IBIZA!!

I am so excited to be going to Spain! The boat will dock in Barcelona and we will stay there for 2 days, and then for the last 2 days my friends and I are flying to the island Ibiza! Its home to some of the best night clubs in the world, so that should be an experience! We can't wait!

Here are a few pictures of the island and area we are staying, so fun!!

One Month and One Day

Thats all the time there is until I set sail from the Bahamas. I cannot wait! Its about time I get more serious about planning all of the excursions and fun things I am going to do while I am abroad. I've spent countless hours looking at places to visit and things to see but haven't actually made any set plans. I think I am going to try and be spontaneous for most of the trip, but since we sail straight from the Bahamas to Barcelona I think its probably a good idea to have some set plans for Spain! At this point, I have no idea what to do while in Spain. Possibly go wine tasting one day? That sounds like something fun to do there...so many possibilities!

Now when it comes to getting ready to actually go on this trip, I've got that covered! I have spent way to much money shopping for dresses and shoes and all kinds of things I "need" for Europe! I haven't wuite figured out how I am going to fit everything in my suitcase yet, but I suppose I will manage. 

I cannot wait for June 17 to be here!! 

Just some random thoughts

This year has flown by incredibly fast. Its hard to believe I have officially finished 2 years of college. Its amazing how quickly time moves and how you just never feel quite like your as old as you really are. Saying I am 20 years old just sounds rediculous! I remember when I thought that 20 was so old and so mature, yet I hardly feel like a real adult at 20. Not to say I am immature or childish, but I truly just can't believe I have lived long enough to be 20 years old!

As the school year comes to an end, I have been thinking alot about what I am going to do after I graduate. I'll be graduating in December of 2012 which is quite awhile away, but I can't help but begin planning for life after college. I've spent a good amount of time these past few days researching graduate programs all over the country. So far, I think I have decided that I would like to go to either USC, Vanderbilt, University of Georgia, or UNC Chapel Hill. Now those are all quite rigorous schools so lets hope I did as well on all my finals as I needed to! In just a year from now, I will be beginning the application process for graduate school. Crazy!

Now that summer is finally here, I can officially start spending all my free time looking at places I want to visit while I am studying abroad, fun things to do, and places to stay! As I decide what I am going to do, I will post pictures, information, etc. on my blog! My voyage departs in only 41 days and I cannot wait!

Semester at Sea Summer 2011 Voyage

In just 6 short weeks, I will be setting sail for what I expect to be one of the best summers of my life. I will board the MV Explorer on June 17 in Nassua, The Bahamas and set sail for a two month journey. While I'm on board, I will be taking 3 classes for credits toward my degree. I am absolutely ecstatic to begin this adventure. 

My itinerary is: 

Bahamas: June 17

Spain: June 27- June 30

Italy: July 2- July 8

Croatia: July 11- July 14

Greece: July 17- July 21

Bulgaria: July 24- July 27

Turkey: July 29- Aug 2

Morocco: Aug- Aug 12

Boston: Aug 20

I posted pictures a couple weeks ago of these countries when I was procrastinating on homework and getting excited for my trip! 

Here are a few pictures of the ship: 

Pretty amazing! I am counting down the days until I get to begin this amazing journey, and then this blog will become a travel blog full of all the amazing things I get to do and see while I am abroad! 

God is SO good!!

The past year has been a tough one financially. I have had so many uncertainties about how I was going to afford to finish college. I had always dreamed of studying abroad and when I didn't recieve as much financial aid as I had anticipated, I was so discouraged. Thankfully, Semester at Sea reevaluated my need for financial aid and gave me a scholarship that is making it possible for me to take part in the program.

All I can say is God truly answers prayers. I have been praying that He would provide for me and take away the stress and worry I have felt over the past year. Today, my prayers were answered even more. I received my financial aid package from Baylor and was overjoyed to find out that I had received a $6,000 scholarship, loan money, and work study. This means that I can stop worrying about how I will finish paying for school and I can fully concentrate on my studies and serviing God. 

I honestly do not even have words for how grateful I am right now. I am truly amazed at how God answers our prayers. All of the stress and anxiety I have felt lately concerning finances has been lifted and was completely unnecessary. By turning all of my anxieties over to the Lord, I have been put at ease and blessed tremendously. 

Here are just a few of my favorite verses that have really touched my heart throughout these past months.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," delares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity." Jeremiah 29:11-14

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation. Psalm 91:14-16

If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 31-39

California Dreaming

4 finals
8 days
that is all that is holding me back from being in California

I cannot wait...
to be home
to see family
to see friends
to eat In-N-Out
to lay on the beach
to make late night Yogurtland runs with my best friend
to relax.

Where has all the time gone

Time goe by so fast these days.
This picture was taken over ten years ago, how is that possible? I can't wrap my mind around it.
It seems like I was dreaming about what high school would be like just a few years ago, and now I am more than halfway finished with college.
One and a half more years here at Baylor and then I will be a college graduate. That is pretty crazy to think about.
Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself that life isn't always going to be this way.
College is a bit of a fantasy world where you get a small taste of real life but don't have to deal with all the hassles and trials of being completely on your own.
As much as I sometimes dread being a student and taking finals and doing presentations and all that comes along with that title, its actually quite a blessing.
I think I am going to just savor the time I do have left and make the most of every moment.