When I'm crashing through the madness,
Not sure who I'm supposed to be,
When I'm caught up in the darkness,
It's Your hand that's leading me.

Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Failures keeps You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only God keeps You Going.

Anyone can give up. It's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you let it all fall apart, that's true strength.

So recently a friend asked me if I have read the book, "He's just not that into you" and I said umm no and she was like Oh my goodness you have got to go read it! It is worth your time! So i went yesterday to books-a-million and bought it.. I started reading it and now i can not stop! It is addicting for sure.. I will let you in on what it is all about. It is mostly on how you get into relationships right and how you act and how you lead someone on and mostly about how girls see guys differently as they see themselves. You may think you are doing the right thing by always being the caregiver but your partner or even friend may think different. This book also makes the reader feel good about themselves. "You are a-m-a-z-i-n-g in and out and you will one day recieve the man/woman of your dreams." This book is coming from a man's point of view but also takes up for the girl! It is wonderful. He (meaning the author) calls men cowards and useless in some chapters. Also, one of my favorite quotes is that "Actions speak louder than words" and it repeats itself millions of times in the book.
Be patient, two words that are SO hard for me to understand. I have always been very unpatient even when I was a little girl... Christmas presents used to be such a hard thing to just look at under the Christmas tree until Christmas morning!! haha my parents always said to just be patient and things will be easier for you! I will agree that I have gotten a lot better of the last year and I am now very laidback and my patience has gotten tons better! Thank goodness! I can now drive and let cars pass me and I don't get mad!:) yay!
Well my weekend was wonderful.. I went to a wedding on Saturday night and it was gorgeous and couldn't have been any better! Congrats to Haley and Daniel Ross! They are the cutest couple ever! Along with their wonderful families!

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK.
YAYY FINALS ARE NEXT WEEK!:) SCHOOL'S ALMOST OUT! yahh..

"...whatever is TRUE, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable- if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise-dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8

We all have the right to dream -and to follow those dreams. As I grow older, I begin to realize that dreams have to exist alongside reality before I can accomplish the better dream. "Dreams" as we learn in my english class can be in many different prospectives. Either you "dream" an actual dream in your head or it can be an ambition or goal in life or other psychological issue. But right now I am going to talk about more of my "dreams" meaning amition and goals in life. I have accomplished many of them so far like graduating from high school, winning championships in tennis, and most importantly making mom and dad proud. In some cases I had many times when I thought that school, tennis, church, friends, etc. were very impossible to level out at the same time but then it all comes down to- With God all things are possible. which is written on a canvas in my room. I have come to find out lately that daily I am the greatest influence on myself and if I have meanings surrounding me in my room, car, and everywhere else with good bible verses and cute quotes then I am always thankful and friendly and just having a good time with living my life to the fullest. It is great! But there bigger dreams for me now and in the future that it is crazy how I am almost through with my freshman year of College.. at least 3 more years and I have to start now by planning out what I want to major in so that I can get a good job with good pay.. and now that the economy is bad... AH almost all the good jobs are already taken! haha but I am leaving it in God's hands to lead me down the right path in finding this job! :) Also.. not to mention.. My biggest dream besides a job would be to get married & start a family of my own.. which will not happen for a couple of years but still.. thats a big thing to start thinking about now because I am almost 20 years old. lol okay soo anyways..
I have had a great last couple of days and I could not ask for better friends to spend time with! As this school year is starting to end.. I have asked God to help me make good decisions for myself and I pray hard daily to let him lead me to meeting new people and going out on a limb for once.. I hung out with some girls that I have never really hung out with before last weekend and oh my goodnes.. did we have a good time? that is definitely an understandment. I had the best time and I can not wait to do it again soon! Then later I met up with another friend who came to see me and I had just as much fun with him as I did the girls.. ;) I am thankful.

my favorite verse:
"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord,'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
that reminds me that God has a wonderful and unique plan for each person on this earth. Our plans become clear as we seek God, who implants dreams and then reveals his plans as we trust him with one step at a time.

Have a blessed and wonderful week.

When feeling discouraged.. READ GOD'S WORD

I am feeling very inspirational tonight so I will write some quotes and passages from my favorite book in the whole world, "Let God Surprise You" by a former Miss America- Heather McCallum and author Angela Hunt.

