Oh, listen to the music

God is so good. Praise and recognition really means a lot to me. My challenge to myself this quarter was to do my job for the Lord, not for attention or competition. But, at the end of the college career, it means SO much to me to know that everything I've done for the past 2 years has been noticed. Recognition is just God's way of telling me "hey, you're doing alright!"

Now, I use this blog for two main reasons: to chronicle what's happening in my life because I tend to forget what life used to be like, and to keep my bestie who's in India right now apprised of what's happening in my life. The rest of this post is going to be mainly the first reason...so if you don't like people talking about themselves, now would be a good time to stop reading.

Still here? awesome. In the past few weeks I've received the following:

• Dean's Scholar
• Graduating Magna Cum Laude
• Com Department Excellence in Research award
• Lovely poster from RHLC
• RHA/NRHH Outstanding Leadership Pin 
• RHA cords
• Programming Hall of Fame
• West Basetties Program of the Year award
• Hats off to ya' award

Dean's Scholar--this ties in directly with graduating Magna Cum Laude. Basically, I had decent grades while I was here at CWU. Because of said grades, I'm graduating not only with honors but as one of 34 people in the entire College of Arts and Humanities to be a Dean's Scholar. I'm blown away. I think grades are the factor that determines who is awarded this, but one of my good friends, Eli, has great grades and didn't get Dean's Scholar.....so not sure exactly what factors in to the decision.

Com Excellence in Research--Since I'm doing original research for my senior thesis, I received this award. Apparently, receiving an award at the Com banquet is a big deal. Not everyone wins something. I have worked my behind off on my thesis, so it feels wonderful to see that my professors recognize the work I put in.

RHLC poster--several of my residents wrote not just little "have a good year" notes, but full paragraphs about how much they appreciate me. One said something to the effect of "if I could create an RA from scratch, they would be just like you." As an RA, there are people who just won't like you. And that's tough for me to deal with, since I live with them every day and try to have a positive relationship. To hear that kind of thing, makes this job SO worth it.

RHA/NRHH Outstanding Leadership Pin--this is the one that brought me to tears because I was not expecting it in a million years. RHA is the Residence Hall Association. NRHH is their sister organization. Basically, we plan programs, help residents, spread the word about things, etc. I've been an advisor this year and part of last year as an RA. Every year the executive boards can award a total of 8 outstanding leadership pins and 8 bronze pins. Out of everyone at RHA and NRHH, Brett chose to pick me for his outstanding leadership pin. This is a huge honor. He said "I was surprised this person hasn't been recognized at this level yet. She has an incredible community and just spreads joy wherever she goes. Even though she isn't part of NRHH, I would like to award this pin to Anna..." I think the coolest thing about this is that I don't really know Brett. So apparently, the light that Jesus has allowed me to be is spreading beyond what I realize.

with Brett after being awarded the OL pin

RHA cords--basically, it's honors cords for all the work I've put into RHA. Considering I've led several RHLC meetings by myself, and helped with a ton of little things (when no other staff members consistently did), I'm super excited to be graduating with the support of RHA.

Programming Hall of Fame--basically I did a lot of programs. A lot. Only Khylee and I ever got that from Beck. This year.

Program of the Year--The Green Dot program that Nicole, Andrea, and I worked so hard on, and got such great staff and student participation received campus-wide recognition!

Hats off to ya'--this is another one that almost brought me to tears. One of the people I admire the most here  is one of our Assistant Directors of Housing, Jenna Hyatt. She is an incredible woman of faith and is genuinely sweet and caring. She said she has gotten to award this for 15 years, to 3 people on the housing staff team each year. 3 out of over 120 staff. She awarded one to me and her words were: for integrity, outstanding leadership, and said "I could tell you 1,000 stories of why this person deserves it." I am just blown away by how much of an honor it is to receive recognition from such a wonderful woman.

That's been my last few weeks. Every day I'm just so blessed. I feel like God is looking down and saying "you did well." And the best part is that hopefully some of these people know, like I've told my boss, that I don't compare myself to others. I hold myself to a standard of excellence because I'm doing my work for Jesus--not for other people.

As of now, there are 7 days until I graduate.

VIRGIN Jell-o shots with my girls (Nicole, Riley, and me)

3rd floor RAs....we're just THAT epic

Straight thuggin' at the Bassetties BBQ

And you'd see me waiting for you on the corner of the street

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

(James 1:5-6)

This is my verse of the day. I'm thrilled that I've been moving very quickly through the hiring process for a certain dispatch department. The department seems great, there's a Mars Hill and guide dog group in the area, there's a police department with a reserve program in the area, and I could work there. There is just so much that I don't know...and I will be relying heavily on wisdom from God to figure this thing out. I don't know why I'm so concerned, I haven't even been made a job offer yet...haha.

