The Number One Busiest

I know that you are all waiting on the edge of your seats to know what I'm doing on a Friday night...well I will tell you.  

I am sitting on my couch...in my PJs...watching a chick flick that I am certain that I won't like the ending to.  I know that it doesn't sound glamourous, but it is actually the best thing! Well...except for the chick flick with the bad ending that is.  

Life has been SUPER busy since school got back up and running! I'm constantly running from cabaret practice to spring sing practice to the apartment and then it's time for homework!  It just never ends! 

But I am still so blessed!  God proves that to me every single day.

I am so blessed to have the wonderful roommates that I have.  Like today, my sweet precious roommate Natalie made me a yummy omelet with some fresh fruit and tea because I was tired and broke after cabaret rehearsal!  Little things like that just show me how much God loves me!  

I hope that this weekend, God shows you how much you are loved:)

Mads

Bittersweetness.

Bittersweetness.

Did I make up that word? probably.  Is it the most accurate of how I feel. absolutely.

Today (January 7) would have been my Dad's 53 birthday.  That is such a weird thing to say.  "would have been."  It's almost been 6 years and I still expect him to come walking in that door! I'm glad it's that way though.  I fear the day that I am resigned to the fact he's not coming back and I pray that it never comes because I think it would just be too much to handle.  Maybe that makes me naive...but i'd rather call it...hopeful.  The hope is what keeps the sadness at bay.  HOWEVER, this was not meant to be a sappy, sad post...so here I go! :)

As per Callaway tradition, the tradition of being awesome that is, we celebrated Daddy's birthday by having a Callaway cookout!  Burgers, brats...the works.  And to top it off, it was 55 degrees.  Yep, we do it real and we do it big:) We ate yummy food, watched Castle (our new favorite show) and just enjoyed spending time together.

This break more than any of my other college breaks has shown me just how fantastic my family really is.  I mean i've always known that I was super blessed in the fam department, but seeing how my family is growing (as in getting older) and seeing how we deal with what life throws at us makes me so proud to be a part of it.  Dad would be proud. God truly is the great creator.

Tomorrow (January 8th) is my BEAUTIFUL Mom's birthday!  I am so excited that we get to celebrate with her...even though we have to drive back to school before her birthday is over:/  She is such an inspiring, God fearing and gorgeous woman.  I hope that I can be half as incredible as she is when I am her age.

That's all for now! I'm off to watch one more episode of Castle and then call it a night:)

Blessings,
Mads

A Year in Retrospect

It has just dawned on me how many blessings I received throughout the year 2011.

Sad isn't it?  That I had to ring in the new year before I could see just how blessed I was in the old year?

There were good memories and bad memories, lessons learned and laughter enjoyed...but through it all I see one recurring theme.  JESUS. He was with me all the way.  And sadly, through the latter half of good 'ole 2011, I couldn't feel him there.  But looking back in the past several weeks, I can see his fingerprints everywhere.  He was with me in the toughest of situations, in the happiest of moments and in the darkest of nights.  And I know that he will continue to walk with me, and carry me when needed, right on through 2012.

And THAT my friends, is something to celebrate.

Happy New Year!

-Mads

The future...

Future.


Isn't that a loaded word?  No matter if you are 21 or 81, the future is always such an uncertain thing.

What does the "future" hold for me?

Well, i'm going into my senior year of college...no that was not a typo, I really am going to be a SENIOR...in COLLEGE.

unbelievable.

I'll have one extra semester at OC so I have a little extra time. I lovingly refer to it as taking half a victory lap:)

For those of you that don't know, the reason that I am going an extra semester is because I added Vocational Ministry to my Theatre major.  I just really feel like God is calling me to get out into the world and do his work.  I don't necessarily want to become a missionary, but I would like to move somewhere, just for a little while and do something theatre related and at the same time spreading the word of God.  I feel like my calling is to be in the secular world, but not of it, like the bible says.  I want people to see Jesus in my actions.

Now I have absolutely NO idea how this is going to happen.

:)

But that is where you come in.

If you happen across this blog, or you read it regularly please take a moment to pray for opportunities to come my way and that I am open to seeing what God has planned for me!

on a different note..

This movie comes out in 2. DAYS.

I'm going to be in shambles.

