quirky friday five

1. i like to eat pbj sandwiches by eating around in a square the crust first and then eating the middle.

2. i think it’s fun to eat corn on the cob randomly…by searching for a bite that looks good and ending up with a mixed match looking piece rather than systematically going in rows or circles.

3. i like to smell food to see if i’ll like it…at camp, i even asked to smell some “blueberry waffle cone” ice cream before committing to it.

4. it takes a lot for me to really think about what someone’s voice sounds like if i haven’t been around them for a while…same thing about what they look like if i haven’t seen a picture…this makes me sad and makes it hard being away from people and probably why i put pictures everywhere but if i see them then it’s all there and i have a ridiculously good memory with names and stories.

5. sometimes i find myself deleting 🙂 because i put too many in one sentence or paragraph…i just like to use them and make sure that the text i’m conveying is happy.

your turn! gimme 5 or so quirky or random things. (just deleted a smiley because I used one above!)

i miss this…but fridays make my heart happy

and this…

and this too…

and well my pictures could go on and on…but they make my heart happy and it’s friday!

how’s your heart?

Wordless Wednesday

Shooting Stars

“Do everything without complaining or arguing, ¹⁵so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe ¹⁶as you hold out the word of life…” Philippians 2:14-16

Lately, I crave summer: swim suits, laying on the beach, driving with the music blaring and the windows down, fluffy happy books, shorts and tank tops, flip flops,  going out on the lake, meteor showers, star gazing, looking at the moon, sitting on the deck or dock, and happy summer music.  In response to my craving, I’ve decided that my room is now summer. Basically, I wear shorts and a tank top.  Pretend the heater and the sleeping bag are just for fun and look at the happy summer pictures while listening to happy music.  My heart is extra happy so all of this fits.

Alright, so by now you may be wondering how the verse above fits into all this talk about summer.  Well then, let me tell you a little bit about today.  Today the weather was warm, sunny and perfect.  I wore flip flops, ate delicious pancakes with mixed berries (I love and miss fresh berries like strawberries and blueberries!), walked around outside and read Gone With the Wind.  But the best part consisted of later at night when the stars came out.  Tentative plans to watch a movie were thwarted by other events, which turned into new plans to star gaze by the pond.  To be prepared, I outfitted myself with my sleeping bag, two pairs of pants (one with stars on them of course), lots of layers, a hat, mittens and even socks (I hate socks, but thanks mom for sending me some…though I really don’t need more…I really hate them!).

Needless to say, God blew me away with His creation.  Everything made me smile and soak in the beautiful night.  The moon hid away until the right time when we saw its amazing orangish color and sat astounded at its huge size.  The shooting stars took my breath away and I got sad whenever someone else saw one, but I missed it.  The random conversation took the edge off the rest of the day.  And I’m still pondering which names fit the category of a “cuddly” name.  Yet, through all of this, I return my thoughts to God to thank Him for a wonderful ending to another day.  To ask Him to help me show that kind of beauty and light to everyone around me. To live out the call to shine like stars and take people’s breath away. To glorify His name and live a life full of love in such a way that others see Him.

Because that’s when my heart is happy.

15 Hours

A group of bloggers are on a plane for 15 hours headed to India.  They will experience firsthand the ministry of Compassion International.  Check out their blogs and read about what they’ll be doing here!  We recently had a mission team with a couple who was able to meet up with a child they sponsor through Compasssion nearby our base.  They were thrilled to see the little girl and to see how their monthly donation changed her life.  Now they have a memory to put to the pictures, letters and packages they send and receive.  While she has hope and knows that someone cares even if they are an ocean away.

One, Two, Three: Pack

Unpacking. Packing. Unpacking. Packing. This has been my life for the last few days.   I feel like I have accumulated so much stuff.  Though, I have enjoyed being able to organize and reorganized everything.  I put up pictures in my room and added my happy yellow mirror.  I created an extra bookcase until I can have the white one.  I made a happy place in my closet and turned my bed into a “I want to get in right now and never leave” place.  Here are some photos of the finished product.  Well, at least for now.  I still have more packing and unpacking and organizing to do, but you can get the general gist of things 🙂

Closet/makeshift bookshelf and happy area. Note: I still have to add clothes to the left side, but have to wait since I have to decide what I’m bringing still….

