Well this semester has been one for the books already. I have moved into a quaint little cottage off of campus with my best friend, Kellsea:) The Lord has worked through so many people in my life that I don't even know where to begin...
There is a group of us that is constantly meeting at the cottage; we worship, fellowship, eat, pray and just everything that we feel called to do. I truly believe this is what Christ was talking about, having people around you to support you. I love each of these souls sooo much that it hurts and every one of them make up an important part to our family.
This is the first semester that I am taking 12 hours and the first that I have not had a science class! Exciting right!? :) But this just means lots and lots of reading lol...anyhoo I took my entrance exam to nursing this past Friday (Oct. 7) and I am happy to announce that I made an 85! I know, I know, you would assume that I wouldn't be to happy with a B but i am actually quite pleased with that considering I didn't study at all! (And actually went out to Guitars the night before hehe) Regardless the information was something I have accumulated over the years and not something I could just magically read a chapter and make a 100. But that was Rebecca's 21st so Julee and I took her out and we had a magnificent time:)
I danced with a couple of guys and met some amazing people of course! We left pretty early, which just happened to be about the same time that Lauren, Nick and Milo showed up so I promised them I would go out this Thursday again and Shalaina will get to go because she doenst have work:))

Well HSU is having this art contest and I think I figured out which picture I would like to submit for the Photography Contest! I took it when I still lived in San Marcos of these crazy trees. Well it is not really of a tree, it is what falls from the tree. I have no idea what it is, but what I do know is that is sparked my interest! So, there ya go, I half-way-but-not-really-almost-kind-of catched whoever reads this (which is no one lol) up on my life!

Vaya Con Dios!
Sammie Jo

Hot Air Balloon Festival

 

Can I just start off and say what an amazing Mother I have?! Really, she is beyond determined to just make her life healthier and she is just a great inspiration to a lot of people, including myself.
Well, she signed up for her first 10K run this year, and it was at the Balloon Festival in Abilene, Tx! She did an outstanding job and I am just so proud of her! So here's to being a healthy, active, and outstanding woman, cheeers! :))

Amazing Things:)

So these past two weeks have been crazy!
I've thought sooo many times that I have the best life ever...seriously. I dare you to compare yours and mine! While some days have been rough at work, everyday I am changing a kids life and they are changing mine. I am constantly becoming more and more patient and understanding the adolescent mind. (taking this psych class this semester is helping a lot as well)

Anyhoo let me tell you some of these amazing things!

Take note of these things: 1) I almost signed up to go to Antigua. 2) I still helped out with the Antigua stuff. 3) Kayla didn't get her passport till last minute. haha:) 4. I regret not signing up to go to Antigua but you'll soon find out that it all worked out anyway:)

The Wednesdays before spring break: I walked into class at Hillcrest and Justin (the university minister) immediately says, "Hey Sam! Do you want a job?!" To my own surprise I turned it down even though I wanted to take it. I couldn't leave the kids during the middle of the semester; its just wrong to do that. So I politely declined the offer and he said, "well Mr._____ came in today and was wondering if I knew any great, trust worthy, hard working college kids and of course yours was the first name in my brain!" These words meant so much to me because it's basically everything I strive for and it just makes my day when people realize what I try to be:)

The next morning: Evan Simmons (The high school youth minister) called me a tad before nine told me that something happened with his female sponsor for their mission trip next week and that Justin (mentioned previously) had said that the only person he would trust that he isn't taking to Antigua on their mission trip to be the sponsor for the HS mission to trip to Inner city (Como)Fort Worth is me, Samantha Lakey!
How in the world can I be referred by the same person for two different things all within at 24hr span? sheeeeesh! Any way when Evan was describing the times for everything I thought there is no way I that I can do that since we would be leaving the next morning at 6am. It just won't work out. I have an class, exam, class then 30 min to eat, get a movie for work and help Kayla with her computer before she leaves to go to Antigua, work 12:30-6 and maybe possibly catch the sending off of them at 5:45 if my boss allows me to leave early. Needless to say I was heartbroken. (but I still managed to check all of those off my list

