My Journey to Haiti: Part Two

It was the summer of my Freshman year (2009), when I took my first trip to Haiti.  Looking back, I took that trip for all the wrong reasons.   I went because my boyfriend at the time was going, I thought it would be fun, my youth pastor convinced me to go, and I enjoyed the positive reaction I got from my family when they heard about the trip.   I went to Haiti thinking I would go for a week, enjoy another mission trip, and come home to live life like normal.

Boy was I wrong!

I may not have gone for the right reasons, my heart and motives may have been completely wrong, but let me tell you:  God used that trip to change my life forever.  He knew exactly what he was doing.  There was a reason he pushed my youth pastor to stay on me about going, and there was a reason He provided the funds for the trip.  His reason wasn't to satisfy my poor motives, it was to make His name, power, love, and Glory shine through me: a life that seemed unusable at the time.  God is pretty incredible like that!  Just look at how he turned Paul's life around!

While on that first trip to Haiti, I had a real slap in the face, knock you to the ground, you've gotta shape up encounter with God.  I was humbled dramatically by the people I met, the circumstances they lived in, and everything we experienced that week.  In Port au Prince, Haiti 2009, standing in the Faith Hope Love Infant Rescue, I understood for the first time, what true unselfish Godly love was supposed to look like.  Listening to Dorothy's testimony I finally understood what undeniable faith looked like. Through that trip, and the weeks following, I realized how messed up my life was.  I realized that I had strayed so far off course from what a Christian should be, and I knew things had to change.

I took small steps at that point, trying to get my life back on track.  The process was not easy, as I was still in that unhealthy relationship and not ready to give it up.  I knew, deep in my heart, my relationship was the biggest barrier standing between me and God.  I tried to "fix" the relationship, and justify those steps, but again, God knew better.  I was so afraid to walk away, paralyzed by the fear of loneliness, that I wouldn't give it up.

So, God intervened.

He gave my boyfriend at the time, enough courage to walk away and end things.  I was so hurt.  Lost.  Dying of sadness inside.  I thought my life had ended.  Little did I know, God would use that time to shape me into the woman I am today.

He knew I needed to be stripped bare of all of my comforts so that the only place left to run was to Him, and that's exactly what I did.   I dug my face into the Bible every night that first year.  I begged, pleaded, and cried to the Lord every night to take the heartache away, and every night he'd put my heart at rest.  God taught me through that painful situation to rely on Him, and Him alone for my needs.  He reminded me of the commitment I had made to him 13 years back.  God got my life, relationships, and journey back on track.  Most importantly, however, through His compassion, forgiveness, and persistence in my life I learned to put my Faith, hope, love, and trust in Him, and Him alone.  If I didn't understand what a relationship with Christ looked like at 6 years old, I most definitely learned in that moment!  I have never doubted my relationship with Christ. I knew I was a believer and that I had been saved, but it wasn't until after that trip to Haiti that I truly, wholeheartedly, 100% gave my life to Christ.  I decided that I couldn't, and wouldn't, ever go back to that place of loneliness, hurt, and insecurity.  I understood just how much I needed Christ, and from that moment on I have tried my very best to maintain a great relationship with Him and follow His calling.


I am not perfect.  I have never been perfect.  I've made some terrible, TERRIBLE, mistakes throughout my life.  Many mistakes I wish I could take back and erase from my past, but I can't.  They shaped me into who I am today.  While I hope 16 year old Allyson, never returns, I have to thank God for using that awful time in my life to shape me into a better person.  God could have left me, but He never gave up, not once!  

Fast forward to 2011.  At this point, I had finally healed from the breakup, mended all of the broken relationships, and had gotten life pretty well back on course.  Obviously,  I wasn't perfect those two years and made mistakes, but I had finally found peace and meaning in my life.  Over the course of those two years, two BIG years in the life of a young person, I had to make a lot of decisions about who I wanted to be, where I wanted to be, and how I was going to continue this chapter of my life into adulthood.  I spent countless hours praying and asking God to guide my path.  I asked Him to show me where He'd like me to be.  I prayed that He would use me and my life for His glory, whatever that looked like (that's a big prayer yall!!).  Every time I went searching for God's guidance my mind would turn to Haiti.  My heart longed to go back so badly.  There wasn't a single day that Haiti didn't cross my mind in one way or another.  I knew I had to go back, but had no idea how or when.  I also didn't put it together at first that God was answering my prayer.  He was saying I want you in Haiti; screaming it really.  I honestly thought he would give me a response regarding interior design, and for awhile the thought of any other path in life seemed out of question.  

It wasn't until the summer of 2011, that things really came together.  A mission trip to Ethiopia had fallen through, and Cassie (my best friend) encouraged me to go back to Haiti.  She knew how much I missed it, and how much I had longed to be back.  So, I contacted Dorothy, worked out the details, and Cassie and I headed to Haiti in December of 2011.

I had no clue when I got on the plane December 27, 2011 that my life was about to take a dramatic U-turn and finally fall into place how God planned.  We stayed with and worked at Dorothy's for two weeks during that trip.   My heart fell in love all over again with the people, culture, and Country. So much so, that I knew after our trip that I had to pursue missions in Haiti.  I didn't know what that would look like, or how it would happen, but I knew this beautiful and wonderful place would become a part of my life forever.

I spent the next few months in deep prayer, and time in the Word, looking for answers.  After a few weeks at home, I knew the calling was undeniable.  I knew 100% that I was supposed to move to Haiti and work as a missionary.  I knew, that I knew, that I knew.  But I was terrified.

In March of 2012, Cassie and I were both terribly missing Haiti.  So much, that I could barely make it an hour through a day without thinking about Dorothy, the kids, or Haiti.  We jokingly mentioned going back, and then decided that we really had to go, and started planning.  My roommates, at the time, mentioned an interest in joining me for a trip to Haiti so we opened up the trip to them as well.  Meredith immediately jumped on board, Jodi was having nothing to do with it, and shortly after, Jessica decided to join us!  I was so excited to share this place I had fallen in love with, with three of my best friends.  Even more so, I was super-giddily-excited to board that plane in May.  I couldn't wait to get back, discuss doing missions down there with Dorothy, and see how God was going to use that trip.

