thirty before im thirty.

last year while at baylor i saw on one of my friends bulletin boards a sign that said "thirty before im thirty"... come to find out the things on the sign are the thirty things she wants to try her best to do before she turns 30. i thought this was such a cool idea and over the past semester i have been writing down the things that i want to do before im 30.

so here they are in no particular order! let me know if there's something on the list that you want to do as well and we can do it together:)

1. run a half marathon

2. scrapbook

3. learn how to cook

4. go to Africa

5. read a book that i normally wouldn't want to read

6. sacrifice something for someone else

7. go skydiving

8. teach

9. learn

10. go to Europe

11. graduate college

12. get a "big girl" job in the crazy world of social work

13. tithe regularly

14. love well

15. actually give dating a try and if God willing get married

16. try new foods

17. blog regularly

18. own a horse

19. take a spontaneous roadtrip

20. fast

21. go cliff jumping

22. buy a car on my own

23. read through the whole bible

24. stretch myself outside of my comfort zone

25. watch friends change, grow, and fall in love

26. go back-packing

27. learn how to drive a stick-shift well (i just think it would be cool.. haha)

28. live in the country...horses, a barn, dogs.. the whole shebang

29. less anxiety

30. everyday fall more in love with Jesus and let my life show it

:)

Learning through receiving.

As I was reading a blog online the other night I found a post about grace. This caught my attention because I have been learning a lot about grace through the past year in my own life. The blogger stated that if she could write six words to describe her life right now it would be...

Learning grace through receiving while failing.

I get this, because this describes this season in my life perfectly as well. Because I fail, daily. My actions don't deserve, daily, but I receive, daily. Whether it is from the Lord, my family or my friends, I feel like I am constantly receiving grace.

And sometimes that makes me mad.

Last summer when I was serving as a Baby Ruth at Pine Cove, I learned something about myself that I had never known before. It is easy for me to offer grace, but close to impossible for me to accept it. It's a selfish thing, really. I had some sick reasoning going on in my head that involved me thinking if I accepted grace from others and even from Christ Himself, that I was less of a person. I would get mad (and sometimes still do) because that's not who I am, right? I get mad that I have to fail to learn and that the failing hurts really, really bad.

Check out this verse in second Corinthians where God speaks of His grace being sufficient. (MSG translation)

...I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations... At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then He told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

My handicaps?? Anxiety, worry, control, fear of failure, fear of not being heard, fear of fill-in-the-blank.

But I know that when these handicaps cause me to fail in this world, I am picked up by His grace and I receive and learn and am sent off to take another step. I am learning and trying to put myself aside and sometimes that involves accepting grace not only from God but from those living life with me as well.

Sometimes I don't get it. Sometimes my mind and head and thoughts take over. But I am learning through receiving, which I think is the only way, really.

catching up.

It's been awhile since I last blogged so let me briefly update you on my life!!

All things important since high school graduation...

- i went to pine cove to serve as a baby ruth for 5 weeks last summer. this discipleship program literally broke me down in all of the right ways. i learned for the first time what it means to surrender your all to Christ. i learned that my life is truly not my own and my prayer ever since has been that i will never forget that or stop striving to live it out.

- i moved away from the only house and town i've ever really known and started college!! i now (obviously) live in Waco, Tx and attend Baylor University. Sic 'Em!

- i started attending the church that i now call my own, Harris Creek Baptist Church here in Waco! the community i have found there has been such an immense blessing!

- i applied for two different positions my first

semester and wasn't asked to be a part of either. this was a very humbling experience for me in which i struggled with, but i can now look back and see how God had His hand on the whole situation. it wasn't so much that the organization wouldn't be good for me or I for it, but rather that the humbling experience was just what i needed.

- i got to spend thanksgiving break and christmas break with my wonderful family and got in a lot of good reading (10 books total)... and im not a fast reader so i guess it's safe to say i had no life during that time:)

- on January 3rd, 2011 my sweet friend and mentor

, rachel mason barker had her first child, sweet baby girl Norah Rose Barker. she is so fun, beautiful, and in my opinion quite perfect. it was a wonderful day of celebration and i am so blessed that i live in Waco with them and that i am getting to watch this precious baby girl grow!!

