Day 2: Favorite Shoes

Day 2 is "favorite shoes." Kinda silly, and I don't think I could just pick one, so here are my top three:

The MOST Comfy:

The MOST impractical, but a girl has to live sometimes y'all:

The MOST at-home feeling, these are my paddock boots for the barn:

Photo Project

The last two years this blog has served as a place to talk about my work with RUF at the University of Oklahoma. That has been great. However, change is coming. In seven weeks I am moving to St. Louis. My paycheck no longer comes from RUF. I am not "the intern."

So, as this change approaches, I thought I would share something a little more light hearted...a 30 day photo series! The outline of the series:

{Check out a full sized image here}

Picture Day 1- Self-Portrait: Holy Moly it is really hot in Oklahoma and my cheeks are always red from heat these days!!!

{I guess I should mention this was also taken after a trip to the barn!}

What is NEXT for YOU??

*The following is an excerpt from an interview one of our reporters, we'll call him Mr. Darcy, did with Miss Haynes a couple of weeks ago.*

Mr. Darcy: Natalie Kate Haynes, I heard your life is about to change. What on earth is all the fuss about?

NKH: Yes, yes, the rumors are true! I am moving farther into the midwest in August. I am moving to St. Louis, Missouri.

Mr. Darcy: Well what on earth are you moving all the way up there for? Haven't you heard that it gets dreadfully cold there?

NKH: Well, actually, yes I have. And I have also heard that it is a very big city for such a young girl, like myself, but I have decided to move anyways. I will be studying counseling at Covenant Seminary.

Mr. Darcy: Counseling {draws out a long hmmmmm}. Well, why will you be studying counseling?

NKH: Well first might I add that these are very poignant questions, Mr. Darcy. Bravo! But back to the topic at hand...I want to study counseling because I think there is a need for trained counselors in our churches. I want to talk with people about their marriages, their families, themselves, and how all of those things relate to Jesus.

Mr. Darcy: Well that is just fantastic. I am so excited for you! So you said you are moving in August, is that right? What will you do until then?

NKH: I will continue to live in Oklahoma. I would like to continue to work with RUF, helping the new campus minister as he moves here and gets to know the area. This can only happen, however, if I raise $4000 more for my support account. {We would like to mention, on behalf of Miss Haynes, that tax-deductible donations can be made here: www.ruf.org}

Mr. Darcy: I hope that you are able to continue your work with RUF in Oklahoma. There is an old adage about Oklahoma that is currently escaping me. Something about plains, wind, a broom maybe...I am not sure.

NKH: I hope that I can continue my work too. My time in Oklahoma has been wonderful. I have found family here. I will be sad to leave in August.

Mr. Darcy: What a pleasure it has been to sit and talk this morning, Miss Haynes. What an absolute pleasure.

NKH: The pleasure has been all mine, Mr.Darcy.

*This concludes our interview with Miss Haynes. Next month we will be interviewing a Miss H. Granger.*

Rebecca Black Themed RUF Activities

Rebecca Black's "It's Friday" has been voted the worst song ever. So, naturally, OURUF has caught the viral-video-virus and has done numerous parodies.

First of all, have you seen this video? At the time of this post, it has 84 million views on You Tube and has been a top selling song on iTunes. When you watch it you will wonder why that is...because people like us keep talking about it!

Go here to watch the original video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2LRROpph0

Now, go here to watch OURUF Summer Conference Promotion Video {Rebecca Black style}: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjXM1V4naI0

I don't know about you, but I feel like our version was much better! Did it make you want to join us in Laguna Beach in May for Summer Conference?!?

Right about now I figure you have had enough Rebecca Black. BUT WE AREN'T DONE YET!

We had a Not-A-Date at the Norman Medieval Fair this weekend. We broke up into groups and did a scavenger hunt. The most points was given for asking strangers to sing, you guessed it, Rebecca Black's "It's Friday." Watch as this group asked two strangers to sing with them!

Well, that is what is going on in my neck of the woods! But I must go now because, "It's Tuesday, Tuesday..."

Boomer Sooner!

Day 5: FRIDAY!!!

We made it, folks! Today concludes my "Week in the Life" series. Thanks for sticking with me!

{not my original artwork, but I cannot find who did it to give them credit}

As you can tell from the previous four posts, a week in the life of an RUF intern looks like a lot of different things. It is my hope that through my internship I have been able to share some of who I am with the students I get to know. That is one reason I love taking them to the barn with me to meet Chance!