To my surprise, I left that trip in May feeling unsure of God's calling, and really questioning if I had heard him right.  Dorothy asked some hard questions and I really had to step back and examine, in great detail, whether God was calling me to Haiti; and if so, what was He calling me to do, and where specifically?

Did I mention I was absolutely, paralyzing-ly, terrified.  I spent many days crying at the thought of moving to Haiti.  There was just no way God would be calling me:  A 21 year old, with a terribly messed up past, to be a missionary.  There was just no way.  I didn't think I could do it.  There was just no way I could move to another Country alone.  I was too scared.

Fear.

A crippling, yet completely irrational, fear, that I let consume me.  In that short time I stepped away from pursuing the move, and decided I was unfit and incapable.  I immersed myself in school work, graduation, and applying for jobs.  I told myself that I had misunderstood God, and that this is where He wanted me, not in Haiti.  

Guess what?  I was wrong --- AGAIN!

For months I applied, applied, and applied some more, for jobs.  I took interview after interview thinking for sure I'd get a position, start working, get my own place, blah, blah blah.  God had other plans though.  He knew exactly where He wanted me, and that was not here in Durham, NC.  He wanted me in Haiti!! After multiple declined positions, and conversations with close friends, I realized that God was telling me this was not my path.  He knew if I got offered a job, that I would take it and get off track again.  God knew that I'd eventually come around, and realize that once again I'd stepped off course and needed to get back on track.

And, that's what I did.

I finally surrendered (again), and said "Ok God, I give up trying to maintain control of my life.  I know this is not where you want me, so please take the reigns and steer me in the right path."  I prayed,  "I'm ready Lord.  Help me to overcome my fears so that I can do the great work you have planned.  I'll go wherever you send me."

And well, you guessed it...He sent me back to Haiti!

During the summer of 2012, The opportunity for a third trip opened up.  I jumped at the opportunity, knowing this would be the trip to change everything.  This would be the trip where I finally took steps to overcome my fears, and truly follow God's calling for me to move to Haiti.

I had no idea just how BIG this trip would be!! I had no clue that God was going to bless my life in ways I never saw coming, before I even stepped foot back onto Haitian soil.  I knew God wanted me in Haiti, but the things he has done over the last few months have blown my mind while reassuring me, and my family, that this is most definitely the path I'm supposed to take.

Stay tuned, the best part is coming!

My Journey to Haiti: Part One

I've started, stopped, re-started, and deleted this post multiple times.  I can't seem to find the right words to do justice to this story.  To give enough praise and honor to God, who has orchestrated it all.  It's such a large story that I feel too small to write.

However, it is my story.  It's the story God has taken me through and continues to write.  It is my job to follow God's call, and share all of the spectacular things He has done in my life.  The whole point of this blog was to encourage, challenge, and inspire others through my story, and I know if I don't share the most important story of my life with you I would do more harm than good.  While I am not proud of all the steps that it took to get me to this point, they were all crucial and equally important.  God uses those hard, painful, and even shameful moments in our lives to shape and mold us into the people He wants us to be.  While I don't enjoy sharing my sinful moments, I know that God can use my story to mold other people, so I must be faithful in sharing the good, bad, and all the in between moments up to this point.

So here goes...Let me give you a little background of how I came to know the Lord, because lets be honest:  I wouldn't be here today, sharing my story, if that had never happened :)

When I was six years old, a close friend of mine shared the ABC's to becoming a Christian with me.  (A- Admit that you're a sinner and acknowledge that you need Christ to forgive you,  B- Believe that Jesus is God's son and he came to Earth to pay the penalty for your sins by dying on the cross, and C- Confess that Jesus is Lord and commit your life to Him.)  My friend had just finished VBS at her church, and was so excited to share this with me.

Now, I grew up in a loving Christian family who always took me to church.  Our family was there, no questions asked, every Sunday Morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night.  I was no stranger to the ABC's, but in that moment I finally got excited about it.  I remember jumping off the swings in our backyard, and running inside to tell my mom about my decision.  We met with our Pastor, and I got baptized shortly after. I remember how excited my family and friends were. I remember another close friend of mine getting saved around the same time, and the thought of being baptized together was so exciting for me.

Needless to say, I had a 6 year-old's mentality of what it meant to be a follower of Christ.  It's honestly hard for me to say if in that moment I truly understood how huge the commitment, I was making, really was.  I know my family and pastor would not have let me get baptized if they didn't believe I truly understood, but I genuinely don't remember what I knew at that age.

I do, however, know that from that moment on I looked at myself as a Christian.  I remember always making it a point to tell my friends about my beliefs.  I loved being "the Christian girl" in my group of friends.  It was something I took pride in.

And then, high school came.  Oh high school....the four years of my life I regret the most.

High School is when I truly lost myself.  I got in a very unhealthy relationship (which I was completely blind to at the time),  I pushed my parents, family, and friends away in every unthinkable way.  All I cared about then, was myself, and that relationship.  Anything that got in the way was simply unacceptable, and I did whatever possible to remove the hurdle.  I get knots in my stomach just thinking back at all of the horrible things I did and said, to so many people back then, that I truly loved and cared about.  If I could redo anytime in my life, it would be that time.

I am not proud of those years.  I ruined so many relationships, hurt so many people, lost track of all things good and Godly, and totally lost myself along the way.  I had fallen so off course with where I wanted my life to be, that it honestly, felt impossible to repair.

I still claimed to be a Christian during that time, and always made it a point to tell my friends.  I tried to justify my sinful actions, and make excuses to hide them.  I had gotten so far off course from what it meant to be a Christian, that it's a wonder my friends ever believed me when I said I was a Christian.

Luckily, we serve a great God.  One who NEVER gives up on his children, no matter how hard we try to push Him away, and no matter how many times we sin.

