checking in

At the beginning of this year I made the obligatory new's years resolution list, and I thought it would be fun to do an update/progress report.

1. Vary my reading. I've failed the most at this one so far. To be honest, in Africa, I was never in the mood for anything but fiction. However, I did read a lot in Africa, so I feel like I made up for this resolution in a sense. I read more in Africa than I have in a while, partly because there was nothing else to do and partly because I rediscovered my love for it which I'm excited about. I was able to check off a few classics that I had never read and felt that I should as an English graduate. A Tale of Two Cities, Emma, and North and South just to name a few...

2. Go overseas. Check, check, check! Five months in Africa, and while it wasn't all fun and games, it was an amazing experience and there are days when I miss it a lot.

3. Read through the Bible. I really want to go ahead and check this one off because I'm still plugging away at my Bible reading program, and I feel that since I've made it this far I have a pretty good chance of finishing it. Right now I'm making my way through some minor prophets, Isaiah, 2 Kings, and 2 Chronicles. I love it, and I hope to make reading through the Bible a yearly habit.

4. Be healthier. Wellllll, if you disregard the fact that I haven't exercised in almost two months and just ate some potato chips and a few handfuls of chocolate chips (along with a bunch of other unhealthy stuff the last two months), then you could say I've done okay with this one. In Africa I was very healthy because I walked everywhere and had a limited selection of food and very few sweets. To be honest, that's one of the things I miss most about the place-- especially the walking part. But I'm hoping to bounce back from these last two months and get into a routine once I get settled (more on that part later).

Here's to the rest of 2014 and checking more resolutions off this list!

the little things in life.

a happy list to start off the week:

spending the whole weekend with my mom.

Joshua Radin's music.

texts and pictures from my sister with updates about my niece.

a walk on the beach in my rain boots that makes me feel like a New England-er.

funny videos and sequels to funny videos.

dinner with my roommates.

getting six movies for $4.30. (thank you, blockbuster.)

friends coming to town and getting to hang out with them.

celebrating Jesus' death and resurrection and the salvation that comes through it.

the little things.

things that make me happy today:

a phone call from the parents to wake me up and start my day

a tweet from my sister-in-law that says she's going to WPPI 

my coffee that only has two tablespoons of creamer and one packet of sweet-and-low (I'm making progress!)

the thought of buying invitations and making my sister's baby shower a reality

chocolate cupcakes

a roommate who reads the Bible at the same time I am only to find out that we're both reading Romans

information about missions and the idea of being out on the field

a skype date with my best friend tomorrow

roommates who get excited about things that are happening in my life and their encouragement

the pancakes I got for free at IHOP last night and the friends who went with me

emails from my parents that include funny pictures and great news of the gospel reaching the people in South Sudan

the knowledge and peace and freedom I have in knowing that while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me, and I am no longer a slave to sin but to righteousness

and this video because today is a happy day in so many ways.

an English major writing with numbers {and other late night ramblings}

it's 1 AM and I'm still awake.

I have a 3 page paper due in 12 hours and I still haven't finished.

this is sad since I probably could have finished in in 2 hours if I were disciplined enough.

but I'm not. obviously.

because skyping with my best friend for over 1 hour is much more fun than a boring paper.

and I have senioritis.

looking at twitter is more fun too.

and so is blogging.

I visited this church for the 2nd week in a row and loved it even more the 2nd time.

I got to skype with my parents 3 times this week. it was lovely.

I have enough vegetables to feed a small village.

I get to see my best friend in 4 days.

I'm really excited about it.

I have 1 more week at my job.

I'm really excited about that too.

I need to stop procrastinating and finish my paper.

or I might just go to bed...

the little things that make life great.

friends who visit from out of town.

getting school books in the mail.

phone conversations with my best friend.

visiting with my siblings for a whole week.

snuggling with my nephew.

groceries to fill a new house.

brothers who are willing to help me move into my new place.

long conversations around the dining room table with friends.

rainy days.

getting the syllabus for a class.

baking in my kitchen.

this is just to say.

I was going to get my sleep schedule back on track after sleeping through five alarms this morning, but it's almost 12:30 in the morning and I'm still up.

I know that biting my nails looks very unlady-like and unprofessional but I'm sitting here biting them anyway.

I wish pimples went away after you turned twenty.

I cut myself off from shopping this month, but that doesn't mean come august 1st I'm heading back to tj maxx to buy the really cute sweater and $15 kenneth cole bag I saw today.

I really love shopping.

I'm getting a little too excited about decorating my soon-to-be house.

I keep saying I'm going to eat healthier, but just ate a ridiculous amount of nestle's chocolate brownies as well as three cupcakes in the past twenty four hours.


I really love cupcakes too.

2011 in review

this morning my sister, brother-in-law, and I all drove over to see my brother's new place and help him unpack and organize everything. as we were driving, my sister asked me to name a few highlights of 2011. here are a few I came up with:

In 2011 I...

went on a roadtrip to florida with my best friend and our trip to islands of adventure and universal

got my cartilage pierced with my roommate

started my blog and did my very first post

saw my best friend graduate

went to philadelphia and washington dc with my mom

got my piercing infected on the family camping trip and it had to come out

went on the family camping trip

got my very first job

took tennis lessons

celebrated the fourth of july

went to the beach with my family for our annual trip

started my junior year

threw a surprise party for my parent's 30th anniversary with my siblings

went to the fair with Michelle

turned 21

looking back, 2011 was a great year.

I cannot wait to see what 2012 has in store.

here's to a great new year.

finished.

remember this? well... this is what it looks like now. after many late nights, freak outs, and all-nighters, I'm sooo happy to be done. all that's left is this bit of goodness:

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." - Colossians 1:13-14

without God, I would not have been able to get through the past week. he gave me the strength and ability to do all of the work (and even get two A's!) and for that I am so very thankful.

here's to the best month ever.

my {21st} birthday.

christmas break.

lots of sleep.

time with family.

presents.

christmas.

it's the best month of the year and I'm so excited.

slowly but surely...

this will get done. and hopefully well. so if you wonder where I am for the next week or so, here's your answer. and this is the shortened list. which is why you haven't seen me the past week or so either. but yay for thanksgiving in two days and for going home tomorrow!

someday...

I will straighten my hair.

I will finish a paper before the day it is due.

I will manage my time better.

I will exercise instead of just talking about it.

I will clean my room {it's filthy, really}.

I will get more than five hours of sleep.

I will sleep in my bed and not on the couch.

I will blog the pictures that are sitting on my camera.

I will do these things.

someday.

but as for now, today is not that day.

happy father's day!

because he watched animaniacs with me every saturday when I was little

because he cheered for me at every softball game, basketball game, & cross country meet

because he let me follow him around the hospital and visit patients

because he loves to watch the same six movies over and over again

because he made the best birthday cakes & homemade pizza

because he encourages me and asks me how my soul is doing

because he is the best teacher & advice giver

because he loves Jesus and wants to follow Him

because he is my dad

I love him very much.

(august 2009)

(december 2010)

I love you daddy! happy father's day!

maybe

maybe I bought a romper yesterday.

maybe I also bought new things for my dorm room. for august.

maybe I spent way too much money.

maybe I need a new hobby.

the romper I got at target. I love it.