The best news ever happened this week... probably second to an engagement, wedding, or birth... however it's pretty fun!! My sister, Laura Leigh, and I are SISTER QUEENS!!! We both competed in the Miss Diamond Lakes and Miss Diamond Lakes Outstanding Teen pageants this weekend. And we won!! The competition was very stiff and I am thankful for everyone who I competed against and the wonderful judges. It is a complete honor and blessing to be a queen with my sister. What does this mean? We are both headed to state! I will be in Miss Arkansas in July and Laura Leigh will be in Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen earlier in July!! How fun is this! Here are some pictures to commemorate our weekend :)
Guess what is coming to town!!! PASSION CONCERT!!! And Guess who got herself a ticket?! MEEE I am so super pumped!!
I want to leave you with a verse I came across in Lamentations! Like seriously, who reads Lamentations? It is actually a great book of the bible and has some great truth!
"God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks." Lamentations 3:25
Passionately waits and seeks God. Good words to live by, however, they are sometimes hard. This is how life is - we have to continually pray and seek after God's vision and his will - and after patiently seeking that it will be made known. God will take care of you and will "be good to you." So today - no matter what is going on or how confused you are or even if you don't really feel like you know what God wants - seek him, know him.
You can only hear someone whisper if you are close to them!
God whispers - so that you will draw close to Him to hear!
Today is an OBU BLOGABOUT day. Every Tuesday in September Ouachita Students, Alumni, and Staff, are encouraged to answer the question of the day. To see my last blogabout go here This is my blog post in regards to the question:
What does OBU mean to me today?
OBU is home. Home is where your family is and that is exactly what Ouachita has become to me over the past 4 years, actually a lifetime. I have grown up at OBU - my family went to Ouachita - so when choosing which college to attend they told me,
"Abby, you can go anywhere, but we will pay for Ouachita."
My dad played football under Coach Buddy Benson and played football with the current athletic director, David Sharp. My mom was in the EEE pledge class with Dr. Deb Root. My Aunts sung under the very talented Mrs. Shambarger. My grandparents were very close with Dr. Elrod and Dr. Santifer in the Science Department. My aunt is the Dean of the Speech Path department and just last year a portion of the Student Village was named after my family, The Gossers.
My life has revolved around Ouachita - and so in it's 125th year I am in great appreciation to it's history and what it has meant to me. It is my home. It is where I have met some of my closest friends and made memories that will last a lifetime.
I missed last week's blog post about my favorite Student Organization - but it would be the Women of EEE. I was pledge class president, more like Pledge Class NAZI , and held the position as Social Chair for a season. I love the EEE's with all my heart and as my younger sister Molly Anne embarks on her own memories with the social club, I am thankful for it's history and what they have been able to give to me. If I had not come to Ouachita I would not have been afforded all of the opportunities on campus that it gave me! I would not have been able to develop physically (losing 80 pounds thanks to Sally Dann and Dr. Kluck), Mentally (thanks to the countless professors that poured into me inside and outside of classroom time), and Spiritually (thanks to the friends, professors, chapels, and mentors that I had while at Ouachita).
In conclusion, Ouachita is more than a university. It is my home. It is where I met friends that became family, learned skills that have led to success, and developed a winning attitude that will last a lifetime.
Ouachita means family. And after 125 years and over 30 immediate family members attending the school and 11 more Gosser grandkids to graduate - Ouachita has been, is currently, and will remain for a lifetime - my home and a piece of my family.
DISCLAIMER:: IF YOU HAVE NOT THOUGHT ABOUT ATTENDING OUACHITA GO HERE:OUACHITA AND CHECK IT OUT - YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!
Pictures of my OUACHITA FAMILY!
Last weekend, 7 of my EEE sisters came from Ouachita to support me in the Miss Diamond Lakes Pageant:
EEE Alumni - including my mom (2nd row from top, on far right in black) and my aunt (2nd row from bottom in bright red).
My family at the Gosser Dorm Dedication!!
My EEE family (this was after graduation at Miss Arkansas 2011). I am so impressed and so blessed to have such a great wonderful support system even after graduation.
EEE sisters at weddings - this is our family! This is how family works. We support each other - and we always attend each other's big moments! I love it! This is how Ouachita has impacted me and has forever left a mark on my life.
And I will leave you with this:
I thank God for you whenever I think of [Ouachita].I always have joy as I pray for all of you.It is because you have told others the Good News from the first day you heard it until now.I am sure that God Who began the good work in you will keep on working in you until the day Jesus Christ comes again.It is right for me to feel like this about all of you. It is because you are very dear to me. While I was in prison and when I was proving that the Good News is true, you all shared God’s loving-favor with me.
I am naming this post after a post a read tonight! I haven't had the best week, BUT i did go to dinner tonight with a friend!! We went to Panera Bread and it was so much fun!!
"May today there be peace within You. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."
Your relationship with God is something that should take precedence over everything. It should be the most important thing. I read on a blog the other day that the thing that readers like the most is a genuine authentic post.