It wasn't until college that I finally stepped back and realized how far my life had gotten off course...

Stay tuned for parts 2 & 3.  This story was too big, and too long, for one post :)

In a Place of the Unknown

Anyone that knows me, even the slightest bit, knows how much I love to have a plan.  I like to make lists, have a schedule, and know what's coming around the next corner.  However, right now I am in a complete and unnerving place of the unknown.  All my life I've had this "ideal plan" for my life.  A step-by-step manual if you will.  You know, the typical go to school (elementary, middle, high school), pick a college, get into college, choose a degree, graduate with that degree, find a job, fall in love, get married, have kids...so on and so forth.

While this little path I had planned out went pretty smooth all the way through graduation, I am at a huge pivotal spot in my life right now.  I could go anywhere with this degree, but finding jobs has been such a battle.  Even more so, landing the job after an interview has proven to be more difficult.  The hardest part however, is the waiting and not knowing.  The doing your absolute best but not really having any clue as to how you did, if they liked you, or if you'll get the position.  On top of all of that, me being the dreamer that I am, I get hooked to the idea of these positions.  I start day dreaming up ideas of where it could take me, the possibility of getting an apartment, the new adult tasks in life I'll be taking on, etc.  While that may seem all fine and dandy, it makes the waiting and not knowing that much harder.  My heart is invested in getting this position, but my brain keeps realizing that I truly have no stinkin' clue whether I'll actually get it or not.

I have no idea what tomorrow holds for me, let alone next week or next year.  Up until this point in my life, I've had a very specific schedule to follow (the school calendar).  I always knew what was next, what I had to do to be successful, and how to get through it.  That comfort zone is gone now, and I was not as prepared as I thought.  No one teaches or tells you how difficult the steps after college can be.  No one walks you through finding jobs, let alone how to be successful in your career.  No one can tell you what step to take next, or where the next path is going to lead.  No one really truly knows what tomorrow holds.

This is a scary thing for me.

Part of me wants to fight it and try to regain control, but the other part of me knows it's not possible.  This is the time I have to fully, 100%, put my faith in Christ and believe he will take care of it all.  Relinquishing this control is hard and the not knowing absolutely terrifies me.  I know it will all work out.  I can see from my past how incredible God's plans have been for my life.  I trust Him, but my heart is heavy tonight.

Mom for a week: Recap

Seeing as how it is currently 6:35am, I am clearly still on duty.  However, it's my last morning and since I have to wait up to make sure they get to school on time, I figured I'd be productive.  The week has been pretty good.  The only thing I haven't liked so far are these 6am mornings.

What I've learned:

1. I do not miss high school.  In the least!  I've been picking up Rebecca from Drivers Ed. each day this week, and while the first day was nostalgic, the next few simply assured me that I don't miss it.  I watched two boys yesterday have a rap competition.  Oh Northern...!  Apparently the white guy won, go figure!

2. Not only do I not miss high school, but I definitely do NOT miss homework!  I've been missing college a LOT the last few weeks, but after seeing posts on Facebook of people doing late night Norton runs, and watching Adam and Rebecca do their assignments, I'm quite content to be finished with that part of my life.  Ha!  No more papers for me!!!!!

3. I do not miss early mornings (even though my college mornings never started until at least 8).  It's been kind of funny this week.  I wake them up at 6 but no one really gets moving until 6:20.  I was telling my sister that I should just sleep in until 6:20 (for their benefit of course) and then wake them up, when she so graciously reminded me that I used to have to be woken up in spells like that.  Sorry mom for making you have to get up earlier just to call me all of those mornings, I've felt your pain this week! Besides that, I've just learned 6am is a terrible time for me to get up.  Hopefully no employer of mine will require this, for their benefit and mine.  I'm more of a 9 or 10 kind of gal!

4.  I actually kind of enjoyed making dinner for them this week.  At home, I normally would rather go grab a quick dinner than to stand over the stove and cook.  However, this week I've kind of enjoyed it. I think having a new audience, who appreciated my cooking, helped :)!

5. It's been fun getting to spend this extra time with my cousins this week.  I've always grown up going to my Grandma's house, and spending long school breaks or weekends, with the other side of my family there.  This is simply because she lives so far away that we have to make a long trip out of our visits.  Because of this however, I've gotten really close to the cousins on my dad's side of the family.  It's not that they are any more special, or that I love them any more than the other ones, we've just grown up spending so many nights and weekends together that it just happened.  I don't get to see everyone on my mom's side of the family as much, unfortunately.  We all live so close together that we can make our get togethers a day event, so we typically spend the holidays together.  It's been really fun getting to spend this extra time with Adam and Rebecca. It's felt like one of those weeks at grandma's with them.  I've really gotten to see their personalities and spend some quality time simply being their cousin this week.  It's been really fun!

6. This week has made me very grateful for all of the things moms do for us.  Like waking up at the crack of dawn to see us off to school, reminding us of all the little things (like progress reports and picture day envelopes, etc), making our lunches, cooking us dinner, helping with homework, rubbing our backs when we're sick, etc.  To all the moms, especially mine, all the things you do for us don't go unnoticed!  We as kids simply don't take time often enough to recognize them and thank you for being mom.  Love you mom!

7.  And finally, I love getting to go back to bed when they go to school!  I think I'll do that now!

Spring Cleaning Round 2

First off let me say that last night was a success!! We raised $300 which covered the last portion Cassie needed for her trip!  We were both excited to have that finished, and still have some extra to take with us to give to Dorothy!  Thank you so much to everyone who came out last night to support our trip, and thank you to everyone who has donated over the last few weeks!!  You all pulled through again and have blessed us beyond belief!

