Under Construction: college life

took this while the sun was rising on the way to school.

        

I should've known that I would end up writing a "back to school" post. I have written a post about my college experience every time classes start back since I've had this blog. I didn't think I would this year, but here I am again, three days late, writing about my classes.

First, let me tell you what I am taking this semester.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I take English 112. It's pretty much a class that teaches you to interpret literature and write about your thoughts with facts to back up said thoughts. My first paper is on why The Crucible should be taught in Sociology. It's the next step in becoming a writer for me.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays I take Physics, which is a class I am surprisingly enjoying and I have a great teacher in. I'm so thankful for the help that my teacher gives me and that he cares whether or not I truly learn Physics! I also take a Humanities class called Human Values and Meaning. I find the class interesting, but my teacher does not believe Christians should be allowed to give their opinions. Every religion is important but Christianity in her eyes. I have a Bible verse that comes to mind every time I'm in that class. It's Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." (NIV).
I'm still working at the pregnancy center. I still love the work that I do and I am so thankful everyday that God put the opportunity to work there in front of me. I have another great opportunity that I get to share with you! I was picked to be a part of the Street Team for a book called The Chase: trusting God with your Happily Ever After by Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky. My book came in the mail today and I can not wait to start reading this book and to write about it on this blog! If you want more information on this book visit Kyle and Kelsey's website.

Kyle and Kelsey's book

Finally, the last thing I want to share with you is how this blog post got its title. Every morning on the way to school, and sometimes on the way home, I have to wait in the worse road construction traffic I have ever seen. Today I realized how that road construction compares to my life right now. I'm in a chapter of my life where I am still under construction. I'm having to realize what's important to me and how to stand up for my beliefs but still be a godly Christian woman. There are days when it is hard, but I'm so thankful that I am "under construction".

College Life 101

 

These past three, almost four, weeks have been crazy! This is my second year in college and it's not anything like my first year was! Yes, this year is harder but also more fulfilling in a way.

I've learned that it is going to take me longer than two years to get my associates degree, but that's okay. I've realized God isn't done with me there yet! My mom has always told me that it didn't matter if it took me longer. What mattered was that I was working hard on this next chapter of my life. Then I got some good advice about the benefits of being in a community college, I want be in debt for school starting out!

I have also learned some more things that is good to do outside of college.

1.) Stay close to your church family. They are one of your biggest support systems and help you stay grounded in your faith!

2.) Take every chance you have with your family! They love you!

3.) Make time for your friends. Even if it's just to go out and get coffee.

4.) Do your homework! Don't fall behind in your classes.

5.) Spend time with God every day. He is what helps you truly make it through.

6.) Go on adventures and have fun.  "Real Life" is going to be there when you're done with college. Getting to go on vacation and explore!

In the Eyes...of the One Who made You!

You are treasured

You are beautiful
In the eyes, in the eyes
Of the One who made you
You are perfect
You're worth more than you know
In the eyes, in the eyes
Of the One who made you 

 (1 Girl Nation  "In The Eyes")

I feel like I have nothing to write about. So, let's see where God leads this post!
I'll admit it, when this week started I had all of these great ideas for a blog post. Then six o'clock wake up calls, road construction, a messed up car, Moma hurting her back, and three college classes later, everything but these thoughts left my head. It has diffidently not been a dull first week of the new Fall Semester! So, here it is very late at night and I am just now writing a blog post.
Monday was the start of the early wake-up calls and the traffic due to road construction. It's my second year at a Community College and my first class is English. I enjoy this class because we write and read the whole time. My teacher is an older woman who, before teaching in college, taught in prisons. She is a kind lady who will really get you interested in the things you are reading and writing about.
My next class is public speaking and I love my teacher's fashion sense! I am terrified of public speaking and I do have social anxiety, but this teacher really tries to make the class fun and make all of us feel more comfortable. She'll tell us stories of her college classes and how she was terrified of public speaking too. This helps to calm my nervous some.
My last class is Developmental Psychology. My teacher is very soft spoken and laid back. I had her last semester for Introduction to Sociology. She comes up with these really creative activities for us to do and gives very thorough study guides and lectures. She is one teacher I never thought I would have before I started college. In High School, I had managed to convince myself I could never pass a psychology class. When I went to do some dull enrollment classes my Senior year, I was told Introduction to Psychology was one of the only classes I could take. Very reluctantly I took the class and fell in love with the subject! That was two and a half years ago and I still enjoy the subject!
I want to share some college knowledge that I wished someone had told me. First, even if you are going back to college for a second year and have your main supplies for school, do NOT wait until the day of classes to read the syllabi for your classes and see all the supplies you need that you didn't think of! This will help to take away a little of the stress of a new semester beginning. Second, if you have a lot of early morning classes don't try to take a night class also! I learned this the first day of classes and had to go drop my night math class! Third, I find Bible verses to go with the feelings I have towards a class and write them on sticky notes. Then, I tape those sticky notes on my books. being able to look down to those verses during class help me remember that God is right there with me!
I hope this post will be an encouragement to people who are experiencing college and any type of school. Thank you for caring about my thoughts and opinions to read what I write weekly!
God Bless,
Brandi; XOXO

You're Gonna Hear Me Roar

Wow! This month has been filled with adventure, and it's not even over yet! I made it through my first year in college! I feel excited for next semester to start because I feel I will be more prepared. For Mother's Day my friend and I took our moms to the spa and just had a good girls' day. I've spent a lot of time with family and friends. I've also been working at the pregnancy center and reading books on my summer book list.

