one hundred.

last week, i was watching an NBA game, thunder vs. nuggets. it was one of those great games where you can feel the energy from the arena almost coming out of your tv. fast paced, lead changes every possession, overtime.. you get the picture. and the part that the announcers were most excited about was kevin durant and russell westbrook. they were on fire, scoring 51 and 40 points. 91 combined points, that's crazy! 


that really helps put today in perspective. fifty years ago today, wilt chamberlain set one of the most mind-blowing records in sports, scoring exactly 100 points in a single, regulation, no overtime NBA game. today, if a player scored 40 points in a game, that's amazing. 50 is nearly unheard of. so one hundred points? it's legendary.


and here's what i love about it. it almost seems like a legend, too good to be true. there were no TV cameras in that arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania that night. in this media-soaked world, we have no film record of one of the best sports performances of all time. we do, however, have this. 


grant_a_chamberlainw_576.jpg

this picture taken after the game sort of sums it up. a little piece of paper, with a single, handwritten number scrawled on it. i think this is so perfectly understated. also, the fact that the record is a simple, even one hundred. it's neat, perfect, and most likely, untouchable. i absolutely adore this clip from sportscenter today. 
so happy anniversary, wilt chamberlain. here's to another fifty years. 

more time.

happy leap day!


today i am fascinated by, well, today. this day only happens every 1,460 days. crazy? i guess i've never realized how cool leap day is. maybe i've realized, but i've never appreciated it.
my most favorite writer, shauna niequist, wrote this in cold tangerines:
"i choose to believe that there may be a thousand big moments embedded in this day, waiting to be discovered like tiny shards of gold."
isn't that lovely? i'm so appreciative of optimism, of people who think and write and live like this. because it inspires me to do the same.


for some reason, i've had a new perspective today. i woke up this morning, and- i honestly don't know what made me do this- i decided to dress cute. woah, shocker. this doesn't seem like that big of a deal. i did it almost every day for the past 4 years in high school. but today, i woke up feeling allergic to the monotony of yoga pants and t-shirts.


and you know what? i'm so happy i did. in the span of three hours, i saw at least three or four old friends from home that i never run into here on campus. that got me thinking. what if today didn't happen? i would have never seen those people, never restrengthened those connections with four precious people. it sort of blew my mind. i always say "appreciate each day, love the little details, blah blah." and i really, really mean those things with everything i am. but today feels like an extra-special gift. so unwrap it, treasure it, and use it all up.

like stones under rushing water.

why don't we smile anymore?
i'm not okay with that.
why don't we dance slowly?
i'm not okay with that.
because the years go by like stones under rushing water,
and we only know when it's gone.
-needtobreathe

something to think about.
savor every moment. appreciate it, reflect on it, be thankful for it. squeeze every possible bit of life out of every possible second.


it's harder to do on those unspectacular days. some days, i just go to class, have lunch, watch the afternoon sportscenter, then go to one of my many meetings or groups. i go to bed, and do it all over again. if i'm not careful, i'll get stuck in that routine. it's so easy to do.


but sometimes, God will use the most random thing to catch my attention and remind me of how unbelievably great and loving and perfect He is. seriously, the weirdest things make me stop and say thank you: two boys playing bongo drums outside my room last Friday. or an unexpected hour-long break in my day when i can just sit and drink orange powerade and be still and thankful.


i've never been one to really appreciate the cliched things like red roses and country love songs, and the same kind of applies to this. don't get me wrong, i sometimes get chills when God shows us His artistic side with a beautiful sunset, but it's the little things that really get me loving life.


and once you start to notice the little things, you realize they're everywhere.
and after that, well, you realize how truly, truly abundant God's blessings are.


it's in the small things. the details in the fabric.

dance, dance.

the UCA and UDA national competitions were this past weekend, and let's just say that's mostly all I've been watching since then. the cheer routines are fun (especially when Bama does well- Roll Tide!), but it's the jazz routines that I watch over and over all year long. here are my favorites from this year:




For weeks I've been raving to everyone about the Boyce Avenue cover of We Found Love, so imagine my happiness when I saw this one! this is the team from University of Colorado, and while I think the dance was clean, I didn't feel that much passion or energy from it. Just a solid routine, which won them 7th place. BUT I do love 0:56. That run was definitely the highlight for me. I wish there was that emotion in the whole piece.




in the college dance world, it basically comes down to the universities of minnesota and tennessee, every year. this is the minnesota team, who won the whole shabang with this piece. watching them dance is literally like watching one person. their sharpness and technique are mind blowing to me.




normally, i agree with the judges' decisions in these competitions. this year, however, I really felt like this piece from the university of tennessee should have gotten first instead of second. Maybe it was the music (I'll save you the google trip, the speech is from the movie "any given sunday"), but their passion and emotion in this piece gave me chills. beautiful. i've watched both pieces 3 or 4 times each now, and while they were both great, i still think tennessee should have won.


all these videos are from mrdanceandcheer's youtube channel. (there are tons more good ones too!!)


happy wednesday!!

Lord of all.

my last post was sad and lonely but also completely honest. as i expected though, i already feel right back at home in auburn. tonight, i got to go to ONE, the college service at church of the highlands, for the first time in wayy too long. it was exactly what i needed. i always get so fired up for the Lord when i'm there, and tonight was no exception. especially because we closed with this song, "Lord of All", by Kristian Stanfill. i highly highly recommend listening to it, but the lyrics themselves are wonderfully powerful on their own.

wonder and awe surround you, Lord,
and glory and fire light Your way.
day after day the heavens proclaim the beauty of the Holy One.
we will respond with joy in our song.
Your enemies rise, Your enemies fall.
Your fire consumes them all.

because there is none so high and holy.
King of Kings, the one and only.
You are adored, You are the Lord of all.

mysteries unknown are known to You.
all wisdom is Yours to reveal.
You hold in Your hand the days of all men.
all life and breath are Yours to give.
we will respond with joy in our song.
Your enemies rise, Your enemies fall.
Your fire consumes them all.

we adore You,
we adore You.
Lord of all the earth,
Lord, we love You.
Lord, we love You.
let our hearts be pure.

You are adored,
You are the Lord.
You are adored,
You are the Lord of all.


when we sang this song, i felt small- in the best way possible. here i was, in the middle of this giant room, worshipping with 300 other students, and i knew that God was listening to me. He heard every note i sang, every emotion i felt. this song describes how i want to be with God. after tonight, i'm going to strive to be a living example of this song. i hope it compels you to draw closer to Him in whatever way you're called to do so. 

uneasiness.

wow. I am such a horrible blogger. nothing since SEPTEMBER? that seems like ages ago. but, it's a new year, so I'm moving on, starting fresh. here's to hoping I'll do this more often.


today I moved back to auburn. such a bittersweet day. mostly bitter though, if I'm being honest. I got so used to being home, so comfortable in my old cullman habits, that it was difficult to leave. classes start back tomorrow, and I am stressed, excited, nervous, everything. I'm sort of a bundle of emotions right now. tonight, after I traveled and unpacked and settled in bed, I opened my Bible and just prayed that God would comfort me. I just needed anything, a few words to remind me how good He is. I settled on a verse in Ecclesiastes that basically said "Everything is futile." strange that this would comfort me, but it reminded me how tiny all our struggles and worries are in comparison to His great strength and love and power.


tonight feels a lot like when I first moved to auburn, almost a little worse. I know that probably by tomorrow afternoon, I'll be right back in the swing of things, but right now, it's not feeling like home. I'm uneasy, restless, like I don't know what to do. those are the moments when I get the loneliest. I keep telling myself, just focus on God.

a september to remember.

today as i was walking to class, i was thinking about this month. i've always loved september, but this year's september has been extra fabulous.


