The Christmas Ball was on of the best nights of my life... and I am officially sending an email to RUC to ask about a Sadie Hawkins dance.. every talks about it and no one does it... so by darn it.. I AM!

I am so busy with schoolwork... I literally have SO, SO, SO MUCH! But... in a week it will almost basically be winter/Christmas break (: wooooh!!!

This is a short one of little importance... but... I really do have school, people!

In addition to my last blog.... made... today...

I am thankful for breaks. I fell absolutely in love with my best friends and back home all over again this break and in love with my college and dear friends again when returning... sometimes breaks show you what you are blessed with. (REMINDER: never stopped loving them... just was reunited with the fresh feeling again.)

a quick update. kinda.

I wish I could properly record everything that goes on here... I keep wanting to start a journal but I honestly, honestly feel like I have missed so much that I wouldn't be doing a journal justice to just start in the middle of my life. However, I might start soon... maybe...

College has been new. First semester of college (or at least for me) has been a whirlwind of highs and lows and new experiences worthy of laughter at times and crying other times. I am so, so, so super thankful for my new best friends... it is ridiculous really. God didn't have to bless me with these two girls (among others of course) at all... but He did, just because He is God and loves to love His daughter. I have already been blessed with my dear, precious friends back home and now I have friends from this home and that is something to be thankful for indeed. (plus, all of these dear people are responsible for changing my life forever and making me smile at the darkest of times. God uses friends powerfully for sure.)

I have learned things that have made me stronger and more prepared for the things in my future. I am more confident than ever that I want to act... I am more confident than ever that I am on the path that God wants me to be on. It's rough, people.. it is HARD to follow God at all times when Satan knows what makes you weak. But you have to make the decision to not fight the battle on your own (because you will epically fail), but to give God the reigns and just fall in love with Him, seek Him, know Him. I am learning things about myself that I haven't paid much attention to. Things that were blocking my path to growth and were not only hurting myself but sometimes also hurting other people. One of my beautiful friends said, "It hurts so much to be broken. It's odd feeling because it's not Satan, it's God and I know it's good... but it's just hard." and it IS hard but like she said... I know it's hard and I know it's good.

I am thankful. I am persevering more than ever now and I know that God is with me. I know God is with my family back home. I know God is with the students here at Regent. I know God is with my camp. I know God is with my friends that are spread all over the place at different universities. We are all going through things... very different things because we are all different people... but God is with us all, and He wants to hear, wants to take it all, and wants to love us. My prayer is that we let Him... Pray for me that I let Him.


seventeen days left of this semester and I am going to decorate my apartment for Christmas soon. I love Christmas.

and if our God is for us, then who can ever stop us?

"Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
What could stand against."

You know, college has its MAJOR ups and its MAJOR downs... just like life. However, it is very, very comforting to know that my God sticks with me, waits for me, longs for my devotion and with Him nothing and no one can stop me.

prioritize, Daryl. seriously.

I really love Regent. I really love the people here. I really love the campus. I really love the way God works through people here. I really love almost every single thing about this place.



Thank you, Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (New International Version)

⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

okay, for real... I like... want to write all that has been going on... but I can't.. it's 2:00! I thought that I would change my sleeping in schedule in college (cause yes, in high school it was similar). I was dumb to think that I would change my sleeping schedule!

I listened, I went to Regent, I am here. I have been blessed with fantastic, hilarious friends, I have been blessed with wise bible studies and worship, I have been blessed with phenomenal teachers, I have been blessed with encouragement every time I miss my sweet friends and family.

I haven't figured out how to completely budget my time... but since when have I ever been good at that?! I am, however, becoming very good at budgeting my money... and I am sorta proud (: [although I am buying new TOMS. hollerrrr]

I have ran and walked a lot, and we eat healthy here. I am cooking for other people and it makes me feel like a mom.

No one has seen my outfits... so it's like I get to show new ones everyday... yay. Everyone here dresses so cute and artsy... I am sort of jealous but also sorta feel like I fit in. I also have become a neat freak... my bed is even made every morning... I know... weird.

People at college aren't some different, old, grown up group who knows what they are doing. They are kids... like me... even the old ones. People don't just fall in love here... they still have crushes first. so weird.

