how great...

So tonight as I was blog stalking (for lack of a better word), I came across a blog that had How Great is Our God playing in the background, and it all hit me dead on. Standing on a hill known as Vesper with the sun burning my closed eyes, I stood beside 6 or so girls, all as vulnerable as I was, and we all sang that song with every ounce of our heart. We were there to love on each other and love on our GOD. How great he is…  And with that song, summer came flooding back.

For those who don't know, I worked at Camp Lake Stephens, in Oxford this summer, and needless to say, it was probably the best experience of my life. I have never felt more blessed in an 11 week period than I did this summer.

I stood in my room a few days ago trying to explain the feeling and love I had for this summer and I found myself frustrated. Frustrated because I just couldn't get out the words to mean what I wanted them to. Frustrated because I can't ever seem to explain it where people see the full beauty and depth of what I was blessed to do this summer.

But I know frustration isn't what I should feel for those things…it should be gratefulness that I had an experience so breathtaking that it cannot be explained in simple words.

We wrote ourselves letters the seventh week of the summer that would be mailed to us later in the year, and I got mine a few weeks ago. It brought back a lot of memories and a lot of reminders that I need at this point in the year. Here is something I told myself…

"such JOY-great word for the summer. Everything brings me joy here…the kids, the staff, being in God's creation, the small things. It's so easy to get caught up in a routine I have found even at camp. That is how my school experience has been, and I want to get out of that. Push myself out of my comfort zone more often and not let that freak me out."

So here's to finding that JOY in the small things every day,

Here's to stepping out of my comfort zone,

Here's to sharing my experience without frustrations,

Here's to MY GREAT GOD.

xoxo Maria

dear sister

So as I said in one of my previous posts, last Saturday was my sister's 22nd birthday. Yes, she is getting on up there, I know...and I try to often remind her of how old she is. But she is my one and only sister, and I love her to death. So Natalie, this is dedicated to you...

So if you know my family, you know that we are ALL about family. The annual family vacation is a huge deal. My mom spends months toiling over where to go and then looking at travel books to plan our itinerary. And I am not complaining...we go on some pretty awesome trips. Some have included:

--Seattle/other surrounding cities: Where Natalie refused to sit up on a tree branch with me for a picture; insisted on taking a picture in front of every.single.Twilight.location we went to; refused to take a "jumping picture with me on the beach; and literally almost got left in Canada when we were crossing back over the border.

--New York: "to the left, to the left;" where I got stuck on the other side of the entrance to the subway and almost got left; and this was Natalie's favorite trip BY FAR because we got stuck in the airport for the night (you should ask her how sleeping in the freezing, noisy, hard baggage claim area was).

--Washington DC: where I sang "pet Fala, pet Fala, pet Fala Fala Fala Fala Fala" the whole trip. Enough said.

--Disney World (the first time): Where Natalie left me in a store and I was lost in Epcot for approx. 15 minutes; where we cried when they told us Blizzard Beach was closed so they let us in; where we DROVE to IN THE SATURN, yes the car I used to drive.

My parents also probably celebrated for weeks when I chose UNA because they would be able to spend ALL their extra time stalking both daughters instead of splitting their time between two colleges. But I wouldn't have it any other way...I miss them more than I ever thought possible some days. And for those of you who don't know, Natalie and I live about 4 feet away from each other this year. And I love it!

I had a rough time adjusting to being an only child when Natalie left home. It was just wayyyyy quieter and there wasn't ALWAYS someone around when I needed a friend. It has been the biggest blessing to once again live 2 doors down from my sister. Sure we don't always get along, but we love each other. She's there for my joys, sadness, frustration, anger, uncertainties, ideas, changes, and she helps me make it through the day a lot of times. Just knowing that my sister is right around the corner is the most comforting feeling. I really don't know how I'm going to deal with her leaving again in May, but the time will come, and we will be okay. And maybe even she'll end up in DC, and I will get to go visit and sing her her favorite song :)

My sister in a nutshell: caring, leader, compassionate, friend, listener, loud, over-achiever, hard-worker, assertive, calm, grounded, down-to-earth, sweet, and my best friend.


Here's to you Nat, I love you!!

xoxo, maria

Reunited and it feels so good...

So there isn't even a reunion yet, but I am so excited already. My two best friends in the whole entire world are coming to visit me in 10 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is exciting first of all because I haven't had a SINGLE friend from home come visit me since I've been in school. (and I sometimes wonder why I still love them!) But second of all exciting because it will be a pre-Thanksgiving celebration. You see, they get the whole week out for Thanksgiving when I will still be slaving in class on Monday and Tuesday, so they are coming on their first weekend off. And then we will all be home again on Wednesday for more get-togethers :)

Needless to say, I can't wait. And it will most likely be a weekend for the books...but aren't they all?? Love you two girls so much, and I really couldn't make it without yall!

To Brittney and Bess......

xoxo, Maria

we'll be together...forever and ever

Sisterhood is a blessing.
It's the best we have to share.

These are some of the words I said to every girl that walked into our chapter room on pref. night of rush. And even though they were scripted for me, I meant every word. As I'm sitting here staring at a stack 40 cards high that are about to be personally written to each of our new babies, I can't help but be thankful for what I have here with Zeta Tau Alpha.

I've recently been reminded through the smallest things how strong our bond of sisterhood really is here. Last weekend I had the joy of going on our New Member Retreat. We got away for a night to just share with each other and strengthen the friendships of the sweet new pledge class. It was a night of smores, chubby bunny, compliment sheets, secret sharing, movies, and lots and lots of singing. 1. I was reminded how old I am...those girls have some ENERGY! 2. I was reminded why I became a Zeta in the first place. 3. I was reminded why we chose these girls to complete our sisterhood. 4. But most importantly I was reminded of the love that runs so strongly through our chapter. It was a blessing of a weekend.

I will be getting 40 new sisters 9 days from now when they become officially initiated into the sisterhood. I know I, and they, couldn't be more excited. I've never felt more sure of the decision and pledge I made a year ago to join this sisterhood.

Luckily I've had the blessing of having a "real" sister my whole life. I love it because all those cliche sayings about sisters are so true, and I could use those to sum up our friendship. But there will be more about my real sissy on her bday :) coming up soon!

I love my sisters in Zeta so much and living with them has only made the experience better. I currently live with three of the best girls in the world. I don't know what I would do without them in my life. They are always here when I need them-through the good and bad. Love them to death......Pattie-Lane, Natalie, and Whitney :)

Individually and collectively.
We are Zeta Tau Alpha.