August 4th

This is one of my favorite pictures of all time. It sums up my August of 2010.  Yay fall! Yay lake! Yay Travis!

So, I have a very lengthy to-do list for myself this weekend (I've already done over half of it) and "BLOG, YOU PROCRASTINATOR" was definitely on it.


I promise you, every hour I think, "August 4th" like a million times.
To clarify, I am content with where I am now [I say this because of this post; I don't want you to get confused]. But, I am just so excited for fall! There are so many new and exciting things happening in just a few days...I'm itching for it to be August 4th!


1. First Recruitment--the actual "Rush" aspect I am NOT looking forward to, but being reunited with all of my ADPi friends excites me to my core!
2. Living on the hall in the village--I can't even begin to express how much fun that is going to be
3. My classes--I'm taking 12 hours. It's going to be so hard...(Nottttt)
4. Boyfrand--Travis is going to be back in Auburn all the time!!!! YAY!
5. AUBURN FOOTBALL--This small southern town thrives on football. I've considered going ahead and camping out at my family's tailgating spot more than once this summer.
6. Half marathon--training for a half marathon on October 1st in Montgomery is currently up in the air
7. Volunteering--I really need to get some volunteer hours for nursing on my resume so I'm thinking about volunteering at the hospital/anywhere that will take me
8. Bowling--Every Tuesday and Thursday you will find me at the bowling alley, participating in my two credit hour class, with two great friends!
9. Little sister--I finally get something I've always wanted! A little sister. [In ADPi that is.] [And I never really wanted a little sister in real life--Daddy's girl.]
10. More socials, friends, formals, and great times to look forward to.


August 4th, come quickly,
Mary Fran


And PS: You might not be hearing from me for a while. But when I'm back, it's going to be great!

What's in a year?

a year :: 12 months that constitute a measure of age or duration


I feel like I live my life in year increments, as if everything happens from August-August (i.e., the school year). And every year around the 355th day, I find myself itching for what's going to be on the other side of those 365 days. This time, I'm putting behind my first whole year of being in college/living in Auburn/being away from home but, alas, still financially dependent.


I'm super excited about what this next year holds, and I know that I will enjoy it to the max, then be ready to see what happens next school year. But until then, this is what I've learned this year...


1. Always keep an umbrella in your backpack
2. Every single little wittle point counts, where classes are concerned
3. College without Chick-fil-A would be a mistake
4. It is highly probable that one suitemate might take a shower at 12 a.m., and the other at 6 a.m., which gives you a narrow window to enjoy uninterrupted sleep
5. It is possible to go from being nearly strangers, to having an oh-my-goodness-I-haven't-seen-her-in-3-hours kind of relationship with your roommate
6. Skype/Chill/Daylight Donuts are spectacular venues to find yourself falling for someone 
7. Everything goes from "Yeah, I have a lake condo" to "My parents' have a lake condo," because someone could mistakenly think you actually own a condo on your own...
8. TigerCards can be used and abused, or your money never runs out, similar to Jesus feeding the Five Thousand
9. If you go to Auburn, you must complain about Parker and how horrible it is
10. Expect to be covered with cheap beer when attending Alpha Psi's Rodeo
11. It is acceptable to go three days without showering in college
12. Watching the same movie 10 times/week will become one of your most treasured moments of your freshman year
13. [I have to...] ALL WE DO IS WIN, WIN, WIN NO MATTER WHAT
14. Parking downtown is one step away from impossible
15. Two trees on a corner can accumulate into one of the most exciting experiences of your life
16. Dressing up tacky is one of the most fun things in the world
17. 56 girls go from being strangers to your sisters...still not sure how that happens so fast
18. It only takes one wrong turn to get lost in Haley Center
19. You begin to say "I went to high school with her..." as if it was 15 years ago (not one)
20. Tshirts, Nike shorts, and Chacos have become my all-the-time, any-time clothing


And now, I'm starting another year of my life, I guess. A new year in the way I view it of fun, growth, learning, and so on. I guess some day I won't be able to live my life in these awkward school-year increments. But, I guess I'll have to cross that bridge when I get there. Or just stay in school for forever? 


Happy Almost New Year,
Mary Fran

Contentment

[content]: (1) pleased and satisfied (2) not needing more

Well, the definition got me with the second part, "not needing more," because I keep finding myself looking forward to a certain event, or spans of time. I don't appreciate where I am right in this moment. I keep finding myself wanting more, thinking that I need more.