As for the spring cleaning, round two is about to begin around here.  You see I've become somewhat of a neat freak in the last few years.  I'm not sure exactly what got me to this point, but it's become an obsession.  I find myself getting anxious and uneasy when things are not clean and organized. I also love how I feel after it's done.  Organizing/cleaning is a very therapeutic activity for me and oh so rewarding; hince the round two of cleaning.  I did my first round in my college dorm, where I donated a lot of clothes, cleaned out unnecessary items, and then did some quick spot cleaning.  I already keep my room pretty clean and organized so it doesn't take much even on my "big" cleaning days. At home however, things are not quite kept to my standards. I told mom this would be the hardest thing about moving home and that she should expect some organizing projects to be in her very near future.  Areas that I don't see or deal with everyday like their bedroom or the office, don't bother me as much.  It's the main areas like the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room that are screaming my name!  I got my room all set up within the first 48 hours of being home. I can't sleep well when all of my stuff is in boxes scattered about throughout the house.  Then I organized my bathroom cabinets, the fridge, and the freezer.  On today's list is getting all of my stuff from the apartment that doesn't go in my bedroom, stored neatly upstairs in a designated spot for myself.  Then I'll be doing some vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, and possibly organizing the laundry room.  I only have a few items left to do in my room, like hook my TV up and find a place for my jewelry so I intend to do that today as well.  I'd love to get around to organizing mom's closet, but that may have to wait until tomorrow! Let the cleaning begin!

The View From Here: Spring Cleaning

While moving out is bittersweet this year, I absolutely love going through everything and cleaning out the things I don't need anymore.  For the last few hours I've been going through my closet, drawers, and supplies to de-clutter and cut out items I never use.  I've got the window open, fresh air coming in, some great music from my childhood playing, and stuff everywhere!!! However, I am done and feel 100% better!  The real packing process will begin tomorrow :)

 The basic necessity for any proper Spring cleaning.  Fresh air :)

 All of my design supplies/materials I don't need anymore.  I'll let Jessica shop before throwing them out.  Oh the perks of living with all upperclassmen! :)

The load of trash I was able to get rid of!

What's not seen (because I forgot to take a picture), is the tub of clothes I took downstairs to the donate pile.  I feel much more organized and clutter free now!!   

Study Break aka Procrastination

I should be studying for my final exam that I have to take tomorrow afternoon, but I can't seem to focus.  I presented my Senior Seminar project today and I am SOOOO very excited that I can't get my brain to understand that I still have one more exam to take before college is truly over.

Did I just say over?   Weird.

I felt such a great sense of pride today as I walked out of the presentation room.  That is the last project I'll have to present here at HPU.  Today is the last time I have to walk into Norton Hall to do any type of work.  Today I finished my interior design degree.  Can you say crazy/the most exciting day ever?!?

I honestly didn't think this day would come.  But I made it, and I can officially say I survived design school!   And since I am so eagerly looking for another procrastination method, I'll post some pictures from my senior seminar project for you to enjoy!

This is the building I was asked to design for my Senior Seminar project.  It sits downtown in High Point, NC in the center of the furniture market area.  It is 8 stories high with a basement below.  I was asked to propose a design that would allow this building to become the New School of Art & Design for High Point University.

 This is a view looking into the space that I made into a gallery for the New School of Art & Design (see below).  It had floor to ceiling windows, lots of natural light, but very little display space to begin.

This is a view of one of the floors higher up in the building that was unfinished.

My proposed design for the 2nd floor of this building.  This floor houses security offices, gaming studios, and graphic design studios.  There are also multi-use classrooms as well as a large locker room for students.

 My proposed design for the 3rd floor.  This is where you'll find the student lounge (see below) and photography classrooms.  There is one large darkroom as well as 6 individual darkrooms for students to use independently.

 My proposed design for the 5th floor.  This is where the Interior Design studios will be located, as well as two large critique rooms and two material resource rooms for students.

 Above is a rendering of what I would propose the lobby to look like for the New School of Art & Design.  I designed a custom fountain that sits under a large and beautiful crystal chandelier.  On either side there are large glass doors leading you into the gallery and retail space.

 A rendering of what I would propose the gallery look like.  Those are curved moveable wall systems that will allow for various art displays to be in the space.  They are covered in bold beautiful fabrics by Knoll that I am absolutely in love with!

A rendering of the student lounge.  All of the seating is moveable to allow students to work collaboratively and have a space to come to relax.  There is a large kitchen area in the back equipped with snacks, coffee machines, and a refrigerator for all of the late nights! The furniture is also covered in the same fabrics as seen in my gallery space to add a pop of color.

 Perspective of what the retail store would look like.  I chose to put in a 24-hour access store for students to buy and have access to all of their daily project needs.  No more late night Hobby Lobby runs!

And then lastly, this is an axonometric view (aka looking down into the space) of the first floor.  This allows you to see how the lobby, retail area, and gallery are laid out in the space.

While I am very glad that this project is over, I also really enjoyed getting to work on this type of space.  What you see above is only a small portion of my project, but I think they give the best insight into my design.  I can't believe my last project here at HPU is done.  Hope you enjoyed it!

As Promised...Picture Overload

Earlier this week I showed you the before pictures of the showroom I helped setup this market.  Well, as promised, here are the after pictures.  I can't take credit for the furniture selection, placement, or fabric applications in the showroom, but I did help unwrap, position, accessorize, and light all of the areas.  Take a look:

 First view when you walk into the showroom.

 Around the corner from the main door.

 One of my favorite areas in the showroom. The Gemini sectional with some great new fabrics and bold colors.  Oh, and did I mention how much I LOVE the little round chairs called Le Pouf.  They are so fun and oh so comfortable!

 The first area in the showroom I helped setup.  Funny thing is I was just telling my aunt Missy that I wasn't sure denim was in right now.....clearly I was wrong.  Ha!

Lounge and bar setup in the front of the showroom. I love all of the colors used this market!

The Ava sofa.  My absolute favorite piece this market.  I love the clean lines and shape of this piece.  I've always wanted a beige sofa and I've fallen in love with this one!  There was another sectional in the back that was more plush and comfortable, but I just love the shape of this piece!

