Cavemen are People Too.

Today has been a completely random day, and I'm totally okay with it! [Hence the awkward slash weird title of this blog post.]
I'm learning to love the place where I am. Seeing things for their true beauty is such a huge part of life that people often look past. For instance, the fact that U of A is in Tucson makes people NOT want to go here. The "crime rate", "grungy city" and "smell?" are some of the hundred excuses that people use just to go to an out of state school or somewhere else. But today, I was being photographed by my Friend Lexi Moody in down town Tucson and realized how wonderful, unique and great this city truly is. Once you look past the people asking for money on the side of the street, the dirt and old rusted buildings we just captured the true beauty of the city.
This is my new desire and hope for my life: to look past the outside and rough edges of everything and search for its deeper and God given purpose. To force myself to see past a struggle and look for the glory of God through the experience. To see past grudges that I and my friends hold and see God's will for situations and certain people who are, or are not a part of my life. God, is so great and too often I let myself forget that, while in the midst of tough and trying times.
Thanks to God for a lazy, adventurous and thought provoking day!

Cabin 2009

I'm currently at my family cabin in Pine Top, AZ... resting, watching old home videos, and hanging out with the family. This morning, after watching old videos of me when i was a baby, i realized that as humans we have the ability to be so incredibly happy; but with all the stress the world puts on us, we are negative and often unhappy... WELL, its time to change that. I'm not going to make any "new year's resolutions", i just truly want to find myself being more happy everyday. I want to find the joy that God has in each thing he created, and share that joy with others. I want to smile, laugh, and enjoy life. I watched the little me and its so incredible to see God's creation change and transform over the years. Shannon Marie Maule is still the same joyful being, just a little bit older and hopefully wiser :) Happy New Year.

Positity Week

This week is the 3rd annual positivity week with Ms. Hayley and oh boy and I'm super stoked about it. There have been a lot of things happening in my life that are shaping me each and everyday, and i really wish i had started to blog earlier on this year.
At college i have learned to be alone; God is truly breaking me so that I get closer to Him. I am not used to being alone (i always seem to have a boyfriend and tons of friends) so this is quite a challenge. There are weeks where i don't get to spend much time with my great and amazing friends, so i feel alone, and its just an odd feeling. But as for the being single thing, i can honestly say that it is something has needed to happen for a long time. Why put my worth in a guy or a relationship? I need to find my own worth before pouring so much love into someone else. God is teaching me something new everyday, and although its finals week i know that I need to trust in Him and spend time with Him daily to remember how great He truly is.

I am so grateful for my small group that i am a part of this year, and could not chose a better group of girls to surround myself with. The Lord honestly hand picks who we are supposed to be close with, and He has chosen quite a great bunch for me :) Gotta love coffee dates, runs, and "naked" (Bible Study) on a weekly basis!