21 Hrs. Camping at Chick-fil-a = Free Chick-fil-A for a YEAR

Wednesday morning was a day I had been looking forward to literally for WEEKS...I patiently drove down Texas Ave. several times a week waiting for the announcement of the opening. And Wednesday morning was THE DAY that I had been wating for!

From the moment my friend, Hannah, told me about camping out for the Grand Opening, I was in it 100%. Sad news though....the date of the Grand Opening (today) was right smack dab in the middle of her trip to Norway. Oh but don't you worry...it didn't stop me. Hannah's roommate (and also a great friend of mine), Audra, joined me for this little adventure.

I took the day off work on Wednesday just so I could get to Chick-fil-A early enough to guarantee that I was one of the first 100 customers. At 9am Wednesday morning, I drove by and noticed that there were already tents set up and what appeared to be a crowd already forming. I got on my phone IMMEDIATELY and called Audra to tell her we were going to need to be there earlier than expected. I ran home, grabbed a sleeping bag, some blankets, food, and random other items that I though I might need and hurried back to get in line. But seriously....how do you know what you REALLY need for camping out in the middle of a parking lot?!?! I arrived at Chick-fil-A, unloaded my car, and registered at 9:37 am. SUCCESS...I was #39 (I even have the wrist band to prove it!). Now I just had to stick it out until morning....

Audra came around 10:30, and in the mean time, I met some pretty cool people that we set up camp around. They were lots of fun. The day involved lining up at meal times for role call, and then walking through the drive thru to get our food....random role calls throughout the afternoon (we weren't allowed to leave or even go back to our cars)....games (you know...fun games like hot potato with a stuffed Chick-fil-A cow and a musical chairs/scavenger hunt combination kind of game)....a DJ that evening....4 huge plasma TV's with Guitar Hero, RockBand, and Wii...Icecream Sundaes at midnight...and lots of fun and fellowship.....oh ya, I can't forget my FAVORITE PART---FREE SWEET TEA ALL DAY LONG! There were also random visits throughout the day from the Chick-fil-a Cow which was awesome! Finally around midnight, they shut things down and quit doing role calls so that we could get some sleep (although by all the noise I heard outside the tent, I am pretty sure I was one of the only ones sleeping)! 5 am came early for us...that was our wake up call to start packing up our stuff. 6 am they lined us up for a final role call and gave us a tshirt and hat to wear as we received the "Grand Prize"! They marched us through the store around 6:15 with balloons everywhere and cowbells ringing in our ears....it felt like a graduation ceremony walking through because the owner "presented" our free coupons to us in a nugget box with a big bow tied on top "diploma style"....which made me laugh!

Super fun day/night....except for the sunburn and the fact that I had to go in to work this morning....other than that, it was MAGNIFICENT! You should check it out...they do this at all the openings for Chick-fil-a, and I am not lying...its LEGIT. Who knows, I might see you there because I plan on making this a frequent thing!

Audra and I before we set up the tent!

My favorite pic of the ENTIRE event!!

They threw these parachuting cows off the roof. I caught 4, but I gave one away to Audra! I'm such a good friend. jk!

Random guy, me, and Kimberly

San Antonio...I love it!!

My interview was Thursday at UTHSCSA Nursing School, and it couldn't have been a better day. The actual interview went off without a hitch. She asked me a few basic questions, but we spent most of our time together just talking...and you know I LOVE TO TALK!! (some of you might be interested to know that I was PAINFULLY shy until I got to college...seriously! Most people wouldn't believe that one now.) After the interview, I had about an hour and a half for a lunch break which I got to spend with my friend Jacky. She is in her 1st year of medical school at UTHSCSA...it was so great to catch up with her and look around the school. The final part of the application/interview process was some standardized testing....BOOOOOO!!!! I think that I despise standardized testing more than anything in this entire world. But like I said before, the day (including the testing) couldn't have gone any better. The test was easy, and I was particularly excited that it was self-paced. I get super anxious when I have extra time to sit around and debate my answers, and so I was glad to see that when I was finished...I was finished and didn't have to wait on other people. Another plus to that is I did really well....a very unusual accomplishment for me when it comes to standardized testing!

So at this point, all I can do is wait. I can honestly say that after spending time on the campus and talking with the faculty and students, I have a complete PEACE about moving to San Antonio. I wont know "for sure" that I will be there until the middle of April, but in my heart I feel like its right. San Antonio is where I want to be. So I am resting in the promise of Psalm 37:4 that says, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." I believe that the desire to attend UTHSCSA is from the Lord, and I am super excited about it!!

That's all!!