Debra did a great job selecting pieces and fabrics for this market.  I'm so blessed to have had the opportunity to work with such a great lady and get some hands-on experience with design.  It challenged and inspired me to push my abilities and not just go for the ordinary.  I love getting these opportunities and truly enjoyed this market more than any before.  I'm a little sad that it's the last market I'll work as a student, but I look forward to coming back hopefully as a buyer next year!

Thanks again to Debra Venti for allowing me to have the opportunity to work with her this market!  You are an incredible designer and woman!  Thanks for all you've done for me these last few markets!

Life Update

It is 6:40pm on April 19,2012.  I am currently in Norton, doing nothing other than waiting for our Steakhouse reservation at 7.  I have completed, PDFed (yes I made that up), and submitted the last phase of my Senior Seminar project.  Aka I'm basically DONE!!!!!!!!!!! Ha!  And it's an entire day early (I think that's a first!)

While this day has been nothing short of chaotic, it has turned out to be a pretty great day.  I got some training in for Market, took a final exam, presented my portfolio, and submitted my project.  I'd call that a successful day!  Not only that but I also realized this morning that this is my last day of class.  Ever. 

Try to wrap your head around that for a moment......I know I can't either! It's absolutely insane! I never in a million years thought this day would come.  I still have a few minor things to do for my portfolio class, I have to present my Senior Seminar project, and take my sociology final exam, but basically I'm done with college.  Insane.

On another note, I have spent the last week working very busily in the Lazar Showroom helping set up for market. As you may know from past posts, I've worked in the Lazar showroom for the past three markets assisting the Florida sales rep with his clients.  This time, I contacted Debra Venti who is in charge of all of the fabric selections, applications, and setup for market, and asked to be a part of the premarket.  It has been an incredibly long week, but I have absolutely loved getting to see this side of market!! This is one of the first times I have actually gotten to have hands-on experience with design.  I was a bit hesitant and unsure of my abilities at first, but once we got into it I got really comfortable with things.  I learned floral arranging is not my strong suit, but I love to accessorize. Design is definitely not a glamorous job, but it is so rewarding! I learned a lot and took a lot of inspiration from Debra and how she set things up.  It's true, only 10% of design is taught in the classroom, the rest you learn in the field!

When we started the showroom basically looked like this, except it was completely empty minus a few tables and lamps:

As we worked and unwrapped all of the furniture that slowly came in, the showroom began to look a little more like this:

With a lot of this:

Sadly, that's only the wrappings from about 20 of the 240 pieces of furniture we unwrapped this week.  I told you, it's not glamorous!

For a while there, Debra was worried the showroom would not get done, but we did the entire space in 5 days! Kind of crazy, but so rewarding to see!  You'll have to wait to see the after pictures until later this week :)!

On a completely other random note, I figured I should update about my graduation challenge....or lack there of.  With the last phase of my project being due today, finals right around the corner, and market starting I have had very little time to workout.  Plus when there was time, I was so tired from running around High Point all day that I was just plain to tired and lazy to go workout. Does helping unwrap and move 200 pieces of furniture count at all?? I know, I know, those are just excuses.  I'm letting myself fall back into my lazy ways, but I'll get back on track after market!  I had hit the 10 pound mark, but unfortunately I'm back to more like 8 pounds lost now.  That's still progress, but not nearly where I wanted to be at this point. I just need to make the time to go workout and not let tiredness be an excuse anymore.  This summer Cassie and I will be workout buddies, so I'm hoping that will keep me motivated.  I can do this, I just have to put in the effort!

Speaking of tired, I think I will head to bed now.  Seeing as how I started this blog post at 6:40 and it is now after 11pm.  My first day of real market begins tomorrow!  Time to bring in the money!!

Goodnight!

Thursday Thoughts: One Month

In exactly one month from right this minute, I will be an official college graduate.  I will probably be packing up the final things in my room, eating lunch with my family, and heading home.  It doesn't seem possible.  As I worked in Norton last night finishing up the phase 4 part of my Senior Seminar project I just sat in disbelief.  This is the last project I will ever work on in Norton.  The last rendering i'll do at the drafting tables, the last all nighters I'll pull in the CAD lab, the last nights of craziness with the design girls. The last everything.  It's such a bittersweet thing to take in.  As much as I hate working late in Norton and the stress surrounding it, I love all the times I've had in there.  I've loved all of our 2am Diner runs, laughing until we cry, the breakdowns, the dancing, the singing, the joy of turning in projects, and everything else that has taken place in that building.  I've met all of my best friends here at HPU in that building.  I'm living with my roommates now because of design.  It ties us together and unites us all in a way that cannot be understood without experiencing it first hand.  While I will not miss the stress I am going to miss HPU and Norton.

It just does not seem possible that I'm graduating college.  I feel like I'm still the sophomore sitting at the drafting tables thinking there is absolutely no possible way I'm going to graduate in this major.  I remember watching the seniors over the last two years work on their senior seminar and now here I stand.  The senior working on my own final project.  It just doesn't seem real.  Meredith and I keep asking what do we do next?  How do we go about life with no more school?  I've been in school for practically my whole life, what's next?  Are we really ready to be out in the real world and take it on ourselves?  I'm not sure.

I have absolutely no clue what's going to happen next.  All of the plans I came up with in my mind have been rearranged and flipped upside down.  It's no longer up to me where I want to go next, I have to trust God will put me where He wants me.  Right now I believe that's in Haiti.  As I've said before I have no clue how to go about that, but I'm following God's call and going where He leads.  I know it will all come together.  I know He has a plan that will blow my wildest expectations. I know He knows my future and will piece it together perfectly.  I may be scared, but I know He will take care of me.  So for now, while I may not know what happens after May 5th, I know right now my job is to finish this project and graduate strong.  Even though I'm a little terrified.


For now, this is my job:

The last hand renderings I'll do in Norton....crazy.

