Well Hello There Red Bull

This picture made me laugh for some reason.... haha I love Bluebonnets (thank you Mrs. Johnson!)

This week has been a little crazy for me. I did not get to go home for Easter because I had to study for two tests scheduled for Monday (which consequently I did not do too well on). I also had a test that I was supposed to take Tuesday but it got moved to Thursday because the teacher messed up the copies of the test. I also have a HUGE paper due ("Huge"= length and meaningfulness) on Thursday which I am slowly but surely finishing. The paper I am writing is actually a policy brief. The subject is mandating HPV vaccines for girls. I am actually learning a lot so if you ever want to know anything about HPV, HPV vaccinations, or the current policy in Texas regarding mandated vaccines let me know! I have really enjoyed my Children and Public Policy class (which is the class I am writing the paper for) even though my teacher is a serious liberal. I'm pretty sure she thinks that we should all be heavily taxed so that everyone can be equal, countries like Iceland are an example. I would like to go to Iceland and talk to the people about the way they feel about being taxed so heavily. When one looks at the data in regards to Iceland they are on or around the top ,in comparison to the world, in many things: low infant mortality rates, education, etc... My teacher argues that we should spend less money on the military and space travel (not sure how I feel about the space travel thing, maybe it is a good idea?) and more money on the health and well-being of children. I get what she is saying but a part of me wonders...What if a terrorist attack happened in Iceland and military assistance was needed right away, my guess is that the US would be right there to protect the small country. (Am I right?)

Forgive me if I sound ignorant, that was just an idea I had. What do y'all think?

Let me know! :)

Heavy. Frightened.

It has been a long week. I have worked or volunteered everyday along with writing two papers and going to class! I know there are people out there who do a lot more than I do in a week but that was a lot for me considering I only took twelve hours last semester and did not have a job. Ha!

Anyways...So I finished working today at 4:30 but I had a babysitting job close to work at 5:30 so I decided to stay close by and go to a nearby starbucks. As I walked in I noticed a woman who looked a bit odd... Being in Austin for about 8 months now I am not surprised when I see someone who looks kind of different ( "Keep Austin Weird" right?). Well, it was not a woman, it was in fact a man dressed as a woman. I smiled at him/her and quietly drank my coffee and read my Bible. Along with my Bible I was reading John Piper's book "Pierced by the Word, Thirty-one Meditations for Your Soul", it is a great read and I would highly recommend it. The chapter (or day?) I am on is about Hell. John Piper quotes Dorothy Sayers "... it is explicit in many of the most familiar parables and implicit in many more: it bulks far larger in the teaching than one realizes, until one reads the Evangelists through instead of picking out the most comfortable texts: one cannot get rid of it without tearing the New Testament to tatters. We cannot repudiate Hell without altogether repudiating Christ.". 5:10 rolled around and I had to leave but as I was leaving the Lord convicted me about this person. He was obviously confused and maybe he needed someone to talk to. I could say I was late and had to get to my babysitting job but we all know the sovereignty of our God. I really was too selfish to strike up a conversation. I say too selfish but I really mean too scared. Honestly, talking to someone about Christ really scares me. But after my reading today and some real soul searching I have decided that I am MUCH more frightened about someone suffering an eternity in Hell. So please pray for me as I try to conquer my fears and open up my heart to the opportunities God presents for me. And please pray for the aforementioned person. Maybe I will see them again.

With a heavy heart,

Amy Elinor

My Blue Shoes

For my 2oth birthday my best friend Abby Rose got me an amazing pair of blue high heels! I love them to death and I wear them whenever I can. I always get a compliment on them as they are so fun and bright. It is amazing that one thing about your outfit can change it completely. All of a sudden a black skirt or dress is changed into a more chic outfit! These shoes are magic and go with anything! (Well, mostly). Hope y'all enjoyed this random fit of proclamation of joy for my lovely shoes.

Love, Amy

p.s. They are the Steve Madden "Trinite" I believe.

Spring? Where are you?

Well, it is snowing here in Austin and it is so beautiful! I really like that we get snow so randomly because I enjoy getting excited about weather. Everyone is secretly so happy to see snow. When my sister Stacy lived in NY she got VERY sick of the cold weather there (as would I). But I just love this crazy Texas weather. When it snows two days after it was 80 degrees I just smile and remember who is in complete control of our world and weather! :)

I had an impromptu snowball fight with some people and got hit a couple times before my class which I arrived to dripping and absolutely frozen!

When my class was over I walked past where we had the fight and there were still some people there. A couple guys threw snowballs at me which I blocked with my umbrella and they yelled "Man UP!" which I replied to with "Im a Woman!". He said "touche" and they left me alone.

I loved feeling like a kid and being so excited about the snow!

Hope y'all are having a great day and staying warm..I am drinking some cocoa and watching a Cary Grant movie in my warm apartment.

Love, Amy

p.s. Fireplaces are USELESS without firewood! :( :(

Dogs will be dogs

My friend Ali and I returned to her apartment after working out last night and when we walked we were greeted by a host of smells and ripped up paper. Her roommate's dog had gotten into a lot of stuff and had knocked my phone off of the counter and had chewed on it! Thankfully my wallet and clutch were OK but I was disconcerted about my phone. It still worked but was so mangled I really did not want to use it anymore, plus it was having technical difficulties ( automatically recording my conversations and deciding that it wanted me to "please say a command" at any random time). I went down to Verizon and with a renewal of my contract I got a smart looking little red phone. It is pretty cute..See....

I don't use the key board part of it which I suppose is a waste.

The dog was not harmed, but should have been. I also had twenty dollars that was torn but not eaten!

See ya later!

- Amy

Whispers of Spring

February and March can be so difficult to dress for. My winter outfits are starting to get tiring to me but it is still not warm enough for dresses, shorts, and t-shirts. Which is why I have been using accent items in my outfits to encourage me. Here are some photos for inspiration...What do y'all do to combat these months?

p.s. can you guess which one of these items I own?

And, just for you Kristin...

Just a Few of My Favorite Things

I am sitting in one of the buildings at UT in a plush orangey-red velvet chair:). This building I am in is very random. Down one hall there is a half court basketball area and offices regarded physical fitness but down the other hall someone is playing a classical piece on a piano(OH and a young man has his puppy here! It looks like a fluffy German Shepherd! SO CUTE). It is raining again here in Austin and I love it! Although pulling myself out of bed when rain is falling on my roof is very difficult but I manage. ANYWAYS this post is about a few of my favorite things/pictures which I will display below. I hope you enjoy! :)