Pictures of Random Thoughts

Sometimes I eat really good looking and healthy food, and then...

I eat ice cream!

It's looking like our freezer back home: full of frozen meals in reused containers (that is not sour cream).

I am holding a dream come true. OK, maybe it was a very strange dream, but it came true nonetheless. On Resurrection Sunday I got to wax and dye eggs the traditional way. It was so much fun, I think I'm hooked. 

Just the wash, but I'm beginning to realize how much I love it. 

It's such a simple task, yet I seem to be really the only one who remembers and cares. I actually like emptying the boiler. 

Life in the basement. It's funny because I think I was a little disappointed when I first moved in, but now it feels so cozy and comfy. I've grown quite attached. 

I'm feeling much more like a housewife than a college student. When I told Alaina how much fun doing laundry and cleaning bathrooms was, she said, "If you say so..." Then as she went up the stairs, she called back, "I'd rather read a book any day!" I'm so thankful for Alaina. We're enough alike that we get along, but enough different that we help each other grow. She has definitely expanded my worldview in good ways. I still don't agree with her in everything, but God sure put us together for a good reason. 

It works! Some people don't have a hand to do things with. 

It's snowing again! That's normal here, but I'm used to a flowery Birthday. Anyway, I went for a walk in this white glory. My first mission was to secretly deliver some goodies to my boys. They know I do it, but I still don't like to be caught in the action, so every time I go, I feel a little nervous they're going to see me. This time when I hung the grocery bag on the door knob, I heard some talking inside, which is also normal. --Oh, my! I'm feeling the adrenaline return even as I tell this scary story.-- Anyway, the tin box inside the bag kind of banged on the door. With my heart racing, I quickly ran out of the apartment building and down the street. But I had been caught! As I ran, thinking, hoping that maybe I was safe, I heard someone yell after me. Not sure what he said or if it was simply a noise that came out in yell form. I didn't look back. I ran with all my might down the street and out of sight. But I had been caught, and it was one more thing to add to my awkward/scary/little girl moments. 

Whew! I was hot after that. I ended up slowing down in the park and taking a few pictures. 

I tend to walk straight up the hill instead of taking the more gradual winding path. Maybe that's why I struggle in life. I put too much energy into something but don't necessarily do a good job instead of taking my time and doing well. 

Enough random thoughts, but I enjoyed that. Helps me process life a little better. I hope you enjoyed it as well. I hope I didn't scare you too bad with that riveting story. 

Happy Monday, Friends!

Death Without His Life

"And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins."

1 Corinthians 15:17

Note: Sorry about the Old English. Since we use ESV at my college, I kind of get a hankerin' for the KJV, but let it be known to thee that I do not believe it is the only true Bible. I just enjoy the language.

Moving on. 

The resurrection of Christ has been on my mind a lot lately because of class topics and Easter, or, as my family always called it, Resurrection Day. This is one of my favorite holidays. The fact that Jesus "swallowed up [death] in victory" and has "become the firstfruits of [the dead]" is astonishing and should makes us filled with awe and praise (1 Cor. 15: 54, 20). If He had remained dead, so would we. There is no life without His resurrection.

The Light casts out the night. 

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

The Fight is Over

In my last post I wrote about being "tossed about," but I didn't mention the reason for the tossing. I always did hate when people wrote blog posts about the turmoil in their lives but never said what was actually going on. It sounds like they have a terrible life, but they leave us in the dark as to what is actually happening.

Therefore, I think it is necessary to tell you why I was in turmoil.

My freshman year at college has been rough, to say the least. I was never eager to come in the first place, and throughout last semester I questioned what I was doing here. I went through a dark time toward the end of the semester and my grades really plummeted. If you have been reading the blog for very long, you may recall some of my posts, especially in November and December, reflected my gloom. But I do remember sweet moments with God. It felt so dark, but the warmth of His love filled me in a special way.

Nonetheless, when I finally decided to come back this semester, I struggled to get back into the rhythm of school and was very tired. I took a lot of naps and got behind in my reading. My first quizzes and paper were not good. Finally, my professor advised me to withdraw. That's when I really became confused.

I went back and forth, like I wrote about in my last post. I couldn't decide what to do. I wanted to persevere and fight through, but then I was so tired of fighting. Maybe God meant for this rest. I couldn't be sure.

Until, finally, I realized I had to stop. I had to lay my sword down, at least for now. I told my professor I was ready, ready to stop. The answer was there, and I wasn't going to be persuaded to change again.

It is still hard to understand all that is going on, but I feel peace and rest. I am still in my science class, so I still have work to do, but it is much lighter. I see light shining through, ways to serve, ways to help, ways to encourage.

Tossed About

The crazy things that can happen to a person.

The decisions one has to make.

The confusion.

