Shameless Selfie.

There is just something about a cute outfit and a good hair day. I've been in the best mood all day.

And, yes, I took a selfie. Sorry, not sorry.

Taylor and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

This week has had a very reoccurring theme: Taylor's own stupidity and lack of a thought process has lead to an unnecessarily annoying week.

First, I lost my keychain with two USB drives on it. Fantastic. So, I got to say good bye to two semesters worth of lecture notes, readings, articles, sorority documents, and my in-progress novel. Yippee.

I missed both the Bachelor and Pretty Little Liars because I was in the library trying to rewrite everything I lost on my USB drives.

I have three exams next week that I am no where near prepared for.

Then, for some strange reason, I am having extreme difficulty when it comes to remembering where I park my car in the morning. My days are so long that, by the time that I am heading back to my car late at night, I realize I am on the opposite side of campus from where I parked my car that morning. Rough.

And to top it all off, Starbucks ceased it's BOGO deal as soon as I wanted coffee. Lame!

Okay, but really; do I not sound like a spoiled brat right now?

Not cool, Taylor. Not cool.

As much as this week has been a little bummy, I've had to tell myself several times to SHUT UP. THIS IS ALL MINUSCULE AND STUPID. Does anyone else find themselves turning into a Negative Nesbit when they happen to wake up on the wrong side of the bed?

I know I do. If I ever start sounding like a fun-sucker, call me out on it.

Instead, let me tell you of somethings I am thankful for this week.

One: I have two jobs with awesome co-workers who deal with my awkwardness and relatively recent disorganization.

Two: I have a community of Christian women that I get to hang out with every day; whether that be for moral support or random giggles.

Three: I feel so good! I've lost weight, almost at 13 pounds I think? And I haven't caught the nasty sinus infection that has been going around (knock on wood).

Fourth:  My Pop-Pop is feeling a bit better!

Fifth: I haven't gotten any less than six hours of sleep a night; hallelujah!

And sixth: I had a good hair day today.

There, that's better. I need to learn to make positive lists more often. And maybe, just maybe, all the negatives will make less of a presence in my silly little mind.

Random Thoughts

Here are my random thoughts for the day.

1) I learned today that bacon-flavored ice cream actually exists. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

2) Your day is always infinitely better when you have a good hair day.

3) My grandparents make me smile (a.k.a. the pictures below).

Humility.

"It's almost impossible to offend a humble person." - Bryan Loritts

Point blank: Humility is something I struggle with. A lot.

I'll admit that I like being right. I like the feeling of leadership. I like being able to say that I've done a good job at something. Of course, there is nothing wrong with truth, leadership, or completing a job well-done. No, of course not. All of those are good things, but in moderation. And, for some reason, I continuously cross the line between "good" and "thinking I'm good."

I can't shake it. My life would be so radically different if humility was engrained into my brain.

Arguing with my brother, who is six years younger than me? Wouldn't happen.
Dodge a conversation about Christ to the girl sitting next to me on the bus? Wouldn't happen.
Complaining about my so-called bad day? Wouldn't happen.
Do you want the reader's digest version? A majority of my daily actions and words wouldn't occur if I had a humble mindset.

It amazes me how such a seemingly isolated struggle actually permeates into a majority of the areas in my life.

I really started recognizing this struggle when I read this quote: "It's almost impossible to offend a humble person." 

Primarily, the quote made me think because I realized how often I get offended over the most idiotic things--drivers who cut me off, people who butt me in the line at Starbucks, or professors who give me a low grade on a paper that I worked hours on. 

Some how, in all of those minuscule daily situations, I convinced myself that my agenda and my sense of self is of higher priority than anything else. Some how, in some way, my flesh convinced my mind that my car should be of highest respect on the road. That I deserve my coffee first because I had been waiting a whole 60 seconds longer. Or, that I know more than the professor. 

Never once do I reflect on the fact that maybe, just maybe, the car that cut me off was rushing in an emergency. Or, that the girl that cut me in line just made a mistake and didn't see me. Or, that I actually made a mistake on my paper because I didn't fully read the prompt.

Second, I think the quote hit me hard because I realized, comparatively, I have nothing to be upset or offended about. At Passion, my Community Group leader gave his testimony. He grew up Muslim, but as a teenager-ish age, he became a Christian. As a result, his father disowned him. It amazed me how much humility he had, to sacrifice the only "normal" life he had known and the relationship with his family to become a Christian. 