When it comes down to it, I find so much relief in the fact that I  don't have to rely on my own abilities and knowledge to make any decisions. If it was all and only up to me, I don't know how I'd survive. I was talking to one of my residents today about the future and I explained to her my viewpoint: I do the best I can, but in the end it's in God's hands. She said that makes sense, and I can't imagine what it would be like to not have that reassurance. I mean, the mind of a man may plan his way but the Lord directs his steps. No matter where I end up, I know it will be doors that God has opened. As my resident pointed out, who knows...the perfect guy [the guy God has waiting for me] might be wherever I get a job and then moving somewhere unknown would be all worth it. I thought that was cute. .......and maybe true, who knows. 

So that's my little thought gush for the day. 

Evidences of God's Grace:

• The fact that I made it to backgrounds in this testing process
• Having a 4-day Memorial Day weekend!
• Feeling so much more at peace about graduating
• ALmost finishing my Lit Review for my senior thesis
• Finding a modest and yet cute graduation dress
• Feeling humbled 
• Reminders of what it's like to be a godly woman
• E-mailing with Jill!!! (I love that girl)
• Talking to Caro on the phone...even though it was brief.

God is so good, He's so good to me

Not much new...just livin' the dream. Doing homework assignments at the last minute is becoming an art form. I'm not procrastinating--I just have to prioritize things based on deadlines. For instance, I have to get a bunch of pieces of information from people for my personal history statement which has to be completed before or right after my first oral board. And, no big deal, but I got my first oral board set for tomorrow! I tested twice for this agency and I left feeling a little discouraged. I generally don't test well, so I had no idea how well I'd done. But I figured I just have to trust God because He's got it all worked out. Yesterday I received the call that I have and interview, so today I'll be finishing homework that's due today and preparing for the interview. It's a dispatch job that would be great.

So that's where I'm at. Just hanging out in God's love and grace. I've been talking a lot about Jesus and sin and God's love with people recently and when I really stop to realize what Jesus did, like I was hearing it for the first time, it just doesn't make sense. Why would GOD....who is completely awesome and perfect in heaven...come to earth and live a perfect life just to be tortured and die? Every time that I realize the answer is "because he loves me" I'm a little blown away. If that's not radical, I don't know what is.

Are we human or are we dancers?

This is my Friday afternoon. I was going to do Zumba with Katie, but my phone didn't go off to remind me, and I got lost in trying to catch up on my TV shows via Hulu while working on my thesis. I didn't realize how many professors would not be okay with me taking 6 minutes of their class time...crazy.

Anyway, it's been a productive week. Research on its way, Green Dot program all planned and ready for Wednesday, and we're having an area staff event on Sunday where we're all recognizing a member of our team. And I made my recognition thing for Bossman.

So this evening, I was not very tired, but trying to figure out a relaxing way to finish my night after doing a nice ab workout and watching some Friday Bride Day on TLC with my ressies. That's when I came up with the brilliant idea of searching YouTube for a short beginner yoga/relaxation exercise. Now, I've heard all kinds of things about yoga within the Christian church. Most often I hear it condemned. I understand where the spiritual/clearing your mind of everything/meditation could be not-God-honoring. However, when I've done yoga (and it's not very often) it's never for a spiritual purpose. Usually, it was for the workout and the fact that it's relaxing. So the jury is still out for me on what I think of it. I'm leaning towards it's okay--when done like any other workout or relaxation activity.

I was thinking about another thing. Passion. Not necessarially the romantic type. But my thoughts are going to take up a whole post, so I'll leave that one for tomorrow-ish.

these should be the best days of our lives

"So slow it down you move a little too fast

You take a deep breath, you make this last

These should be the best days of your life"

It's just been a whirlwind of stuff. I picked dates to test as a dispatcher and corrections officer in May. Police officer testing will be in June. It's so exciting. Still scary, but the dispatch and corrections tests aren't nearly as nerve-wracking as police officer testing. It's just weird that this could be the rest of  my life. People keep asking how I feel about graduation and my answer is always the same--I'll feel better once I have a job.

Also! I got my research approved! So excited. I have to figure out what communication theories are present in my study and then I'm set. Again, it's really weird to be doing these "end of your college career" things.

Yeah, that's my college graduation cap and gown. I found out I'll be graduating magna cum laude which means I have to choose between the silver and CWU tassel. I remember that after high school graduation, I put the tassel on my car's rearview mirror...Wow graduation is coming too soon.

Until that fateful day, life has been full of hanging out with residents, programming, sitting through classes, doing little bits of homework here and there, spending time with friends, and the most recent addition has been weekly nights at the bar with my staff team.