it's wednesday...can you even believe it!?!?!?!

my heart is dancing with excitement today....

its skipping.

its basking in the sunlight.

today is a good day and God has done an unbelievable job of refreshing me these last couple days and making His pursuit of me so obvious.

today muncie is bursting with sunshine.

and it is absolutely breathtaking... it makes me want to climb a tree..

or dance a jig...

or litter the sidewalk with chalk drawings...

or set up a lemonade stand...

or just hug people....

i got to talk with 3 of my most favorite virginia tech-ers...and my heart has not settled since i hung up my phone.

yesterday, i talked with my dear texan friend...and was reminded of what it's like when someone is so filled with faith...

we talked about dreams and what we think about the future...

i so value her opinion...

so now i'm determined...

i will dream...and satan can just deal with the fact that he's not winning this one....not ever again...

as you may have read in the last couple posts this semester has been ridiculously stressful.

satan has been attacking my heart, and often times i've just given up resisting...and given in to a whole lot of funks...

i've finally put my foot down, and given him an active "absolutely not..."

because this year...

this year has so much potential...

far too much to let a bunch of measly funks ruin.

so lets share in this delightful autumn sunshine...

things you should know...

1. i'm sorry that i have neglected blogging...as sad as this may sound... i think my heart has been missing it.

2. this has been a difficult semester (emotionally, relationally, spiritually)... and i have cried so much more than i'm used to

3. the afore-mentioned crying has been extremely helpful... and although i used to hate crying... the feeling i get after a good cry may be my new favorite thing.

4. God is doing a work in my heart and my life... i am positive that the end result will be mind-blowing (to me, at least) but this has been so much harder than i imagined

5. i have been blessed with the greatest friends on this planet.... and that may seem super sentimental... but they should know that they are stellar....

6. i have a boyfriend that cares for my heart in a way that i never knew was possible...i'm so thankful that God has given him the heart that he has

7.....this year has so much potential...please remind me to always look for that.

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....