Back to School Good Times!

Just a few photos from the beginning of school...Here are some of my lovely friends playing Catan at our house!

Here's a tribute to something that's about to be on DVD and then soon after will be on TV for the 5th season!! Can't wait!

Our last girl's Bible study...you can tell we take things seriously :) We made it through the whole Beth Moore Daniel study!! Yea!

Still Kickin' Bum at School

So it's the third day of school...and it's still going well! :) My MW classes will kick bum (in a good way) and my TTh classes will be, well, alright. My favorite thing about classes this semester is my Geography class! Yep...5th year senior...taking general geography. I put it off okay? (Kinda like how I put off getting my chapel credits til this year too...I'll be the 5th year-er in Chapel too...yeah.) But I'm so glad I'm taking Geography it this particular semester! It's nice to get a breath of air that's not about the TEKS or Phonemic Awareness. Not that I don't love my major. But this eye-opening class is going to be so refreshing this semester! Who doesn't love studying other places and cultures? It's like vicariously traveling! There's only so much you can learn in one place. :) 

See ya!

The Best First Day Yet!

Today was my very last "first day of school" EVER! Well...that's kind of a lie...since I'm an education major, I'm sure I'll have a lot more "first days." :) But it was definitely my last first day as a student!! I think that knowledge made me just enjoy today like nothing else! It was such a good day! Knowing this is my last time around just made me let go of all the bad attitudes that come with school starting. And remember that professor I mentioned who I was not excited about having? She didn't seem so bad today either! :) It also rained some today and we've been having the most gorgeous sunsets here. You know what I'm talking about it you're from around here. I was driving home this evening and the entire sky was orangey pink...it was breathtaking!

Anyway, it was a good first day of school. I hope yours was fabulous if you are doing the school thing!

Also, you might want to check out the photog-blog. I had a session Saturday and LOVED the photos from it! Here's a peek!

Summer Sum Up!

Here comes school! Five days and counting! I'm actually not that sad to see summer go like I usually am. I think that's because I'm graduating this year, and I'm just ready! Besides I can't wait for the crisp fall weather! (All seven days of it we get in Texas, sandwiched between summer and winter.)

Anyway, my friend Lilly wrote a summer sum up on her blog and I just liked the idea, so here goes!


1. Joined a gym. (Yesss! Long term goal--done!)

2. Booked several weddings! Yay!

3. Went on lots of road trips, all in Texas, but still a blast!

4. Took a summer school course...

5. Saw dear friends get married: Emily&Josh, Hailey&Adam, Kassie&Chase.

6. Launched my website and got biz cards.

7. Helped lead a Bible study for some girls I know who are about to start college.

8. Got addicted to coffee :)

9. Worked...alot...a whole lot.

10. Got to lead worship all summer for the small group Beth Moore study I was in.

Yay! There's a great summer right there! Even though it was CRAZY busy and I was frustrated at that fact, it was a very good summer. I'm thankful for each of those things.

I want to cultivate a thankful heart as school is starting. I found myself complaining already about a professor I have...no need for that, especially when school hasn't even started! Last night, during our last Beth Moore sesh, she said something that I think will stick with me forever, "If you want to be set apart in this world as we are called to be, just stop complaining! Stop grumbling about your job, your spouse, your dinner, etc. The world will notice VERY quickly that something is different!"

Cool.

Wedding Weekend!

This weekend, my dearest friends Chase and Kassie got married! It was wonderful! I got to shoot their wedding, so head to the photog-blog to see it all! Here are a couple of my favorites.

I really owe a lot to Chase and Kassie. During one of the hardest months of my life, they really shined as friends and helped me keep my joy. When I was first beginning in photography, Chase helped me find opportunities that became the base of my business. Kassie has always been an amazing friend, and my favorite thing about her is her honesty. They are just wonderful and I'm so glad they're married! After something like four years of dating, it's about time! :)

Caroline, why are you driving an orange box?

My dearest darling-est 4runner, Simon, is back in the shop. Something's wrong with the transmission...again.




So since they had to keep him in the shop overnight, my dad took me to pick up my "loaner" car for the next few days from the dealership. Guess what they gave me? Scroll down a bit if you're prepared to see the hideousness.

Are you kidding me!?

So I'm zipping around town in this little piece of work. Yikes! It's like someone at the dealership wanted to pull a joke on me! So if you see me driving around in it (and trust me, it's not that hard to miss) honk or something. :)

P.S. Okay, it is a Scion and it's really fun to drive. But still...hideous!! I can't wait to get my baby 4runner back!

**UPDATE**

Just a few minutes ago, a man walked into the store (where I work) and announced, "That little orange car out front is just about the ugliest looking thing I've ever seen!"

Haha, yes...thank you. I'm aware of that.

My friend, Jamie.

Before reading: This is a seriously personal account that might only be significant to me, but I still wanted to write it. Sorry if I bore you or if this seems like too much information :)

This summer, I found such joy in being a part of a Beth Moore Bible study with some old and new friends. My friend Jamie, who led it, has been my friend since my Freshman year of college. I totally remember the night at Sonic when she introduced me to Brian Regan and his "Carolyn/Caroline" joke. I laughed so hard :) Anyway, Jamie and I had a rough time when we tried living in the same house our Junior year with 4 other friends (so that's six girls total in one house...yikes!!). After only lasting 6 months in that situation, I moved out, things calmed down, and we kinda went our separate ways. Then our Senior year, Jamie bravely announced she felt the Lord was calling her to leave and finish school at Wheaton and I didn't see her for a year. But she's been back this summer! And it's amazing how the Lord has restored our relationship and she's the biggest blessing to me! I don't know another person who has the ability to make things happen like Jamie does. She's the type of person who is bold and passionate enough to actually jump right into an intimidating problem to help fix it. The most exciting thing is that her boldness and passions are all for the Lord!

Anyway, I've been blessed, and I marvel when I look back and see how the Lord has refined us and brought us to the place where we are now as friends. Pretty cool.

On a funny note, last night our Bible study group got together to watch the weekly Beth Moore DVD, but we couldn't find the remote to the DVD player. Without it, you pretty much can't get the player to work...so after a time of worship and discussion, we gave up on finding the remote and watched the Women's Gymnastics on the Olympics! :) It was funny...I suppose you would've had to been there. :)

How do I write the rest of this? It's hard to communicate this without sounding trite or self-centered.

I'm so encouraged in my spiritual gifts though, after this Bible study. I've always loved to lead worship for small girls Bible studies that I've been a part of. The last time I got to do that was probably about a year ago. But people here recently have just been affirming that fact that I am gifted in that area, and that I should be using that gift to honor the Lord. It's exciting...

It's also unbelievably evident to my own eyes that this is a GIFT from the Lord. The fact that the Lord uses me and that people are encouraged is ONLY because of the Lord. I know this because the Lord has used me, to spur people to His heart, when my own heart has been struggling with sincerity in my faith. I am overjoyed to serve a God who raises up people who are not perfect, people who struggle with things, people who mess up...He specifically uses us to advance His kingdom. What an undeserved honor! It humbles me!

Swift Joy.