Sometimes God allows pain...
to teach us.
Sometimes he allows hurt...
to mature us.

"The Greatest dreams you can imagine will find their source in your greatest passions."

Don't despair when disagreements enter your life. Seek the counsel of wise and godly men and women around you. Check your motivations, stay true to God's word, and if you discern it to be God's will, hold the course.

I smiled when a friend told me this story: A man fell asleep, and in a dream he heard the voice of God. "Come outside," God said, "I have something to show you."
So the man woke up and went outside to find a huge boulder in his front lawn. "Now," God said, "Push against the rock."
So the man pushed and pushed and pushed for days, weeks, and months he concentrated on pushing the boulder, but the big rock would not budge.
Giving into discouragement, the man cried out to God, "I can't do it! You told me to push the boulder. I've tried with all my might, but it hasn't moved an inch."
He heard a soft laugh from above. "Why are you discouraged?" answered the Lord. "I told you to push the boulder- I never told you to move it. Only I can move a boulder of that size. But look at what has happened while you've been pushing- you've developed muscles, you've strengthened your patience, and tested your faith. So keep pushing until I'm ready to move the boulder."

I love that story. Though God will ultimately do the moving, he asks us to be co-laborers with him. He asks us to learn and stretch ourselves. He wants us to work as if everything depends on us, and pray as if everything depends upon him- because, ultimately, it does.

and that is how I see today and tomorrow and however many more days of life I am privileged to possess: Each day is a gift of God, each sound is a blessing I don't deserve. God is SO good!

Our God is a God of healing. Sometimes he heals through miracles, sometimes he heals through medicine, and sometimes he heals through both. Let God surprise you- pray for guidance, then walk through the doors he opens for you.

Just a dream..

Sometimes I wake up and I think to myself.. Why can't this just be a dream.. DO I HAVE TO WAKE UP THIS EARLY FOR SCHOOL?? I am getting so tired (already) of going to college. My professors are awful, the classes are terrible, and my major adviser is not helpful at all. What do I do from here?? I am so confused.. but this morning when I woke up I was SO excited to go and get my hair cut (I needed it) and when I got to my hair place I went inside and sat in the chair while I waited on her to get my stuff ready.. All of a sudden the people working there went psycho when one of them ran into the back room and started crying histarically.. It was then just me and a lady around the age of 65 sitting there wondering what's going on.. Then the lady turned to me and said I think she is really upset because her mother just got diagnoised with lung cancer.. So i began to just say aw that is really sad.. but then it became silent in the room and then the lady said.. "You know.. my first diagnois of cancer was in 1975 and I went through 35 treatments and then the second diagnois was in 2001 and I am still going through treatment each month. But you know.. (as she smiled) Cancer opened my eyes to a brand new world but guess what?? I am STILL ALIVE so I know my God has a plan for me.." as I sat in my chair soaking this all in.. I began to thank God for placing this woman next to me telling me about her cancer story.. I began to get more and more interested and she kept telling me about how she got saved at the age of 45 and that she is more happy than she has ever been now even though she lost her husband in a fire accident and she has been through a bunch of other things but she is just thankful that she is closer to the Lord through all of her tragedies and she can't complain. I was amazed by this woman and how inspirational she was.. & when the ladies came back out they told us what happened & that one of them might possibly have skin cancer. then the old lady hugged her & laughed and said welcome to the club! It was quite the most sad/ happiest moment of the day and I just thought I would add it in my blog because it made me think twice about me complaining all the time about how i hate my day to day life sometimes.

while i am writing my ipod is on shuffle and "Jesus take the wheel" just so happens to be on. hmmm.. okay the next thing I would like to talk about is how some people get misunderstood and big arguments start to brawl.. I wish this didnt happen because i feel that we are now in college and we should all grow up.. but it's hard to make it stop. Let me explain.. my life right now revolves around school, sorority, friends(boys & girls), church, and trying to get everything in my life straightened out. I am an easy, friendly, most of the time happy, fun, adventerous, loving, christian, and girly/sporty kind of girl. Most people would agree. But sometimes I come into situations that I didn't mean to hurt anybody or do something to make someone mad but it just happens to be that way sometimes and i'm sure it was a complete misunderstanding.. i believe that (this goes for everybody) instead of getting SO upset and mad at someone... just TALK TO THEM. not their best friends and not your best friends. THE PERSON THEMSELF. it might be hard but at least you tried and if it doesnt go so well.. AT LEAST you attempted to help the situation. I really want others to realize this!

