costume party

Happy Halloween, my fanciful friends! I hope that this October 31st finds you with fall spirit galore and enough Reese's leftover to satisfy your sweet tooth craving.

Running Update: For the first time in what feels like over a year, I ran 6 miles. 6 MILES. For you longer distance runners out there, that's probably not a whirlwind of an accomplishment, but considering it's the maximum mileage I ever had to run during my high school track team practices, makes me feel pretty stellar. I'm getting back in the game!! One of the goals I set for myself is to eventually run 10 miles without stopping. I've only ever run 6 in a row. 7, I'm comin' to getcha. Who knows, maybe a half marathon is up next? *eep*

How about you? Reached any rad goals this week? Got a Halloween costume planned? Tell me about it. ^_^

can amazing things happen again?

This is the cover of my current journal. Incidentally, it coincides with one of my all-time favorite Bible verses, which I think is pretty gnifty.

"For when You did awesome things that we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains trembled before You." ~ Isaiah 64:3

So that's all very cheery and nice, but I'll admit that at this present moment, I feel a bit discouraged.

Do you ever focus on all of your failures? I'm working on achieving a goal right now, and I'm not even halfway there. Yet, I've made progress. But somehow, instead of seeing how I'm slowly but surely accomplishing things, I focus on how I'm not there yet, on my setbacks, on the impossibility of it all.

I hate that.

I know God is a God of hope, and that these feelings do not come from Him. Amazing things can happen. Amazing things do happen. I just wish I had the constant confidence to believe that God will make these things come to pass in my own life.

pumpkin parade

I opened my blinds this morning and what did I find but a quiet quintet of pretty pumpkins sitting on my front lawn, smiling at me with gaped-mouth grins and radiating general autumnal cheer all over the place.

My sister and I didn't go pumpkin carving with the rest of our friends yesterday, so sometime late last night they dropped off these beauties in the dark. Not only has my entire day been made, but it makes me wonder how I ever got so lucky as to have friends like these.

Which pumpkin is your favorite?

(I must confess that I accidentally dropped the one with a face this morning when moving it onto the porch, but the gourd remained in tact, beauty mark and all!)

unceasingly

Does anyone else get excited that the sky is blue? 

Or do you ever look into the mirror and grin because your face is the perfect combination of your parents, your mother's eyes and your father's smile? Do we allow these things to light us up inside? Or do we fail to truly live when we no longer notice the artistry that is all around us?

silence.

I surround myself with quiet, with peace. 

I wrap myself up in the silent, still moments and content myself with the words that other people pressed into pages long ago. My littlest joys are found in reading, in praying, in sitting in the silent section of my college library and catching up on assignments. I stare out the thick pane of glass and watch as the rain falls and falls, steady and sure.

such a love as this was bound to consume me one day

Life Revelation: I've started to notice babies more lately.

And wonder what mine will be like, and whose eyes they will have, and imagine the man that will be their father smiling and laughing. I dream of raising them, these wild yet tender little children, and how I will help them with art projects one day, and listen as they sing songs.

I wish could protect them from the inevitable pains of falling in love, and ensure that no one will ever come along one day and break their heart or tell them they look fat. I wish I could cushion them, but I can't. And I don't know, I think about these things more often now.

+ This picture has absolutely no pertinence to the post, but I had to post it because I just stumbled upon it in "the archives". Love these two little nuggets. They are my favorite people, period.

"i don't know if it's real, but it's how i feel"

forest fire

If I had legs that could carry me for miles, I would turn into the woods 

and run and run, forever.

bob dylan & journalism & fall festivities

I'm having a really good weekend.

(SIDE NOTE: I wish I could put that in a more literary fashion, but I didn't, and maybe I can't. If you can't tell, I'm a little burnt out blogging-wise. I've been blogging for so long but I'm growing dissatisfied with the posts I'm writing and I know that's a thing all bloggers struggle with but yeah, if you have any advice on how to handle it and also how to avoid writing massive, hard-to-follow-run-on-sentences-of-epic-proportions like this one, well, that'd be dandy.)

Normally when I'm busy I don't enjoy it, but this weekend, I really did. I attended a friend's fall folk concert; I lit my pecan waffle candle; I bought a Bob Dylan record. I drank my *first ever* Pumpkin Spice Frappucinno. I attended a conference for (and met!) my favorite journalist, talked with old friends, and watched a horror movie with my family. And tomorrow is my church's fall festival.