For example, I want it to be fall RIGHT NOW. If the fall semester started tomorrow I might be the happiest girl on the face of the earth. I'm dying for the summer to be over. I'm over it. I want it gone.

But, then again, do I really want summer to be over? Is it all that bad?

No. I'm living off of my mom and dad's dime, with a nice apartment, sharing a gracious bathroom, with tennis courts and a pool outside my door, with the blessing of taking classes and furthering my education.

But this discontentment is a recurring theme. It's something I continually struggle with even in other areas.

Am I going to get into Nursing school? Why am I not good at science? Why am I good at English and History? Should I change my major? Should I go to PA school? What if I have to switch schools? What if I want to get married as soon as possible? 

All. these. things. running. through. my. head.

And, yet, all I need to "deal with" is the present. Finish my classes strong, enjoy my spacious apartment, get a little tan, run a little... that's it. I need to be content with where I am. Right where I am.

I find what Martha Washington said to be very true...

"I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances."

Leave it to the first First Lady of the United States to choose happiness when her husband is thrust into the position of leading the, now free, country of America. [PS: Happy late Fourth of July!]

All that to say, I don't really have it all that bad. At all.

Here's to choosing cheerfulness, 

Mary Fran

The Sisterhood

Wow. Two months. I might win the award for world's worst blogger ever. Sorry 'bout that.


sisterhood:  
(1) the state of being a sister 
(2) the solidarity of women based on shared conditions, experiences, or concerns 
(3) most importantly, the novels tell the continuing story of four young girls who acquire a pair of magical jeans that fit all four of them perfectly, even though they're all different shapes and sizes [aka The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants].


After reading the books and watching the movies, the four of us in the sisterhood {myself, Caroline, Ann Elizabeth, and Sarah} loosely established ourselves as each of the members from the series, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

[Keep in mind these are loose resemblances.]
On the left, Lena [me] who dreams of far-off adventures, but is always stifled by the hand of her elders. She goes to Greece and falls in love. 
Second girl, Carmen [Caroline] goes off to acting camp and is rarely heard from because she is so busy with her duties there. No physical resemblance at all.
Next, Tibby [HAS ANN ELIZABETH STABLER WRITTEN ALL OVER HER FACE] is always stuck in her hometown, left behind by her friends, even though they love her and want to take her with them. Sarcastic, woe-is-me attitude, embodies our dear Tutta.
Lastly, Bridget [Sarah] the wide-eyed, athletic adventurer, that emotionally gets herself caught between a rock and a hard place, and relies on her brains and best friends to help her out.


That's what the girls are about in the movies, but in real life it is a little different.
1) I did not go to Greece
2) Caroline is 100% more beautiful than Carmen and does not have anger issues
3) Tutta isn't gothic [although typing that just made me laugh out loud because that would be hysterical]
4) Sarah isn't a complete...uh...tramp?


Do we talk every day? Noooo, not by any means. We don't even go to the same school anymore (well, 3 of us do). But our special relationship is found in a sleepover when we're home for Christmas break; a quick text in our Beluga to say hey; excitement when a member of the hood is in town and spends the night with you; disappointment when you really want/need to talk but can't; a late-night Skype conversation that goes on for hours; writing letters to a camp for 10 years (and memorizing the address...); golf cart rides; runs; bringing cookie dough to you when you've lost a loved one; Avril boy bash jam sessions; sending hateful emails in 8th grade...; moving to the "hell hole" that is Montgomery; telling a boy "you break her heart I'll break your face;" grieving together; encouraging one another; planning the future (i.e. our weddings...duh); celebrating when one falls in love; sending a text that simply says, "I need you."


These are my girls. The special girls that made my growing up at Trinity and Montgomery special, unique...and interesting to say the least. I love them with all of my heart and am grateful and indebted to them for their special friendship with me.

To some, it might seem cheesy, cliche, and give off the vibe of being in middle school again. But to four of us girls from a little neighborhood off of Vaughn Road in Montgomery, AL, it's just our relationship.

May the sisterhood last for many, many, many years,

Mary Fran

Easter Weekend

Easter [noun]:  an annual Christian festival in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox, as calculated according to tables based in Western churches on the Gregorian calendar and in Orthodox churches on the Julian calendar

After much contemplation, thought, tears, and a bad attitude, I followed through with my promise and ran the 5K at Vaughn Forest Church with my cute little running partner. We finished in less than 40 minutes (I think) and I was so proud of little Kayley!

We finished!!!