So I am going to be honest with you. Lately I have not been in God's word as much as I have been. Maybe that is due to moving to Waco, adjustments at work, my graduate program - but regardless of what is going on in my daily life, God should ALWAYS be a part of it. Daily. Constantly.
I watched a movie the other night called Saving Sarah Cain. One of the last scenes is a girl reading a letter from her sister, and this is what she says, "God I pray that you save Sarah's heart. When we were little she knew you and she prayed to you and as she grew older she lost touch. But you never quit waiting for her. You loved her and continue to wait for the day that she returns to your loving arms."
Wow. I heard that and almost began to cry because that is kind of how I have been. I have fallen out of the routine of reading, meditating, and hiding His word in my heart.
So today on my way to church I just prayed that God would give me discernment to what the pastor was trying to say. I got it.
Exodus 19-20
God only wanted the Israelites in the wilderness for 11 days - that's how long it would have taken them to walk from Egypt into the Promised Land. However, because o their fear and the sin that they had in their life - It took 40 years. God needed them in the wilderness so he could teach them to depend on him, what faith was all about, and to give them rules to follow and so that they would learn to obey him.
In my life right now I feel like I was on day 10 - I was almost to the Promised Land and I was fearing my life and the steps that I was about to take and was taking - I was not TRUSTING him. Needless to say - I have been disobeying his commandment to put him first and nothing else. So now I have to be away from things that I love - I have to separate myself, work on things, and focus on Him in my life right now. I don't want to sound self-righteous, but I felt like God was definitely speaking to me.
I know that we have all heard of those people that say God Told Me This... etc. etc. etc... But this time I believe it. God didn't verbally tell me this, but I prayed for discernment and I believe he answered. So now I am in the wilderness. WOO. ha
Read the lyrics of this song: I am writing about this song today because a very special person introduced it to me. It didn't hit me, the words I mean, until this morning in worship. God spoke to me and then made it concrete with this song. I am running into his arms in this time in my life. Nothing compares to the feeling that I feel right now. And as I am writing this blog - it is raining here in Waco. After over 100 days without rain - a break... A little bit of 'Grace like rain.' we all need a grace period in our life. I am taking mine now - but that doesn't mean I won't return better... I am going to be back and better than ever!!!!
Hillsong:
You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin
You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy, You are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life,
In You death has lost its sting
Oh, I’m running to Your arms,
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, You are here
In Your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go
Oh, I’m running to Your arms
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
My heart will sing
no other Name
Jesus, Jesus
Oh, I’m running to Your arms
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
Our cute little front porch!! I am headed to Hobby Lobby tonight to make a cute Baylor Bears Wreath to put on the door! I'll blog about it tomorrow :)
When you first walk in our door this is what you seen. To the Left is my roomie Christa's room and the downstairs bathroom... then you walk straight into our living room.
This is our dog Piper! She is Taylor's (my roommat not boyfriend) dog! She is the cutest thing ever and has a mind of her own! I have grown to love her so much :)
My Beautiful red couch! It is sooo comfy! I love it :)
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Our kitchen - isn't it cute :)
Different view - but that is our tv. and that picture has been on the wall - not sure what happened to it.
Our dining room table:
This is our upstairs... which is to your left when you walk in the door. Taylor has decorated our home beautifully!! Thank goodness for her :)
Then you make it up stairs and if any of you designy people have an idea of what can go here where our ironing board is... Please let me know - because it is definitely dead space right now :)
This is our laundry room! It is such a blessing that the house came with a washer and dryer!! And I am very good and wash my clothes every other day :) Be proud.
This is my bathroom - This picture resembles me and Taylor walking in the rain. Have you ever kissed someone in the rain? Is it romantic? I have never kissed someone in the rain (hint hint taylor) haha But itll have to wait until I come back home - because it DOESNT EVER RAIN in waco! which means I have to go to school EVERYDAY.
All I know is that Audrey Hepburn makes it look soo romantic!
Notice my Sieze the Cupcake sign. I made it :) It is maybe my most favorite piece in my whole room.
this is more of my bathroom. Notice I still have my pledge class and my EEE's with me :) I also like this fun earring tree my mom gave me for a fun present - it is from Urban Outfitters! It holds all of my earrings - so it will hold all of yours too!
My bathroom point of view from my room!
This is my mirror/makeup table/do my hair/work space (yah right) I don't ever do my homework. I was watching Risolli and Isles which I have become obsessed with on TNT and Taylor (my roommate) was studying (law student) and she said Abby do you ever have any homework ... and i replied - umm none that I am going to do haha. Oh the fun difference between a Law student and a Sports Management Student!
This is my door to my room with my favorite red chair! LOVEEE it! and my closet! So organized! and my armoir thing that holds most of my clothes!