Letter from a Dear Friend

I received this email today from one of my dear friends in China. Because I can't be 100% sure who will be reading this post, I am not able to share who it is or her story...although it would bring great joy to me to be able to do so. I have seen the Father work MIGHTILY in and through this dear sister....who also is one of my dearest friends! So often her life is an encouragement to me through her love for our Father and her boldness to share Him with others.

my dear friend ,today is a special day right __ easter day !and i am so happy today ,and also ,our father give me a lot of grace ,and also our lord -js give me a lot of joy ,and he show me his great love ,deep love for us !so i want to share my joy with you ,hhope all of you will have a good day ,and today is sunnday ,and i got up early ,and go to church and study with some sisters and brothers ,and we learn about J ohn [ 19;1--31] john [20:1-31]and also mark[ 14:32--42] we should remember the crucifixion of JS ,and the resurrcetion of JS ,and also when he face the death ,he also afraid of that ,so when we face the hard ness ,we should follow our father ,we should praise for everything !and we also remember we FELLOW JS steps ,and we should remember that MATTHEW[28:18--20] AND the JS CAME AND SAID TO THEM ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEB AND ON EARTH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME ,GO THEREFOR AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS,BAPTING THEN IN THE NAME OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND TEACHING THEN TO OBEY EVERYTHING ,THAT I HAVE COMMANED YOU ,AND REMEMBER ,IAM WITH YOU ALWAYS ,TO THE END OF THE AGE !I THINK WE SHOULD BRING PEACE AND JOY ,LOVE TO OTHERS ,no matter where you are ,and what kinds of job you take and share that with the people around you !right !come on !my dear friend ,and i really thanks that G BRING YOU COME TO MY LIFE ,AND LET ME SEE THE PEACE BE WITH YOU WITH HIM and then now i am be your sisters !thank you so much !and i think with he my life will be amazing ! how are you ?my dear friend ,you know ,even though we are not contect very often ,but we are so closed in christ !i miss all of you and now my school seems busy !but i love that ,and so when i ahve time ,i try to share bible words with others ,but ,that is all come from our father 's graces ! everyday i seem to be peace ,and joy ,so thank you all of your pray ,and i wil also pray for you !yestoday ,i have run 4000 meters ,and ican not believe ! and what are you doing ?hope all of you will send your love to me !

I hope that this brings encouragement and a challenge to you. For me, the encouragament was that we serve a mighty God who is at work and doing GREAT things among the nations!! Praise and glory to HIM alone! It was challenging for me to be reminded that I am to be sensitive to the Lord's call. Whatever He asks, whenever He asks...my answer is "Send me!" Lift up this sister in prayer when you think about it. I know she would appreciate it! Thanks so much!

San Antonio Interview

I can't believe that I forgot to post about this, but somehow it slipped my mind! I got an interview at UT San Antonio's nursing school!! This is my first choice of schools to go to, and so I am pretty pumped about it.

The interview is on Thursday (3/20) at 11:30. Following the interview I have testing from 1-5pm. It is going to make for a long day, but hopefully it will be worth it in the end!! I would appreciate your prayers. Thanks so much!

Please pray...

I just wanted to post and ask you guys to be praying for my grandmother. We had to put Granny in the nursing home in August-the week after I returned from China (August 2007). Her health has gone down hill since then...especially since the beginning of this year. In February, she had to have neck surgery and right now she is battling a virus that just won't seem to go away. It's hard on me because I am not able to be there very often, and it worries me that I might be missing some of her last days. I would appreciate prayers for her, for my mom (who is the one who takes care of her), and for the rest of my family. This has affected all of my family in different ways, but I think it is safe to say that it HAS affected all of us. Thanks so much!

Granny and me at church after I shared about my trip to China (Fall 2006)

Pass the muffins....like a lady!

Thanks so much for your prayers this weekend. The Disciple Now in Kingwood was great. My fear of leading senior girls was quickly erased when I met these girls on Thursday night at the banquet. One of my favorite things in LIFE is getting to meet people in person that I have been praying for....there is just something so sweet about that initial meeting that I just love! We had a blast hanging out together, talking in our small group discussions, painting ceramics at Mud Pie Co., snacking, telling embarrasing stories...you know, all of the things that girls just have fun doing!! I don't think that I have ever belly laughed so much in my entire life....these girls were stinkin' hilarious! Enjoy a couple (I didn't take many) pics from the weekend.

12th grade ladies!

Mud Pie Co. It totally made my day to run into the BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING Kristen Clark!! I love her!

I think that each of us walked away with a deeper understanding of what it means for God to be the ultimate story writer of our lives....His story is unchanging, and our story is EVER-changing. Praise Jesus that He is so consistent! I love Him for that!