Wonderful Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday! 

I'm taking a break from writing this excruciating thesis paper for my History of the Middle Ages class to share with you some wonderfulness!  

Wonderful Song:

"The Church" - Elevation Worship
I love running to this song, mostly because of the charge it gives to the Church. Regardless on your thoughts (or mine) about Elevation Church, this song exhorts believers to preach the Gospel--and the Church needs to be exhorted more, no doubt.

Wonderful Scripture:

Exodus 8:18-19

How cool is that? Even the Egyptian magicians recognized God's superior and ultimate power.

Wonderful Friend:

My brother, Trey.
After I went to my family's Easter church service, my family and Bradley went to visit Nana and Papa Earl (my mom's parents) at Papa Earl's nursing home.
Trey partook in a self photo shoot with my phone
(unedited, in full glory):

So I joined him.
He is seriously awesome.

Wonderful Picture:

Gertie, Bradley's 15-year-old first love/dog. When we pulled into his driveway on Wednesday for Easter break, Gertie ran up to me.
A 15-year-old dog ran. Made my day.

Wonderful Pin:

Paint swatches as gift tags--seriously, how smart is this?

Thankful Thursday.

I am prideful.  And because I struggle with pride, I am highly susceptible to self-pity.  Class work, readings, projects, emails, leadership positions, babysitting, struggling to be an attentive and emotionally engaged daughter, sister, friend, small group leader, and girlfriend...

Momentarily, I think my life is hard. Certainly I never verbalize it nor does the explicit thought run through my mind, but my heart is satiated with self-pity.

So focusing on some of the bajillion ways God loves me is a discipline in which I need to invest.  

Things I am thankful for this week:

1.  Farm time last Friday.

2.  I realized am verbalizing the fact that I want to control not only my life, but other people's lives.  AKA I distrust God and want to sit on the throne.  So incredibly dangerous.

3.  Beautiful NC weather!

4.  Worshipful, sanctifying lunch dates with some of my favorite girls :)

5.  Starbucks date with Laura & Morgan on Sunday afternoon.

6.  Powerful runs this week--such a release.

7.  Late night texts from Daddy :)

8.  Small group on Tuesday night since we all went home Wednesday!  We met at Royal Bean Coffee instead of my dorm room for a change of pace :)

9.  Dwelling on God's glory / Being sobered every time I read the Word.

10.  Trey & Ashley (my younger siblings) are on their spring break this week--which means hanging out with them during the day, not just when they get home from school/practice.  Words cannot express how happy I am about this and how God has already used this extra time just by being at home less than a day. 

Sweet Surprises :)

Happy Chocolate Covered Raisins Day (yesterday)!

Here ya go, Mommie!

I mailed these items to my mom a few days ago in hopes that she would receive her chocolate covered raisins in time to celebrate this momumental holiday!

She did : ) And she sent me this picture:

Is she not the cutest?!

That woman loves chocolate covered raisins. I love that woman.

Dorm Life.

Living in a dorm, as we all know, has its drawbacks, but it really can be a wonderful place to temporarily reside.  Case in point: NC State University.

Sitting on trash cans with the twins…

this re-enactment is WAY cuter than the original.

Discovering sweet, surprising notes from precious suitemates : )

After M borrowed my hair dryer

Discovering sweet, surprising notes from precious Bradley : )

And oatmeal, no less…he’s good.

Eating Oatmeal.

Heaven on earth.

Eating Junior Mints from my Educational Psychology professor for perfect attendance.

Oh happy day.

…I promise I do more than eat.

Being reminded…

I made this for Bradley for Christmas!

Returning to school after Christmas break to find Lean Pockets literally frozen over…

Oh, Laura.

Playing Mario Cart in Bradley and Christian’s room.

Reading good books.

Figuring out how to use cheap vacuums (speaking of cheap vacuums…)

Studying/struggling to apply Jesus’ Word.

Finishing journals.

Discovering just how disgusting the water is…

Lord knows what those black things are…PTL for my Brita.

Losing toenails…

Still looking for that thing, Laura.

Making/receiving Valentines!

all 36!

When did conversation hearts become so hip, self-centered, and aggressive?

Early morning runs.

emphasis on the "run"--not on the "early".

Intense studying.

except when the font on our self-made study guides is too small to read...

Not pictured:  So. Much. Laughter. It’s great. Small group meetings (by far my favorite thing about my dorm room), March Madness, movie nights, letting my artistic suitemates do whatever they want with my hair (& loving it), actually studying, dancing (& lots of it), delirium, sleepovers, light-hearted conversations, deep discussions, agreements and disagreements, encouragement, tears, hurt, forgiveness and grace.

Grateful for the place God has me. He is in all and through all—I pray I continually let Him into all corners.

I am excited about NOT living in a dorm next year, however, to live with these three wonderfully fun, humbly gifted, absolutely beautiful girls who love Jesus:

taken yesterday : )

Happy Leap Day!

This is the year 2012, and it is February 29th! This is exciting for multiple reasons.

I only have 2 classes today.

Small group is tonight! SO EXCITED.

Spring Break is in 3 days! …midterms tomorrow and Friday.

I feel like I have an extra day to catch up (yes, I know the week goes on as usual, just making this year 366 days).

But I do have an extra day to catch up, PTL! My sociology midterm is online (aka, it’s going to kick my butt), but I discovered last night that it isn’t due until this weekend!

I have a paper due this afternoon (completed!) and a midterm in my Intro to Elementary Ed class on Thursday, so this is a huge relief. I feel as if I’ve been given an extra day to live by it being Feb. 29th, but also by realizing I have an extra day to study for a midterm!

Thank You Lord for the small blessings–for more time to glorify You and not me. Show me how to use it well.

As I fret over and celebrate time, You hold time in Your hand.

Snail Mail.

I love Valentine’s Day. I love that our culture sets aside a day to celebrate and acknowledge those we love.

I love also love snail mail.  Despite the kind of day I’ve had, getting a letter in the mail, just for me, is the sweetest thing.  So my love for stamps, envelopes and pretty pens, coupled with my love for lots of people, always produces Valentine’s Day cards!  36 this year, in fact.

Since I always send many, it is essential that I keep them simple.  PTL for Pinterest. 

This was my inspiration:

So I collected my materials from Target, of course:

I picked out cute Valentine-themed googly eyes (LOVE that they were different shapes!) : 

And some cute heart stickers (which I didn't realize were stickers until half-way through the assembling process) : 

I re-created the "eye love you" Valentines from my pin:

And added scripture to the inside of the cards:

Target was OUT of standard envelopes--they only had security!  Thankfully I had forgotten about some cute colorful envelopes I had tucked away.  Crisis averted.  

Address writing takes forever.

The finished 36!

On this day, however, I can’t help but be reminded of the original Lover.  He didn’t bring me a dozen roses, or chocolates, or even a lovely candle-lit dinner.   He asked for my love on the Cross.  And He proved that He will always be faithful and powerful by resurrecting Himself.  For me.  Kind of mind-blowing.  I will only find that kind of love in Him.