after the storm

This weekend I went camping. It’s one of my favorite things to do.
There is something about being in the woods, something about that campfire, that whispers sweet things to my soul.

Our small group had a blast. We made s’mores with Reece’s and roasted hot dogs on old metal hangers. I wore flannel and we cranked up the new Avett Brother’s album.

When it was dark and the rain started, we walked to the cliffs overlooking the lake and as we got drenched, we admired God’s creation. The beautiful dark lake, the beautiful friendship’s being made.

Then we went back to camp, dried off and zipped ourselves up in our sleeping bags. The rain beating against the tent lulled me to sleep and we didn’t wake up until 11 a.m.

There’s just something about camping.

Moments Between the Footsteps

The passing of Labor Day has the nostalgia setting in.

With school three weeks in and the temperature in the mid-70s, summer is officially over.

I’m sad to see it go. I do love fall and the lovely things it has to offer—football, chili, sweaters, hot chocolate, Halloween (the best holiday), corn mazes, pumpkin EVERYTHING—but there is something magical about the summertime, and this one proved no less.

I kicked the summer off with a family-friendly Memorial Day cookout:

 

…went to the beach with my best friends:

 

…and spent a lot of time with some really great people (kids, friends/fellow counselors, boy) at (camps, mission trips, retreats):

  

Those experiences are more than just memories. They are people that have become so precious to me; they were learning opportunities; they were good, they were bad; they were enormous blessings.

None of them were largely life-changing, but they all played a part in what comes next, whatever that is.

They were the moments between the footsteps, and I am so thankful.

 

 

I am and I’ll let you know what happens next.

August 31, 2011: You Were Good to Me

I want to remember today, because today things started looking up.

Today brought: warmth and sunshine, Sonic Happy Hour runs and goofy times with friends.

Today I: ran 8 miles (holla!), made a Nutella wrap with diced strawberries inside, didn’t get a parking ticket, and sang How He Loves on a swing with my sweet friend.

Today someone: asked me how I was, to which I said, “Well it wasn’t the first thing I thought about yesterday, but it was today. So there’s that."

Today I am so thankful for: Harding, amazing friends, prayer, long talks, and meaningful hugs.

Today I read this quote:

“Wherever your challenges lead you, there is something to learn there.”

What I’ve learned?

That I am ridiculously blessed beyond anything I can ever deserve. God has truly given me the best family, the best friends, the greatest experiences--just a beautiful, beautiful life.

 

 

I am and like I said, things are looking up.

Drive Until The City Lights Dissolve Into a Country Sky.

 

I hate on Arkansas a lot.

Like, “blah blah blah this state is so boring!”

But tonight as I was driving home from my usual running spot, with the windows down and Free by the Zac Brown Band playing, I felt a strong love for this state.

I turned to drive down the street to my house and it was picturesque; people were digging in their gardens, children were running through sprinklers, the sun was setting and the sky was swirls of orange and pink. One of my neighbors was grilling and the scent floated into my car, mixed with the smells of freshly cut grass and warm air.

And then I thought back to my day. Kaylee and I drove a short distance to the lake, laid out on the cliffs of Heber Springs, drove past beautiful mountains to get home—mountains we’ve hiked frequently—and I realized all that Arkansas has to offer.

Today brought sun, the smells of sun-tan oil, tiny coffee shops and scoops of M&M/brownie ice-cream, fresh lake water, long conversations and lots of laughter.

Oh, and free route 44 cherry limeades.

I love my friends, I love summertime, and yes, I sometimes even love Arkansas.

I am Al and holy cleavage.

Viva la Vida

I am so restless.

I know that getting a degree is important. It's very important. However, I can't help but feel that I'm not living my life right now. Not really living.

I haven't driven across the United States yet.

(And when I do, I will stop at every 'Elvis Shaped Burger' and 'Largest Pickle!' diner there is!)

I haven't been to Zambia yet like these sweet friends of mine.

I haven't been skydiving yet.

I haven't been backpacking across Europe. Well, I have been to Europe, but we drove everywhere. I want to get a huge backpack and ride night trains to places.

