I'm a grown up!

Well, It has been quite a while since I have written on my blog! Life just happens so quickly after you graduate! After graduating from college, like other grads before me, I had finally come to that point in my life where I was faced with the daunting question, what's next?
I had just spent 12 years of my life as a student, then then the last 5 years of my life as college student! Seriously, I am the kind of girl that looked forward to buying school supplies! Does the brand Lisa Frank ring a bell! One of my friends said that I have a teachable spirit! That must mean that there is a passion in me to learn. Not just in the world of academics, but in all aspects of this beautiful world that God has made for me to live in. There are so many people to meet! So many places to see!

I can't help but think about those days when I was a kid playing so freely, with so many ideas and full of imagination! I seriously think that I was the "Dora the Explora" of my childhood! You mom's will understand that reference!
Now, it was time to get a JOB! You know you need a job, when mom and dad make your old bed room to a guest room/storage room and give you your first blazer and pant suit to add to your wardrobe! I think when my parents saw my diploma, they thought, "she's bringing in the big bucks"!
By my senior year I was offered three jobs. I was given a generous offer and contract from the Wichita Falls ISD if I choose to complete my teacher certification in Spanish. Then, I was offered a promising position to be the editor of Plainview's Latino Magazine, "Our People". And finally, I was given the option of applying for a position as an Admissions Recruiter for Wayland Baptist University.

I can't tell you how much of a grown up I felt at this point! I knew that the Lord was with me and his calling in my life was ultimately for me to give him glory, but I still did not know what to do. I think I face the ugly giant of "People Pleasing" sometimes in my life! You do what everybody suggests you do, or you hear the "what ifs" from fear-worrying driven people that mean well, but just drives you nuts!


Well, I knew who was going after my heart to settle and rest, it was my Jesus! My best friend and Lord! He knows me better than even my closest friends and family. It hit me the other day, God's presence has always been in my life. Always, even when I wasn't even aware of it! I was left in grateful tears last night. It reminds me that He is God and He is good! When he said in His word that "he would never leave us or forsake us" he meant it. I asked him of direction, not for my selfish/tainted reasons, but really, his will. Also, God as blessed me with my very dear friends and mentors Mark and Cathy Leach from Harvest Christian Fellowship. Mark is a very down to earth father figure in my life, almost like the wise Yoda in Star Wars and Cathy is the "Paula-Dean/Martha Stewart-mother figure in my life! They are so much fun! Shortly after God placed in my heart to take that position as a recruiter for the University. My first real Big Girl Job!

As Miss Wayland Baptist I got to share my heart about how Higher Education opened a lot of opportunities for me, even in the midst of incredible odds. This led me to open up about how I came to know Jesus Christ! He totally changed me and gave me a love for people and learning!
I got to be exactly who I was! That is the kind of attitude I believe God wants his daughters to have, to be confident in Him! Who they are in him is beautiful! I could preach, but I will save that for another time! Amen!

Everyday since I started recruiting for the University in May of 2008, I have seen myself grow as a more responsible leader and friend! I mean I have to get myself up before 7am and not my roommate! I even make dinner! I love my kitchen and my cute apartment! My job was an easy transition for me, because I love making relationships! I have traveled and been places I have never seen. Travel season is where I actualy used a real map, and then shortly after a GPS! I also grew up with the Wayland family for the past 3 years of my life! Now, relationships take hard work, especially if you are working with over 500 of them! Whew! But, I love it! I have to say that Lunch hour reminds me of recess in elementary school, everybody is watching the clock
There are a lot of people I haven't met yet! I thank God for my job and for allowing me to help students find the right place for them! I am biased! I love Wayland! Go Pioneers!!!


Quote for the day:
"Many people go somewhere, few people go somewhere on purpose"

Graduation!

Well, I made it! Spring commencement was a blast! I can remember waking up in the morning with the somewhat same feeling I will probably have when I get married. That Saturday morning was filled with excitement and joy! I know that not everybody makes it to this point in their life. A college education is truly a gift from God. I could see my parent's excitement as well. They have seen me grow up! I bet this will be the same reaction I will have when my future kiddo's grow up. The day before my mother and I got to get our nails done! It was so much fun, but I could hardly understand the Lady who was doing my nails. I knew that she was speaking Vietnamese, but then in a slow motion picture-like moment my mother said, "Ya know my daughter went to China...". The lady replied, "I am Vietnamese!", with a tone that said to us she had been asked this question so many times before. Well, on my graduation day, I was having a great hair day! My dear friend Sarah and I went to the "Torch and Mantle" ceremony where you pick a mentor and a student on campus to honor. My mentor was Cynthia Trevino. Cynthia is a mixture of fun, laughter, wisdom, discipline, and so much more. She is a friend that you know God had to put together. I am so amazed at her love for me and for the Lord! Sarah is my roommate! She and I have such a unique and fun relationship. I pray that she will continue on being the leader and follower of Christ that she is. Well, here is a funny story, at the luncheon later that day. As we finished our lunch and proceeded out the doors like a mad herd of cattle, I looked down at my foot and saw what appeared to be blood! I thought I was going into shock or something because I could not feel the pain! I rushed to a bathroom full of lady's by making my way through the kitchen at Wayland only to find out that it was a piece of tomato! Funny! During Graduation I felt honored to be apart of the "Platform party" I read the scripture Jeremiah 29:11! Very appropriate! Then it was later time in the ceremony to finally cross the stage! Just before handing over my card to the announcer, I felt a wave of gratitude as well as feeling exactly how I felt just before I rode the "Titan" at Six Flags! Praise God! Afterwards, I was blessed and humbled to see my pastors and their families and other church families along side with my friends and family to congratulate me! I have the most amazing church family! Most of my family could not make because of several different circumstances. Yahoo I am officially and Alumni!