OKay i am tired of writing about upsetting things.. haha guess what? I made Eagle Ambassadors and I am VERY excited about this! I can't wait to meet the new girls I will be working with. Along with.. I can NOT wait until SUMMER 09! woohoo!! 12 days for me of school!! I AM PUMPED ABOUT MY FRIENDS COMING BACK IN TOWN THAT MOVED OFF TO SCHOOL!!:) Also, this weekend I am going to formal for Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.. (please pray for me) that I will make it through.. HAHA jK! It will be fun and I am excited especially since I get to spend time with my best friend since literally birth! (kyndel)

I know I have posted this before but PLEASE read it again.. It's so true.

""You have to be strong for yourself. You have to know that you are a good person and a good friend. What is meant to be, will end up good. What is not, Won't. Relationships are worth fighting for. But, You can't be the only one fighting. People need to fight for you. If they don't, you must move on and realize what you gave them was more than they were willing to give you. One day a person will realize great things when they come around and won't lose something real. Always fight, until you can't anymore, and then Be Fought For."

If only every day was Easter...

Thank you for the cross Lord
Thank you for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came
And gave amazing grace

Thank you for this love Lord
Thank you for your nail pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know
Your forgiveness and embrace

Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown You now with many crowns
You reign victorious
High and lifted up
Jesus Son of God
Darling of Heaven crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

This is my absolute favorite song and it means the most to me especaially at this time around this Easter holiday. God died on the cross for me & for you.. that is just a statement I've always heard growing up in church but this year it means so much more for some reason than ever before. I have finally realized how imporant life really is! While driving home one afternoon from school last week I kept singing Christian songs on the radio that were Easter related and it just made me think of this..

If every day was Easter...
then we would worship to Jesus to our fullest and not think twice about it
everyone you come in contact to is in a jolly and happy mood (only bc it is a holiday)
Stores and restaurants would be closed because of this "Religious Holiday"
School would be closed. :) & students would be able to breathe and rest up!!
Churches would have wonderful Easter programs <3
& last but not least.. families would be joined together to celebrate the risen Christ!

I love my church more than anything.. This is one reason why I stayed in Hattiesburg for college because the few Sundays I go out of town I miss my church more than ever!! I hate not going!! I really do feel like I have a "church family" and I have met so many new friends through the years and I really love the worship at Temple Baptist.

This weekend has been one of the craziest weekends because just in the next three weeks of school i have SO much going on. From school work (which is wayy to much to do), to Chi O events, to baseball games and family outings! WHEW! I am overwelmed but I know my God won't give me nothing that I can't handle! I got a citation (ticket) today at school for parking in the wrong area and I was on the phone with a good friend when I found it and I just laughed so hard when I saw it because I was like.. Really? THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO ME! I park there all the time and this ONE day they hunt me down and give me it! ah! Whatever.. you gotta learn somehow!

Thanks for the prayers. I wish you all the best of luck this week & enjoy yourself!

In our bonds,
Mary Lois

"1 son, 2 boards, 3 nails.. because He lives, I can face tomorrow!"

If only..

"In life God does not give you the people you want. He gives you the people you need; to teach you, to hurt you, to love you, to make you cry, to make you laugh, to make you exactly the person that you should be."

"I believe in karma. What you give is what you get returned. I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned. I believe that the grass is greener on the other side. I believe you don't know what you've got until you have to say goodbye."

So I have had one of the worst/ hardest weeks in a very long time. I hate how I blog all the time about how hard of a time i am having but this is the only place i can write what i feel and people understand it. Thanks guys! But yes, I have been in the toughest situations ever in the past couple of days. It really makes me think about how ridiculous some people can be. I always try to learn from my mistakes but it is really hard to learn from something you did not do. Life is all about who you trust sometimes and it is hard when the person you loved/ trusted the most fails. This actually is meaning two different things/ ways right now but I'd rather not share.. so i am sorry if you are very confused (some know) but let me move on..