the weather. i think because i walk to class every day, i am much more aware of the weather than i ever was at home. september usually brings that middle ground between summer and fall. today, it was extra beautiful. the sunshine was deafening with its promises of cooler weather coming soon. i can't wait.


football season. 
september brings the beginning of football season, which is the most exciting time of the year in the south. and let me say, it's so much more fun as a college student, getting to sit in the student section with my beautiful friends and sorority sisters!


turning eighteen. 
obviously, i've always loved september because it's my birthday month. everyone likes getting presents! i got some really fun things in the mail, then i spent my birthday evening in birmingham at the fabulous samford university, getting to see my best friend there and then going to the drew holcomb concert! it was amazingggg. such a good way to spend the day. i didn't get to go home for my birthday weekend because of football, but instead i got to meet my family in cahaba village one sunday afternoon for a celebration! it was super great (and yummy).


baseball!!!
so, my most exciting part of september has definitely been following the rays and their spectacular comeback to make the playoffs. wednesday night was probably the craziest night i have ever seen in sports. a lot of bizarre things went down, but i think this picture says it all.


evan longoria is such a beast. he hit a walkoff home run in the 12th inning, completing the rays' comeback from being down 7-0 in the 8th. five minutes before that, the red sox lost in the ninth inning when carl crawford couldn't make a catch in left field. (there is an incredible amount of irony there...) but all that means the rays are going to october!!!  


it has been a beautiful, exciting, crazy month, filled with swaps and homework and lots of espn watching. i'm ending september at the beach with fifty of my beautiful alpha chi sisters. i can't think of a better way to slide into fall. 

"I can transform you."

lately i've been worrying about where i'm going to go with my life, and wondering if i'm in the right major. i know, i've only been in college for barely two months, but i already feel like architecture may not be for me- or rather, that i'm not good enough for architecture. i've thought about other options, but i've decided not to do anything until i at least attempt summer design studio next summer. but that doesn't keep me from worrying about it. i'm so nervous that when God DOES reveal His will to me, i won't know whether it's from Him or just from my mental creation or desires.
last night at ONE at church of the highlands, brad jones from passion city church in atlanta spoke. he used romans 12:1 as the starting point for his message. i got a little distracted on my bible app, and ended up reading the new living translation of this chapter. i've heard romans 12 bunches of times, but last night, verse 2 really stood out to me.


don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.


as soon as i read this, sitting in the very back corner of a massive worship service, i felt such comfort and an incredible sense of clarity. i have to let God take over my thoughts, my feelings, and eventually, He will place in my heart what His will is for me. i read this verse probably twenty times, over and over, and i'll keep repeating it as long as i can.

forever reign.

You are good, You are good
 When there's nothing good in me
 You are love, You are love 
 On display for all to see
 You are light, You are light 
 When the darkness closes in
 You are hope, You are hope
 You have covered all my sin
You are peace, You are peace
 When my fear is crippling
 You are true, You are true
 Even in my wandering
 You are joy, You are joy 
 You're the reason that I sing
 You are life, You are life, 
 In You death has lost its sting
Oh, I’m running to Your arms, 
 I’m running to Your arms
 The riches of Your love
 Will always be enough
 Nothing compares to Your embrace
 Light of the world forever reign
You are more, You are more
 Than my words will ever say
 You are Lord, You are Lord
 All creation will proclaim
 You are here, You are here
 In Your presence I'm made whole
 You are God, You are God
 Of all else I'm letting go
Oh, I’m running to Your arms
 I’m running to Your arms
 The riches of Your love
 Will always be enough
 Nothing compares to Your embrace
 Light of the world, forever reign.
My heart will sing no other Name:
 Jesus, Jesus!
"Forever Reign", Hillsong.

eighteen.

five days ago, i officially celebrated being alive for eighteen years!! i made it!
i was thinking about how we get tons of great presents for our birthday (like for me, the september issues and a fab AXO comfort colors sweatshirt), and we say thank you, but i want to do more.

so, world, here is a list of eighteen things that I am forever thankful to have in my life. (and ps i'm sorry it's so long.)

