School's out for the. . . SUMMER!!

Summer is my favorite time of year. There is so much about it that makes me happy: the constant sunshine, the long, carefree days, no assignments, pools, lakes, picnics... the list is endless really. So, these last few weeks of school I was frantically finishing my last assignments and doing everything in my power to force myself into the dark air-conditioned classrooms. I took little time to think about much besides "the light at the end of the tunnel".
And finally, I finished my last assignment of my next-to-last semester of seminary last Thursday at about 1:30 a.m. This was a strange semester because I didn't have any final exams. All of my professors had us do final projects/papers and so I didn't have that extra week of stress that my fellow students are going through right now. Today was the very last class I had to attend and as I went in I wasn't thinking about much besides the fact that I was finished and it was FINALLY summer. I was just there to sit through the last presentations and say a couple of goodbyes.
However, as things were wrapping up I began to quickly realize that I wasn't ready for the semester to end. I had not thought about the fact that I wouldn't see many of my classmates again. Some will be going to countries all over the world, others will be moving back to their home states, and others I just won't see due to differing lives and schedules. As everyone was packing up and saying their quick goodbyes I got a little sad. I wanted to make a way to see each one of them again before I leave Friday night for a two week trip to Ecuador. But this was obviously impossible, so I covered up my disappointment with a few quick hugs and waves with promises to stay in touch.
Life is like this sometimes. We get so swamped with just trying to keep our heads above the water due to multiple assignments and work stress that we forget there are people, really sweet important people, in our lives everyday that we are rubbing shoulders with. I could be learning from these people, enjoying them, embracing the little moments and instead I'm running out the door stressing about what I have to do tonight and tomorrow. And before I realize it the days are gone and so are the chances to enjoy those people.
I hope that this will serve as a reminder for me to cherish moments and friendships while I can. But I also must embrace the inevitable change that comes with this phase of life. God is my strength, fortress and rock. He is the one who never changes and it is with his strength that I have the energy to love those around me.
Those are my thoughts for the day.


For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:. . . a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1&2

As Promised

These are some of the flowers that I'm growing right now. The ones on the black stand are in my room. The rest are on my back patio. Love them! Bring color and joy to my days!

Renewed Ambition

Well hello blogging world. I doubt any of my original followers remain after my nearly 3 years of absence from the blogging world. Fine with me. In many ways I do not even feel like the same person who started this blog five years ago. Two years in a foreign country, a Seminary education, and two dating relationships with unexpected endings will cause changes in a person. Hopefully, I have changed, grown, and matured into a better more God honoring person, but sometimes I wonder.

I'll start slow with this first new post. Maybe with a list of my favorite things and a list of some things I've discovered about myself.

Favorite Things:

1. Flowers (as indicated by this blog). I've really grown to love "gardening". Although the only edible thing I grow is tomatoes. Everything else is just really pretty flowers. My flowers this year are the prettiest I think I've ever grown. I don't have any great pictures of them (I'll post some later), but I'll show you a pic of some of the first verbena I ever grew.


2. Sea Turtles. I have always been a big fan of turtles and especially sea turtles. I'm a collector and I've been collecting turtle figurines since I was 7 or 8. Recently I asked my friend Lindsay Core to paint me a picture of a Sea Turtle. She did an amazing job!! See for yourself.

3. Gus. However, if you know me you already knew this!

Now for things I'm learning:

1. I'm not a "follow through" kind of person. I hate this. So, I have started a project for myself. I bought a journal yesterday. . . it is now 1 of about 5 sitting unfinished in my room. But I promise that this one is going to be different. This one I am going to write in everyday for at least this entire summer. That is the goal anyways. I'm off to a great start with entries from yesterday and today! :) Plus it's a really cute journal--
the actual reason I bought it!

2. I'm a planner. I plan way too much and much of it never happens, but this has never stopped me from making lists, buying planners, and keeping electronic sticky notes on my computer desktop. I just can't help it. Go ahead. Call me OCD.

3. I really do love the Lord Jesus Christ with my whole being. I want to honor, serve, and please Him so badly that it hurts sometimes. My prayer today comes from Isaiah 1 (Which is where I started for my summer of journaling in my new journal!)
Isaiah 1:16-17 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.
So, today I am praying for forgiveness from my sins of arrogance, vain worship, pride, and self-righteousness and I'm pleading that God will teach me to do good.
And along the same vein-- I will be going to help the fatherless in about a week and a half in Shell, Ecuador at an orphanage. www.lacasadefe.org.