ugg...so i guess it's monday again.

it's nearly 3 in the afternoon and i'm still wiping sleep from my eyes.
silly rain...you're making me drag.
my heart misses the sunshine and warmth of last week.
i will just hope that tomorrow will be better and i can live it well.
my heart's feeling a bit heavy today...
i don't know if i can blame it all on the weather.
silly stress.
well, in light of this i should probably think of things that make me smile...
so here i go.
...
1. Friday night...picnic, climbing trees, the dairy dream and friends
2. The fact that last week was beautiful and warm every day...makes me yearn for the summer in Virginia
3. the dinosaur shaped mac 'n cheese that david and i had for lunch one day last week
4. the fact that meredith brought me peanut butter last night, without knowing there were going to be oreos to dip in it...wonderful
5. hanging out with my family yesterday
6. anticipating my trip to Virginia Tech this weekend
7. my bright green rainboots
8. the truth that Andrea shared with me last night, "God wants rest for us..." and i so am in need of that rest right now
9. the possibility of giving a speech on cupcakes...yep, i think i just may
10. the oatmeal with peanut butter, honey and bananas that i had for breakfast...

so see..i have nothing to complain about.
my heart has been filled, and i need to be joyful.
smile with me?

the girl next to me in the library just opened up a container of brownies...
the heavenly smell of chocolate just will not escape me...
i'm questioning whether it's socially acceptable to ask if i can have one of her many brownies..
what a tease.

image

it has been an absolutely beautiful day.
did you see the sun? did you greet him with a hearty hello this morning?
i sure hope you welcomed him...so he feels like he can stay.

worn out shoes

this is lovely.
it's making my heart smile right now...
i hope it makes you smile as well...

"there's a hole in the roof for the stars to fall in
i gather them up for you
fill up my pockets, start walking again
bringing these stars to you
bringing these stars to you
bringing these stars to you again..."
-joe purdy "worn out shoes"

again with this smirk.

i feel like i've been neglecting this this semester...
i should probably change that.
today it's sunny in muncie.
my heart hasn't settled down since i first saw the sun this morning through my cracked blinds.
yes, muncie. you got it goin' on today.
i know that valentine's day has come and gone...
but when i look at the fake evergreen in our living room, still decorated for valentines...
i can't help but feel giddy.
something you should know about me is..
i don't need a holiday to talk about love.
or tell people how dear they are to me.
so i'm going to take this opportunity today.

things i love today:
1. the warmth of the sunshine. i was outside without a hat or mittens and didn't feel cold.
i can almost feel spring.
2. playing the "let's guess where the snow isn't slush" game as i walk to class.
3. playing fetch with my cat... yes. the cat plays fetch. be impressed
4. the vegetarian chili made last night that was reheated to be the perfect lunch
5. a handful of semi-sweet chocolate chips
6. the smell of the newspaper sitting next to me
7. listening to the glee soundtrack. make fun all you want, i can't get enough of it.
8. goldfish....
9. the idea of making banana chocolate chip muffins next week
10. mocassins....

what do you love today?
what's making your heart dance.
whatever it is..i hope that you aren't able to wipe a silly grin from your face.

there's something about the first day of a semester that makes me feel like i'm in elementary school again.
it may be the "first day of school" picture my house took this morning.
or the tremendous orange i just bit into.
this is monday.
it's a gift.
pardon me while i go live it.

what do you say to taking chances?...

so....i haven't been here much recently...
and by recently i mean i haven't been here all break.
i kind of expected to venture here a lot, but that hasn't been the case.
with that in mind, and my tea (with honey) by my side, get ready for there is much to tell.

i have experienced so much love, joy and laughter in this break.
God is good, and he is caring for my heart so well.
the highlight of my break (which i expected) was the conference i just recently got back from.
after leaving my friends at LT this summer, I had this conference to look forward to, knowing that this would be when i could once again hug and cuddle with them.
silly tears of joy. you should've seen me when i saw my dearest karin, tricia, brett, ryan, eric, kristin and josh...there were skips and hops, and my heart was dancing like crazy.
my heart felt whole once again, this family that was given to me this summer was reunited.
these are people that remind me how terribly important it is to live life to the fullest.
so here's to you, my loves: for the escalator rides, spinning hugs, ice cream, giggles, beds shared, surprise trips and glimpses of what heaven is sure to be like.
my heart so badly wants everyone to experience community like this.
this is something that i am realizing more and more that i am most passionate about.
this is what life is supposed to look like, the life that Jesus speaks of us living to the fullest.
and i know that i more often than not fall short of this life, but know that i am trying...so please keep me accountable in this.

but hey, it's a new year.
so let's wake up together, mkay?