Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all...

Sometimes all I can think about is how much this hurts and how I'll ever get through this. It seems impossible, but I know the Lord is the strength of my heart forever. My sacrifices are nothing when I think about Christ giving His life for me and for the whole world.

Joy that lasts

My family, my friend Karen and me all went out to eat this year for Thanksgiving at Golden Corral. Not knowing what to expect at this Thanksgiving, every thing that happened throughout the day was a true blessing. We all set our coats and things down at a table and braved the crowds at the various buffet stations throughout the restaurant.

Walking up to get my traditional slice of turkey, I waited in line until it was my turn to tell the nice man if I preferred ham or turkey. I looked right at the man serving everyone, smiled at him, and asked for a slice of turkey. He just stared at me for a second with a slightly baffled look, and asked, "Well, why are you so happy today?" I hadn't even noticed the joy on my face, but I simply replied, "God is just so good!" I wasn't afraid to tell a complete stranger the honest truth! The man didn't say anything back, but I just walked away feeling amazed at the level of peaceful joy I've been experiencing in the last week. It's like a joy I've never known before, in the midst of hardship. I love my Creator so much, and I guess I can't help but show it on my face because of everything He has done for me. I can't get over His goodness, I can't get over how much He loves me, as broken and sinful as I am. He is beautiful.

The Day of Thanks

"For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
-2 Corinthians 5:21

That alone, we should be thankful for! God knows all of our suffering and pain, but He loves us so much and wants us to live a life of knowing Him. I am thankful that I know Him, and that He saved me, and now I can spend the rest of my life on this earth serving Him, and spend eternity bowing at His feet.

When we turn our hearts to just be thankful about everything, we will have a different outlook on life. Suddenly, we wouldn't say, "Woe is me. Why are You doing this to me, God??" But when we truly cultivate a thankful spirit, we can thank Him for even the trials in our life because they bring us closer to Him.

Today, we are having an unexpected guest, a surprise and blessing that the Lord granted at our table this year. I'm excited to see how He will use this.

I love Tricia's post today. I have some really great friends in my life, who are mad to live, and mad to live for Jesus. I am thankful for each one of them, exactly the way God has made them. I am thankful (times a million!) for these friends who care and love so much, who each one of them displays Christ in different ways. We are all little Christ's to each other, everywhere we go. Not just because it's Thanksgiving, but be thankful. Be thankful everyday for all the things that God places in your life. Each one of them has a purpose. And He's got a master plan.

mmmkay

Just for a change of pace, here's a really shallow post, and you can ignore this if you want, but I just want to say.....

that Redken is seriously the best shampoo. Bam. I said it.



I ran out of it a couple weeks ago, and yes it is slightly pricey. So I had been using another kind which made my hair really dry, yet oily at the same time. So while shopping today, I broke down and bought some when I saw that there was a really good sale for the shampoo purchased with the conditioner. My hair feels amazing today.

Just had to say. :)

My Foundation

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

-Isaiah 40: 28-31

I am showing my love for Him by obeying Him, even if what He asks us to do seems difficult and mind-boggling. I love Him.

God, You are so, so faithful. Help me to trust You, be my Rock, show Yourself to me. I want to gaze at Your indescribable beauty forever!

Memory verses

These are the verses I'm working on memorizing this week. If you think of it, please ask me how it's going! :)

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
-Philippians 4:8

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
-Ephesians 4:29

Waters rose as my doubts reigned
My sand-castle faith, it slipped away
Found myself standing on your grace
It'd been there all the time

I've been listening to Caedmon's Call the last couple days non-stop, and have been really blessed by these words. I'm working on turning my heart more towards the Lord, and I want to fill my mind and heart with His words. I can't believe how much He loves a sick sinner like me!

Jorrie's gone!

Calling my hairdresser Jorrie earlier this afternoon, I stared at my open planner, waiting for her to pick up the phone and schedule a haircut appointment for next week sometime. Instead of hearing Jorrie's familiar bubbly voice, an automated voice picked up announcing that she no longer worked at Blondie's. My mouth dropped. I wasn't prepared for this. I had had conversations with her about her nursing classes, and knew that sooner or later she wouldn't be there much longer, but I thought I had more time!

