these are my people.

well, i finished my first semester of grad school.

i spent an obscene amount of money, experienced major emotional distress every other day, made a few new friends, learned a lot about myself and grew up just a little.

i'd say it was pretty successful. academically, probably the easiest semester i've ever had (and yes, i graduated from southeastern, this is really saying something) but emotionally, by far the hardest. i knew it was going to be difficult coming here but i wasn't really prepared for the way in which it would be difficult. it was surprising. the verdict is still out.. maybe call me back in a few more months.

right now all i can focus on is the fact that i'm going home in 36 hours.

absolutely, positively, cannot wait.

i'm driving 400 miles, the day i get back, just to spend 24 hours with my best friends from college. it's probably the most ridiculous financial decision i've made in awhile, but, whatever. it's going to be so worth it! my heart needs them again. maybe the one day i get to spend with them will get me through the rest of the winter!

i need relationships.

that's what i've learned this semester.

i need people i trust and can be myself with. and, i know that i can find that in new people, and i've learned that i can't be so dependent on those who have been in my life forever. but, there's just something about that comfort. about those people who know you so well that you don't even have to say anything. there's just something that screams "life" in those relationships. like, the whole point of existing is in those moments between you and that person you're connected to.

i came here to find myself without those relationships. to figure out who i am outside of my friends. but, i think what i realized is that i don't really want to be myself outside of them. they make my life complete, and joyous, and so very worth living. i want to be me with them. i want to live life with them.

now, i guess the goal for next semester will be to figure out how to make that work while living thousands of miles apart. how to make the independent me and the dependent me cohabit peacefully.

thanks to everyone who made this semester work. everyone who supports me and loves me. i love you all unceasingly : )

the weary world rejoices.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

When true love and peace appears, our souls may realize their worth.

When was the last time your soul felt its worth? When was the last time you could truly feel the weight of importance in your heart and your soul?

How beautiful to know that our souls, our lives, our hearts have meaning. We have purpose. There is worth in our soul. We are worth something.


For so long, we have lived with tired eyes, minds, hearts and souls. We desire something more, we pine for that which we cannot see.

Working with teenagers - people in general - reminds me constantly of the innate human desire to be needed. To feel as if we are attributing something good, or something real, to the bigger picture. There is such a struggle between man and his fellow man, between man and the Divine, that it's almost disheartening to live though on a daily basis. But, that's the incredible thing about this life we are given. There is struggle because we HAD to have been created for something more, something bigger. Something worth something.


The weary, tired and desperate world rejoices at the utter thrill of hope.

We are tired and incomplete, but there is something more. When he appears, our souls may feel their worth again. The world is thrilled by hope - that something bigger than us exists, and it existed long before we began to struggle, and it will continue to exist long after we are made perfect and whole.


For up ahead - a new, glorious and beautiful day is coming.

Before spring, there must be winter. Before hello, there must be goodbye. Before peace and joy, there must be brokenness and death.

Sometimes it takes a death to get our attention, to revive our souls. Of a loved one, of a relationship, of a piece of your heart. It's in the dying that we are set free and come to live again. We were given hope and we rejoice at the promise of new life - but it is only through death that we are given this opportunity. Our savior came into the world in order to die for us, and through it, he provided our rescue.

Parts of us may die, people we love may have to leave us, the old must be shed in order for the new to come. Take heart, a glorious day is coming. A day of reconciliation and hope. This too shall pass.

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

That's how you know.

“I know, my son, I know. I know, my daughter, I know. That thing you wanted is not going to happen. Not the way you’ve always dreamed. I know this hurts. I know this stings. I know you feel like I am distant or not aware of where you are and who hurt you and what you think life was supposed to be like. I know in moments like this you doubt that I can count the hairs on your head or have your best in mind. But please, I am not done. I have barely started to reveal your life to you. I am the God who satisfies your desires with good things. That is me! And when it comes to your hopes and your fears and your dreams, I know, my son, I know.”

-Jon Acuff