I'm into threesomes.

Eavesdropping is a past time of mine. While chowing down a quick dinner, I heard this:

"Logan definitely loves you. I mean, he has waited 2 years for you."

A usual beginning of a bad conversation. 

The problem: 

1. Love is assumed to be equal to the patience a guy has for sex.
2. Sex is being talked about within a dating relationship, not marriage.
3. It is also assumed that there's a right time to have sex other than after marriage. 

This conversation is too common and we only have ourselves to blame.

Why?

Because we give our girls the "sex talk" when we should be giving the "your worth" talk.  

Because we're showing our girls that life is complete after marriage when its really complete after death.

Girls, you are not saving yourself for a boy. You're saving yourself for God.


Boys, a girl is not your reward. You don't get to take her to bed because you love her or because you were patient enough to wait two, three or five years. If you are blessed enough to be married to a woman, she is God's gift to you.

Let's speak to our loved ones in a way that says, "I know you're worth more. I know you belong to more." Maybe, if we spoke and taught with this mindset, things would change.

Maybe, if we stopped trying to take God out of the equation...

It's not Boy Meets Girl. 
It's Boy meets God. Girl meets God. God brings Boy and Girl together. 
Boy and Girl glorify God together. 
It's a threesome. 

How's that for wild?

To the graduating class of 2012

Inspired by my DPO Alphies, Beti and Gamma.
I thought it was necessary to let you guys in on a few secrets.

1. Use your age to your advantage. We've grown up on cell phones and the internet. Facebook, websites and hyperlinks are second nature to us. Believe it or not, the rest of the world is not plugged in the same way. Your tech-savvyness will come in handy everyday. You'll be able to solve problems for yourself and your team (maybe even your boss) before they ever have to call IT. Not only will you be considered a whiz and not as useless as they thought, but you'll gain the trust of your colleagues pretty fast.
2. Your major doesn't define you. Having a real job helps you visualize what you want your life to look like. When I was studying PR, I was under the assumption I'd be in meetings all the time. However, I'm usually in front of the computer. It's not horrible, but no one ever told me. Working for a bigger company also gives me a chance to observe other departments. I know what sales does and seeing it on a daily basis just affirms that I could never be a salesperson. Same for IT. But I wouldn't mind marketing and I'm thinking about going that route. Don't think because you're PR you have to work in a firm. Work for a non-profit. Transfer to a different department. Just do what makes you happy. 
3. Your job doesn't define you either. For the first few months of working,all I did was work. I thought it was the great life: work fro 8 hours, come home and veg. That routine got boring fast. Personally, I crave to make a difference every day. Staring at a screen doesn't feel very purposeful. In fact, I was drained. Until, I started giving back and spending some of my off-hours with people, helping them and serving them, I was not happy. Slowly, my energy was coming back. Try to find a non-profit to work with, no matter how small. 
4. It's going to be hard to adjust. If you're anything like me, you invested most in your college friends and your hometown friendships just drifted away. That's ok! Be open to meeting new people. You're going to have to put yourself out there...maybe even invite yourself to things. Some of you may be moving home. Yes, it can be demoralizing. But have the conversation with your parents about boundaries. You're not 18 anymore and you haven't lived at home for four years. If that doesn't work, show them you're independent. Pick up a bill or two (if you have a job). Help around the house. Eventually, they'll get it. If not, go back to plan A.
5. It's not that bad. Unfortunately, college doesn't totally prepare you for the real world. It's going to take some time to get used to, but continue to invest in your friendships from college but don't be afraid to make new ones. Grown-up world gets even sweeter when you bring in that first paycheck...and then the second. And then you'll love it when everyone is updating their status about finals and term papers and you're at happy hour. 
6. Last one: have faith. I wouldn't be this positive about my life if I didn't have faith that my God is in control of everything and He has nothing else in mind for me but good. I don't know what tomorrow holds but I know my God is good. 

Romans 8:28

I gotchu.

My college roomie is coming home to me tomorrow. The person I used to spend every day with for three years is now someone I see sparingly. Last Thanksgiving, specifically.

We have a list of things to do during this short weekend.
Dinner
Shopping (duh) 
Photoshoot in bluebonnets
Baking (duh)
Going to sleep to Gilmore Girls (huge duh) 

You know, the traditional stuff.

This girl--we know the ins and outs of each other. We've been there through breakups, transitions, doubts, changes, church changes (it was Baylor), ALL OF IT. And what's even more amazing is I was GIVEN this girl.

Freshman year, I chose to go potluck. I knew no one coming to Baylor (this was a positive thing) and had no other choice. Anyone could have walked through that door on move in day. It could have been a cheerleader from Conroe, Texas. A home-schooled girl from Amarillo. A sorority chick from Austin.
But it was her. This pink-loving, short shorts-wearing, former model from Houston.

I'm proofreading for errors and realize it sounds like I'm in love with her. Well, I am!
She is my best friend and I don't plan on that changing.

Spill the beans.

I'm not sure when it began, but I've also felt the need to cover up my flaws and insecurities. 

When people try to describe me as sophisticated or put together, I silently think, "WHAT?" 

I am not any of those things. If you really knew me, you'd know I'm clumsy, and awkward situation-prone, obnoxious at times and far from poised. 

But the fact that this is little known is not their fault; it's mine.

I don't let the real me show. After all, impressions are everything. 

Earlier this week, I had dinner with a very best friend and felt convicted to tell her one of my biggest secrets. Sadly, she has been my friend for four years and I've covered it up the whole time. I was scared! Nervous. 

What if she doesn't like me anymore? What if she doesn't see me the same? 

She was surprised. "Nincy, you've got to open up about things like this!" 

Can you relate? 

I challenge you to be honest. With yourself and others. Confess your flaws and allow people in your life to really know you! No need to spill the beans all at once (unless you want to, then way to go!).

I don't want to be artificial. 

I keep my relationships few and I want them all to be real. Let them all know the one Nincy--funny and flawed. 

I'm spilling beans all over the place.

Cycle of inspiration

I finally ran 3.1 miles yesterday. It took 40 minutes and a lot of stopping, sipping of water, and yelling at myself. "I CAN'T DO THIS!" "I CAN DO THIS!" In the end, I had Beyonce and the Barenaked Ladies to thank for my ability to finally reach this milestone.

Three miles isn't much for the avid runner but for this couch potato, it is.
It's more than just the length--I've finally convinced myself that I can make it this far. And I need to because I signed up for another 5K for this Saturday.

The influence that peer pressure has is amazing.

My friends are running the Hot Chocolate 5K/15K this weekend and I couldn't be the only person that didn't run! Plus, there's a running jacket and chocolate involved. All I need is an incentive, people.

Last week, Maize, my lifelong BFFer, let me now that she was impressed that I was STILL running and how big of a turnaround from college. Most importantly, she mentioned that I inspired her.

Was she joking? She inspired me to begin with!

I realized how blessed I was to have friends that push me to live better.

Friends to make me run and not just be the skinny girl, but the skinny girl with muscle.

Friends to make me devote time in the morning to just me and God.

Friends to remind me that there's nothing better than getting mail.
And to never underestimate the need to invest in friendship.

Friends to motivate me to cook. (Ahem, work in progress.)

Friends that remind me that there's nowhere better to be but in the hand of God.







The cycle of inspiration continues. I can't take credit for most of my quirks. Perhaps you can't either.
And perhaps, that's the best thing ever.