After we finished the race, though, something happened that has been occupying my thoughts since Saturday morning at 10 a.m. A man from Columbus whose wife wanted him to run the 5K fell out after crossing the finish line. After much work, time, effort, and tears, through the work and gifts of many people, the man could not be revived and passed away at some point after his supposed heart attack.
We figured out that he was, indeed, a believer in Christ! That was the most relieving/exciting news I had heard in a while, and I think that was the root of all of my thoughts since I learned he did pass away.
My heart broke for his wife. For his four kids. For his friends and family. For his students. For his co-workers. 
Even as my heart broke for the people effected by this man's death, I couldn't help but marvel at the fact that he got to spend Easter with Jesus--the whole reason we held the 5K, the reason we celebrated this holiday.
I guess everyday is Easter in Heaven, though. Every moment is a celebration of Jesus' sacrifice to give us the gift of eternal life. 
Did you notice the people surrounding the cross at the picture at the top of this post? When I looked for a picture this one struck me. I'm probably being cliche and "Jesus Juking", but I don't think we, myself included, pay enough attention to the cross on Easter. Tim Justice's death Saturday morning struck me to the core about Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Because of what He did, I didn't have to worry about where Mr. Justice's soul was when he left this Earth. He was in Heaven, with other believers, worshipping the Lord, having the ultimate "Easter Sunday Church service." 


My heart is overflowing with gratitude for Christ's sacrifice...and the expectation of spending eternal life, celebrating Easter every single moment.


Mary Fran


And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
--Charles Wesley


Mr. Justice's Obituary and GuestBook

When I Grow Up

I've been thinking about what I want to do for the rest of my life. Obviously. I'm a Freshman in college. Mainly I've been having these thoughts because Chemistry is eating me for breakfast every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and I've been wondering if it's worth it.


It is, of course, worth it. Duh...because Nutrition and Dietetics requires you to take another Chemistry and THERE IS NO WAY I WOULD EVERY SUBJECT MYSELF TO DOING THAT. Because of this, my lifelong dream of being Dr. Morris--or Dr. Whatever-My-Last-Name-Becomes--just flew out the window, too. Although, this wasn't realistic from the beginning.


Anyway, when I was a little kid I had dreams of being a teacher. Then a lawyer. Then an FBI agent (I'm serious...don't laugh). A physical therapist. A doctor. A counselor. A business woman. Now I want to be a nurse. (And a wife and mother, but there's a season for that.)


It honestly does make sense for me to be a nurse. I've been given the gift of being able to care for people in need, and I want to see those gifts played out. 


But, I also want to intern in New York. Study abroad in Scotland. Go to medical school in the Caribbean. Teach English as a Second Language in Reynosa, Mexico. Walk the Great Wall of China (no, not the whole thing). View the Grand Canyon (and maybe bungee jump?). Be Miss America. Skydive. Surf off the coast of California. Be a missionary in Kenya. The list of what I want to do goes on and on. But what am I being led to do?


When I see little kids (like the precious picture above), I see young lives with endless opportunities waiting at their feet. I see a wide open ocean of dreams of being fireman, a doctor, a baker, a lawyer, a forester...and where they are truly led to be.


I see endless possibilities. 


Mary Fran

Hope

Disclaimer:  This may or may not be a babbling post. We'll see...

HOPE: [to cherish a desire with anticipation; to desire with expectation of obtainment; to expect with confidence; trust]

I hope I make an A on this test. I hope I rock my interview tomorrow. I hope we win Greek Sing on Tuesday. 

I've been thinking about this word, hope, often lately. So, I looked up the definition and decided that my earthly wants and longings are not even on the same scale as something hoped for. The word wish covers it because if I fail my Chemistry test (which is likely), if I babble at my interview tomorrow (also likely), if we don't win Greek Sing Tuesday (we're competing against 16 other groups of 40 girls), life goes on.

But, what can we do without hope?

With the Easter season around the corner, my church here in Auburn has begun a series on Jesus' "I Am's." I am the Gate...I am the Way, the Truth, and the Light...I am the Good Shepherd...etc. I was reminded that in all of these things, Jesus is hope.

Hope for life after death. Hope for no more tears. Hope for the ill made whole. Hope, hope, hope! 

I can't imagine living life with no hope. I can't imagine thinking of losing a loved one and not being able to see him again. I can't imagine not having the ultimate gift of living in eternity. I can't image not having something to long for...to desire with anticipation...to expect with full confidence.

I am overwhelmed by this gift of hope, this gift that I do not deserve at all. 

Desiring the Kingdom with anticipation,

Mary Fran