Just as I did in grade school and college, I look forward to Friday all week long. Friday is cathartic, and I always look forward to the feeling of completion that it brings. I meet with my good friend Julie Serven on Friday mornings. Sometimes we walk or run and sometimes we sit on her couch to chat. This week or good conversation took over our run, so we walked instead. Julie is a wonderful wife and mother, and I cherish the past two years in which we have become good friends!

{Julie and Me at Doug's Birthday Party in November}

This last Friday I also met with Katie Tracy (pictured earlier in the week at freshman Bible study). Katie has applied to work with RUF next year, and will soon find out at which school she will be working! Congrats, Katie!

Fridays also mean "Girls Lunch." Girls Lunch is every Friday at 12:30 at the Cafeteria on campus. The Cafeteria at OU is amazing. It is head above heels better than the cafeteria at Florida (sorry Gators!).

My quarterly newsletter will be coming out in a few short weeks! Be looking for it in your mailbox! Meanwhile, it is Spring Break here in Norman! Boomer Sooner!

Day 4: Thursday

I feel like I need to explain "Wolf Shirt Wednesday." Yes, wolf shirts are ridiculous. But here in Norman I know some people who would say that they are "ridiculously awesome!" Wal-Mart seems to agree, because they are currently selling them for $9. OMG. No worries, I did not buy one. It was provided for me. Like a uniform for work, it was provided for me. I have to admit, it was kind of exhilarating wearing my yellow happy wolf shirt! Ok, now on to Day 4...

RUF meets on Wednesday nights at 9PM. If you know me at all, you know that 9PM isn't exactly my most high-functioning hour. That being said, I am generally exhausted when I get home from large group at 11:30...so Thursday mornings begin slow. Despite the sluggish Thursday morning feeling, however, my first meetings were great. We had great conversation amidst the hustle and bustle of Cafe Plaid. I truly enjoy the "one-on-one" aspect of my job. Conversation topics range from school to boys, from Jesus to Spring Break plans, and from family to career aspirations.

After lunch I took freshman Anna Tracy to the barn! Anna is also a horse lover, so she is always eager to help out with barn chores! Look, I put her to work cleaning Chance's feet!

Chance just loves all of his visitors!

Later Thursday there was a cupcake philanthropy at the sorority house that my Bible study meets at. A local bakery provided the cupcakes. Here I am at the house with Tristen, Laura, and Sam.

That pretty much wraps up Thursday! Only one more day to go in this series!

Day 3: Wolf Shirt Wednesday

Hello, loyal readers! We have made it to Wednesday. It is the week before Spring Break here at OU, which means that we all feel that time is moving a glacially slow rates. Never the less, my day was filled with wonderful conversations and a great large group meeting!

My first stop of the day was at the Honors College to see freshman Kelsey Kolbe. Kelsey is from the Washington D.C. area. Kelsey is a joy to talk to each week and I am so glad we have been able to share our lives with one another.

{This is actually of us at the barn dance. I am vain and did not like the picture I took yesterday- my hair was wonky}

{above: Well hello there awesome Mr. Horse- I think I would like to call you Patches! I did not know you lived in the honors college. May I take a picture please? Thanks!}

I then met senior Caroline Macleod at Cafe Plaid. Caroline lives in the international dorms, and has a heart for ministering to those students. We had a great conversation about how small and large groups work, and how you draw people together. My RUF training at work!

Margo! Margo is one of the girls who comes to my Gamma Phi study. She is awesome and is wonderfully artistic.

Katherine Borgerding for Vice President! Katherine is a junior Journalism major who is running for Vice President for the student body. K.B. for V.P.!!!

Lindsey Brewer and Chance! Lindsey came with me to the barn yesterday to see the ol' guy! She was brave and brushed him, despite the fact that spring is here and he is shedding his winter coat!

And now for the more entertaining part of the post...Wolf Shirt Wednesday. I kid you not. We have wolf shirts, and we wear them on Wednesdays. Oh my goodness. Where will the madness stop?

Oh hey, here I am with 3 freshmen! Well, if they are doing it then it must be cool, right? Why does my wolf look so happy? I think he is mocking me.

Staff Picture! Doug, Ben and I in our wolf shirt glory.

Don't mess with us...we have on wolf shirts and we will...well, I am not sure what we would do but I don't think it would be good.

And with that...Boomer Sooner!