Mackenzie Standing

Today is my 20th birthday. While in the grand scheme of life, birthdays really aren't a big deal, I still like the opportunity they give to reflect on where God has taken me. And so, since I love lists and today is kind of all about me, I present to you a list of the top twenty things I've learned over the last twenty years: 1. Twenty years is really no time at all. 2. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life--for me and for you. My life is so much better with Him as priority number one. 3. After Jesus, family is the most important thing. 4. Sometimes, you get really lucky and have friends that become family. 5. Popcorn over the stove beats the microwave stuff everyday.       6. Oftentimes, God calls you to participate in His plans in ways that you really don't want to. However, oftentimes you find yourself liking what He's called you to much more than expected. Which leads me to... 7. Montana's not as bad as it seems. 8. Travel is fantastic, but th...

There's a book that goes almost everywhere with me. The pink cover is decorated with textured swirls and a brown pleather stripe; my name is embossed on it in shiny silver letters. Its life of travel is evident by the way the edges are slowly turning gray, some pages more crinkled that they were previously. They testify to a life of getting packed in purses and backpacks and thumbed through around campfires and in classrooms. It's a book that brings so much peace and joy, yet one I do not love nearly enough. Open it up and you'll find many stories. There's the story of my life as told through the mementoes tucked into the pages. A paper crown from a Christmas cracker. A letter from a dear woman of God written after she prayed for me. A notecard full of all of the InterVarsity announcements I presented sometime months ago. A square with Ephesians 2:10 printed on bright green card stock, passed out at church to remind us that we are, most definitely, God's masterp...

One of the greatest blessings of this past semester has been this woman right here: My roommate, Bri, is one of the best people on this planet. She's compassionate, listens to me when I need someone to talk to, and brings the spunk to our roommate relationship. I've so loved growing closer to her this last semester. She says some darn funny things, too, which I've written down to blackmail her with. Or, at the very least, add to my toast at her wedding. There were too many to wait until the end of the year to post them, and so, without further ado, I present to you the Fall 2013 Roommate Quote Book (with some commentary from other awesome members of our community): Bri: You know what I need? I need practice wearing a corset. Just “huaugh” and that’s it. I’m going to go order one. I just need to learn how to breathe properly. Or improperly; whatever it is. Bri: And don’t try to undress me, because that’s not cool. Mac: I’ve had so much Emergen-C today, I ...

I love being home. There's something about Wenatchee that is so inexplicably Wenatchee. Maybe it's the years I've spent, maybe it's the memories I've formed, maybe it's the people that plant their lives deep here and become as great a part of the landscape in my mind as the Columbia River and Saddlerock--probably, it's a combination of all three--but there is something here that makes me never want to leave. I come home and feel like I'm wrapped in a warm brown hug that smells of sagebrush and tastes like Stemilt apples and Caffe Mela coffee and looks a whole lot like love. It's in an attempt to counteract tonight's warm gushy feelings, though, that my pessimistic head lets other emotions creep in: Dread. Doubt. Sadness. I don't want to leave; I never do. I'm 36 hours from having to say goodbye and yet my heart is already protesting the pain; I'm only in Bozeman again for two weeks and yet somehow that seems like forever. Maybe it w...

First of all, let it be known that I never want this blog to just be a venting space, because my life is by no means terrible. In fact, it's been pretty awesome lately-- so much so that in writing this post, I'm interrupting another draft about how much I love my friends and all they've been teaching me. However, sometimes life just seems a little more complicated, and a little more overwhelming, and I just need space to think. I'm an introverted internal processor, but sometimes even I can't figure out what I'm thinking. Tonight is one of those nights where my head is wrapped up in tangled messes of mushy spaghetti and I'm having a hard time grasping onto just one noodle. Sigh. And so here, my friends, is my attempt to make something organized out of chaos--or pasta. The noodles that I know: 1. My emotions and I have been on a joyride this last week. Sometimes we were up, sometimes we were down, sometimes we took very random and unexpected turns that res...

For those of you that don't know, today is Canada's Thanksgiving holiday. And for those of you who also don't know, there are three things I love in this world: Canada, Thanksgiving, and turkey. Okay, so that was a little tongue-in-cheek, but I do  really love Canada, and after Easter, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Since my pastor's family is Canadian, and since I have so many Canadian friends, I frequently celebrated the holiday in Wenatchee and continue to lovingly force my friends to celebrate with me in Bozeman. Today I thought I'd honor the day with a list of things I'm thankful for. Some are serious, some are more trivial, but believe me, I have an entire alphabet full! A) Apples. I love  apples- partially for the taste, but mostly for the small way that they transport me home. I might just be an apple snob who refuses to eat anything but extra-fancies from Washington (I might. Or I just am). B) Bri! I seriously have the best roommate ever. I ...

MSU has deemed this year "The Year of Engaged Leadership." On the website , this is described as a year that "highlights the many events and activities of the university that help develop the leadership skills of students, faculty, staff and community members... Each month will focus on a single characteristic of leadership, including commitment to personal growth, listening, empathy, awareness, healing, foresight, conceptualization, stewardship, persuasion and building community." In a nutshell, it means our school is bringing in many, many speakers and activities to try and... well, get us engaged in leadership. The joke's on MSU, though, because I had already planned on spending this year in "engaged leadership." No, that does not mean I'll be attempting a "ring-by-spring" ploy, despite the fact that I recently received a four page text message describing how to catch a boyfriend (which was quite hilarious, but still). Instead, it me...