That's all for now! :)

~MVC

The Busiest of the Busys

Yes I am aware that the title of this blog is probably not proper English (it's definitely not)...but those of you who know me should be used to these funny phrases by now:)

It's been far too long since I have blogged! Instead I have been keeping up with a journal and i'm SO proud of myself for that! I know...it's a miraculous feat. 

A short update on my life is this...I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING.

This is a good thing and a bad thing.  Well not bad, but just uncomfortable.

As human beings, we have been born with this idea that we MUST be in control of every facet of our life at all times.  We are taught that surrendering control to someone else is weak and should be avoided.  This is a lie.  I am learning (oftentimes the hard way) that I am not in control of my life. 

 My goal for this summer is to not just sit back and hope that God sends good things my way, but to actively and avidly search out Christ and pray for him to reveal purpose to me.  

Don't get me wrong, I have lots of dreams and hopes and goals and ambitions.  Anyone who knows me well knows that I LOVE to be busy with lots of things and interacting with lots of people! ( hence the title of this post) but sometimes I can use that as a distraction from other things in my life that I need to be dealing with.  I also let my dreams and my ambitions for this life get in the way of what God wants me to do.  And I know that what God wants for me is always way better than what I want for myself.  Isn't that the best feeling?!  Then why is it so hard for us to surrender to his plan?  Yeah I'm still trying to figure that out...I'll let you know if i ever do ;)

I am currently working in the Student Life office as an intern up at OC and I am SO happy to be on campus this summer!  I get to work on fun things like church camp and Earn Your Wings (I'm an Assistant Director this year!) and campus-y things like that!  

I just returned from chorale tour where we went to Washington DC and New York City! It was a really great trip! 

Here are a few of my favorite memories...

 The World War II Memorial

 President Lincoln. Love the guy.

 The National Art Gallery had SO MUCH DEGAS. I was in heaven. 

 My favorite sculpture!

 Madison Dr! Guys I'm famous.

 Our Nation's Capitol 

Thomas and Jared came with me to the indoor flower gardens! 

Overall, it was a really fantastic trip! Then I got to go home for about 10-ish days and spend time with the fam:) It was great! 

I'm looking forward to seeing where God takes me this summer! 

I'll update again soon...maybe...

:)

Lord give me strength to make it through somehow...

These past few weeks have been some of the most physically and emotionally exhausting that I can remember.

It's in times like these that the Lord whispers strength to me and sends the most beautiful people into my life at just the right time.

Today, my dear friend Elise and her family had to say goodbye to their mother.  It was such a beautiful ceremony for a truly beautiful woman.  I am so glad that God brought Elise into my life.  She is beautiful, strong, Godly, lovely and absolutely in love with Jesus.  She is such an inspiration for me and I am so glad that she included me in this day.

This funeral that I attended today was the first funeral that I have been too since we buried my Dad.  I did not realize how hard it was going to be until I got there.  The most wonderful thing is that God did know how hard it was going to be, so he gave me the blessing of having my sisters there.  I cannot express how much having them there with me gave me strength.  I am so thankful that God lead me to Gamma Rho and the wonderful women that make it what it is.

The Lord is showing me over and over that he cares for me and that he holds me in his arms.  

I am so, so, so blessed. 

:)

On a more upbeat, excited note...SPRING SING IS TONIGHT!!! 

more pictures to come!!

A Million Times Blessed

God has blessed me with the MOST amazing women in my life. Seriously. I don't know what I would do without them.  

First of all, let me tell you about my mom.  She is amazing. She is the most strong, beautiful, Godly and loving woman I have ever met. I adore her. I want to be like her. She is the best.

There she is. Isn't she cute?:)

Then as if having the best mom in the WORLD was not enough, God blessed me with the best roommates in the world.  They put up with my weird little quirks, my lack of initiative to do dishes (sorry i'm working on it), and my incessant singing.

They are wonderful.

And I swear that this girl and I were separated at birth because we are seriously sisters and soul mates.

Laura Leigh almost Vanderzee:) 

I don't know what I'd do without her.

And I can't forget this next girl.  She is an absolute joy and rock in my life.

I love working with her!

I really just have the best friends anyone could ask for. 

God has blessed me way too much:)