one is silver and the other is gold

Why do I have the coolest roomate & psuedoroommmate in the entire world?

bloom where you are planted

"I've been praying for like-minded people."

Oh, how this has been the theme of our room thus far. I never knew so much encouragement and pure, unadulterated elation could live within four walls. It's so amazing how much easier it is to just do the gross and gritty stuff of life when you live with your biggest cheerleaders. Their love for me and each other isn't even an iota of our Savior's love for us. How satisfying is it to daily feel the Lord directing our paths and delighting in every detail of our lives? I've learned to rest in the promises of the Lord, even today as I drove home in the pouring rain (Genesis 9:11). This has already been such a year of growth: in who I am as a person, a student, a friend, a sister, and a daughter, despite everything being really crazy. It's that good crazy, you know? The chaos that comes with an overabundance of joy.

"Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring." Hosea 6:3

summation

This weekend in summation...

1) an A on my first paper of the semester

2) The Civil Wars outdoor concert in Waverly

3) sweet new tshirt

4) best grilled cheese of life

5) Auburn victory

6) clean sheets

7) reading reading reading

laa dee daa

Okay, so I've kind of had a lot of time to do plennnnnty of arts and crafts after I finished all of my tests and papers. So here are my little creations:

this is above my door

So, I decided to refinish a chair. Yep, in the dorm room. It was an offer I couldn't refuse-- $5 at Salvation Army. One day, it is going to be b-e-a-u-tiful.

Oh, and I hooked up the DVD player to the TV. By myself. It was a proud moment since I am mechanically inept.

if i were a house...

We had to do a project in art of architecture called "If I were a house..." Basically, we had to find a picture of a house and identify the architectural qualities the house evokes that are similar to our personalities. (It was actually kind of a difficult assignment, okay!) Regardless, here I am... as a house. Or as close as I could get.

Found in Country Living.

make do and mend

I'm really excited about this craft project! I found something somewhat similar on this site, but I really wanted to make it my own. I used plain needlepoint hoops, patterned fabrics, fabric glue, and some pinking shears to make this happen. No sewing at all. (P.S. If someone wants to teach me how to sew, I've been dying to know.)

(maybe I'll do something on the green gingham ones later.)

"i'm a major weeper"

"Jesus wept."

John 11:35

Preface: I'm a nerd, in a big way.

I'm in a few literature classes this semester, but today in British Lit I we were discussing a text from the fourteenth century. In the midst of our ridiculous class discussion (my class seriously rocks) the question was raised: was this woman crying merely for attention or as a true display of her penetrating sorrow? One point, which I found particularly convincing, was that her tears were a sign of her vulnerability and since she was weeping in public further drove home how humiliating this must have been for her to openly display such an intimate expression of emotion. Since the text we were reading was a religious work, the allusion to Jesus Christ's overwhelming sorrow in the Garden of Gethsemane soon before His crucifixion was made (Mark 14:32-52). How humbling of an experience must it have been to beg before the Father, asking Him to take away the cup of suffering? What a mighty love did it take for God to follow through with His plan, and Jesus to willingly partake? Sometimes I learn more in the classroom than I ever bargain for, and I'm so thankful for that.

motivation

There are days (such as today) that I just have to write down my goals and remember that every little thing, no matter how trivial, gets me one step closer.

I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

Henry David Thoreau

growing up is optional

Today was Carrie's birthday! We had a little get together in our room to celebrate her turning 20. What a sweet evening with such a sweet blessing.

What a champ blowing those contraband candles out.

Presh roomies.

We love each other so much, it's disgusting.

Yay. She's twentyyyyy!!

I made these cream cheese brownies from Martha's recipe. I'm still trying to figure out all the nuances of our oven, so these were a little more dry than intended, but otherwise they were quite excellent. One day I'll figure out how to better execute the marbleing technique.

have your cake and eat it too

Peanut Butter Cupcake from Gigi's. So rich, but soooo good.