The Box and Social Media

Let me start off by saying that social media has taken over my life! I have recently started "tweeting." I just don't know if people really want to know what I am doing all the time... however, I am going to give it a trail run. So far I think I not only like it, I love it. Kinda like the Tim song... wow that was cheesy. Ok so to stick with the social media "thing" I have a bit of an issue with... the box or as I discovered on Twitter... the line. You know the one where you are supposed to describe yourself in 160 words or less! AHH!! Below is a post I started along time ago to discuss the particular box:

Facebook sometimes baffles me... it sometimes overwhelms me. Particularly some of its "elements." One that I have really struggled to grasp is the box under your profile picture. "Something about yourself." As if your entire profile doesn't sum that up for all those cyber stalkers. I took the plunge and wrote in the "box" last week. I have thought a alot about what could/should go there. I mean, how do you describe yourself in one sentence? I think if I were to fill in this box, it would say something like this...

Alley Elizabeth. Brown hair, brown eyed. Daughter. Sister. Friend. Niece. Jesus loving. Event coordinating. Camp Mac kid. Journal writing. Auburn citizen. Bridesmaid. Avid reader. Part-time blogger. Full-time blog stalker. Runner. Blackberry addicted. West Wing crazed. Lake loving. Missing the Gov. Snow skier. Pearl wearing. Platt, Keller, Nelson listener. J.Crew junkie. Memory verse training. Once upon a time deb. Owl alum. Milk drinker (2%). Lupton Crew Member. Naturally lazy. Biggest Loser sap. In love with Jackie O. Heart for the world. Comm grad. Jetta driving. Single. Blessed beyond words. Doodah missing. Pandora obsessed. God fearing. Co-worker. Daddy's girl. Life loving. Social Media dummy. Pioneer Woman wannabe.

What would your box say?

Sweet Summertime

Oh the joyous pace of summer... slow, slow and slow. Relatively speaking. On the work front we have three events from now until August 9th!!! Free, free at last! Sometimes I don't even know what to do with myself and then I always find something. Auburn is slow and most of the time I loathe this way of life, I really like a busy schedule, but I am settling into this nicely. Below are some thoughts... I don't know why I am sharing them, but none the less this is my blog so read on if you wish.

Auburn is my Africa:

I have moments, and days where I long to be anywhere but here. I want to do big things for my big God. I want to serve Him in ways I never thought possible. I believe lies that I have to go somewhere else (Africa, insert anywhere hurting people exist) to do that, definitely not here in Auburn. Why Auburn? Sometimes I feel like it is such a small existence, I plan parties. I reference Africa because of Katie. I want to be used like her. I want to have faith like hers and I want to serve like she does. If called to Africa, I should go, but as I see it now, I am called here

... Auburn, Alabama. I have days where I LOVE it, days that I could go elsewhere, but at the end of the day this is exactly where I want to be. It is where the Lord has called me and where I will serve Him and glorify Him. Why can't Auburn be my Africa? Why shouldn't I and why don't I expect God to do BIG things in Auburn. There is lots to be done here. There are broken bodies, broken souls, broken homes, and broken college students and then there is broken me. I can be used. I can approach the throne boldly asking God to make Auburn my Africa. Will "insert your city" be your Africa?

Starting to kinda like Obama:

Did I just say that? I know I didn't. Okay, so just a little... I watched the NBC News Special on the Obama White House. I LOVED it! I watched both nights and dreamed about being that girl who is 26 years old and is his secretary. WHAT! 

Wedding Tour '09:

Things are really picking up on the wedding front! From now until August it is a world wind tour from Birmingham, Aliceville, Atlanta, and finishing up in Decatur. I will be hitting up all the HOT spots! No complaints here... full weekends with my friends and great bands. Not to mention watching some of my favorite people tie the knot! Be looking for updates as I chronicle the tour. Below are some pictures I stole from B and Anna... they are from the lovely Jessie B.'s wedding. More to come...

I am in love...

The Magic City

The New York Times travel section wrote about a well spent 36 hours in Birmingham. I have never been one to be "obsessive" about my city, but this will make anyone appreciate its charm.

The Driver Would Like for her Passengers to Return

I love it when my friends come to town! Usually this only occurs during football season, so it was a nice change of pace to have them here this weekend. There were a few of us missing, but we still had a great time. Allie and Christopher's wedding was beautiful! I really wish they would all come back... it was sad to see them leave! Here are a few pics from the weekend.

Amazing Girls

We are going to live radically, love more deeply, be devoted to discipleship and grow more passionately in love with our Savior! These are some amazing girls!

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

- Proverbs 27:17

Blogging for English Class

The blogging world has hit the classroom! My little brother (Blake) is a senior in high school, and his English teacher, Mrs. Dixon, who was also mine and Trey's, asks her students to blog each week. I think this is a pretty cool concept, mixing English teaching and the evolutionary world of blogging. The way it works: she posts a topic, involving something they are studying, or something random, and they have to post a comment in various lengths depending on her criteria.

This week's blog asked each student to write about what they will learn when they leave high school. If you can find an Oak Mountain Alum to write what hey have learned/ advice they would give to graduates you get 5 bonus points! Of course, the little bro called on me! I being the blogging lover I am was totally up to the challenge, until I realized my English teacher would read my comment! I was asked to write in paragraph form... and realized what awful grammar I have! No worries, I just announced up front in my post to her that I knew I had bad grammar, that a college education did not fix. I fair warned her!

In doing this, I became a little emotional, my little baby brother is getting old. I began to ponder what I would write. I was having trouble coming up with one "ah ha!" piece of advice. There is so much I wanted to say, but this is what I left with him and those who will read it...

Blogging for Blake Jackson: Let me first say, that the stipulation to blog in paragraph form was a little daunting. I would hope that my grammar has improved with a college education, however, Mrs. Dixon, I am afraid it has not. I have two pieces of wisdom for your graduates. First, you will only reap from your college experience what you sow. Seek education not only in the classroom, but out of the classroom. You will gain invaluable experience. Find clubs, organizations and groups in which you enjoy serving and being a part of socially. Spend time actively working in your college community for those less fortunate than you. You will, I promise, get more out of your time in service than the people you serve. Tackle leadership roles in these groups, gaining experience that will carry into your career. Secondly, (this one is for Blake) serve the Lord with your whole heart in whatever you do. In your studies, your work, your play and in your rest. All of it be for the glory of His name. Be obedient to the calling on your life from Him and you will be immensely blessed. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind! Blessings and War Eagle! (Love you Blake!)

What piece(s) of advice would you pass on to a graduating senior? Sure am looking to living vicariously through him!