girl, put your record on.

Some days I just want to sit in my room with a record player turning, today being one of those days. One of my friends recently got one, and has thus encouraged my growing desire for the sweet little deal. A record player is definitely my next purchase.

chance encounters.

Don't you love it when you run into/start talking to a "random" person, and you quickly start seeing events unfolding that aren't so "random"?? Well this was the case for me and my friends this past weekend in Memphis. I remember the night before we were leaving just praying that the Lord would bless our conversations. Little did I know what the Lord had in store for me. Haha, makes me laugh.

So on the way to Memphis we were all talking about how we have no idea what we are doing after we graduate and it was a general consensus- it's totally the Lord, we have NO idea. Personally, I have just been recently stripped from what "I" wanted to do, which is case in point, I. The Lord has sort of stripped me from everything I thought I wanted. It's kind of weird spot to be in after years of "knowing" I guess. So cool at the same time though.

Therefore, we rode the trolley around downtown and decided to get off and walk for awhile. Funny. So, we are walking down the street and taking in pictures in front of these awesome doors, when a guy named Ian walks up (by the way those were his doors ha). We get to talking to him and he tells us he has a friend that has art gallery around the corner. [side note: He is not sketchy at all, so we're not like following a rando to a weird place].

We then walk into this beautiful art gallery, and we meet EPHRIAM (the artist):
He is a little 5ish foot man from Nigeria, with the most contagious smile ever. He is beaming with life. He begins talking to us about one of the pieces he has done, which symbolizes the sacredness of life, and taking each moment in for the beauty that it is, new life. Then, he starts talking about purpose (funny, in that we were just talking about it right? maybe not.). He says, "you know each of you have been given a different purpose, but to add to a global purpose because it is not about us.

Here is sweet Ephriam, with his beautiful painting about the sacredness of life.

[In my head] At this moment, I'm thinking- this can't be real. We met this random person person literally on the side of the street, and now here we are in this art gallery, with this little Nigerian pouring truth into us.

He goes on to talk about how we have got to find what makes us come alive inside and do it- that burning thing inside of us. We end up talking to this little man a little short of 45 minutes. I was filled with joy & thankfulness. He provided clarity for me at a time I was so confused. That's how the Lord works. He is faithful- even in the small things. Thanking the Lord for speaking to us in the most unlikely of places- we all couldn't help but just talk about it the rest of the day-- we were filled to overflow.

Not to mention, I wish I could just list out the entire weekend, because there other conversations with people that we met, that we're just so confirming of the Lord's faithfulness. He will speak, if we just wait on Him. His plans aren't ours, and I'm so glad they aren't!

the civil wars.

Last night a group of friends & I traveled to Birmingham to see The Civil Wars at Workplay. Also playing was Madi Diaz, and Peter Gronewald. They were all fantastic. However The Civil Wars, Joy Williams and John Paul White, were outrageously good. They create a sort-of magic when they perform together, you can't take your eyes away, and at times you might want to remind yourself to breathe. Talking about them doesn't do them justice. You must see them live. I'm excited to hear they are coming to Waverly, AL close to Auburn so I will be making yet another trip to see them in the near future. they're incredible.

joy williams and john paul white.

perfect day.

 If I could make up a perfect day in my head, it would look something like this,

[morning]

of course, starting the day with a great cup of joe.

and a yummy breakfast

[day]

take some random pictures

hang out somewhere like this, and just read

[Night]

This looks the most perfect night ever...sitting under lights with blankets. so wonderful.

bid day, beginning of the lasts.

Here starts the beginning of the lasts. Last rush & last bid day. It's already so weird being a senior. Also, kind of exciting at the same time. Wishing I was in the freshman shoes just now starting, but excited for the new things to come.

"Memory is a way of holding onto the thing you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose."

 [The Wonder Years]

hooty hoo.

So yes this might be cheesy, but... it's XO bid day tomorrow and it's kind of bittersweet. It's been neat as a senior to sit back & watch these freshmen girls come into college and think about what I was going through at that time. It's a weird time of transition, but so good at the same time. It's the beginning of a lot of firsts. I'm not so sure I'm ready to leave it all.

I really am thankful for the friendships that I have found in Chi O. They have been nothing short of a blessing from the Lord. The girls that I have become friends with there will be life-long friends!

My freshman bid day 2007

welcoming the new baby hoots!

I'm not the one to get all cheesy about sorority things, but I am extremely grateful for the past 3 going on 4 years of this family I've been apart of. Can't wait to see the new baby hoots smiling faces tomorrow! Hooty hoo.

hold my hand.

Here I am entering Senior year. It feels sort of surreal as if these past 3 years have been a complete blur, where did the time go? It's weird entering your final year of anything because it always leaves you with that big question, what next? It's weird. scary. the whole uncertain thing isn't something I'm completely fond of. BUT, the complete blank slate leaves HUGE room for the Lord to move & guide.

The other morning I was thinking about everything and I read this from Jesus Calling:

"Hold my hand, and walk joyously with me through this day. TOGETHER we will savor the pleasures and endure the difficulties it brings. Be on the lookout for everything I have prepared for you: stunning scenery, bracing winds of adventure, cozy nooks for resting when you are weary, and much more. I am your Guide, as well as your constant Companion. I know every step of the journey ahead of you, all the way to heaven.

You don't have to choose between staying close to Me and staying on course. Since I am the way, staying close to Me is on course. As you focus your thoughts on Me, I will guide you carefully along today's journey. Don't worry about what is around the next bend. Just concentrate on enjoying My Presence and staying in step with Me."

wow. thank you Lord for making sure I focus on the now in your Presence. We are not made to maintain the ideas of the future, only He is. And for that I am thankful and at peace with. Praising Him in the "I don't know" because He does.

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." {Matthew 6:33}

my home office.

I love Starbucks in the mornings. Not that Starbucks coffee is my favorite. But I love the atmosphere of the one here at home. It's a great place to come and read, just be. The people are great & they now have FREE wireless internet. That is music to my ears. It's always good coming back from somwhere for a long time, and walking in and the people saying, "Hey! Haven't seen you in awhile!". NOT to mention, they love to play jazz at the one here, and that...is..my jam. Love ya Frank.

simplicity.

America, it's been beautiful being back. How I took the small things for granted. God Bless ya!

However, there is one thing of many that I really miss about Honduras. That being-simplicity. I guess I had not noticed it until I didn't have it. There are so many distractions that we face everyday, all day. Cell phones. T.V. Computer. It's constant. Even as soon as I walked off the airplane it was like walking from simplicity into a chaotic-emailing-checking world. Everyone was on their cell phones. I myself am guilty of this and have no room to talk, but not having any of these things for a month I realized how great it is -to just be.

In Hondo, we spent a lot of time just talking to each other and really getting to know each other- talking about what we happened that day, what we learned, our struggles, etc. It was really cool to just wake up early in the morning & read on the backporch or in the afternoons when I got home from the kitchen. I loved this and it really built a community within us.

I'm really learning to appreciate things, taking it all in. enjoying the moment. Something about it is totally recalibrating, and I love it.