How are all of you? I genuinely want to know. Write me a lengthy comment or list or haiku about how your weekend was. ^_^

+ Here's a song for you, loves. Enjoy!

there is no pain, you are receding

--

• I'm digging 80's tunes today. Maybe it's because it's Back to the Future Day? I don't know what it is about old music, but listening to amazing retro songs that were created before I was lights me up inside. That goes for any era of jams, but right now this song is my spirit animal.
• God's been opening up some pretty amazing opportunities for me with journalism. At the start of this semester, I wasn't even sure if that was the major for me. But He has been confirming that I made the right choice, in so many little (and big!) ways. That's a glorious blessing in itself.
• I've been reading the Word more and it's so calming. The Lord really corrects my mindset when I go astray.
• Digging around for inspiring images to help me write yesterday, I found a fair amount of really cool black & white historic photos. If you dig into the archives, you can find some pretty stellar shots.
• Excited to run tonight. Sometimes I get burnt out with it, but now I'm ready to hit the pavement again in the park.

What does Wednesday look like for you?

empty boxes

I'll be honest with whoever reads this little bloggeth and say that I really have not be dwelling in the Word properly lately.

I'll eat a quick bowl of oatmeal and glance over a couple of verses, but only to say that I did. I don't soak up the spongy truth of God's Word, and I wonder why by the end of the day I feel anxious and far from Him.

Last night I spent some time quieting down and just sitting still. I read three chapters of Isaiah (53-55), and they really hit home. I love when the Lord takes a passage that you don't think could possibly apply to your current situation in life and just hits you over the head with how applicable it actually is. It's disarming. It's humbling. It's beautiful. And it truly shows the compassion of a God who knows me, inside and out. There is nothing I can, or should try, to hide from Him, weakness and all.

Suffice it to say that right now the Lord is teaching me about how to run to Him first. He is showing me that He alone is my rest and my refuge. I have no idea what is going to happen in my life or with all that is in this heart of mine, but the point is that I trust Him with it. He will do awesome things I do not expect, if only I learn to patiently pray and wait. In the meantime, I'm going to memorize Psalm 62.

"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken." ~ Psalm 62:1-2 

your confidence is fading with your youth

Unwashed hair
Foster the People
Journalism
Strawberry cake
Revival is coming
Lack of punctuation
People
Folk songs
Pecan waffle candle

Brin's getting married

I can't believe it. Today, my best and dearest friend gets married.

Brin and I have been best buds since we were in elementary school. I've known this sweet soul since she was nine, and we have had so many adventures since. From wet suits to heartbreak to missions trips, Code Red, dance videos, matching hats, shopping trips and cartoon doodling, we've been with each other through it all. And I'm beyond honored to stand in her wedding as her maid of honor today. I'm probably going to cry. And make a fool of myself saying sappy things during the toast.

I love you, Brin. I will always hold your train while you pee!

80's rock opera

• I just found out that I have over 10 free credit hours left to complete before I graduate. Which means I can take at least three wonderful elective classes that have absolutely no bearing on my journalism degree whatsoever. Hello, art class. #PaintTheTrees
• I made a friend. And by friend, I mean the sweet black cat that prances down its driveway and mews softly at me as I take my nightly neighborhood walk. He’s not human, but he sure is a sweetheart.
• My (human) best friend is getting married in like, two seconds. As in, Saturday. As in, how did we get this old?
• Today is not 95 degrees, which completely justified my wearing an old crumpled blue flannel shirt. Fall is coming. Tell ya friends.
• I can’t wait until I have time to sit and write my novel...cold weather always makes me want to write.
• Today is a good day. How can it not be when it began with an 80's rock opera on the drive to school?
• I have hope in Christ, therefore I will take heart.

 

+ Thanks again for all your sweet comments on my last post. Very kind words from some pretty stellar folks. ^_^

i just want to change the world

Today is not necessarily a bad day, but it occurred to me, as I gazed out the window to my left instead of my computer screen full of tasks, that I'm kind of in a rut.

Doing the same things. Eating the same things. Going to the same places. Always pushing God off. Never having "time" for music or writing. Stuck in the suburbs, never in the woods.

Life is good, don't get me wrong. I'm just beginning to realize that I am by no means content with chasing a degree, then a job, then retirement. With my every last breath I want to bleed and love and live for other people, to impact their lives, to do something great and artful and worthy of the Lord's having given me a life in the first place.

I'm dying to do something that will impact eternity in some significant way. I'm so tired of just existing. 

the weekend update

Yesterday was a really hard day.
But to quote Fleetwood Mac, "Yesterday's gone.....yeeeeesterday's gone."