I will be 19 years old. NINETEEN in 10 days. 10. That's crazy. Hey, New Life... isn't that crazy?!

I still have school to do... ha. man. Some things will never change. [run and tell that, run and tell that, home boy, home boy, home, home, home boyyyy]

[[I do miss my NLC family, the coclan, the KrispeyKremeKrew, the nine, my youth group, APT., my geeze, the wilcaroes, storm, safteyman, and my sweet, sweet family... a little. eh, I just love them]]

⁷ "Two things I ask of you, O LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:

⁸ Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.

⁹ Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, 'Who is the LORD ?'
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.

--Proverbs 30:7-9

Be content and seek God's kingdom first.

"Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed." -Romans 2:1-5

I realized something... I was being stupid. I haven't done this the whole time... only once. However, that one moment that I took the action of sitting in my room instead of joining a group just because I felt like they were already a group... or because I'm "not like them"... was stupid. I went to the boardwalk last night... not with my usual people and not with my best friends back home... I went with another group just cause... and it was fun (: I found out that they are tons like me and a lot like my wonderful best friends back home! Silly me, this is college. Grow up.

also, apparently I'm fast... Pops says so. Awesome.

Today I was utterly depressed I sprinted 4 miles... I finished in 23 mn. and 46 sec.

I don't run for fun. I don't run because I have to usually. Today I ran the fastest I have ever run, and I didn't stop. Today was actually the hardest day. Here I am all smiley in the morning... man. Pictures can sometimes be so deceiving... I am okay... and I actually spent some significant time with my Father today. Of course Evie would call and tell me it's okay to come home now. Of course "the call" would start playing on my ipod. Of course Josh would say he misses me and it's been boring without me. Of course everyone would be off doing their own thing tonight.

I can't do this anymore... but then again, I never could. God always could. He still can. He still will.


Thank Goodness, cause I'm a wreck.

why yes I am taking a picture everyday of college :) most people who know me would agree that I am good at keeping photo taking commitments.


also. I am drowning in a sea of college homework. That is hard. boooo.

It's official. I am a college student. I started out feeling like I just started our little geography class with Court and Becs... and sometimes I still feel like that. I walked in my dorm for the first time and felt like I was 14 and it wasn't time for me to be here yet! I still feel like I am itsy but... everyday I sorta feel more and more grown up! of course my walls are covered with pictures, but those memories seem more and more like dreams. Of course I can't wait to have more and more as we grow up with my wonderful best friends back home... but I like this new... I like the people here! God called me to a tremendous college! People here, men and women alike, are so passionate. Atleast 98.9% of the population here at Regent University is positive God is doing big things in their lives... everyone here just FEELS it (I shouldn't use everyone... Aaron wouldn't like that. It's innaccurate. 98.9%!) We are leaders here at this school, and we know it. We know God is going to use us in mighty ways to change this deprived world. God gave us talents, He gave us knowledge, He is giving us educations... WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THAT?! This whole school is about being lights in dark places and anyone who knows me well knows that's what I'm all about, baby!!! God called me here and I don't know why yet... but I'm sure excited and eager to find out!

D

Hebrews 13:13-14

¹³Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. ¹⁴For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Psalm 21:5-7

⁵ Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;
you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.

⁶ Surely you have granted him eternal blessings
and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

⁷ For the king trusts in the LORD;
through the unfailing love of the Most High
he will not be shaken.

devotions

^{9Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them,10and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. (Titus 2:9-10)}

16Be joyful always; ¹⁷pray continually; ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (Thessalonians 5:16-17)

I shared with Aaron this morning what I learned in my devotion, but then decided to write it on the ole' blog.

The first passage was in the actual devotion. The second passage I read out of habit... Ever since we have read this passage a few Sundays ago, I have finished out my daily devotions with it. After reading these two passages, one right after another, I was reminded of something. Even if I am not an actual "slave", God has still put several authorities in my life. I, being the stubborn human I am, don't like it when ANYONE is put over me... in any leadership position (even if I am completely aware that you can't live life without authorites... bosses, teachers, coaches, mentors, pastors, parents, GOD). I just LIKE to be in charge. However, God chooses my path, He chooses my authorities, He chooses where I am and when I am there. If there are authorities over me, He put them there. I was reminded how blessed I am, and the Thessalonians passage reminded me to rejoice ALWAYS in the Lord and to THANK God for where I am, even if I don't want to be there, "for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."I am thankful for the authorities God has placed in my life. I can't count how many times I have disagreed with most of them... but God has used them each in powerful ways and I am truly, truly thankful and will rejoice in the fact that God is in control and His majestic character shines through His powerful plan for my life.

