go mocs!

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so: UTC isn't exactly known as a basketball powerhouse, BUT we won the SoCon, and we're going to the NCAA tournament! unfortunately, we drew a 16-seed, and no such team has ever won a game in the tourney. however, i love march madness, and i'm a sucker for the underdogs, especially when they're in any way related to my life.

therefore, when i saw that someone else (jimmy fallon) shared my enthusiasm, i found it utterly hilarious. this is the video from the first night; even better was the following spot, when the roots serenaded a photo montage of our coach, john schulman, who is apparently "the don juan of the SoCon". hysterical. they're all on nbc.com if you are bored/wish to laugh a little.

and in the words of my professor dr. hanks:

wacca wacca wacca, 

go big mocca,

kick 'em in the buns big shoe!

is this real life?

for a couple days, i wasn't sure. spring break in LA with three of your best friends?? get the heck out of here. of course it was amazing.

thank goodness philip drove caroline to the airport, avoiding a severe traffic jam at LAX. i think i actually saw him physically restrain her from doing a tuck-and-roll out of the car when she saw the three of us on the sidewalk. there were hugs and crying and lots of girly smiling and staring at each other wondering: is this real life?

it was, and for several days, some of the best i've had in a long time. i don't think i realized how much i needed time with those three girls until i had it. how i am lucky enough to have friends like these in my life, i don't know, but i am surely grateful to the Lord for these three incredible blessings.

what did we do........ what did we NOT do? we had a list, which we accomplished (mostly), with a few substitutions/modifications: eat at a 24 joint (Mel's Diner), watch the sunrise (Griffith Park), watch the sunset (Venice Beach), go to Mosaic, get a henna tattoo (see above), bowling at Lucky Strike, sing "Shine On" loudly in the car, eat at Geoffrey's, make brownies and ice cream, and complete the..... challenge. i won, by the way, and someone owes me my prize. pay up, ladies. 

we also got to eat an incredible dinner at Bella with my dad, which is always a good time :)

as much fun as all that was, i think my favorite times were just sitting in caroline's apartment around a meal (that philip had probably made, thanks phil :)) and talking and laughing and just enjoying life with each other. it's cheesy, but we really are meant to be friends. something works when we're all together, and it's in those times that i truly know that the Lord has his hand in these friendships.

love you girls :) 

He's just that into you.

i've had some tough times in my life, and this past year has been a doozy. as much as i hate to admit it, i always come out the other side of these trials with a strength and a renewed sense of the power of the Lord. it's so trite, but so true, that God really does speak the loudest when we are our lowest. 

the next passage is one that i've grown to rely on, and have recently appreciated that power of. if you know me at all, you'll see it too.

i will exalt you, O Lord,

for you lifted me out of the depths

and did not let my enemies gloat 

over me.

O Lord my God, i called to you for help

and you healed me.

O Lord, you brought me up from the grave,

you spared me from going down into the pit.

sing to the Lord,  you saints of his,

praise his holy name.

for his anger lasts only a moment,

but his favor lasts for a lifetime;

weeping may remain for a night,

but rejoicing comes in the morning.

when i felt secure, i said, 

"i will never be shaken."

o Lord, when you favored me, 

you made my mountain stand firm;

but when you hid your face,

i was dismayed.

to you, o Lord, i called;

to the Lord i cried for mercy:

"what gain is there in my destruction, 

in my going down into the pit?

will the dust praise you?

will it proclaim your faithfulness?

hear, o Lord, and be merciful to me;

o Lord, be my help."

you turned my wailing into dancing;

you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.

psalm 30 (NIV)

praise be to God for His faithfulness. he speaks in the silences of our hearts and the loneliest of days.