Skipping.

I've only been in school for 13 days (including weekends), and I'm skipping class already. I mean who needs financial management anyway? Booooooring! So, seeing as how I have until around 3:45 til I have to head back on campus for class (unfortunately I can't skip spanish class) I have decided to blog. Although I'm not sure about what. But I think I'll edit some pictures today too, and maybe even finally unpack all of these boxes and clothes in my room. I've been living here for a month now, so either that shows you that I am a) incredibly lazy or b) incredibly busy/stressed. Let's go with a combination of the two.

So, in order to get my life together I have decided that I need to make a to-do list slash a goal list. Way back in the beginning of July I had said that I was going to make goals at the beginning of every month and well so far that's only happened once. But, since it's basically the beginning of September... here we go!

Short Term Goals:

-Unpack my room! It's an unorganized, messy, disaster. I just can't handle it anymore.

-Decorate my room! Due to the messy, unorganized, unpacked mess, I still have blank, boring, white walls. No pictures, no decorations, just nothing. It's so boring.

-Finally finish editing the pictures of Julie and of Kristen & Donny. Almost there!

-Update my flickr.

-Head out to Kansas City to spend some time with my Bamie (my dad's mom...we call her Bamie instead of grandmom)

-Get a piano and start to learn how to play!

-Work on and finish Alicia's birthday present (I'll be lucky if this is done by her birthday...)

-Join a community group at my church.

-Buy my class ring!

-Print out some of my own pictures and buy frames for them to hang in my room.

-Run, Run, Run! At least 3 times a week, for now.

-Read scripture or journal EVERY DAY!

-Get the messy situation in my life resolved, and be happy about the final outcome.

-Find some time for the beach and some much needed rest & relaxation.

-Go grocery shopping...and find some BREAKFAST HOT POCKETS!! Excuse me food lion but what happened here?!?

-Continue to work on a book that I might possibly be trying to write? It's a nice little way for me to let out everything that's on my mind. Even if it does turn out to be crap. Just letting my creative side out here...

-And last but not least, TAKE MORE PICTURES! I've really been slack about finding time for this :(

Long Term Goals:

-Find as much motivation as I can for my Senior year of college. (this one's going to be hard...and I can't even be done after this year, I have to go another semester!)

-Go out more! All of my friends and I will be 21, it's time to explore downtown Raleigh. (don't worry I'm not talking about getting completely crazy, that's not me)

-Join a community group at my church (this is both short term and long term, because I'm not sure how the process will turn out...)

-Continue to play/practice the piano, once I get one that is.

-Meet more people at Raleigh Worship on Tuesday's this year.

-Find a photography internship or part time photography-related job. As if I don't need anything else in my life right now, haha...

-Have more blog readers (not that I don't love the ones I have now!)

-Register for some races in the upcoming months.

-Continue to work on, and maybe even finish, my Italy scrapbook.

-Tennis! I can't remember the last time I played...

-Try not to let work stress me out. Or school. Or anything for that matter.

Hopefully by the beginning of October I will have the majority of those crossed off :) And now I leave you with one of my favorite pictures of Ms. Julie! (I promise my next blog will be when all of these pictures and Kristen & Donny's pictures are done!)

Adios,

B.Hines

Peace.

So here I am sitting in the bookstacks of the library, listening to Phil Wickman and blogging. I feel like these past few weeks have all sort of run together in some sort of long, confusing, emotional blur. I feel like all of the strength has been completely drained out of me, and all that I am able to do now is just sit and enjoy the peace that is finally overwhelming me. These past few weeks have been crazy, busy, and just overall insane (for lack of a better word) and sadly enough, when I've dealt with all of this mess, the last place I've gone for guidance is to God. Why do I do that? In the midst of all this struggle the ONE place that can provide me with lasting comfort is in the arms of my Father...and yet I don't run there. I run to material things that don't last, friends and family that yes make me feel better, but ultimately can't provide me with that peace that I crave. But finally... I feel that I'm getting there.

It's amazing to me how God speaks to me. I try so desperately to pray and then have some sign from God about how my life is going to turn out or what the answers to my problems are, but it doesn't come. So does that mean He's not there? Not at all. It's in moments like this, when I'm in the library, alone, listening to songs that do nothing but praise Him, that I feel Him all around me. And I feel at peace. I feel comforted. Everything in my life is going to work out and fall into God's great plan for me. He's not going to leave me, I won't be alone.

I'm actually listening to a song right now by Phil Whickham called "Safe." It is an incredibly encouraging song, and one of my favorites. Here's the lyrics... and definitely check out the song on youtube!

Verse:

To the one who's dreams are falling all apart
And all you're left with is a tired and broken heart
I can tell by your eyes you think your on your own
but you're not all alone

Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas
Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet
With a love so strong and never let you go
oh you're not alone

Chorus:
You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms

Verse 2:
Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life
Is the very same voice that calls you to rise
So hear Him now He's calling you home
You will never be alone

Bridge:
These are the hands that built the mountains
the hands that calm the seas
These are the arms that hold the heavens
they are holding you and me

These are hands that healed the leper
Pulled the lame up to their feet
These are the arms that were nailed to a cross
to break our chains and set us free

I think that's just an awesome song to hear, no matter what you're going through or how serious the problem. Just remember that you're not alone, and that God is there protecting you and holding you. :)

And now, sadly enough, it's off to class. But not before a picture from Kristen and Donny's engagement session from over a month ago (yea, still not done editing...but I'm getting there.) Here's one of my favorite shots of her ring...

And that's all, more soon! And to everyone starting classes: stay encouraged! Don't let the stress tear you down :)

Ciao,

B.hines

Runner Up!

My picture is runner up! Which means I get one free print at NC Tricolor imaging (no idea how I'm going to decide what picture...but yay!) and my picture will be at the Brueggers Bagels off Glenwood avenue in Raleigh! So, if you're in the area be sure to go and check it out! I haven't been yet but I hope to go sometime soon! And of course... congrats to Kristen for being the winner! :)

Other than that exciting news life has been, you guessed it, insane. Seriously, when does the stress stop?! School hasn't even started yet and I'm already freaking out and having to deal with so many issues. I'm hardly moved in to my apartment, and I'm going crazy having to deal with clothes being everywhere due to not having a dresser (but that will come next week, finally!). Some good news is that my Internship at SAS is now year round...which yes, is amazing, but I feel like there's so much else going on in my life right now that I can't even feel proud or successful or excited. Just stressed. Yup, complete with melt downs. I did get a Mac though....ek! However, that's just another thing that I need to get done. I have to transfer all my stuff from my old computer to this one and get the old one ready for my mom to use. I don't need to have to worry about that too! And of course...photo editing. I'll get there, eventually. I just need patience...and prayers...and the help of God, I have a feeling that this next month might be rough.

I do get to get away for a few days this weekend though! Pittsburgh, here I come! I'm going up with my mom to visit family (and apparently see my dad...which I was unaware of until the other day) and we're all going to the first preseason Steelers game! This may be just what I need. If only it were more than just a weekend. Two nights is too short. But either way I'm still excited to get away.

So, that's that. The life of me. Now to go scratch off one of the million things off my list....

Adios,

B.hines