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."   Jeremiah 29:11

Birthday Festivities

I turned 22 this week.  22!!! How is that possible??  Anyways, it has been a great weekend.  Three of my best friends from home came up to spend the weekend and we went out with my friends from school.  Friday night we all went out for dinner and bowling.  Saturday the guys and Jess played some basketball while Cassie and I caught up, and then we all went to the Steakhouse (they were a bit jealous of our wonderful school).  We finished the night with a swim in the hot tub, a half game of phase 10, and a movie. It was a lot of fun! I am so blessed to have such amazing friends!  They showered me with love and filled the weekend with lots of laughs.  I love them all and cannot thank them enough for such a wonderful birthday!

Here are some photo highlights of the weekend.

Love these guys!

 All of my favorite ladies!

 A little goofing off.

 And a little more.

 You can't visit HPU and not explore the Dream Big Chairs.

 Steakhouse.

 Only my cousin.  

 Best friends.

Life and Graduation Challenge: Weeks 3 & 4 Update

Sorry it's taken me so long to post an update.  I was on spring break last week, which was heavenly, but I've been struggling to get back into the routine here at school.  This is always the hardest readjustment time for me.  Spring break is just long enough to give you a taste of summer, that it makes it so incredibly difficult to come back.  This year that seems to be proving even truer for me.  We only have 53 days left until graduation (yes that includes weekends) and lets just say senioritis has kicked in full force.  While graduating and moving into the real world is scary, I am so ready to be done with the school work aspect of college.  I cannot write another paper, do another project, give another presentation, or sit through another 3 hour studio course.  I'm plain burnt out.  Unfortunately, I have to push through for another 53 days.  I have one major paper due on Thursday, 2 tests, my senior seminar project/presentation, my portfolio and then I am outta here!  I just REALLY need some motivation.  I need summer.  Or just college without classwork!

I can do this.

As for after graduation, I'm still kind of unsure where I will be working.  I will be shadowing the position I interviewed for a while back, sometime in the next week or two.  While I'm excited to see things moving forward, I have to honestly say it's still not quite sitting right with me.  I'm not sure what it is, but I don't have a peace about taking that job. I'm hoping things will clear up for me after I shadow them.  Luckily I've been offered a position at our Church's day camp, which I am SO excited about.  Either way I'll have a job for the first few months of summer.  As of now, unless something comes up, I think I'll be working at camp over the summer while actively looking for a full time design position.  This job searching thing is stressful! I could really seriously use your prayers.  I also still have the biggest calling on my heart to do full or long term missions in Haiti.  Honestly that scares the ever loving crap out of me, but it's a calling that has been on my heart for three years now.  The other day at church I was brought to tears at the push God was giving me to go forth with it.  I know He wants me there but I don't know if it is now.  And if it is, I have no idea where to start, how to raise funds, where to go, what I'd do there.  There are so many unanswered questions, and the thought of living in a different Country is terrifying (hence the tears).  I just really need all the prayers I can get right now. I want to follow God's calling and I need all the guidance I can get.

As for my graduation challenge update, I am excited to share that after weighing myself yesterday, I have lost another 4 pounds!!!! That puts me at 6 pounds lost in four weeks!!  I was so excited when I saw that number on the scale.  I didn't lose many inches this week, but I did see a 1" loss on my stomach.  So exciting I tell you!!

I've found exercising is becoming less of a chore and more of something I enjoy now.  There was a point during spring break where I didn't work out for two days, and I could really see and feel it's effect.  I got really irritable and anxious after not working out for two days.  Luckily, it only took 40 minutes at the pool to fix that!  I find it hard to work out at home because I'm not a member at a gym, but I still managed to make it work even through spring break.  I will, however, have to get a gym membership once the summer begins.  I'm just excited to see the pounds shedding off.  That's some great motivation! As for the eating portion, I have done really well at cutting all bread out of my diet.  This was not nearly as difficult as I expected.  I am actually having more trouble cutting out fried foods.  I didn't realize how many fried options there are on campus, that can be difficult to avoid.  I'm trying my best, but some days I still give in.  I'm working on it!

Well for now, I have to go finish this paper.  The last long paper of my life.  I cannot wait to have it done!

Loving the pool

Yesterday was the first time I've gone to swim laps in probably over a year.  Lucky for us, we have a great indoor pool on campus built for swimming laps that we can use year-round.  I've been wanting to go, but kept using the excuse that I didn't want to go alone as a way to put it off.  So yesterday when Meredith mentioned wanting to go swimming I jumped on the opportunity.  We did have to go buy me a different tankini top for my bathing suit, seeing as how my current one is strapless, and a pair of goggles before we could go though.  It was a little expensive, but I told her and myself that we'd go enough times to make the cost worth it.  We figured the goggles were $13 so we had to swim at least 13 times this semester.  Haha I actually enjoyed it so much that I think we'll end up going way more than that.  Also lucky for me, Meredith has swam her entire life.  I know how to swim freestyle but that's about it.  She was able to show me some new strokes and tools to use in the pool for different exercises which will help a lot.

My favorite was probably the back stroke, and while I'm working on the breast stroke my legs seem to have a mind of their own.  She also showed me these cool things you put on your hands while swimming for strengthening exercises.  I did around 20-30 laps yesterday (I didn't keep a close count), and I can definitely feel it in my arms today!  I kind of like being sore though because it shows me I've done something and it's working.  As much as I like using the elliptical, swimming added a new and fun twist to exercising.  I had forgotten how much fun it was, and it's such a great workout!  Hopefully in a few weeks I'll be more efficient at these different strokes and my stamina will increase.  I had hoped to go swimming today but I couldn't fit it in with my class schedule.  Instead I plan to go to the gym after my last class today before hitting the road.

I'm going home for the weekend, which will also add a twist to my exercising routine.  We used to be members at a gym, but I think it ended.  Instead I think I'll either go up to Northern (my high school) and run on the track, or run through a neighborhood by our house with Coconut.  I think hims would enjoy that!  Or maybe Erin's gym will let a visitor come for free with her?  I'm not sure yet, but I'll figure something out.  Well that's all for now, I've got to head to class here in a few minutes, I just wanted to give a little update.