Later that day: Justin calls me and says that the Antigua mission trip kids want to get together and have a prayer meeting before they leave the next day and he was wondering if I could come watch Harper after work? I said yes:)....when I got there he asked if I had talked to Evan and I sadly reported yes and that I wish that I could go. Needless to say Justin straightened me out on the times aaaand I called Evan and the spot was still open for me to take it if I wanted it! :))

So basically all weekend I drove back and forth from abilene to hamlin to get ready for the mission trip. The elders blessed us sunday morning and then I went back to abilene to work on the arts and craft and then was back there by 6 monday morning with the time change. bleeeh.

spring break was awesome! We went to como community center all week and had the opportunitity to hang out with some really awesome kids and staff! they taught me sooo much:)

Today, I went to Renee's ribshack on S. 7th! The one Joshua and Charlai have been talking about:) Anyway I went in and ordered to go (I dont know why I just didn't go to the drive through, I just didnt...) and Carlos, the cook/manager came out to talk to me and he asked if I was going to school anywhere...I said I was attending Hardin-Simmons for Nursing. He asked if I had a stethoscope yet and I said that I didnt...he then said that his wife died suddently from a weak heart in 2004 and 5 months before she died she bought a new stethoscope (she was a LVN) that had a heart on it and when the heart beat was detected you could see the heart flash! Any way I was sooo estatic! He said that the next time that I am in the resturant that it will be waiting with the cashier and I can pick it up there!

MY OH MY! Are you reading all of these amazing things that God has made possible in my life the last couple of weeks?

Anyhoo I believe thats all I can think of right now but I'm almost as certain as scissor tails in the summer that there will be more to come:)

Vaya Con Dios!
Sam

Against The Flow

Ok, so I was watching tv the other night and it was a sad thing when I could no longer just watch my show because I kept checking my facebook all the time...I've decided that facebook is the devil. It makes me laugh to say it in that way because when I think of any statement like that it reminds me of "The Waterboy" movie! Ha! Anyway, I decided that I would deactivate my account, delete the app off of my iPhone and put my Bible app in the position that my facebook app was is. So in doing this when i slide my screen to unlock it I automatically go to the bible instead of facebook:)

I started this Friday night and it I must say it is quite hard to not sign on to the computer and just go check it to see whats going on in my friends lives. But I have come to the realization that if it is only convenient for my 'friends' to only contact me via Facebook then really, what kind of 'friends' are those?

Personally, I think Facebook has taken the fun out of being someones friend. It causes lots of drama, in some cases you read lots of negativity from the news feed, (yes, some are positive), I see pictures of your drunken stupor that I have no desire to see, and the immaturity about some of the posts are quite annoying and redundant.


I'm not big on making resolutions at the beginning of the year because I feel as if I'm only compelled to make change in my life around Dec 27th, contemplate what do I need to change in my life for the better, then it't not something I truly want to change. I think this happens for so many people because they believe that a new year is a new start. Well I believe that every week is a new start! After breaking of the body and drinking of the blood every Sunday with my church family I prepare myself to take what this week has to throw at me learn from the week I just had where to grow. So lets be resolved 52 times a year and not just one.

So here I go, my long journey of going 'Against The Flow' of the modern society. I'm not sure what my goal is through all of this but I know if I stick it out for any length of time I will regain time in my life. Time that was used to procrastinate before, time for myself, for my growth with God, time for my real friends and my always loving family.

Vaya con Dios!
Samantha
:)

Black&White Photo :)

Oooh Buddy! There is just something about black&white photos that make my heart skip a beat...maybe its because it lets you see the real beauty of something without all those distractions, just the way the light goes across a face or the twinkle it puts in an eye. Regardless I was more than happy to see the theme this week! Well anydoodles here is one of my favorites from this past summer at our Relay For Life! It was the "Survivors Lap" and two ladies from my hometown held hands as they crossed the finish line! This one will always have a special place in my heart just because of the atmosphere that night...Enjoy! :))

Fix It Friday #48 :)

Well I made it through another one! I'm thinking about just doing a lot of these so I can teach myself this program...well anyway I hope everybody enjoyed their fix-it-Friday because I sure did! :) Love, Sam

Fix It Friday #46 :)

Well I'm trying out this whole Fix It Friday thing that I came across of! Pretty excited about getting better at something that I love :) Guess we'll see how it goes!

Sure hope I do all these rules right! eeeek!

♥Sam