I will rejoice always and praise God for the trials that make me weak. When I am weak, He is strong.

(bunch of rambles... hope it all made sense! did to me... that's what matters, I guess!)

so much to do. it's time for a checklist.

-phone

-order new computer battery

-e-mail roommate

-make college purchase list : school supplies, books, and dorm stuff

- gather all checks

-finish thank you notes

-trim bangs

-fix shoe rack

-confirm New York dates

-finish H letters

-plan *paint partyyy*

-clean room

-organize shelves

-start a new journal

-work out car details

the chorus' of 4 songs that play constantly in my head.

Circle me and the needle moves gracefully
Back and forth
If my heart was a compass you'd be north
Risk it all cause I'll catch you if you fall
Wherever you go
If my heart was a house you'd be home

[If My Heart was a House {Owl City}]

Into the darkness you shine out of the ashes we rise there's no one like you none like You!

Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
What could stand against.

[Our God {Chris Tomlin}]

do you want me to show up for duty and
serve this woman and honor her beauty and
finally you have found something perfect and
finally you have found......yourself


all i want is for you to be happy and
take this woman and make you my family and
finally you have found someone perfect and
finally you have found...yourself

[Hard to Concentrate {Red Hot Chili Peppers}]

And with my head in Your hands

You looked in my face and lifted my chin

You stared in my eyes and said, "I'd rather die than be without you."

And like a wind and like a fire

Your love rushed in and lit up my heart

A place to belong

I join in the song

I can't be without You.

[Come As You Are {Jess Ray & the Rag Tag Army}]

you miss it, but then you realize God still has them next to you.

also, just because you learn something doesn't mean that it comes easy... or even easier really. It just points it out that you have the problem and then you realize even more that you can't do anything without God.... which makes you a little discouraged but more confident in your omnipotent God. This summer has drawn me so close to God, just because I have to depend on Him. I have to. I have nothing else perfect to hope in... I have nothing else perfect to depend on BUT Him.

listen people, I apologize for the lack of communication! My life has been slam packed with camp! When I'm not at camp, I'm with camp people orrrrrr soaking up as much time as I can with youth group people (whom I miss so so so so so much). BUT, I will say that I will write on what has been happening so very soon.

Camp has taught me so much. I have truly seen the value in talking to God constantly throughout the day. I feel like Christians refuse to think that praying without ceasing is possible, so they just give up and don't even try for it. That's not the attitude we are supposed to have. If God wrote it as instruction, then you do it, and if you feel like you can't do it... then you ask God for help with it. The days that I am constantly praying to my Father, I am at peace and I don't waste time saying things that are going to waste away to nothing... I actually think before I speak because if I'm not saying things to build up the surrounding cloud, then I might as well just spend that time talking to God.

God gave us voices... they were and are blessings to us. They are supposed to be used for Him, but they are a tool that Satan uses to help us sin. We open our mouths and we are either saying things that lift up His kingdom or hateful things that tear down our brothers and sisters or things that waste away to nothing. I don't want to look back on my life and realize that I said nothing of worth. That I just opened my mouth to just... speak... for the heck of it. If we are in constant conversation with God, the words that come out of our mouths won't disintegrate into nothingness... they can change the world and encourage even those who deem they can't be encouraged any longer...

I am sorry to leave this at such a cliff hanger... but, I must leave now to go be with my sweet, little Dragonflies!

I will finish later!

D

I REALLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT GOD IS DOING. That is frustrating to me... Sometimes I just want that map... the guidelines of "DOs and DONTs" (or the book ending)

but then I am reminded that I am not God... and I try and let that be enough.. because it IS enough.

let me start this blog post off by saying that I love these three pictures.. we have surely grown over the years!

wellp.

work week (X)

early week (X)

orientation week (X)

teen week (X)

middle school week

elem. week

middle school week

elem. week

day camp1

day camp2

day camp3

now it's time to make a difference. now I am sick. now I'm tired. now is when I show that it doesn't matter... those kids are first.