11 pillows. 2 down comforters. 1 feather bed. 1 comforter. 1 blanket (for now).

My bed was too tall so I stacked the night stands 🙂

Bookshelf, speakers and night stands, and flowers

Okay, I’m ready for bed now!

16 (Random) Things

So, I got tagged on facebook, but I’m more of a “blogger” than a “write notes on facebook” so I’m going to cheat and do this on here.  Let’s see where this takes us…

Directions:
Once you’ve been tagged, you have to write a note with 16 random things, shortcomings, facts, habits or goals about you. At the end choose 16 people to be tagged, listing their names and why you chose them. You have to tag the person who tagged you.

1. I will only buy something if it fits the ever changing definition of “happy.”  For example, I found the most amazing shoes at Ron Jon Surf Shop and let me tell you they were the epitome of happy.  Comfy, leather, green and white flowers. 
2. I will have 4 bookshelves in my room at home when I leave for South Africa.
3. I trust easily.  I will give people the full benefit of the doubt whenever possible.  Yet, I struggle with trusting God in many things.
4. I will show you every possible angle and not let you generalize about things. This may drive you nuts…
5. I gave up drinking pop/soda.  I last drank pop probably in fall 2007.  The only kinds I crave are Orange Soda and Root Beer–in the form of Root Beer floats.  Occasionally others, but not as much as those two.
6. White chocolate is my downfall.  I love it. I could eat it all the time.  Lindt White chocolate truffles especially.  
7. I get attached to things and am bit possessive.  For example, I’m in love with my bike and am already sad to be leaving it.  I also get attached to books and get all sentimental and can’t bear to think of giving them away.
8. I could walk on the beach for hours and hours, miles and miles, and not get bored.
9. I am a pen clicker.  Give me a click-y pen and I will click.
10. I made a goal to take/pick a picture a day for this next year.  In the end, I want to make a sweet collage.  So far, so good.
11. I prefer small silverware.  Small spoons, forks, knives.  Especially at Coldstone when you can use the “sample” spoon.
12. Toast with peanut butter and honey is one of my favorite snacks.
13. I love cake. Better than sex cake, strawberry cake, white cake, funfetti cake, everything.  Though, I’m not a huge fan of chocolate frosting.
14. I like to play songs on repeat.  “Turn it Up” by Aaron lines has 237 plays on iTunes, which is not counting all the other plays on CDs and my iPod.
15. I used to collect quotes. All sorts. I would post them all over my room.  I did the same with fortunes from fortune cookies.
16. I leave for South Africa “next” week.

Yikes, do I really have to pick 16 people?  Nah, 16 is way too many people to tag in a blog.  Facebook, sure. Here, nope.  But, I will say thank-you, Sarah for tagging me on facebook!  Hope you enjoy my random list and I hope you’re doing well across the ocean!

Books Galore!

Step 1: Organize into piles by categories

Step 2: Take out the books from bookshelf number 1 and then re-shelve the books.  Then reexamine your piles and organize accordingly.

Step 3: Fill bookshelf number 2.

Step 4: Fill bookshelf number 3.

Step 5: Go back and make sure all the books are organized correctly and then leave the remaining books in the piles on the floor since bookshelf number 4 will be coming in a couple of weeks. 

Step 6: Go through all of the books one more time and move them around now that you have moved bookshelf number 4 back home.

Step 7: Attempt to pick out books to bring to South Africa.

Step 8: Get teary eyed about how you won’t be able to bring many books and how you have to leave bookshelf number 1, 2, 3, and 4. 

Step 9: Remember that people can ship you books.

Step 10: Bring lots of books anyway.

p.s. for those of you who were wondering (Tam), if you look closely you can see some of my pottery!  I’ll take some more pictures sometime soon, but I moved most of it home already so you’ll have to wait a few weeks.

Hair!

I was going to try to do a hair throughout the ages, but I gave up and got bored and just added whatever.  But here’s “some” 🙂

I got my hair cut on Saturday 🙂  Two of the pictures are from Saturday 🙂

Cowgirl fun!

Go here and look at the second to last picture! So much fun 🙂  I love how she wore cowgirl boots too!