everybody wants to be somebody fancy.

is it really sunday?

that's a little hard for me to believe.

it's only been a week, but i can already feel my heart changing.

i like that feeling.

it's been hard for me to stop smiling (for a number of reasons) but i could definitely get used to that.

work yesterday was a bit rough. the girl i was supposed to be serving with called in, so i had the inside restaurant all to myself. nearly overwhelming, but God has a stellar way of calming my uneasy heart.

the evening completely made up for my day frustration, though.

i went to a matt nathanson concert with karin and alana. fun fun fun!

and then got some ben & jerry's. what a great dinner, right?

the night was made complete though with some beach time with 3 pretty great friends.

the beach at night is so great....mmmm.

i don't work 'til 4 today, so my morning has been pretty chill thus far.

rode my bike on the boardwalk (my heart swells with every smile i catch)

stopped at starbucks for some quiet time and a green tea latte.

how are you spending your morning?

i hope it makes you smile.

hmm...i want.

my heart is speaking quicker than my lips.

i went on a bike ride this morning.
it was wonderful.
so wonderful, in fact, that i could not stop smiling.
i like being out semi-early in the morning here at virginia beach.
all the ummmm..."seniors" for lack of a better term... are out, walking their dogs, walking with friends and they're just so...pleasant.
i want to grow old like them...they give me hope.
getting "old" has always been quite scary to me...
but these people are beautiful...
on my bike ride i stopped at this adorable little coffee shop...kind of hidden in a strip mall.
i had one of the greatest vanilla lattes i've ever tasted.
i think i'm gonna try to frequent this place.
i haven't had coffee in a week..it was a wonderful reunion.

grow sideburns.

so today was our first 'project day'.

with my lack of expectations going into the day, i would say it definitely is ending as a success.

started off with some tasty pancakes provided by the staff.

continued at the beach (where i somehow managed to burn only my left lower leg...awesome?)

some lunch with my housemates...have i told you how great they are?

you should meet them.

then some evangelism training....interesting.

i don't think the word 'evangelism' leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth anymore.

then back for some dinner of homemade pizza with my house...and it was some of the greatest pizza i've ever had...let me tell you.

mmmmhhhmmm.

i got to hang out with some pretty neat guys this evening.

that was nice...a good change of pace, it aleviated a bit of how much i miss my brother.

i started to really miss my friends back home for the first time today...hhhmmmppphhh.

my heart was a bit sad for a while...but we're all good now.

now i get to look forward to a run in the morning, and some coffee... wooohoooo.

in the meantime you should check marc johns out...

here's a little taste.

wednesday has a way with me.

people make me happy.

i'm steadily realizing this more and more.

whether they mean to or not, there's always a little something that makes me smirk.

you should keep your eyes open...you never know what you'll encounter.

i am quickly falling in love with my housemates here at LT.

they are all just so many kinds of fantastic.

i'm glad we all got stuck together.

after grocery shopping...karin, katie d. and me came home to find that cookies were just freshly baked...and that is quite possibly one of the greatest smells to ever bless my little nose.

unfortunately...having a job makes me think that i now have a right to spend money...

erk. i wish my mind didn't automatically think this..

but this camera is just all sorts of tempting. (via urbanoutfitters.com)

some things...

i was told something wonderful today.

i'm still running over it in my head.

...

my hearts in all sorts of places right now.

silly heart, sit still for a second.

i like my job. so far anyways.

giving kids ice cream and charging it to their parents' account is a pretty comical task..to me anyways.

i get to ride my bike to work tomorrow, i'm all kinds of excited about this.

seeing all the people on their bikes around the beach makes my feet antsy for pedals.

i wish it was easier for me to put how i feel into words.

hmm...for now, just know...this pictures makes me giggle.

from http://overflowing.tumblr.com/

it's true...

from: galadarling

so...i thought i wasn't a beach person.

i was very wrong...