I struggled with last week... a lot seemed to go wrong. I started off the week sick and having to come home Monday. I went back Tuesday but felt a little estranged. Josh broke his hand and made me cry. Friday night confusion seemed to heap on my shoulders. I felt like it was an odd middle school week that I wasn't prepared to approach... I've never not been a camper teen week... I've never had a best friend be THE OLDEST girl there... I've had to depend on God for strength... but... not during teen week. God is giving me this middle school week to make a difference. I realize now that I have to take it week by week. This is it. This is the time. I'm not ready... but my God is.

Be with me, Lord.

God teaches me things through everything. It's phenomenal. I love my cabin and I love this staff.

CAMP STARTS TODAY.

130.

I have been so stinkin BUSY! I knew that would happen as soon as I graduated and summer started.. but SHEESH. Rules video shooting was cancelled today on account of "rain" so... shopping for camp things! When I was younger I would make probably literally hundreds of lists... I still sorta do.. but I specifically made camp PACKING lists... I would write it and re-write it over and over. AND NOW I am making lists for college and being a counselor.. this is all toooo crazy.

Things I must by:

-toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, face wash

-new sheets

-new toms (see top!)

-mattress cover

-new socks, tennis shoes

-four new pairs of shorts

-snacks

-curtains

-frames

-storage bins

-laundry hamper

Things I must do:

-clean my room

-wash ALL laundry

-pack

p.s. I agree with Courtney... if Kurt and Finn start dating.. I'll be a little mad at Glee.

before I get ready for this wednesday

.I graduated

.I had the best party EVER, with the best friends and family EVER

.work week is this week and I always have fun during work week!

.we have some banging skits AND campfire skit so.. Thursday is the night to visit camp

.I am applying for housing at Regent University tonight... that is scary

.Carrabas is my new favorite restaurant

.I am now in save money mode and can no longer buy any new clothes.. but I need new shorts..

.I will be on the computer so much less now... camp has ALWAYS done that to me.

.it needs to stop raining. now.

.I am so happy it's summer (:

it's so close.

first day of freshman year.

camp starts next week, John has arrived, Gordon's left, Chris leaves tomorrow, I graduate Saturday, party Sunday... I have so, so much to do... it is time for me to get a list together for today so I can CONCENTRATE!

-paint nails!

-finish final invites

-order and pick up pics

-finish hair at 4:30

-pick up skirt

-return / exchange dresses

-pick up blank cds!!!!

-LAUNDRY!

-dance

okay, I like cotton, sticks, turquoise, and vintage paper.

how to work that all in.. I don't know..

I, Daryl Lindsey Munroe, am officially going to Regent University

people have always said, "sometimes God calls you to things you don't want to do." and you nod and agree because even if He hasn't called you out of your comfort zone.. you "know" God would do "something like that."

you know.. God did it. He called me to do something I not only didnt want to do.. I refused to even think of it as a possibility. He called me to Regent... if I had the time or I thought you really cared, I would spend the time to explain the long process and turmoil God allowed me to go through before I finally made the decision to obey His calling.. if you really want to know the story.. take me aside sometime and just ask me! I would love more than anything to share this lesson with you....

you know.. this year God has just swooped me under billions of lessons my stubborn heart NEEDED to learn... but this senior year has changed my life. I learned three huge lessons that I could never have learned without the mercy of my ever loving Father and the patient hearts of the friends and family God has blessed me with.

1. perseverance (good story)

2. forgiveness (good story)

3. trust / obedience (not ended.. so far so good)

all three (four) of these things are things that you can't succeed without. If you just "give up" and don't continually seek God in everything that you do ("whether you eat or drink" HOW SIMPLE?!) then you will miss out on the most amazing thing God has for you.. YOUR LIFE. If you don't learn how to forgive people like the Father forgave you.. you are in for a dark run and nothing will go well for you. We need to realize that not forgiving someone doesn't harm that other person ONE BIT, it just rips apart YOUR insides. If you don't learn to trust the Almighty God who is omnipotent then pridefully you are putting your "ideas" and "decisions" before the one who created your very being... that doesn't really.. make sense..

however.. these lessons aren't easy and even if I went through some very, very tough things to even start to realize the depth of these lessons... it is still a daily decision I have to make and struggle doing so without the help of my father. But I thank the Lord for the great opportunity to go through the trials to start to realize how much those things are actually applicable and needed in everyones life.. much less my own.