I am so thankful tomorrow is Sunday.. most everyone knows that Sunday is my favorite day of the week! It seems to fall in the perfect place when either A) I have had the best weekend and I want to thank God for letting me be able to have fun with my friends/ family! or B) It's been a tough week and I want to go to the Lord with my issues and see what he can help me do! I am praying daily for God to send me a friend to give me advice on what to do in some situations.. He always does and never fails & I know he puts them in my life for a reason! Lately, I have been very emotional about a certain situation. I am crying out to my friends to help me but most of them say it's MY situation and MY problem to deal with but we believe in you and you can do it!

I have said this before and I will say it again.. N O O N E will ever prepare you for what lies ahead but God has the options.. College is the hardest experience of my life. I won't lie.

If only I knew how hard it is living without a best friend.

If only I knew that my friends in high school weren't going to be here now

If only I knew how every day things turn into life lessons

If only I knew that I would wake up with my best friend in the room and go to sleep never wanting to talk to her again.

If only I knew who my true friends were/ are.

If only I knew who would be in my future..

If only God would tell me what lies ahead.

If only I could make predictions and they came true.

If only I was there when that happened.

If ony...

NEVER LIVE YOUR LIFE WONDERING IF ONLY... You can not make things happen only God can..

no words to describe..

Once again another day has come and almost gone. Classes went well today and I ended up spending time with my mom and we talked about some things today that I never thought we would talk about for a while.. My grandmother's sister (who is pretty much my 2nd grandmother) is in the hospital with a tumor close to her kidneys and she will be having surgery soon. My grandmother is very upset about this and even though we hope and pray Aunt Sissy will make it and be okay, Grandma is just stressing her little body out. (I think this is where I get my stress and care for one another from) But grandma's friends are worried about her and wants me and mom to come up and spend time with her. See my grandfather died when I was 5 and she has been living alone all these years. Luckily she is the best woman to her community and she has more friends than she(& my fam) could ever ask for!!! I pray daily for my grandmother and now for my great aunt! I can't go to Tennessee until mid May to visit and it's upsetting. :(
This was only one factor that kind of upset me today but a lot of more things happened and I just want to take time to thank God for his wonderful blessings even through the mist of tough times.. He is soverign in his throne and will always reign as King and father of my life.

WHY does the Spring time have to be SO hectic????????
Goodness gracious!!! Only 4 more weeks left of school but there is WAY too much to do between now and then. Anyways.. I just wanted to do my therapy of blogging..
I will leave you with my favorite song.. read the lyrics carefully <3

"Brave"
Don't know just where I'm going
And tomorrow, it's a little overwhelming
And the air is cold
And I'm not the same anymore
I've been running in your direction
For to long now
I've lost my own reflection
And I can't look down
If you're not there to catch me when I fall.

If this is the moment I stand here on my own
If this is my rite of passage that somehow leads me home
I might be afraid
But it's my turn to be brave
If this is the last chance before we say goodbye
At least it's the first day of the rest of my life
I can't be afraid
Cause it's my turn to be brave

All along all I ever wanted, was to be the light
When your life was daunting
But I can't see mine
When I feel as though you're pushing me away
Well who's to blame, are we making the right choices
Cause we can't be sure if we're hearing our own voices
As we close the door even though we are so desperate to stay

If this is the moment I stand here on my own
If this is my rite of passage that somehow leads me home
I might be afraid
But it's my turn to be brave
If this is the last chance before we say goodbye
At least it's the first day of the rest of my life
I can't be afraid
Cause it's my turn to be brave

And I might still cry
And I might still bleed
These thorns in my side
This heart on my sleeve
And lightening may strike
This ground at my feet
And I might still crash
But I still believe

This is the moment I stand here all alone
With everything I have inside, everything I own
I might be afraid
But it's my turn to be brave
If this is the last time before we say goodbye
At least it's the first day of the rest of my life
I can't be afraid Cause it's my turn to be brave


Quote of the day: "God's primary purpose in healing us from our hurts is to introduce us to new depths of relationship with himself."