-i came back to school early so that i could RUSH, and after a week of rushing and 6 weeks of pledging, i am proud to say that i am an official Baylor CHI OMEGA. :)

So, that pretty much sums it up!!

college has so far been a bittersweet experience for me! although lately, it has become way more sweet than bitter. my first semester i spent most of my time missing my family, my home, tyler in general, and high-school. but this semester, through chi-o and my church i have met so many amazing girls that have really challenged me to surrender my all to Christ. i still have days where my body even starts to hurt because i miss home so much--but the community that i am beginning to find here at Baylor is one that i am not only thankful for but that i need.

i am going to start blogging again, way more--so stay tuned!!!:)

i'll leave you with this quote from oswald chambers that i have been trying to soak up these past couple of weeks:

"My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace, nor even blessing, but Himself, my God."

here is a picture of my AMAZING pledge class! I adore these girls so much!:)

Matthew 20: 26-28

"Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. " -Matthew 20: 26-28

Well, one week down and four to go!

To tell you that my first week as a Baby Ruth was hard would be a complete understatement. My first week of baby ruth's was very possibly the hardest week of my whole entire life thus far. The work load is unbelievable and I have been stretched and challenged in ways i never even thought possible. I am overwhelmed with the thought of continuing on like this for the next four weeks. But I am confident that God has placed me right where He wants me. So I must move forward knowing that I must trust in Him to finish what He has begun in my heart.

I wish I could tell y'all more about my entire week, but I don't get much time off and I am just so restless. Please PLEASE continue to pray for me. I need the prayers more now than I ever have before.

I also ask that you will pray that even if the next four weeks are meant to be miserable that I will still press forward and that I will enter into God's presence confidently and often.

Thank you to those of you who sent me a letter, IT MADE MY DAY!:) ah, it was such a blessing!

Please write me if you have time-- it's something that helps me get through my many tough days!

In more of Him and less of me,

Madison

Well, here goes nothing.

I did it. I graduated high school. How do I feel, you may ask?

Wonderful. Relieved. Accomplished. Sad. Depressed. Nervous. Anxious. Hopeful. Excited.

yes, all of those things.

The month of May was full of so many wonderful, wonderful things! From graduation parties to some dear friends getting engaged, to fun church events, to

lots of last minute school work, and finally to graduation.

Graduation week was such a fun time full of friends, family, laughter, and some tears!

shana, myself, and jen on kindergarten day!

me and justin at our Senior Lake party!

me and my favorite little valedictorian

at her graduation the night before

mine!

graduation!:)

The Brook Hill School

Class of 2010

So, there you have it. I graduated.

I am now so excited about my journey at Pine Cove!!

I ask for your constant prayers. They will be so appreciated!

I leave this Saturday, and return on July 3rd!:)

If you would like to write me check my facebook for my address!:)

I hope to be able to update you on how God is working in my life

during the next 5 weeks through this blog! If I do have the time

it will be on saturdays, so check back every saturday!:)

In Christ Alone,

Madison

senior prom.

This past weekend I went to my last high school dance ever, my senior prom. Ohhhh, prom! I have never been much of a dance person. I always look forward to them, like normal high school girls, its just that rather than looking forward

to the actual dance, I look forward to getting ready with mom, taking 1000 pictures, and eating

a wonderful dinner with wonderful friends. In

all honesty, I could skip the whole dance part all together. But if I had to end my dance career on a dance-- this wasn't a bad one to end it on. I got ready with mom, took 1000 pictures, had a fun dinner in my backyard with great people, and went to a beautiful dance at the Villa in Tyler with a great date! Not much more a girl could ask for, huh? All in all it was a good night and a great way to celebrate senior year coming to a close with

some of my favorite people in the world.

Before I show y'all the pics I thought I would humor myself with these first...

this was my first prom ever.

heath, mason and I went to our freshman

and Senior proms together.

me and heath, freshman year.

and now for saturday's pics! :).....

me and samantha getting ready!

me and my wonderful daddy!

yes, they really did wear those.

my wonderful date, Cole.

me and heath three years later.

the group of amazing people that I got to

share my last dance experience with!!