I am going to miss them.. I really am.. but I know that you don't lose family when you go to college... and they are nothing less than family.

Meet me.

sometimes you end your day and you feel really good about the way God worked in your life that day or tasks you accomplished.

and sometimes.. you end your day and you are bitterly disappointed in yourself. Those days are difficult ones.

I am so stinkin busy.. I have to keep it all straight.. list for tomorrow as follows:

babysit

spanish final

clean room

read ONE hour

all star open gym (please be careful, daryl. PLEASE)

studying with H

kinkos (cut invites)

post office (mail it all)

hughes celebration

home by 10. home by 10. home by 10.

things before graduation

get chairs and tables for pig pickin

tailor for two dresses

make tuesday plans

haircut

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1935205

this video makes me want to go to college and be a theater major.. oh wait.. that's what i am doing all too soon!

WATCH THIS!

sometimes I am confused at what in world God is THINKING?! and by sometimes, I mean majority of the time. I sometimes feel like I just am so confused that I look to the sky and I can see God with His hands on His hips giving me some sort of evie expression saying,"Daryllllll.. what the heck are you doing!?" and I'm like, "I DON'T KNOW!"

Trust is defined as several things (it's frustrating when you look up a word and it has 21094 billion definitions.)

My favorite is: confident expectation of something; hope.

I have hope in the Lord. I know this... but then it boils down to.. do I know it? do I believe it? do I believe God has my life in in His hands and He knows what He is doing just as much as I trust my cereal to taste like cereal or my hands to type when I touch this keyboard?

God knows. He knows that I SAY that I trust Him... and I do believe He is giving me PLENTY of opportunities to prove my trust and belief. If everything works out the way it looks like it is going to.. then I will be attending Regent University next fall. If I am horribly uncomfortable, I will transfer to Liberty. However, I feel the Lord tugging on my heart and if I am truly called to Regent... uncomfortable might be the feeling God wants me to have. My whole life goal is to be "uncomfortable"... and I suppose God is going with, "there is no time like the present!"

He did bless me however with a summer filled with family and friends. I will be around my true families for two more months and then I will have to say goodbye... but as my good friend, Regina Spektor, puts it,

"I'll come back when you call me, no need to say goodbye."

and that is certainly the truth! One call from any family member (that DEFINITELY includes any miller, levin, carlson, macdonald, price, clements, brown, vanover, ray, williams, drummond, walker, or munroe) and I will be back in a jiff jiffy! I love them each dearly, and I couldn't be more thankful for the families I will grow old with. I do believe I can lose friends when I go to college, but I know I can't lose family.

Thanks dear Lord for your strength!

p.s. people. I have some things left before its all funny fun summer!

spanish final

study for history final ( a lot )

mail out invitations and announcements

fill out nate. questionnaire

SHOUT OUT TO HANNAH AND EMMA (:

I decided a little update was in order since a few things have happened recently.

This weekend I went on the amazing beach trip with my amazing youth group! We stayed in an amazing beach house (uhMAZEing.) But best of all, I spent a lot of time with God. We were told to think of the thing we really need God to provide... and mine was PEACE. I really needed God's peace on this whole college decision because right now, it doesn't look either fun or what I originally wanted.. but sometimes you just have to trust God and know He will provide. My beautiful girls surrounded me and prayed God's peace over me, and the power of prayer is phenomenal. I know HE will provide for all my needs, and I know that He will honor me admitting my fear to this group of believers.

I also got sun poisoning. I was very, very sick. VERY. But it's over now.... but still not worth it! GO sunscreen! (a little)

Tuesday was the long awaited Storm Banquet! It was fantastic. I don't want to talk about how it is the end now.. and how it is all over.. but I do want to remember this story from my life. Storm changed my life and my every high school year. The lessons God taught me through that team will last forever in the heart of this servant. It did make me excited for camp though which starts in.... FOUR WEEKS!

oh oh! also! Stephie is making a video blog.. and I am so darn excited... for reasons I cant really mention on here :) but I left a somewhat clue!

three of my very best friends.

I will miss them.

But they will be with me forever, I have no doubt.