somtimes being wrong is a great thing.

i ran the board walk last night with some new virginia tech friends.

and i finally found someone that runs at my pace...so high five for that.

we were both pretty excited about it.

weaving in and out of groups of people strolling along, with all the night lights on around us...it was all kinds of wonderful, and i look forward to many more of these.

i've got sunshine...

oh my word.
i was such an 12-year-old girl yesterday, and it was fantastic.
another day with a best friend made for a giddiness in my heart that i'm still feeling.
we jumped on the trampoline (in a dress, mind you)
baked cupcakes for some friends
rocked the drums on rock band
rode bikes and visited our old elementary school.
strangely it looks much smaller than it used to...hmm
we felt a bit like alice in her little wonderland.
overall it was a day for the books.
i'm experiencing grace and love this week like i've never felt before.
sunshine does great things...ya know?

oh. p.s. on a whim yesterday i purchased the new mewithoutyou album, "It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All a Dream! It's Alright!"
they've outdone themselves. i keep listening to it, over and over again.
and i'm going to continue to listen to it as i sit outside, finishing up some bracelets...mmmmm

signature of divine

do you ever have those days that you wish could just last forever?
...
these past couple days have been full of moments that i wouldn't have minded freezing and revelling in.
starting with seeing some of the greatest people i know on saturday night.
i like sitting back and seeing how different everyone is that God has put together to make up my second family.
my heart can't contain it.

sunday was perfect in so many ways.
mini road trip in the ridiculous deisel truck with two lovely friends.
a community that gave me hope.
laughter...and a strange enjoyment of the country music arin sang.
holding hands, praying before lunch...mmmmm. (nothing makes me feel at home like that does)
croquet again with the family...i know, ridiculous.
being able to make my brother laugh (i feel like i'm legitimately funny when he laughs at my "wit"...thanks for humoring me, brian)
a full night's sleep.

and then there was today.
and i'm sitting here now with sunburnt shoulders
...the promise of freckles on my nose
...freshly baked banana bread
...grandma's blueberry pancakes
...sore legs from an evening bike ride.

life is good. remember to live it, mkay?

sometimes i meet people that amaze me.
people that live out what they believe, drawing you in with their passion.
today i met one of these people.
his name is heath and he spoke the good news beautifully.
i went to church with my best friend today at her church in huntington.
the 509.
and i couldn't stop smiling.
it's hard to explain, i so wish you could've been there.
i wish you could've heard the message.
simple messages always get me.
repentance. freedom. bondage.
it was a heavy morning, but it was exactly what i needed to hear.
i wish i could be in community with the 509 every sunday morning this summer...
but...
just know...
you cannot be free while oppressing someone else...

i can't stop thinking about this.
i pray that i won't stop thinking about this.

love you way more than i know how to...

just got back from coffee with a friend.
i like being forced to reflect on the year.
i never realize how much i've changed 'til i relay my life to someone i haven't seen since january.
i'm glad i'm not who i was in august.
change has done well by me.

come down from the mountain, you have been gone too long.

summer break... started with a bang, i guess?
my first night home i got to spend with 4 of my closest friends.
we somehow ended up at steak 'n shake with one of the greatest waiters i've ever had.
i love seeing people at work when they like their job, it's encouraging.
thank you, mystery waiter. you are a diamond in the rough.
we continued our evening at kaeleigh's house, where we attempted to watch "father of the bride" - one of my favorites...but i didn't even stay awake long enough to see martin short... disappointing, but not surprising for you that know me well.
we made banana pancakes the next morning (and pretended like it was the weekend, see what i did there?) ... my heart gets all excited when i get to make breakfast with people i love.

mother's day was a success.
brian seemed to be over his "swine flu" - at least my mom was convinced he had it.
so the day was full of giggling, picture taking and other relative nonsense that ensues whenever we all are together.
my family is pretty bithcin'.
you should know that.

