Blessings.

 Sometimes I still can't believe that I'm actually living in a new place. Not just visiting. It's  a very hard thing to wrap ones mind around. Most of this time I feel as if this is just some vacation that will soon be over with... but then I see my stack of homework and reality comes knocking at my door. 

I spend most of my days going from class to class and doing homework. But I'm so enjoying the college dorm lifestyle. The community that comes along with it. I've never been one for having many friends, girl friends especially. I just always felt as if all the girls I ever met just hated my guts. We never got along and I found the way to cliquey. But here. Here everything is different. I've finally found a place where I seem to fit in, and I don't even have to try. I've found people, girls, who actually accept me for me. They don't think I'm too conservative, they don't think I'm too worldly. They just like me. And sure, sometimes they make fun of my crazy antics, but I know that they love me. And I love them. I would honestly do anything for these girls, and I know that if I ever needed anything they would have my back. It's something that I haven't felt, well, ever. 

I am so incredibly blessed. 

Purple Gurple

I had been thinking about making a picture-an-hour today, but when I got this brilliant idea it was already eleven. So how about a "Picture-Whenever-I-Feel-Like-It"? Does that work? Okay.

Sunday night I walked down to the local bookstore while I was working {A testimony to how absolutely dead it was...} to get a card. You know those cool Quotable cards that you can usually only find at bookstores? Well, I found one I wanted and then started roaming the notebook shelves... what a bad idea! I always find some notebook I want. But this one. I had to have it. It's a five year one sentence a day journal and I've been wanting one ever since I gave one to my friend for graduation. The cool thing is that once I'm done with it, I'll be graduated from college! Neat-o idea, amirite?

This is actually the card I got. Isn't it pretty? I would buy one of all of them just to frame and hang around my dorm room. Actually... that's a pretty good idea. I just love getting these cards for people, they just seem like the perfect cards on every level of humanity.

During camp we sang a song based on this verse. It sort of completely hit me in the gut in the most amazing and perfect way.

While I was at camp I painted my nails one day and they were starting chip into this hideousness. So I finally, finally, painted my nails again. Usually I have such a hard time decided what color but this purple was just calling out to me. I'm sort of head-over-heels in love with it. 

For When I Am Weak

There is nothing quite like snuggling up in bed with a brand-new homemade quilt that you got as a graduation gift and a good book. It's even more exceptional when you happen to be talking to the love of your life after you've already spent a good chunk of the day with him. 

I love just laying in bed. Thinking about my day. Listening to the hum of a fan lull me into a land full of dreams. Thinking about how nice it is to have straightened my room up, and about how fun it is to play board games with Hunter (Casie & Brad, too, of course!). And how wonderful it is to have something to cover me up tonight that was made from someone I truly love. What a lovely day. 

That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10 

havin' a hallelujah good time

Sunday's are hard days for me. 
If you know anything about my life story (Yes. I am aware that I've barely began my life.) you may understand why. Then again, you may not. 
I've went to church since before I was born. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior at the ripe old age of three. At Mancelona Youth Camp I rededicated my life to him when I was around 13 (14?). So you could probably be safe in saying that I've spent the majority of my Sundays in a church. With my family. 
Church was my safe house. When my Daddy lost his job my freshman year of high school things got a little hard, but church was where everything was always normal. Church was where I had people who anonymously left Christmas gifts on our doorstep. Church was where I'd sit next to my Daddy and he'd lean down and whisper how pretty I looked. Church was a good, safe, beautiful place. 
Then a day came when even church wasn't so normal anymore. My sixteenth birthday. The day my Daddy died. It was unexpected. It was brutal. And even church became hard to go to. Not because I hated God. Not because I blamed God. But, simply, because Daddy wasn't there. It ended up that I had big shoes to fill, being his daughter and all. 
Even now that I go to a whole different church than the one I was raised in, it's weird. It's weird walking into a church without a Daddy there. It's weird. But, you know, that's okay. It's how my life is now, and I refuse to be bitter. I refuse to let what has happened to me define who I am as a person. I refuse to be sad all the time, because I deserve to be happy. Maybe your circumstances are out of your control. Maybe you're not able to work at your dream job. Maybe you've lost your best friend, be it by death or by a falling out. I only have one thing to say to you: Be joyful. Do not let what's happening define who you are as a person. I'm not going to say it's easy, but it is possible. Optimism is a lifestyle choice, choose it. Nobody is bring you down but yourself. 


On a lighter note: If you know what the title is from (without google) we will surely be best friends for life, guurl.