Then, on May 10th, my Papaw had a stroke and we had to take him to the hospital. The stroke affected both sides of his brain and he had to go into a nursing home for a couple of weeks. My grandmother has been cleaning the house and making it "walker proof" like crazy. My papaw will be home on Thursday, but this isn't going to be an easy road. Prayers are very appreciated!

 

Tomorrow is Memorial Day. A lot of people will be having cook-outs and be with friends and family. I did some research, and did you know that Memorial Day use to be called "Decoration Day"? It is a national holiday. It is for the remembrance of Soldiers who have died. It started after the end of the American Civil War. It also marks the beginning of Summer. Some things you could do to give back are:

*Decorate a Soldiers grave

*Give to the Wounded Warrior Project

*Donate a Bible at Family Christian Bookstore

*Take food to a family who recently lost someone to war

*Pray and be thankful!

 

For my Summer I've been spending time with my dog Titus. I got him from Brother Wolf almost two years ago and he is the sweetest dog! He's spoiled rotten and I love him so much! About a week ago, we added a new addition to our pet family. A cat someone had thrown out on the side of the road had found refuge under the porch. She is very friendly and has been letting me take care of her. I've named her Esther and she is expecting kittens soon. I'm not going to be able to keep her, so I am taking her to a no kill shelter. I've grown attached to her and it's going to be hard to give her up, but it's best for her. If you are interested in adopting an animal, here is the link to Brother Wolf

I recomend checking out The American Bible Challenge on The Game Show Network. It's a great show!

 

These guys who call themselves Rhymz with Grace were on it and I love this music video they did:

 Lastly, please continue to pray for Nigeria. The government is very corrupt there and the schoolgirls still have not been found. There has also been bombings. The Prayer Warriors need to unite and really be praying for this country!

Being Happier

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." ~Isaiah 43:18-19.
Okay, so this month has been really busy. My days are pretty much scheduled around classes, but that's okay because I'm at least getting to learn. The biggest change I have seen though is that I am happier!!!
Happy is defined as delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing, and I believe that is what has happened with me. I have let go of some things that only God can control. It has taken me quite awhile to come to the realization that only God can control these things.
The main thing that I have let go of is probably worrying about boys so much. I use to feel like I had to have this amazing love story of how my husband and I had known each other our whole lives before we fell in love. Or that we were college sweethearts. Just some kind of unique story that they would think was a fairy tale. So I guess with worrying about all of that I became, oh I can't believe I'm even labeling myself as this, "boy crazy". Okay, there I said it, it's now out in the open.
If I saw a boy I thought was nice looking I would wonder "is he the one?" I prayed to God for a certain situation to work out with a guy. It was kind of like I was saying "Okay God, You can have the pen to write my love story as long as I get to pick the guy." Well I'm here to tell you that's not how wonderful Christ-centered love stories are written! Having the idea of trying to fool yourself and even God into thinking you are stepping back so He can write your love story is just going to leave you heartbroken and questioning God when He is standing there sadden by the fact that you don't want to accept His wonderful story He has penned out just for you! 
So how did I realize this was what was standing in my way of me being happy? It started sinking in on New Years Eve when I was trying to find a Bible verse to be my verse of 2014. It was like Isaiah 43:18-19 was jumping out in my face. In that moment I realized that verse was for me and I knew exactly what God was trying to tell me. He was saying "Hey, my beautiful daughter. You are my Princess and you need to sit back and let Me hand pick the Prince I want my daughter with instead of chasing frogs!"
As soon as I started looking at that verse everyday I started letting go of writing my own love story little by little. Now it is eighteen days later and I feel that I have given the pen over to God one hundred percent. I've realized I don't need this elaborate fairy tale to tell my future kids, because however my husband and I end up together will be the best fairy tale ever told anyways because God is writing it! So yeah, I've chosen to be happy and I'm happier now that I'm just holding the pen to only my fictional characters lives and not my own!

Hello There.

First of all may I say HAPPY 2014!!! I hope everyone had a safe New Years and that this year is great for you!  My New Year consisted of my best friend and I watching TV. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way though!
I haven't posted in awhile and I am sorry about that. Writers block has controlled my brain lately! But I am back now and I don't have a Bible book to write about every Saturday so my posts will probably just be on topics and life. Whatever God wants me to write about.
So first off, my second semester of college started. I have a busier schedule this year, but it has been fun so far. I'm working on Appalachian Culture, Math, Dance Appreciation, and Sociology. I also have a class with another friend of mine and a college class is how we met in 2012!! So that's pretty cool! Right now my favorite class is Dance Appreciation, but it might change as the semester goes on.
I'm still working on my book, but yet again Writers Block is making the process slower. Plus the crazy college classes don't make it easy to write! I'm thinking about trying to get some articles published in newspapers and, maybe, magazines this year and just really work harder as a writer. So prayers and encouragement are appreciated!
The last thing I really have to say is that I might be going on a mission trip in August and I am so excited about that!! I've never been on a Mission trip but I have gone to passport, once is like a training ground to do mission work and I loved that. So yeah, that's all that is going on right now and I will post again on Saturday. Thank you for all the love you guys show this blog! God bless!!
"For we are God's Masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." ~Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
Passport Camps