I plan to be back in the pool Monday afternoon, and I think more people are going to come with us this time!  Maybe everyone (including me) just needed a little push to get things started.

Nontraditional Celebration

As you all know, (and if you don't then simply sign on to Facebook), today is Valentines day.  Oh the dreaded day people either love or hate.  So much pressure is put on guys to buy flowers, candy, etc to impress their lady.  At the same time you've got girls swooning over their gifts or crying in the corner because they have no Valentine. It's actually kind of sad.  Some girls who have dates but don't get a gift, pretend the day doesn't matter even though we all know she's secretly ticked.  Or you've got the girls who post their gifts onto the web for all to see and brag.  There are a few girls who are genuinely surprised when they receive a gift and are truly appreciative, but not many.  Most girls simply want an excuse to brag about their boyfriend and get flowers.  Yes, I'm guilty of wanting flowers sent to me, but I realized today how overrated the whole thing is.  We walked into the UC this morning and the concierge desk was COVERED in flower arrangements.  If the balloons didn't say I love you, you would have thought you were at a funeral home.  As much as I love having flowers sent to me, when everyone else is getting them too it's not as special.  I want to get flowers on the unexpected days when my boyfriend wants to show his love, not when he's told he "has" to send them.  Kind of cheesy if you ask me. While I wouldn't turn down a valentines day gift, I would still prefer to have a guy express his love for me in a more unique way.  I know this day is to celebrate love, but shouldn't that be celebrated every day, not just once a year?  I'm just saying!

So I spent my Valentines day in an nontraditional manner.  My day started with classes and a test, but I enjoyed my afternoon with a trip to the gym, shower, and a return to class.  I had dinner with a friend, Jessica Deen, at McAlister's (we're fancy I tell you!), and then we watched one of our favorite shows together.  I finished off my night hanging out with my roommates, laughing until my cheeks hurt, and enjoying being single on Valentines day!  While I didn't necessarily mesh with the norms surrounding valentine's day, it turned out to be pretty great.  I mean hey I had a hot date, a good meal, lots of laughs, a comfy bed to crawl in tonight, and best part: there were no strings attached!  I'd call it a great day!

Hope your Valentines day was as fun as mine :)

The View from Here: Problem solved

Yes ladies and gentlemen, we have found a solution to the problem in my last post.  No High Point did not come seal our windows (even though I wish they would), and our room still reads 68 degrees, but thank God for Jessica and her heater! I've got a lot of studying to do for my Sociology test tomorrow which means I'll be sitting at my desk for an unreasonable amount of time today.  Seeing as how my window is right beside me, this temperature issue is quickly becoming a problem. But Jess came to my rescue and now I can be nice and toasty while studying.  I'm still wearing multiple layers and covered in a blanket, but it feels so much nicer in here now :)!  Thanks for the heater Jess!

I'm alive

Yes, I am alive!  Sorry the blog posting has been nonexistent here lately.  I've been getting back into the swing of things at school, trying to get organized, motivated, and on track for the semester.  While I'm not particularly loving my Sociology class, I'm trying to make the best of it.  This is the last general education class I will EVER have to take.  Let me just tell you, that is an AMAZING feeling!  The last class I'll have to write a paper for, the last non-major-related education...amazing I tell you!  Amazing!  Other than that the semester seems like it should be fairly smooth.  I would say easy, but well that would just not be wise.

Our big project this year is very organized and fairly straight forward.  We are designing a building downtown into a proposed new school of art and design for HPU.  I'm actually pretty excited about it because we get to design our dream learning environment.  There have been various things I would have liked to have or changed over the last four years, and the opportunity to propose those options is really fun!  While I don't think High Point will choose any of our designs or actually buy this building, we still get the opportunity to get our ideas out there and possibly have them incorporated into a future building.  Norton has simply outgrown the art majors and we need a bigger space.  Nido will most likely build a new building, but having the school of art and design located in the heart of Market would be invaluable to us design majors.  We'll see what comes of it, but I'm excited for the project and ready to dive in and get started.

For now, life is pretty much the same as last semester.  I'm helping Jessica Deen lead a bible study on campus, which I'm really excited about.  This Wednesday will be my first night teaching.  Fingers crossed it will go well (could use your prayers!).  I'm also job searching full force now.  If I can find something in the DC/Virginia area, Jessica and I are going to get an apartment together.  I had been looking in North Carolina, but so many designers have told me to go to D.C.  Honestly, living with Jessica sounds really fun and after visiting VA I got really excited about possibly living there. I don't know where God is going to take me, but I just keep trekking along and getting my resume out everywhere possible.

My goal for the semester is to enjoy every minute of my last semester and finish with a bang!  Graduation is like 95 days away! Crazzzy!

I promise I'll get back to my regular blogging very soon!

Home

We made it!  After a long 12 hours of traveling and waiting in airports, Cassie and I made it home!  Our flights all went smoothly and our layover times went by quickly.  We almost made a huge mistake by not getting our bags to recheck after going through customs here, but we caught ourselves and solved that problem.  We really did not hit any delays or problems and our bags made it safely.  Thank you Lord!!!

Our trip was absolutely amazing.  As I sit at home tonight, I can't help but miss Haiti already.  Don't get me wrong, I love being home and am glad to be back, but I do miss it.  Those kids grab your heart in a way you can't imagine without experiencing it.  Haiti really is a beautiful country and the work Dorothy is doing is incredible.  I'm still trying to figure out God's plan for my life, which I think was His sole intention for this trip.  While I don't know everything yet or fully understand it all, I think Haiti will be in His future plans for me.  I don't know what He wants me to do there, how long He wants me there, or anything like that, but God has put a special place in my heart for Haiti.  It won't be long before Cassie and I both go back!