1. Jesus Christ. thank you for loving me, saving me, and forgiving me every time i mess up. nothing i do now or ever could do would justify all that love and mercy, but that's what makes it so beautiful.

2. two ridiculously great parents, and the two cutest sisters alive. my family is probably the coolest ever. actually, we're pretty uncool sometimes, like when we visit civil war battlefields or sing songs loudly in five different keys, but that's why i love us. we have quirky traditions, too many inside jokes, and some unbelievably great memories.


3. dance. i am a firm believer that everyone has their own form of expression. it's a second language, one that makes sense to you, and moves you, and speaks to you in ways that other things don't. mine is dance. i love it, i soak in as much of it as i can, and occasionally i stalk youtube for hours watching new pieces. i have always had issues with expressing myself in words (blogging=outside my comfort zone), but dance always makes sense for me. it says things that my mouth can't, and for that i am so grateful.


4. pinterest. obviously.. everyone should have one. and hey, hit me up! http://pinterest.com/nataliepaige98/


5. laughter. it's so good. i like baby laughs, awkward laughs (we all do it), and laughing until i cry. it's best when shared with people you love.


6. fridays. everything is better on fridays. just knowing that you made it through the week, that tomorrow is the weekend, which hopefully comes with sleeping late, pancakes, and football. at my house, we order pizza on friday nights and then sit on a quilt in our den while we eat it and watch tv. each week at that moment, i am just positive that there is literally no better feeling in the world.


7. being a girl. that sounds weird, but it's true! i can unashamedly love shoes, and girl movies, and channing tatum. i can also still love boy things like espn and baseball and being drama-free. see, it's weird if boys like girl things.. that's why i like being a girl! best of both worlds, sho nuff.


8. shauna niequist's books.  best things ever written, no doubt. cold tangerines captured me first, and changed my life. then bittersweet taught me all new lessons, very different lessons than those of cold tangerines, but it was still perfect in a whole other way. check it: http://www.shaunaniequist.com


9. living in the south. true story: i used to want nothing more than to live in new york city... and then i visited new york city. don't get me wrong, i LOVE it. borderline obsessed. i would visit every month if i could. but it's just too northern for me. i love crazy passionate college football, having sweet tea readily available, and obviously i am a dedicated southern living reader. i am so obsessed with anything old south, like rich little suburban neighborhoods with perfect yards and giant trees (see: the blind side or this commercial)


10. diet sunkist. if you've never had it, try it. then this will be self-explanatory.


11. music. currently, drew & ellie holcomb, adele, and mumford+sons are at the top of my list. (DMB has a permanent place there as well.)


12. fall. i guess this a little biased, since it's fall now, but everything is just better with fall weather. the colors are brighter, the clothes are cuter, and football, obvs.


13. being only three hours from home. i am somewhat in love with the campus of auburn university. (until i hear someone mention "a bammer" or "that other school"... in those moments i feel quite out of place, as i am a tuscaloosa girl til i die.) but seriously, it's gorgeous here, and i'm far enough away to be independent, but not too far to keep me from going home almost every weekend. (i'm that girl.. the one that makes people at church start wondering if i ever actually left...) i'm in such a good place right now.


14. anthropologie. i don't have to explain this, do i?


15. bright lights, big city. i've never lived in a city with more than 200,000 people in it, yet i am absolutely in love with big cities. i've been to (and loved) nashville, atlanta, new york, and washington DC. currently my dream destinations are baltimore, austin, and boston. i just love any big city. i love the skyline, the buzz, everything.


16. other people's blogs. i love being inspired. it's like a high for me. although i do not actually know what that would be like, but i really really really love blog inspirations. some of my favorites are a diary of little things and curiosities, lindsay letters, and una bella vita. i don't know any of these people, they're not paying me to link this, i just really like their stuff.


