO tHOUGHTS oF tHE nIGHT:

One was brought up in a lecture during one of my psychology classes:
are you running life, or is life running you?

Another one my pastor said the toher week:

saying yes to one thing is saying no to another.



Both very true, and very brilliant. What are you saying no to?

Why pay more?

I was reading an article on NYT.com the other day about the sticker shock in the organic aisles.

I thought it was quite interesting. I definitely don't have anything against organic food (I eat some organic things), but I just think that the demand of the organic supplies is increasing the costs way to high.


They wonder why 1/3 of the U.S. is overweight. Who wants to pay over $7 for a gallon of milk? Not to mention over $4 for a loaf of bread. I mean..seriously? Eat healthy and go bankrupt, or eat enjoyably and have a couple extra lbs? I'll take the later.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that there is this "organic craze" going on in the celebrity limelight and consumers are flocking towards it like mad geese. Just a thought.

What do the arts have to offer?

"POWER" - according to Dean Jose Bowen.



We had an event this morning with MAPS (Meadows Ambassadors for Perspective Students) and Si Puedes (a student run organization on campus that hosts a group of middle school age students every Saturday on campus).

The last part of the event was with Dean Jose Bowen doing an interactive musical piece. For those of you who haven't ever heard of Jose Bowen, you need to go to his website, Jose Antonio Bowen. He is the most phenomenal pianist I have ever met. Not to mention an amazing person in all regards.

He was speaking to the students about the Meadows School of the Arts and what all the different fields of art have in common (performing, visual, and communication arts). I loved the way he put it.

"What do advertising and music have in common? What do journalism and dance have in common? - They are all about telling a story, they are about getting your voice out there in whatever way, shape or form you throw it out to the world."

I love the way he organizes his words. All the arts are truly about telling a story, and using the power that is instilled inside of you to do it. I never really thought about comparing advertising to theatre or music. I mean I realized that there are parts of theatre and music in advertising, but hearing him speak about the way they all correlate is so interesting.

All the arts are truly full-blown stories. Whether you are in advertising, theatre, music, CCPA, journalism, or art: all these people are artists in their own way and they are trying to tell THEIR story.

So get out there today...and tell your story.

Here's what I discovered...

So, a few weeks back in my introduction to creativity class Dr. Griffin gave us the idea to do a blog on an issue that we are completely against, but do research about it and try to see it from the other side of the issue.

I chose a difficult one: abortion (pro-life or pro-choice)



I am pro-life and will always be, but I wanted to try to see it from another perspective. It was really difficult, and I'm not sure I was able to fully see it from another person's shoes. I can't picture myself sitting in the clinic about to do something like that. I relaize there are people who say, "you don't understand until you are in that situation." But then when I look back to the people who I went to high school with who used abortion a "safe way" to have sex it makes me sick. If you are going to have sex with your partner be ready to suffer the consequences. Not that having a child is a negative consequence that will cause suffering, but it will if you are in college and not ready for it. I think Norma McCorvey, who was the "Jane Roe" in the Roe v. Wade suit said it best when she was interviewed USA Today she stated that once, while employed at a clinic when no one was in: "I went into the procedure room and laid down on the table... trying to imagine what it would be like having an abortion... I broke down and cried." On ABC's World News Tonight, Norma McCorvey said: "I think abortion's wrong. I think what I did with Roe v. Wade was wrong."


If found this quote from a pro-choice fundamentalist Dr. Malcom Watts, he was writing a pro-abortion piece for the California Medical Association said: “...it has been necessary to separate the idea of abortion from the idea of killing, which continues to be socially abhorrent. The result has been a curious avoidance of the scientific fact, which everyone really knows, that human life begins at conception and is continuous until death.”



RU 468 "It works by blocking progesterone, a crucial hormone during pregnancy. Without progesterone, the uterine lining does not provide food, fluid and oxygen to the tiny developing baby. The baby cannot survive. A second drug is then given that stimulates the uterus to contract and the baby is expelled."

Suction-Aspiration "The abortionist inserts a hollow plastic tube with a knife-like edge into the uterus. The suction tears the baby’s body into pieces. The placenta is cut from the uterine wall and everything is sucked into a bottle."

Dilation and Curettage (D and C) "This is similar to a suction procedure except a curette, a loop-shaped steel knife is inserted into the uterus. The baby and placenta are cut into pieces and scraped out into a basin. Bleeding is usually very heavy with this method."