I realized then how much humility I lacked; because I know for a fact I wouldn't be able to give up my familial relationships, if that is what it came down too. Because, I put to much priority on my own happiness and my own relationships.

So, here is my challenge to myself. Every time--every single time--that I feel even the slightest offense, I will keep my mouth shut. And I will just pray. Because, 9.9 times out of 10, the issue is not with the person doing the offending, but with me.

My reaction is a reflection of my heart, and if I cannot humble myself enough to avoid offense in simple situations, than it is clear that I need to work on something. 

If can learn humility, then I can start learning love. Peace. Boldness. Beauty. And everything that only come from learning to trust and prioritize God, rather than myself. 

Happy Happens Happenings....

Isn't that quite the mouth-full?

I know I haven't written much on here. But, it's been kind of a dry writing spell for me. I've started to write a lot of blogs, but I guess I've been extra picky and hated everything I've written. So, no posts. But, in case you are interested in any part of my life, here are some random snapshots of my life recently.

I was blessed enough to get a new camera for Christmas. You could say I'm a little obsessed. I was taking pictures of everything, just trying to get a mediocre understanding of how to work the dang thing.

Models of choice? Dogs and my sister.

We visited my Stepdad's side of the family after Christmas. Again, I was a little camera happy when it came to watching my cousin and brother playing in the snow.

But, of course, the highlight of my last few months was Passion 2013. God really broke me down and built me back up.

And, in case you are still reading and really are that interested, here are some random 'Grams from the last few months.

    Books and Bible.Broken glasses and temper tantrums. Warm cuddles and Cheesecake. Misfit mugs and sister visits. Matching jammies and Striped Gold group.

La Musica.

Do you know what I love? Music. 

I may not be the next Mozart of composing. The next Zeppelin of guitar. Or the next Bieber of fangirl obsession. But, that doesn't mean I can experience the whirlwind that is good music.

And, as much as I can be a fangirl myself, there is nothing more fun than seeing one of your favorite artists sing live.

Thanks to one of closest friends and sorority sisters, I had the chance to see Tyler Ward live. I discovered him about four years ago, when he was just doing minuscule covers on Youtube in his parent's basement with only a few hundred subscribers. Now, he has his own recording studio, hundreds of thousands of subscribers, several original albums, and has been on tour several times. I only loved him even more when I realized he is Christian, and loves to use his music as way to tell people about Christ.

There were two parts of the entire night that I enjoyed. The fact that I was literally three feet away from him during the entire concert, and the fact that he sang happy birthday to me.

Now, I can't get his music out my head. I keep playing his songs over and over and over and over again. But, hey, it could be worse. It actually kind of helps with this whole finals-week-stress thing going on.

Thank you.

Although it's probably the most disgusting picture ever, I'd say it sums up my night pretty well: IVs, tears, and a very broken elbow. And surprisingly some smiles here and there.

Dear Kirsten and Hannah,

I wanted to personally thank you for everything you did for me this weekend. For a girl who has never broken a bone, been punctured with an IV, or even spent more than a couple hours in an Emergency room, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't extremely scared the whole night. As if seeing my elbow protrude sideways wasn't enough of a shock, being told I needed metal put in my arm was the icing on the cake. But knowing I had you two there--to stalk down the nurse for pain meds, constantly check to see if my fingers had feeling, or calm me down every time I freaked out--made a bad experience into a semi-manageable one. Plus, if wasn't for you two, there wouldn't be a list on record of embarrassing things I said while under extreme pain meds. And, Hannah, I'm sorry if loud screams as they reset my bone scarred you for life. That was unintentional.  My mom gets teary eyed when she starts talking about how thankful she is for you two.

Dear Roomies,

Thank you for sacrificing your time and perfect driving record to get me prepared for the hospital. Love more than my ukulele!


Dear SAO,

Even though you all couldn't come to UVA, your endless love and excessive picture taking kept me in a good mood and very calm. Humor and peace were something I desperately needed.


Dear Andy,

I can't thank you enough for donating your apartment to 2 exhausted girls and 1 pathetically incompetent girl for the night. Sacrificing your self to the floor to let me sleep in a bed was incredibly kind and humble.