LITTLE JOYS OF THE WEEKEND:

• My church's annual canoe trip went pretty well. My sister and I didn't tip over or anything (it's happened before), and although we did crash into some spidery branches, it was an overall success. My friend Austin took this photo of us talking with odd feet synchronization at the cookout afterwards.
• My mom treated me to a cup of pumpkin soup after church. Smiles were had, spoonfuls were enjoyed. 
• She also made a really phenomenal pot of pea soup for dinner. I don't know, I guess yesterday was a day for soup. Although not a soup-er day. (I hate my puns, too.)
• A pair of aqua eyes that were kind and friendly.
• Finally finding time to clean my closet. It's good to see the floor again. 

Tell me about your weekend, punk. 

canoe glory days

One of my church's annual fall traditions is the all-church canoe trip. It's synonymous with all that is autumn, and for me, officially ushers in the season. On a Saturday in October, we drive a couple hours up to the canoe outpost for a day spent out on the river with family, friends and turkey sandwiches. After canoeing, we head to a woodsy property owned by one of the church members and play volleyball and eat pastries.

And it's tomorrow! I'm irrationally excited.

The canoe trip has been a tradition I've attended so often that I have a myriad of memories attached to the different times I've gone. Each trip is different, but they always seem to call to mind the soft layers of a cotton hoodie, a chill fall breeze, hamburgers and cold river water. Also, Milo Greene. Milo Greene is forever and always the soundtrack in my mind to these canoe trips.

+ Click here for a taste of my fave canoe jams.
+ Click here for a woodsy record I reviewed for my vinyl site.

Do you have a favorite fall tradition? Favorite fall song?

not another fall post

It's officially fall. And I cannot contain my joy.

For me, fall is synonymous with my church's canoe trip, and hay rides, Pumpkin Spice Lattes and cozy sweaters, warm, flickering candles and a really good book. I was walking and praying today and asking God if it could always be October. Fall really is the season of my soul.

A FEW THINGS TO GET YOU IN THE FALL SPIRIT: 

+ This cozy couple. Who are they? Where are they? I need to find out so they can tell me how I can be them.

+ My current favorite fall song, "Never Heard a Sound" by the Paper Kites. You'll be pleased to know that it has been fall-walk tested and 100% approved for optimum strolling joy by yours truly.

+ This post basically made me die wanting to see trees change colors. Where I live, it takes many, many months. I can still walk on the beach in December, folks. This is my life.

What is your favorite fall essential?

SIDE NOTE: I can't even begin to tell you all how encouraging your sweet comments are. You are all so special, and creative, and beautiful. I think it's crazy that God lets me brighten the days of others I don't even know, and vice versa. Y'all make me smile (:

have a smile on me

I think a lot of the time we bloggers tend to get caught up in the whole "machine" of blogging.

Post, comment, follow, post again.
Look for inspiration in outside sources. 
Re-brand, update social media, write a gnifty new bio. 

But really, behind the screens are stressed-out people that just want to smile. Why not create a post series based entirely on joyful, utter randomness? LEGGO



The Seal of Approval. Would anybody actually dare to disapprove of the Seal of Approval? I disapprove of those that disapprove of the Seal of Approval. Do you approve of me doing so? #heh



Ryan Gosling, may you always giggle in my presence.



If it's one of those days and you need an instant smile LIKE RIGHT NOW, give this video a minute and 32 seconds of your life. You go, adorable dancing pumpkin man.

Jason Schwartzman accurately describes how I feel about life right now.

Beatles love.

How I feel when I realize that I'm going to have to interview people I don't know outside of class today.



While we're on the topic of Andrew Garfield, I might as well work this gem in here.

Finally, I leave you with this very startling image of Bob Dylan looking a bit taken aback and yet entirely entitled to the glamour and prestige that is due him. But that hoodie and scarf combo just gets me.

Have a good day.
And remember: none of us have it together!

running is my jam

Today was the bomb diggety.

I got up unwillingly and asked God to give me the strength to enjoy running today. Not only did He help me to *literally* go the extra mile, but I ran a different route to some beautiful music, and felt joyful the entire afternoon. Even my family noticed. It was just a really great day.



Running Update: This week I ran 15.01 miles (it's that .01 that really sets it over the edge, I know). The first two runs of the week were tiresome, tiny three milers that were super humid. But the last two runs of the week, a four and a five miler, felt crisper than usual. It's getting cooler, folks. I'm starting to anticipate breaking out my #swag for fall: scarves, boots, sweaters, turbans. Ok, maybe not the turbans. Eh, you never know.

What have you all been up to? Your comments so encourage me. Hope you're enjoying fall.