I've been getting my hair cut and styled by Jorrie for the last six years. Weddings, prom, regular hair cuts every few months. Her prices were reasonable compared to other ridiculously overpriced salons. She knew my hair. She knew its quirks and how to cut it exactly the way I liked it. She would give me her honest opinion of how a cut might look on me, and she took my heart-shaped face into consideration. It takes years to build that foundation! And now I've been cut loose, forced to find a new hairstylist when I just want my Jorrie. I'm really happy she's pursuing nursing and it's something that she loves. It sounds silly, but honestly I'm a little heartbroken.

Anticipation!

In 40 days, I will be here:



In beautiful Peru!!!

I can hardly believe it. Last year I talked about so many different potential study abroad excursions (England, Italy, etc.), but this one is actually happening. My trip is all paid for! I love the group of people going with me and I think it will be a really great experience.

Tricia and I are thinking about another international adventure next summer after graduation...

Action words

I liked Tricia's blog so much, I decided to write my own version. Hahahahaha

Today, I:

pushed
snoozed
chatted
spread
drank
showered
wrote
read
checked out
copied
printed
pouted
sassed
refused
discussed
shared
blushed
spoke
laughed
bantered

First day of snow!

Photo shoot

I shot some pictures of Brittany yesterday for her drawing project. We really liked the first one the best, but wanted the leaves in her hair like in some other ones I did, so I edited the leaves in and loved the effect! Btw, Brittany agreed to let me do a longer photo shoot of her in the near future. She's the perfect model!

Hair blues

Today I had an urge to cut my bangs.

I do miss the ones that used to go all the way across my forehead like in this picture, I just think it looks so bare now. But I'm not going to give in! I've always had bangs around, and I just need to get rid of them. They're just about grown out! If you're reading this, you need to remind me not to cut them. Unless you think it would look better, then I'll consider it. ;)

I think it would help if I just got it cut, and maybe that would take some of the rough ends away. My hair is also lightening up quite a bit, and I miss the dark. :( There ARE some fun things you can do without adding bangs.



Did you know there are entire websites devoted to "how to get the Blake Lively hairstyle?"

A few updates

1. I canceled my GRE yesterday morning. Long story short, I didn't feel like I would do a good job having not had time to study much at all for it lately. I like to go in to things feeling prepared. So, this could mean a lot of things... I'm still thinking about graduate school and would like to go, but I also think I would like a little break from school after I graduate in the spring. This will allow me time to really decide if this is something I want to jump into, and will give me time to really prepare for that new stage in my life. I'm excited to have some down time!

2. E.K. is going to be in my Kansas History class. Do you know what this means?!!? Brand new E.K. blogging material and quotes gallore! Like whoa, like whoa.

3. Steve Carrell's Savannah accent is HILARIOUS! "I do declarrre."

4. I only have one final during finals week, and it's on Friday, giving me the whole week to study for it!

5. Stay off the Internets, Patricia. You're supposed to be studying for the PLT tomorrow!!

6. One of the world's greatest wonders is soon to be revealed in my next post... stay tuned.

The Decision that will affect the next year of my life.. ya know

To take the GRE or to not take the GRE.... This is what I will be deciding tomorrow.

Although I think I've already made my decision...

I hate making decisions. Can't I hire someone to just make them for me??? :)

Peter Rabbit hat!

I found this little hat on anthropologie.com, and although I would never buy it (price tag is $348!), it IS pretty quaint, and the perfect topping for a tea party, no?

Hat-related, I'm looking for a good hat for this winter... I'm not sure where the infamous Claire red hat went to. :( I'd really like an ear flap hat. Something like this would be fun:

sweet Autumn

No spring, nor summer beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one autumnal face.
-John Donne


This season really does make me giddy! October really flew by, so the other day I decided to go out and take advantage of this beautiful weather. I do feel Winter slowly encroaching, even though the last week has been amazing.

A poll to my readers:

What would YOU do if you had a bee in your car and you needed to be somewhere fast???

I don't know if I can ask Tricia this question... ;)

The final version of my Spring schedule

1. Early Modern Art
2. English Literature II
3. Kansas History
4. Shakespeare (Yes, I get to take the 300 level version now!)

Soooooo, I'm really excited about this schedule, and it means I don't have class on Monday's and Friday's. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh man!! So super excited about it!!

Also, I colored my hair last night. Dark!