17. target. for some people, this might seem dumb, but i have also never lived in a city with a target until now. (I really am incredibly sheltered.) i just love it so much! it's like they do everything walmart does, only cuter. brilliant.


18. channing tatum. i just really, really like him, okay? :)

just do it

I have always been an overanalyzer. I'm indecisive, I think too hard, and I'm learning that sometimes, I really just need to act on that little feeling deep in my gut. today it was about asking a friend to dinner. no, i thought, she's probably really busy, or she won't want to hang out with me. so I never sent the text. luckily for me, two hours later, she sent me a text about the very same thing! and it turned out to be a great night, one with good food, funny friends, and getting just a little bit lost.

so this is my advice to myself, and to you. just do it. send that text, or make that encouraging call to a dear friend on a lonely day. buy that diet sunkist you're craving so badly. wear those wild sparkly shoes, even if it's just a random tuesday. do it. those are the little things that make life gorgeous.


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image via flickr

friendship in the rain

if I had a penny for every person who has told me in the past 6 months that requesting random roommates was a bad idea, i would be a bazillionaire (almost). but I wouldn't trade all that for the amazing roomies God has blessed me with.

tonight, my sweet roommate, friend, and possible clone Morgan and I decided we were just too tired of eating frozen dinners, so we walked down Magnolia to Chickfila, keeping in mind that we had exactly 40 minutes until the SYTYCD finale. on the way there, it started sprinkling, but no big deal, right? ha. we ordered our food to go, stepped out the door, and... into the POURING rain.

normal people probably wouldn't choose to spend their thursday nights hiking uphill in the rain, but we jumped right in. even though Morgan had never watched one episode of the show, she knew how much I wanted to see it. so we got back to our room, soaking wet, just minutes before 7. success.

that, to me, is real friendship. walking in the rain to get something that someone else wants. never mind the fact that I've only known this precious girl for five days. I really feel so, so blessed to have someone like this share my little corner suite at the end of our long, long hallway. roomie friendships are the best.

what was left of my poor little bag after our rain trek.

being a big kid

this post is coming from my brand new bedroom on the campus of Auburn University...woohoo! today is the beginning of a massive life change, one that will come with new friends, different classes, and happy lessons learned (probably some not so happy ones too, but I'm prepared for that).

this past weekend has been a strange one, knowing that it would be my last as a live-at-homer. time flew by at some points, and it mercifully slowed down at others. Friday, I met some friends- my very best math friends- at the high school to deliver a gift to our precious, brilliant, hilarious teacher. It felt fitting in a way, like we were closing out those remarkable four years as an incredibly close group. But, as of next week, all five of us will be in Auburn, so hopefully there will be some reunion lunches! Friday night, the Johnson fam at pizza on our quilt in the den, as is tradition. It wasn't that much different than any other Friday night for us, but it felt perfect. We watched tv, told stories that made me cry with laughter, and spent all night on the couches. Saturday was spent packing, finishing the basement painting we've been working on all summer, and then, finally, frozen yogurt for dinner. yesssss. 


And then came today. Moving Day. Sunday (although it didn't feel like one). We left home at 5:30 AM- not always the best way to start the day, but it was really okay! spent all day organizing, moving, and trying to make a gallon's worth of clutter fit into a quart sized pitcher.... It's still a work in progress for sure.

So this weekend has been one of changes, love, and new roommates. For now, I'm completely content where I am: under my fabulous anthro quilt, watching espn in bed for the first time EVER, and being thankful for all of these opportunities, and the ones that are yet to come.

a little scary...

for weeks now, I've been wanting to start a blog, mostly because of the inspiration I get from others' blogs. what held me back? I'm not sure, but it doesn't matter now, because here it is, world! I'm not sure if a single person will see or read this, but honestly, just putting my thoughts out there represents some sort of priceless liberation for me. So here it goes... comments, criticism, and suggestions are always appreciated!