monday was a full day.
tree of life in the morning with my lovely mom, coffee and tea, and faster internet.
walmart had a bundle of fabric on sale...i spent too much money, but i'm excited to make stuff.
yesterday started my summer habit of making and drinking lemonade like it's oxygen.
is it just me or does summer make everyone else want to drink lemonade from a floral pitcher.
in the evening i convinced my sister and mum to go on a bike ride, i'm so persuasive.

today has been a lazy day.
i did do some laundry and hang it out on the clothesline, that was fun.
probably one of the few things i enjoy about living in the country.
i've been spending most of my day reading this book that my sister got me hooked on, "The Mysterious Benedict Society".
i love having time to read. i have a pile of books i need to dive into...
so on that note, i'm heading outside to read.
enjoy the sun. mkay?

...and the worry if laughter is on your lips...

my heart's all a-flutter.
finals are complete.
i don't think i've ever studied such a small amount for finals before.
never again will i be so dismissive with it...hopefully.
all that's left to do is pack (gross), work, and be with friends.

this morning i was getting my stuff together for work
only to realize that i left my shirt at home when i did my laundry this weekend.
awesome.
go me.

please don't tire of me talking about him...
but i'm listening to "funeral dress" by w.fitzsimmons.
i would so very much like to see him play live.
maybe someday...
but for now...
...
"i can wait for you....."

enjoy the day.
do something ridiculous, because it's thursday, and that's what thursday's for, right?

i didn't want to wake you up, but i really wanted to show you something...

so...i'm supposed to be finishing up my written final for social work...but...
i can't focus, again.
i keep watching the trailer for "where the wild things are"..
i may be more excited about that than i am for harry potter...just maybe.
my eyes keep drifting closed...i may still be a bit asleep.
maybe i'll take a nap today, that would just be wonderful, especially if it starts raining.
i was trying to find something to write about, to consume more time that could be used to study.. and while looking at one of my favorite blogs just now..
i think i may have found something...

twenty things that make me oh-so-happy.
(in no specific order)
1. coffee in goodwill mugs.
2. rainy day naps.
3. holding hands.
4. wearing a dress while being barefoot.
5. learning how to sew from my grandma. she may be what i will miss most this summer. i wish i could just carry her around with me and introduce her to everyone i meet. she's just fabulous. i so badly want to be like her.
6. wasting time with my friends.
7. hearing my friends talk about what they've been learning. i like seeing the sparkle in their eyes.
8. taking pictures...memory making.
9. william fitzsimmons' voice...i feel like i ramble on about him way too much, but it's only because i want to convince you to like him as much as i do...
10. making people smile.
11. making lists
12. boys that play the harmonica, cello or piano
13. sharing oranges...:)
14. picnics
15. puppies.
16. breakfast with people i love
17. making pancakes for my friends
18. brightly colored kitchens
19. watching musicals with my sister.
20. embroidery, sewing machines and trying to knit.

and we will put the lonesome on the shelf...

you're highly inconvenient.
you should know that...God has a funny way of choosing the inconvenient ones.
gah. this is not what i meant...

one of my best friends got a dog this weekend.
i'm in love. and i may steal it.

yesterday i stumbled upon william fitzsimmon's new video for "if you would come back home"
oooffffffff. i like being surprised by things. how wonderful.
i also heard ingrid michaelson's "you and i" for the first time and i cannot stop listening to it.
with clever lines like "but baby how we spoon like no one else"
how could you not smirk..

this week i've found it's much more important to me to be with my friends than study.
seeing as how my accounting final (my most important) is tomorrow this may prove to be a bad idea.
ahh well. i would much rather make memories than look over notes.

one of my brother's good friends got married this weekend.
the pictures made me swoon.
me oh my.

apron friday?

oh.

my.

word.

this apron from anthropologie is outstanding.

hmmm.

the tea cups..

do you see them?

it's nearly perfect.

nearly.