lifelong.

I’m so thankful for lifelong friends.

Janelle, Tracy and I met up tonight at the Faith Christian School Auction. Former First Lady Laura Bush was speaking, and we wanted to be part of the experience! It meant swallowing our pride enough to admit that we wanted to go back to the old school, but we went and it was worth it!

What I love about being with these 2 (as well as a few others I could add to the list), is that it sends me right back to elementary school or, on a mature day, high school. I have no problem laughing with them (it’s always something), feel no reason to act poised and proper with them (they know me better than that), and am confident I love them deeply and am loved by them (I’ve seen it for YEARS!)

Tonight was no exception. Lots of laughter, some depth, and pure friendships that I wouldn’t trade! So many memories…so many more to come!

shopping.

A little shopping trip has sparked my creativity.

Paper
(from West Elm and Antrhopologie)
I want to make these!

Dishes
(from Anthropologie)
Who am I kidding…I want to buy these!

Bedding.
A glimpse into my room.
Bought a new comforter and brought it all together with pillow I had!

books.

One of my goals in 2011 is to read 30 books. So far, I’ve been successful! Here’s a few of the books I’ve been reading lately:

Loved this one! Recommend it for sure. Jackie Pullinger was a long-term missionary to Hong Kong starting in the 60’s. Her story challenged me to live more wholly sold out for Christ, but it was also fun to read! I read it while working out and it completely kept my attention.

This book came recommended by the Village Church. I would not consider this one a “fun read” but I am glad I’m reading it! It challenges me to articulate the WHY behind my faith.

Another Keller book. 2 in one month! My roommate Carly leads a ministry in South Dallas. Someone recommended this book to me and we have a small group of people meeting weekly to go through chapter by chapter. The book is based on the story of the Good Samaritan. WOW…I could write a whole blog on what I’m learning in just the first 50 pages!

LOVED this book! Favorite, enjoyable read this month. This one is about the early days of football at Masonic Children’s home in the 1920’s and 1930’s. So inspiring to read about these 12 orphans coming together to defeat teams of 100 healthy, strong guys! I love that it is historical 100% true!

Does it really count as reading a book if I listened to it on tape on my trip to Waco? Debatable. Regardless, I respect Bobby Jindal and would vote for him in 2012!! I probably would’ve lost interest if I hadn’t been listening to someone else read it…

This book is a very basic study of the book of Hebrews. I was looking for something simple enough that I could sit just about anywhere and study. It has been helpful to process through questions and get me reading Hebrews (it’s printed in multiple translations in the book)

Now that I’m looking back at the books I have read this month, I feel a little too deep. Next month, I’ll throw in some fiction, some childrens books, something fun and light that I can whip through and not have to think too hard about!

spring.

Today is Sunday, March 20th, and I am quickly feeling my Spring Break come to a close.

SAD!!

Spring Break has been just wonderful!

Super fun Dallas and Tyler adventures.

Lunch and QT with Allison and Josh and their little doll Chloe!

An overdue mini-road-trip with Summer to the lake and to Pine Cove. Love that girl!

A fabulous 25th birthday.

Round 2 at the lake. This time with family…which included a mini-road-trip with little Noah who sits in the back seat reading his books and singing at the top of his lungs.

Actually talking to my little brother Austin – been a while since I’ve seen him!

Breaking in the jet-ski’s for 2011.

Laying out, laughing and dreaming with Sarah and Lauren.

Lots of me-time.

A sunset cruise on the boat.

Admiring the brightest moon since 1983 (so they tell me) while I laid on the porch swing.

I’m going to miss this! 10 weeks til Summer. 9 weeks til Hawaii…

25.

25.

I am now 25 years old.
That thought is still a little new to me.
And I love it!

I’ll be honest, last year I woke up sad on my birthday. Sad because I felt so old. I felt removed from college and not fully part of life post-college. I felt past my prime and alone. Don’t get me wrong, I realize that 24 is not old; it is in fact a prime age; I had friends all around me; and I was in a good place in life. For whatever reason though, I woke up realizing I could never again be 17…or 18…or 21.

Not this year. This year, I woke up at peace! I love being 25! I feel settled. I feel joyful. I feel productive. I feel loved. I feel hopeful. I feel MYSELF!

So for my 25th:

I laid in bed for 2 hours and watched the Biggest Loser and the Office on Hulu.
I read a little bit of my book and journaled.

I went to Kohl’s and bought 2 new shirts, some workout capris, and some flip flops (thanks grandparents!).

I had the best workout at the gym where I successfully resisted the urge to pinch all of the people not wearing St. Patrick’s Day green.

I went to Starbucks and ordered my iced coffee.

I shopped at Gap and bought adorable blue jean shorts.

I talked on the phone to people I care about and felt so loved by all the facebook greetings, text messages, cards and phone calls.

I was greeted with flowers and gifts from 2 of the best lifelong friends ever (Ann and Janelle) and sat in my room with them to catch up.

I was treated to dinner at Fuzzy Tacos and sat out on the patio for 3 hours with precious friends and laughed til my heart was overflowing!

I love 25! I loved that birthday! What a difference a year makes!

st.pattys.

My birthday is St. Patrick’s Day. It always has been.

I like birthdays. A lot.

That’s why I was so happy to hear that Dallas was throwing me a parade just down the street from my apartment. Thanks Dallas.

I’ll try not to take it personally that most of you will not remember my parade. My friends and I, however, found you highly entertaining to watch.

appreciated.

Friday was CIS social work appreciation day. To celebrate, CIS treated its staff to a relaxing morning painting pottery. Safe to say, I loved this day!! I had so much fun chatting and laughing with social work friends while we rode to the store and while we painted. Don’t worry though, I took my painting seriously.

I won’t hide it, I came in with a plan and knew just what I wanted to paint. People thought I was a little crazy. It’s like I woke up that morning with a clear cut vision of what our kitchen needed so that our house would be complete.

I found my inspiration from a picture someone texted me earlier this week. They ever so cleverly pointed out that this product was ‘on the bottom shelf…where it belongs.’ Ouch.

So in honor of Angie, whose love for this substance is truly undeniable, and in honor of people in my life who simply undervalue it’s worth, I painted a tribute to something near and dear to my heart.

I felt appreciated on Friday – genuinely appreciated – and found it oh so refreshing. I hope that Nutella felt appreciated as well.

bieber.

Confession: One trip to the movies this Friday converted me.

I now LOVE JUSTIN BIEBER.

Never before have I felt moved in a theater to cheer, sing, dance, wave my phone. Until Friday.

Yes, there were 10 year old girls there squealing every time they saw him. Yes, there was not a man in sight EXCEPT the on-screen Beiber (who some would argue is not yet a man…). Yes, I was there with my grown sisters and even more grown mom. Yes, we are now all 4 big fans.

Justin Bieber seems to have it all: adorable as can be, serious talent, sincerity, humor and he’s only 16!! Here’s to hoping he stays as solid as he seems now!

Transparency – that’s what this blog is all about. I’m a BELIEBER and I’m not afraid for the world to know it!