Moving at 100 mph

This week has been a surreal whirlwind. I have been crazy busy going back and forth between packing for my apartment to packing and fixing up my new classroom. Lots of exciting moving this summer that brings much joy, anticipation, and financial planning.

My classroom pictures (which will hopefully be finished tomorrow) are on Facebook, but I thought I would go ahead and share with you some pictures from the Rough Riders game. Mom and Papi were kind enough to invite me and it was great to spend some time just with the parents. I am blessed by them.

Ha, Mom. :)

This upcoming week will be just as crazy busy as this week. I'll be "finishing" (there's no such thing as a finished classroom), going through and packing for my upcoming move to the new apartment and trip to Puerto Vallarta! Life is moving quickly and I can't believe how merciful God has blessed me. And how timely His blessings have been? God really does know what you need and when you need it! 

Oh and did I mention the lovely Natalie Frederick's birthday is Thursday? Yes yes yes yes!! 

Austin Bound

This week has been crazy! I got a job, traveled to Austin to spend time with Camille, and will sign a lease at my new apartment (which is super nice and in a great, pretty area of Dallas) tomorrow. Life is good and God is merciful.

To be quick, here are some of my favorite snap-shots from our Austin get-a-way weekend:


The first night, Camille and I walked around Austin and ate to our hearts' content. Loved having great, heart-felt conversations over some delicious, authentic Austin food!

I love Asian food, especially when it's fresh and authentic! Great! 

After dinner, Camille and I traveled to Mozart's Coffee and enjoyed a plethora of desserts. This was a great cafe right on the water - so beautiful! 

My dessert: Oreo Mint Cheesecake. Yummy. 

Camille's dessert: Peanut butter Chocolate Cake and Amy's Mexican Vanilla. Yes, she ate it all...and finished off mine. 

Our view! 

The next day, Camille and I enjoyed eating lunch at Taco Deli (so good!), going to Barton Springs (so cold!), and visiting Unusual Objects. We met up with her parents later that evening, enjoyed a wonderful meal, and had a great time walking around Austin with our Amy's ice cream. Gotta love Amy's! 

We also got to see where the Captextri was going to take place the next day (by the way, Camille is a beast and came in 2nd place). 

So. Many. Bikes. 

Overall: great friend, great place, great trip! 

Patiently Waiting

I've been reminded this week that situations are a matter of patience. Be it interviews, call backs, apartment searches, relationships, buying a pretty dress...it's all about being patient enough to wait for the prefect time. Although I am hopeful for many things in my life, I am learning the virtue of patience - which besides in a classroom setting, is not my strongest suit.

So, here's to patiently waiting for perfect timing.

Jump for Joy!

This week(end) has been crazy good. I turned 23, became an alum of UNT, decided that I was going to move and get my own apartment by the end of the summer, and am hopeful for a job position and future decisions. God is good and merciful! To all my friends, family and mentors: thank you for your support, encouragement, love and prayers. I couldn't have gotten through these four years without you!

Enjoy the multiple graduation pictures!

I'm not sure why Alex was in my trunk (probably because he was super impressed by its massive size) but nonetheless, I love Alex's humor). 

On the way to UNT!

Officially graduated!... with my TOMS. :) 

Mom and Papi - so grateful for their support!

Love my siblings! 

Fun fact: Grandmommy graduated from UNT in Education. 

Had to put these pictures on here. High school graduation in 2008 and then college in 2012. Blessed by you Katherine! 

Please see how beastly Marisa is. She made me this awesome "Miss Serna" crayon wreath for my future classroom. Thank you Marisa and Pinterest. LOVE this!

Love my brother! 

All the siblings! 

Ha! Great awkward, prom picture! 

Yay for celebrations! 

Checking Things Off

I sadly forgot about my "Adventure List" that I made myself a few months ago. But as I was cleaning out my computer files, I reopened it and realized that I had excitedly accomplished many things off the list! Even this past week, I was able to cross off 4 or 5 things:

1. Visiting the Arboretum with Cameron, Alyssa, and Paige: This was a lot of fun but sadly, I don't have any pictures. It was fun to relax outside and get to talk to Paige while the kids ran off and enjoyed the outdoors.

2. Go to Denton/The Square: On Saturday, I traveled to Denton to celebrate my dear friend Laura's wedding shower. After, close friends and I had lunch and hung out at The Square. It felt so good to visit one of my favorite places: Denton, TX.

3. SMU: I am constantly crossing this off my list because I am continuously having a picnic or just relaxing on the beautiful lawns of SMU. I love this campus for so many reasons and am so excited that I can share one of my favorite places with good friends.

Two of my besties: Camille and Ashley. 

Camille and one of her many talents: her skin can stretch a creepishly large amount. 

