It's here!

My blog for MMC 2100 has begun. The challenge? Quite simple really, a 5 post blog detailing the reporting process for our first ever self-chosen story. Each post must have 4-8 journalistic paragraphs and be informative, effective, and professional. They also have to maintain a "Storytelling" feel. In addition, I must include at least one photo, with a caption. All this to be completed by next Monday at 12 p.m. Not tough, right?
Right.
So, dear reader(s), without further ado, I give to you, The Beat.
I may change the name later to something less common, most likely I will use the name of my first post. Hope you enjoy!

Also, I will be maintaining this blog after the due date, so keep reading for UF/College/Life news updates.

Recollections

I spent five weeks traveling Europe this summer. A friend and I went online, got a train pass for four countries, got a plane ticket, and just went. Each weekend was spent with his aunt and uncle in Switzerland. Our first day there, we spent resting to ease out of the jet lag phase. I rested by drinking sparkling water, eating my Twizzlers, reading, and writing...all the while sitting in a hammock in the most beautiful backyard I've seen in quite some time.
School is crazy this semester. I've been so busy and haven't had any time to sit down and enjoy a book, a drink, and just write my heart out. Sadly enough, the workload will not ease up until Fall semester ends.
I miss the simple summer days.

On the upside of things, I'm finally taking steps in becoming a real reporter. My media writing class is so tough, but we've been assigned our first ever self-chosen stories. The only parameter given was that the story had to be Environmental, Health, or Science. From there on the reporting, interviewing, writing, editing, and finding somewhere to publish the story is up to us.
Terrifying? Yes. This is real stuff here-for a class, yes- but we are seeking official interviews, which means important people in our topic area. Interviewing them one on one? Oi Vey.
Anyways I'm going to be trying to get the blog going again, but I want to clean it up some. I can't seem to get my layout to go away, and I will be focusing on photography more.

That's all :)

Stay tuned for links to my news blog!

I think too often I worry

I imagine they won't like me after I'm through.

You know when God puts something on your heart? When you know without a doubt that there is something He wants you to do, wants you to say...something important, life changing, and hard to swallow? I have a lot on my mind. A lot of words to set free, choices to make, relationships to alter...

and I know

they aren't going to listen

and I know

things will never be the same

and I know

it's going to hurt to end it

and I know

it will all be okay

Why would God put something in your heart, something genuine that honors Him, if He didn't want it to be there? Why would He reveal to me truths I am not meant to use? Give me dreams I am not meant to follow? Is my passion, after 19 years, truly empty? There is no way. No way.

My blog has been dry lately, as have my thoughts. I am running in circles. A bad record stuck on the worst song. And I keep telling myself I like the way it sounds. 

What amazes me, is how easily I forget that one thing. That GOD is ALL I need.

Funny world we live in, and evil to boot. 

It's so easy for my voice to get drowned out in the church I am at. Nobody does it on purpose, we just have a lot of opinions. I let theirs overpower mine, and I assume they are right. But you know what? I am a Christian too. I have a real relationship with God too. Why can't I be right?...To think that God would lead me this far for nothing...

I refuse.

Let me tell it to you straight. This ain't paradise, this is life. Humans are prideful, form opinions, and convictions, and stick with them, tooth and nail. I've been backing down all my life, letting other people figure out God for me. Think for me. But I have been learning on my own, and keeping that to myself. That is not the way it should be. Shouting from rooftops, climbing the mountains, jumping and dancing and running-now that's more like it. 

I miss being me.

I miss my God

Lately it has been tough, to live life without regrets. I've made some really stupid choices, that I am ashamed of. Truly ashamed. I have had regret before, but only a small amounts. I have never been ashamed. God is destroying me, and He will make me new. I cannot wait for that.

Until then? I will just keep running.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."-1 Corinthians 9:24-27