My night table with all of my pictures ad favorite sayings around it. Love waking up to encouraging words and my sweet honey bee! have you heard that song... if you haven't go listen to it :)
And the last stop in my humble abode... my bed. I love it - and I think it turned out great! Even with the tri chi green pillow that my mother made me buy... I still love it - it's like a little piece of Jonesy in my room with me :)
Hope you enjoy. I'll leave you with a small piece of encouragement today:
I missed last week's Blog About concerning favorite memory at Ouachita so I'll catch up on that soon! But today's question is Who is your favorite Professor or Faculty Member?
So here it is:
Favorite Professor:
Rebecca Jones is head over the Speech Communication department, however, being a Business Major i didn't ever have her in class. But she has been by far the most encouraging professor in my career at Ouachita. I got to know Rebecca when I was working in the Development Office. At that point I was a Music Education major and not really enjoying it. So Rebecca got me involved planning events at Ouachita. Wow. Little did I know that that encouragement and push that Rebecca gave me would lead to my passion, a winning business plan, and a master's degree in events. She also wrote one of the nicest and most thorough letters of recommendations that I could have ever received for my entrance into Graduate School at Baylor University. My sister is in her Speech class right now at Ouachita and says that she absolutely loves her sweet and kind spirit and how fun she makes her classes.
Rebecca is an inspiration because in the past 2 years she has gone from just working in the Development Office to Head over the entire Speech Communications Department. She is a testament to what hardwork, perserverance, and a sweet attitude will get you. Her heart for the Lord and her genuine care for others puts her at the top of my Favorite Professors List.
It is hard to say that there is just one favorite professor - so among Rebecca in my top ranked professors are:
Dean McKinney - he is always there with his door open and an open ear. He has great ideas and his passion for success in Business is contagious!
Dr. Brune - if you know anything about me you know that I competed in the Business Plan Competition my senior year of College. It is because of this man. Dr. Brune pushed me through tears, frustration, and mental blocks to create one of the top business plans in the state. He is passionate about finance and a great professor.
Dr. Rice - He was my advisor and was always open to listening to everything from sports, to boys, to I hate my classes and I am going to fail out of college. Always with a positive word - Dr. Rice is among the best and Ouachita is lucky to still have him on staff after his term as Dean ended. His stories in class are hilarious - and he knows when to tell them by the looks on our faces (stats can be quite boring sometimes)
Dr. Hal Bass - Everyone can attest that Dr Bass is a great professor. His knowledge about current events, law, and politics in incredible. He always addresses you by name and always asks about your day. His Contemp World class was in the top 5 classes I took at Ouachita.
There are so many people at Ouachita that have made an impact in my life. But these are some of the top favorites... They definitely have one of the top staffed universities in the state and country!!
This Baylor Bear sweatshirt is so soft - every time i am in the bookstore i look at it and I just want to buy it - but I am waiting until my dad comes in this weekend :) And this Ping jacket I really like! I think it is way cool. I think I am going to get it for Taylor as a surprise.
When I have a family we are going to wear matching clothes like this! I hope I am a cute mom like this! This was taken from Hostess with the Mosstess
I aslo found this cute top - and if you have been on Pinterest you have probably seen it on one of my boards. But I hope I have a little girl one day! I want to call her Turner.
Okay these next are going to be the cutest fads!! You can find them on Facebook called Fan Frocks! I want one soo bad!!
You just send this girl your shirt and she makes a dress out of different fabric and then she sends it to you!!! How amazing! Go check her out! I found her from one of the blogs that I follow Jimmie Choos and Tennis Shoes! She is so cute! You should go look at her blog to.
I have had the worst day ever. Probably because yesterday Taylor was in Waco with me and today he wasn't. We had so much fun, however, today I woke up 2 hours late! How do you even do that! I had procrastinated a paper until this morning so I rushed to write that and then went to work, printed it out, went to class, where i got really frustrated, but before I went to class i went to commong rounds hoping that would make my morning better.
I was talking to Taylor on the phone - and trying to drink my Coconut Cream coffee - which was TERRIBLE! I was getting so frustrated at taylor for no reason and so we stopped and he prayed for me. It was really sweet. Anyways, after gettng mad at Taylor I threw my coffee away and walked to class.
Sometimes you just gotta throw away the coffee.
I thought what Taylor said was very profound. Sometimes all you gotta do is throw it away. Throw away the disctractions in your life so that you can see how stupid you are being. How silly and frustrated you are over the smallest thing. Live life happy. If something is making you that uptight - you don't deserve it. If pageants, dance competitions, relationships, eating, dieting, sports, work, if any of those things are making you so frustrated or uptight that it effects those around you and your attitude with them - Trust God and get them out of your life!
Taylor is so encouraging -and when i had calmed down and called him back, he was so sweet about it. Ifyou know me - my frustration levels are not pretty - I am loud, quick to anger, and very passionate (in a bad way haha) But Taylor just looked on the bright side and said "sometimes you just gotta throw away the coffee."
Well at 8 pm I shouldn't have thrown away the coffee. Haha - I am actually finally leaving work and I am headed to bed! I am tired and hopefully tomorrow will be a better day! Because tomorrow is BlogAbout OBU day!!!