Gotta love them. :) 

4. Houdeks: Babysitting for the Houdeks doesn't feel like babysitting - it's just plain fun. Great parents, great kids, great dog. Love this family! So blessed!

I have known this family for 6 (7?) years, and Lily is officially taller than me...she's in 5th grade. 

 Good ol' times.

Walker, who is in 2nd grade, can also pick me up. There's something wrong with this... 

The night wouldn't have been complete without one of Walker's yoga moves.

5. Hang out with Home Group friends: I love my Home Group. They are wonderful and have been there for me during this rough season. I got the chance to meet some of the members for brunch at Egg and I ("Eat at a new restaurant": check) and it was great talking and laughing with them. Love my church community. 

6. Art Festival: Emily joined me at Cottonwood Art Festival today and we had a wonderful time "wish shopping" and eating our snow cones. Delightful. 

Other news... 

This week I have an interview for a 1st grade position at a Richardson ISD school that just so happens to fall on my birthday - did I mention I'm turning 23?? Also this week, I am graduating from COLLEGE. There will be a lot of celebrations this week that my heart isn't ready for to be honest. As you all know, I've been given a season of hurt and uneasiness, so the thought of celebrating is hard to get excited about. But, God is good, He is trustworthy, His ways are always best, and I deserve this week of celebration. In all things, no matter what, God always gives blessings...even in the storm - this weekend proved that with friends alone. 

The Dirty Work

If I'm being honest, today I feel burdened by the uncertainties and unknowns of life. And if I'm being even more honest, I feel the weight of others' sufferings that I'm aware of. I believe that God has placed me in a season of uneasiness. Not because He wants to see me burdened or suffering, but because He wants to bring my faults and sins to the surface and have me grow closer to Him - how merciful is He? During this time, I would say that He has given me the strength to follow Him during this storm - to depend on Him, find my joy and strength in Him, and be encouraged by who He says He is. But man, it's exhausting and today, all I want is peace and rest.

I said before that I was also burdened by others' sufferings. There is a lot of hurt occurring to a lot of people I know and love... it seems as though I am not alone in my season of uneasiness. As I have been listening to the different struggles and decisions that have been made, in some ways I am blown away by how faithful His children are being - absolutely blown away. But in others, my heart hurts when all I see is...well, quite frankly, stubbornness. I have recently heard that in times of need and hurt, you can do two things: hear what you want to hear or hear the truth. Hearing the truth is a lot harder and the rode to recovery is at times draining beyond belief, but in the end, the truth always provides and brings an unmeasurable amount of peace and joy. Hearing what you want to hear won't live up to what the lie says it will bring and in the end just becomes another idol you must battle with. So why don't we so called Christians, run to Christ and allow Him to change our hearts when we know that's what we need to do?

I am the first to admit that I constantly struggle with pride - I, like the rest of us, love my happiness, needs...basically, I love myself - I would even say I think I'm great. But I would be a fool to not admit that  there are things in my life that I need to fix. I hate the way I react to certain situations and people and I hate some of my worst characteristics. It's hard to face reality, but the reality is that I desperately need Jesus no matter what the circumstance because He is the only One that will ever be enough.

So to those who join me in being in a difficult season of life, I'm praying that we run to Christ, allow Him to change our hearts, and that we may be receptive to doing the dirty work.

Mind Racing

This upcoming Friday will be my last day of student teaching. I can't seem to think of anything else. Where did the time go?? 

With this bitter-sweet realization, it's hit me that I need to get a job. College is almost over and that means I am about to enter into the "real world". So, here are my goals: 

1. Finish my last week of student teaching with a bang. 

2. Don't trip during graduation. 

3. Find job. 

4. While waiting for interviews/job offers, enjoy my free time and try not to worry. 

5. Enjoy my summer! (I have a feeling this summer is going to be one for the books.)

6. If I don't get a job by the school year, find rest in the Lord and settle for substituting. 

Cheers to finishing! 

Random...

I thought I would also share with you my current obsession: "I Wont Give Up" by Jason Mraz from his new cd Love Is a Four Letter Word. Yes, some of you might say that the only reason why I like this song is because it fits a certain situation of mine (ha), and I would say that you are correct BUT it's also a beautiful song. Oh, and did I mention I'm going to see Jason Mraz in August with my wonderful friend Raychel?? Woot! 

I'm also reading Matt Chandler's new book The Explicit Gospel and my mind is blown away every time I pick it up. I would recommend this to anyone - believers, nonbelievers, believers who aren't living a Christ centered life, and believers who are. Great truth. 

Also, here are my favorite pictures from the weekend just for grins: 

My clothes are actually large for someone. ;)

Just some brother-sister bonding. 

The Houdek's dog, Daisy. Love.