Dilation and Evacuation (D and E) This is done after third month of pregnancy: "A pliers-like instrument is inserted through the cervix into the uterus. The abortionist then seizes a leg, arm or other part of the baby and, with a twisting motion, tears it from the body. This continues until only the head remains. Finally the skull is crushed and pulled out. The nurse must then reassemble the body parts to be sure that all of them were removed."

Prostaglandin Abortion "Prostaglandin is a hormone that induces labor. The baby usually dies from the trauma of the delivery. However, if the baby is old enough, it will be born alive. This is called a “complication.” To prevent this, some abortionists use ultrasound to guide them as they inject a “feticide” (a drug that kills the fetus) into the unborn baby’s heart. They then administer prostaglandin and a dead baby is delivered. This type of abortion is used in mid and late term pregnancies."

Dilation and Extraction (D and X) Used on mid to late term babies: "The child’s body is then pulled out of the birth canal except for the head which is too large to pass through the cervix. The baby is alive, and probably kicking and flailing his legs and arms. The abortionist hooks his fingers over the baby’s shoulders, holding the woman’s cervix away from the baby’s neck. He then jams blunt tipped surgical scissors into the base of the skull and spreads the tips apart to enlarge the wound. A suction catheter is inserted into the baby’s skull and the brain is sucked out. The skull collapses and the baby’s head passes easily through the cervix."

It is hard for me to sit here and read these discriptions about the medical methods of abortion and be even remotely okay with the idea. I mean sucking out the body in pieces? Sucking the brain out? I just don't understand how someone can be okay with that.

Then I realize that people comment about what if someone was raped, and I realize that is already a hard position, but there are so many things you can do. Yes, I realize that it would be difficult to bring a baby to term after being raped, but wouldn't it be hard to kill it too? I've talked to several people who have had abortions and gotten the same response back: it was the worst mistake they have ever made and a day doesn't go by when they think of their lost child.

I tried hard to see it from the other side, but after reading all the methods and policies about abortion I think my understanding of the issue and what I think is right is more firm after reading the research.

Bioscleave House

Can I build a house like this? I always wanted to know what it'd be like to live in a house that was extremely multi-colored, not to mention with moving floors! Okay...well maybe these floors aren't moving, but the waves give the appearance that they are moving! I just think it's soo cool!!


But then the question is....does it really prevent death? I think that is a bit of an exaggeration.

Is there a point to this?

What is with all these fake threats? I mean do people REALLY have that much spare time on them?

I read this on the Tarrant County College Website:

"The TCC Police Department would like to inform our campus community that a barely discernable, small in print, message was found scratched on the stall of a men's room on the second floor of the library at the Northeast Campus. It stated, "There will be a shooting here on April 19th." The Police Department takes all threats and indications that harm may be done seriously. To this end, additional safety and security measures have been activated and will continue as long as deemed appropriate to preserve the safety and security of our campus community."


I mean seriously...can we grow up?

Really, this is normal?

Polygamy? We were talking about polygamist sect issue in West Texas the other day during one of my psychology classes.

The government went in to this compound and took out over 400 children. Apparently minors were being forced to marry old men and they were being sexual abused.

The mothers returned to the compound this Monday and are confused as to why the government removed their children from the compound and why there is all this ruckus about it. Do they not understand that living a life like that isn't normal? It's soo sad to see that they were taken advantage of and manipulated to believe that living in a polygamist relationships is normal.

What makes someone beileve that this could be normal? Not to mention why would you want to SHARE someone you are married to, I mean seriously..

Getting to know me...

I just finished an assignment I have for my psychology class. "100 Things About Me"