A little update on Dorothy's house:  We went house hunting with her on Monday and found a very nice place she could use.  It would allow the kids to have their own floor with separate spaces for boys and girls which she needs.  It also allowed her to have her own little apartment like area as well as a large gathering space for guests of the kids to play.  I think we all thought she would be moving there the next day.  When we called the owner however, he wanted $48,000 a year for the house aka $4000 a month, which was outrageous!  Dorothy could only afford to do $1000 a month and he was not having it.  Needless to say we all got a little stressed, especially Dorothy, trying to figure out what to do within the next five days.  Later that afternoon Gladys, the landlord for Dorothy's current house stopped by.  She had met with the Mayor and he agreed to not tear into her home, only to remove the exterior surrounding wall.  While this still means some light construction, Dorothy and the kids can stay in their house!!!  They will make one wall of the house part of the new exterior wall, which will mean losing a few windows and some outside space, but that's only a small price to pay.  I cannot tell you how excited we, and especially Dorothy, were to get this news.  She can stay in her house!! Praise God!! Thank you all for your prayers, God was truly watching over this situation for her!

For now, I am enjoying the amenities of home.  A hot shower was incredible tonight and I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight.  I've got to head back to school tomorrow, but I'm enjoying my last little bit of time off.  Final semester of college here I come!

Will you please keep my job interview in your prayers?  This could be a huge opportunity and I could use all the prayers I can get.

Thank you all again for your support and prayers for our trip. We could not have done it without you!

Pictures from our trip to come soon!!

Megan Steele

So I realized the other day, I never finished my blog posts about my best friends.  I was on a roll for a while, but I forgot about it, and never went back to finish.  So without further ado, let me finish telling you about my best friends.

Megan Steele and I met sophomore year during drafting week, just like the rest of my design friends.  That was truly a life-changing week for me.  Although it was difficult, it's where I made my true friends and where the majority of our good stories come from.  I had no idea that week that I'd be making friends for life, or how much they would come to mean to me in only a few short years.  Megan and I spent a lot of time together the next few months and became really good friends.  You see, we have the same work method and always ended up doing our all-nighters together.  We got really close because of that, and she has remained one of my best friends ever since.  Here are the things I love about Megan:

1. She is always up for a late night stay in Norton with me.
2. She has incredible rendering skills, especially her wood recipes.
3. She's my best procrastination buddy.
4. She can't BS Jesus.
5. She is always up for sharing a drafting or CAD table with me (usually while not doing work).
6. She can walk in stilettos better than anyone I know.
7. Her hair and makeup is always done perfectly, even after pulling an all-nighter.
8. She is always dressed to the T.
9. She can say "so sick" in about 20 accents and volumes.
10. She is a perfectionist to her core.
11. She will redo a floor plan because she wrote carport 'ugly'.
12. Her dad looks like the Prince of Egypt.
13. Her car's name is Brody.
14. She is a tan goddess, always 10 shades darker than me.
15. She started and understands the quote "you're gonna be a momma."
16. She's moving to Florida, so I always have an excuse to go visit the warm state.
17. She will make a Diner run with me anytime.
18. She is our 5th roommate in room 409.
19. She loves and appreciates my cooking/sweet tea making skills more than anyone.
20. I will be adopting her baby if it comes out as a ginger.
21. She will wait until 8pm and run across campus barefoot with me and Meghan to get steakhouse.
22. She makes the best sounds while working (I'd spell them if I could figure out how).
23. She's oddly terrified of whales.
24. She loves zebra print and anything with crystals.
25. She loves making boards as much as I do.

Sorry your post came so late Megan!  But I love you and I'm so happy to call you my friend.  Thank you for all you do for me and always being there! There have been so many nights that I could not have made it through without you! You're the best, and I will miss you SO much when you move to Florida, but I promise to stay in touch and come see you at least once a year! Love you love bug!

And Happy Birthday! Sorry I'm not there to celebrate with you, but we will celebrate when I get back!!! Love youuu!!!!

Wrenn Project

As promised, below are a few pictures of my most recent project.  Our goal was to redesign the admissions building (Wrenn) on campus to propose a possible renovation.  Dr. Qubein would like to build a new admissions building but because this is the most historic building on campus, they wanted to see what solutions we could come up with.  I kept the original building but proposed a tear down of the existing addition as well as proposed a new addition plan.  We have worked on this project all semester covering everything from existing plans, new plans, furniture selection, budget, perspective and elevation drawings, etc.  Below are pictures of my presentation posters.  Uploading the 25 plans I drew would shut down my blog, but I have a copy of them if you'd like to see them in person. I'm not sure how big I can get these pictures to post, but I also have large copies of those if you'd like to see them in person. Hope you enjoy!


This is the existing Wrenn building.  Unfortunately I could not find a picture that shows the addition on the back.

I present this on Monday to Andy Bills and other High Point Admissions employees.  I'm excited to show off all my hard work this semester.

Thursday Thoughts: I made it!

That's right, I made it through the semester!!  Sorry for my last post (now deleted), that was embarrassing.  I never have breakdowns like that and simply needed to vent.  Luckily mom was there to help.  She always gets me through those times.  Nonetheless, I made it.  My Wrenn project is turned in, my detailing project is almost done, and my one big final is tomorrow at 1:30.  I wasn't sure I'd see this moment but here it is and I'm still in one piece. Thank you Lord for getting me through this! Tomorrow I plan to celebrate and relax.  I cannot wait to have a day with absolutely no stress.  A day where I can sleep in, enjoy the sunshine, maybe do a little Christmas shopping, stay up late, hang out with friends, and do it all over again the next day.

One more semester of college! Wow!  The job search will pick up again over Christmas break and fingers crossed I'll find something.  For now, I've got to do a little studying and finish up my detailing project.  Thank you all for your support during this week.

I'll upload pictures of my project later. Stay tuned.

Update on Haiti:  Cassie and I both have all our money in!  We are set and ready to go.  We even got a little extra to give to Dorothy as a Christmas gift. Thank you all so very much for your support.  Only 19 days until we will be in Haiti!  I cannot wait!!

Will you please keep our trip in your prayers?  And will you also please keep Todd, his family, and friends in your prayers as he is away at training?  Thanks again!