this semester has not started out easy.
i feel like i've been more stressed in the last two weeks combined than i was all last year.
(that might be a dramatic overstatement...)
ahh well.
but of course it is looking up.
it always looks up.
God always has everything in control.
i'm relearning how to bring Him glory by simply enjoying him...
so let's giggle and smile together...
maybe each of us should write down today 10 things about God that make us smile...
enjoy the sunshine...tell someone you love them, mkay?

i apoligize for being so elusive this summer...

my heart is so very excited ab0ut this year...
i'm not real sure yet what all the excitement is about...
some possible explanations..

• my room has been painted bright blue....you should come see it...so lovely
• i am living with a few of my very best friends...lots of cuddling.
• there are 2 kitchens in our new house
• we have a puppy!!!
• it's my senior year...BALL STATE!
• there's the possibility of making so many new friends this year...there are so many beautiful people in muncie!

and any number of things really....
my heart is giddy...
you wanna dance a happy little jig with me...?

sherbert!!!

i eat rainbow sherbert and i'm reminded of being at my grandparent's house in the summer.
i like that feeling...remembering.
two completely different moments in time..
with very similar emotions..
contentment...knowing you're surrounded by people you love and who love you.
it's the start of the 5th week of LT...
and it's been a hard summer...
hard because God is teaching me stuff ...
and it hurts....
but i'm growing...
and the Spirit is filling me..
because i can tell you one thing...this joy is not my own that's for sure.
but i'm baking cookies now...sitting across the table from my good friend, patrick....
and this is a great day...
tell me about yours....

dear virginia beach...i have a crush on you.

so it's been a few days....4 to be exact.
and i have fallen back in love with virginia beach.
saturday i came in with so many apprehensions and a nervous feeling in my stomach.
but once i got here, smelled the ocean air and saw the people i would be spending my summer with i felt so at home.
this is where i'm supposed to be this summer...no doubt in my mind.
i have laughed so much in the past few days...
my heart doesn't know what to do with itself.
i can come back with more details later...

just know that the hotel i'm working at has a tortoise that roams the hotel freely...
tremendous.

summer......i can hear it.

today is my last full day at home before i head off for LT.
i leave for muncie tomorrow morning, spending the day packing and hanging out with a few dear friends before i head to Virginia for ten weeks...
can you even believe that the summer is back again?
summer is one of my very favorite things and this summer is no exception.
some things that i am looking forward to this summer

• walking on the beach
• wearing my new polka dot bathing suit
• spending another summer in Virginia Beach
• having God stretch me and pull me outside my comfort zone
• having pen pals...i will have so many letters to write this summer
• wearing dresses the majority of the days this summer....mmmmm.
• picnics on the beach
• new VT friends
• basking in the presence of old friends
• baking up a storm for the people i love

yes, it will be a good summer.
and this nervous anticipation is quickly becoming exciting...
summer i am excited for you....

it's up to you...new york.

today...
i am my mom's librarian's assistant.
helping her with inventory.
listening to frank sinatra...
and it reminds me of my favorite movie...
you've got mail...
mmmmm...

"i want to wake up in a city that never sleeps..."

dear new york...some day, some day i will make it to you.

the boy was an old cat...the girl was a clever mouse

today has been a collection of so many wonderful things.
starting off the day with a bowl of oatmeal is a pretty good sign that it will be lovely.
we finally took our christmas tree down...
don't judge us...
the tree morphed from a christmas to valentines day to st. patrick's day to cinco de mayo tree...
but today was the day...
he needed to be taken down.
so it came down, unceremoniously...and our living room looked bare.
ahh well...just room for excitement for the tree's adventures next year, right?
i headed home with my dear friend layne...introducing her to the wondrous land that is marion, IN.
after filling ourselves with mexican food and sonic we ventured to my home... which we decided could easily be labeled a "homestead" with the amount of barns we have...
today has been a great day for my heart.
smiles, laughter, calm drives through the country, baking of granola and black bean brownies.
it was a day that promised numerous adventures for the rest of the summer....
get excited...