God truly gave me a heart of adventure and I view the world with the eyes of a child. I want to explore all of the things He gave us! I want to climb the tallest mountains and then repel back down. I want to surf in Hawaii and I want to live here and there.

It's all in God's timing though, which is something I am struggling to grasp. One day I will go to Zambia and help the sweet people. One day I will go back to Europe. One day I will drive across the United States. And hopefully, one day I will look back on my life and know that I truly lived it to the fullest.

"But they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

-Isaiah 40:31

So Long Sweet Summer

After packing up everything I own and maneuvering boxes into my car, I relaxed under the setting sun with my four month old nephew, Paxton Lucas.

Lucas like Luke Skywalker. His older brother, Elijah (age 5) got to choose the middle name. We are lucky it isn't Yoda.

I am so in love with this baby.

He is 15 pounds of love, this chunk of a kid.

I played with him outside until I brought him inside. I patted his bottom and rocked for a few minutes before his eyes rolled back into his head (it's so cute) and he stopped sucking on his bee.

(Bee translates to passy. Every family calls them something different, I'm figuring out.)

I move back to school tomorrow, so playing with this baby was the best last-day-of-summer present.

So long sweet summer.

My Friend Rain.

February 1995

Blonde, hazel-eyes, and four years small, I shared a room with my brother and sister. They had the bunk beds and I had my very own gold bed across the room from them, right next to the window.

I wasn't a child that was afraid of storms. Quite the opposite. I was full of sass and spunk- I can assure you that has changed. Wink wink.

Late at night when the clouds thundered I would sit up in my gold bed, pull back the curtains and watch the rain.

October 2008

17 years old found me in my junior year of high school. My alarm sounded at 7:15 and I woke up to rain and thunder.

Early morning rain is the best, I thought, and snuggled under my covers for more sleep. I was late for school every day, anyways. Why rush to get up when it's raining?

Eventually I got up, dragged a straightener through my thick hair and brushed my teeth.

And all day long I wished it would keep raining so that when I got home, I could take a nap. Really, any sleep while raining is marvelous.




via

August 2010

College years, almost 20-something years. I am tempted to be mad at the rain pouring down outside because it has messed up the satellite signal and I can't watch Grey's Anatomy.

But then I turned off all the lights, opened the windows and enjoyed something that makes life so beautiful. My best nature friend, Rain.

I'm thinking about a rain wedding? Would you like to come?

Pictures worth one-thousand words

My plan to update daily while in Panama was, well, an epic failure.
Quite frankly, I was having too much fun to worry about my silly computer.

I wish I would have updated daily for my own personal recollection, but you know what they say- pictures are worth a thousand words.

Thankfully, five girls with six cameras (I had two) means a lot of "words" that will certainly last a lifetime, as will the memories.

So what did we do? Woke up around 9 a.m. every morning and laid on the beach, swam in the ocean, picked up shells, and worked on our cannon bombs in the pool until 2-3 p.m. Then we headed upstairs, dolled up, and hit up Panama's night life. It's not MTV's Spring Break city for no reason. Let's leave it at that.

You should see how tan I am.

Oh, Happy Day!

This day has been a very happy one for 4 reasons!

1. At 12:00 AM I had a date with a very hot, romantic, amazing man. You may know him. You might have even went on a date with him. Edward Cullen, that's who. I put on a new cute shirt and necklace in order to dazzle him. (I have become a master at the cell phone/mirror/self portrait.)

2. Katie prepared a nice light lunch of lettuce wraps and fruit shish kabobs and invited our family of friends over for a relaxing afternoon. We lounged in the pool and soaked up as much vitamin D as possible.

3. I came home to find a package waiting at the front door. I shrieked and flew out of the car. My camera has arrived! I ripped open the box and examined every part of it's black exterior. It's amazing and the images are so clear. You'll see.

4. Sarah at Bon Blog Designs gave this here blog a delicious makeover. You should have your blog designed by her. (She didn't pay me to say that.)(Or did she?)

p.s. (she didn't)