But then God finally smooths it out and all is bright and clear. It's as if there is a painting on a canvas cloth that has become wrinkled, and we only see the wrinkles from eye level. Then He stretches it over a frame and hangs it up on the wall so that we can see the clear picture. That is how I've felt lately. The wrinkles confuse me. When I look at it at one angle I think the picture is one thing, then I look at another angle and think it's something totally different.

Finally, I think the picture has been stretched and hung, at least one picture. There are so many pictures that combine to make one big, beautiful masterpiece, but being able to see one clearly is enough for me right now.

Favorites

I scanned through some of my pictures that I have posted in the past and picked out a "few" of my favorites. I didn't even get through all of them, but here are some. You've probably seen several of them, some even more than once, but I love them for various reasons. Enjoy. 

I love moss. I also love details. This picture captures both in one amazing view of something we usually see from afar. 

I love our road. I love winter. I love my sisters. Why not throw them all into one cool shot that my dad took. 

This picture is just awesome. 

I was young and Dad did a good job. 

One of my favorite couples at the beach in late afternoon sun. 

More of my road, this time in fall. It is so gorgeous and Bethany walking barefoot (probably clueless about what was going on behind her) makes it so picturesque. 

Once again, detail is captured in a delicate rose.

This picture is so cute, and I'm sure you've seen it more than once. It is one of my favorite favorites. 

It's moss again, this time wrapped around a little stump. So moist, so green, so beautiful.

The smooth wood of an old stump, brightened with green of, guess what? Moss!

Their smiles, their joy, my love. 

That little twirling, white-gowned blondie. I love you, Sweet. 

Ahh...my niece in her grandpa's arms. 

Because Jesse loves epic jumping pictures. 

I feel like I have posted this one a million times, but that face, that towel, those eyes--perfectly precious.

Sneaking pictures of my handsome brothers can be a challenge, but I did it. 

There's a lot to love here: The clear running creek, Lydia's perplexed face, me clutching her head and pointing, the bright green grass, etc. 

This is another famous one (in my opinion). We were posing for a band picture atop Jockey's Ridge, NC. Lydia and I had colds. I bet you didn't know that about this picture before now. Haha! And maybe you didn't want to know. 

Get 'im, girl!

Yike! And that's us. Did you even know Hannah could be so scary?

We'll end on a better note. Daddy and daughter. Literally one of my favorite favorite favorites. Whew! If that even makes any since. 

Wow! That was actually kind of fun, so I might do it again. 

Do you have a favorite (or a favorite favorite favorite!)?

Friends and Brothers

I have met a lot of people since I first came to Minneapolis in August. Everywhere from old ladies to little babies, teenage girls to 20-something seminary students, rambunctious 5 year-old boys to mature brotherly men. Pretty much the whole gambit.

It has been a good time. I have enjoyed these people and friendships immensely, and I hope to continue growing in relationships that point me toward God.

I have a room-mate that I can chum with. I can tell her in particular, things I wouldn't tell anyone else (besides family). We understand each other. It's funny how you can get a room-mate and share your secrets and know she won't tell. It's good to have someone close like that. It's different too, though. I've always just had my family.

Alaina

Then there are other good girlfriends, like other house mates, that I can have long conversations with and laugh about weird things, pray together, and share our thoughts on subjects without judging the others.

Alaina, Erika, and Leuxie

Of course, I have my blood sisters that I can whine to. I laugh and joke with them too, don't worry. But they listen, and they rebuke, and they make sense.

Hannah and Priscilla

And then, there are the boys. They're the ones I rebuke. Haha! I tell them what to do and scowl at their immaturity and then laugh with them at their jokes. I do love them, I just have to out up with them.

CJ, Tommy, and Jesse-Morgan

Finally, my brothers. They're champs. They ask me pointed questions, they're real, and they treat me like their little sister, which I love. I love having brothers I can go to for advice and see a different side of the coin. Girls are wonderful and I need them, but they think like I do. Big brothers think like I should. So I need them.

Actually, I need them all. God gives us friends, good friends, for a reason. Get some good ones if you don't have any yet.

I'm happy. Hope you are too.

The Sis

Something I've learned

Here's a quick lesson I've learned:

Don't bring your best friend to school with you. 

Not my picture.

Why? You are already good friends and you don't feel the need to make new friends. You have each other, you are attached and feel safe. Why try to make new friends? You can become reclusive and rude toward others. Besides, you should each be able to decide on your own where you want to go to college. I could see this being OK, but I also know it can be bad. 

I know it sounds really tempting; I'll admit that I hoped one of my friends might come to the same college as I did. Now, however, I am so glad that did not happen. First, we have different plans and goals that different colleges could meet in different ways. Second, I could see myself pulling toward her because I felt comfortable. But since I was thrown in alone (besides siblings, which did help), I was forced to make friends of my own, to go to things on my own, and make decisions based on my own thoughts, not my best friend's. 

So, don't do it. Be the person God meant you to be, not who your friend meant you to be.