So, there you have it. Senior prom has now come and gone which can only

mean one thing: graduation is that much closer!!:)

Until next time,

Madison

10 things i love(d) about high school.

I was reminiscing today about all of the things I have truly enjoyed during my high school years. There are so many little things that I couldn't even try to take the time to list but there are also bigger things that have meant so much to me and so I have chosen to list and explain those things. Whether it be a person, a place, or even a thing it has definitely gotten me through the ups and downs of high school and therefore, definitely blog worthy material.

So, here it goes the 10 things i love(d) about high school. (in no order!)

10. Hot Tamales, Sun Flower seeds, and Pickles.

yes, to you, and probably to most people these three things sound absolutely disgusting, especially when all consumed at once. But, not to me. These three things are some of my favorite, if not my favorite, food on this planet. Whether I am happy, sad, or indifferent I can always enjoy these three things.

9. Jetta.

yes, my 1999 Volkswagen jetta, holds quite the place in my heart! Three of the four years I have had in high school, jetta has been with me. We've been through running out of gas (twice), broken air conditioning(twice), speeding tickets (twice), broken cup holders, broken radios, broken headlights and taillights, a few too many bottom-out experiences, and the list goes on. But most of all it's been a car or rather even a place, that I have learned in. I've learned how to laugh with friends until you feel like you will puke, sing loudly with friends uncontrollably, and really seize a day by rolling my windows down! Thanks jetta, for always being consistent! (consistent in breaking, and consistent in bringing a lot of joy into my life!!:)

8. 414 east heritage.

i moved to 414 east heritage the summer after 3rd grade. I have done most of my growing here at this place that i am lucky enough to call home. This home brings me joy, comfort, and peace. When I look back on my high school years, I know I will remember 414 east heritage. The memories are never ending from this place, this home. This home built me.

7. say CHEESE.

pictures. I love pictures, and I really found this love during my high school years. I love having pictures of the memories my friends and I created. I know that these memories won't be forgotten, because they are documented by these pictures. Oh, and because they are all over my room and will be all over my soon to be dorm room.

6. Starbucks with Em.

ever since the middle of our junior years, me and emma have met at starbucks at least once a week to laugh, cry, and pray together. I don't know if emma will ever really realize how much those nights meant to me. Not only did our relationship grow as friends but we also grew as woman of God. I am so thankful for these times we had together.

5. Eickner Road.

it isn't so much the actual road but rather the people that live on it and all of the fun times I had with them. Shane, Tonda, Tavis and Tallen live at the end of Eickner road in a little country house on some land. This family welcomed me into their lives during the last two years of my high school career. My best memories of life on Eickner road will consist of late night swimming (in our clothes), late nights of train and wahoo, horse back rides, late night talks, and most all laughter--a lot of laughter.

4. Colorado.

For three out of my four summers during high school I have spent a week in Colorado. Twice with my church and once with the fam on vacay! Colorado is one of my all time favorite places to be! I love the mountains, and I love the closeness I feel with God when im in the mountains. These three trips were all remarkable times in my life that I will never forget!

3. 1207 cumberland.

no, i don't have two houses! 1207 Cumberland is the home of the Mason gang, and a place that I love so much and retreat to often. Besides my own home, there is no other place in this whole world where i feel more comfortable to be myself--completely! This is a place of refuge for me full of people who i care so deeply for! Thanks, 1207 Cumberland for being what you are to me!

2. my journal.

besides the people in my life that have shaped me over the past four years this might be the next thing I cherish most. Call me crazy, thats fine, but it's my journal. I bought the journal at the end of my freshman year and have been writing in it ever since! It is full of all of my emotions, thoughts, and memories of high school and I so love getting to write in it-- and reading it too!

1. Brook Hill.

I adore this school that I have been blessed to attend for all of my high school years. I have enjoyed being challenged academically and spiritually, watching the Guard play for three state titles, and most of all the relationships I found here at Brook Hill. I am eternally grateful for this place that I am looking forward to calling my Alma Mater.

whewww! that was a long post--but well worth it! So, there you have it!

Until next time,

Madison