1) I am one of six kids in my family.
2) My middle name, Moira, means “Sea of Bitterness” and it’s the Irish form of Mary.
3) I am a transfer student from Collin County Community College.
4) I like to read all sorts of books.
5) I just learned to knit over Christmas break.
6) I love to scrapbook.
7) I have two nephews and a niece.
8) My parents call me “pooh.”
9) I am the first kid in my family to make it to a university.
10) I am a Christian.
11) I teach Sunday School at my church.
12) I have the best Bible study ever.
13) I am going to be a RA next year in McElvaney.
14) I work in the Diversity and Community Outreach Department of Meadows.
15) I love to cook.
16) I have really awesome parents.
17) I love my major, Advertising.
18) I want to go skydiving before I turn 25.
19) I love listening to people.
20) I am a helper.
21) I love to serve God and others.
22) I want to learn how to play the guitar.
23) I struggle with my weight, but hate talking about it.
24) I am an expert multitasker.
25) I always have orange bubble gum on me.
26) I love dark chocolate.
27) I am a good friend.
28) I love to do random things for others.
29) I love to bake.
30) I am energetic.
31) I am always busy.
32) I am compassionate.
33) I am funny.
34) I love to laugh; it’s like a medicine.
35) I enjoy learning new things.
36) I love being a student.
37) I am so glad I came to SMU.
38) I was missing half of my front tooth for almost six years.
39) I used to be the biggest tomboy ever.
40) I love to wear sun skirts.
41) I love wearing ballet flats.
42) Sometimes I hate being tall.
43) I love event planning.
44) I love to write.
45) I want to write a book before I’m 45.
46) I think I have fat knuckles because I pop them all the time.
47) I love reading my Bible.
48) I enjoy learning from others.
49) I love giving and receiving advice.
50) I want to teach English in a Spanish speaking country.
51) I want to be fluent in Spanish someday.
52) I want to be in school for a really long time.
53) Going out into the real world scares me.
54) I am very much a family-oriented person.
55) Moving out next semester scares me.
56) I am the third oldest in my family, but the oldest living at home.
57) It’s really hard for me to say no to other people.
58) I hate drama and gossip.
59) I love to drive, but hate traffic.
60) I enjoy talking on the phone to my good friends.
61) I love coffee.
62) I love having girls’ night.
63) I love to try out new recipes.
64) I love working.
65) My favorite holiday is Christmas.
66) I love learning more about God.
67) My favorite television show is Extreme Makeover Home Edition.
68) I love family time.
69) I like to play board games.
70) I went through a rough time my first semester of college.
71) I’ve been forgiven for my past, and I am so blessed for that.
72) I enjoy doing yard work.
73) I like to go swimming.
74) I love being outdoors.
75) I wish I had more downtime.
76) I like doing yoga, but wish I had more time for it.
77) I learned to play tennis a year ago, and fell in love with it.
78) I love jewelry.
79) I love roasting marshmallows and catching them on fire.
80) I hate being alone.
81) I have at least 10 books waiting on my shelf for me to read this summer.
82) My favorite colors are orange and green.
83) I like sappy Lifetime movies.
84) I hate that people automatically judge me because I’m a Christian.
85) I love sushi.
86) I wanted to pursue a theatre career, but I was afraid that I wouldn’t make it.
87) My favorite flower is the lily.
88) I have a red freckle on the palm of my hand.
89) I was saved two years ago this month.
90) I have been blessed with a wonderful family.
91) I am almost 100% Irish.
92) I took my step-dad’s last name when I was a senior in high school.
93) I talk with my hands.
94) I hate bees.
95) I have a newfound love for anything spinach.
96) I love shopping for handbags, especially at Target.
97) I love buying new shoes.
98) I sometimes have a hard time dealing with anger in traffic.
99) I am going to LeaderShape this May.
100) I went to Taos, New Mexico this Spring Break with Alternative Spring Break and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity.

Maybe that's too much. I had a lot of fun, but I never realized how hard it was to think about ONE HUNDRED things about YOURSELF.

Finding faith after seeing the Pope?

I was watching the news this morning and saw a story about this lady who came to Washington D.C. to see the Pope.

She was interviewed and told the broadcaster that she came all the way to D.C. because she thought that seeing him would renew her faith in God.

I just found it interesting that she was relying on another HUMAN BEING to reclaim her faith in God. Our faith doesn't rely on other people. I do hope that seeing the Pope helped her, but I hope she finds out that it's not about the people, it's about GOD.



Not to mention....if I wore that much white all the time I'd be the biggest mess ever. End of story.

You're handicapped?

One thing I have realized this semester that really pisses me off..

when people pressing the handicap button to walk into a building.



I mean, COME ON....you don't sit in a wheelchair, have crutches, a prosthetic leg, or a cast...and yet for whatever reason you can't open the door yourself.

I have seen soo many people do this in the last couple of days and it really ticks me off. Please, can someone explain this to me.


Thanks.