Blessings in Disguise

You know how every once in awhile you have one of those days? Those days where nothing seems to go right, and it takes alot of effort to get your spirits up....Well I am trying to see those days as blessings in disguise. As the cliche goes, If we didn't have the bad days, we wouldn't appreciate the good ones. Usually in the bad days we discover something about our character...may it be a strength or a weakness. If it happens to be a weakness, it can be a time of growing and stretching yourself. If that bad day is filled with loneliness, it is an extra opportunity to lean on God and make sure you are making HIM your #1 instead of someone else. If that bad day is filled with self pity, I encourage you (as I encourage myself) to ask God to show you how truly blessed you are, and to provide an opportunity to bless others instead of being so focused on yourself.

I have recently been "called out" on some of my own character flaws by someone really close to me. Although it was extremely hard to hear, and even harder to humbly face up to them, I hope everyone has someone in their life that holds them accountable. As I strive to become more like Christ, some days I think I have gotten farther away from the goal. It is frustrating, but I think it keeps me humble knowing that no matter what I do or don't do, I am saved by grace. All in all, my new challenge is to find the many blessings that God has hidden in our day-to-day lives, whether it is the "good" day or the "bad" one.

Eating my fruits and veggies...

So I've been known to be one of the worst eaters..not that I just eat junk food, just that I eat very simple, easy-to-make foods. Its not that I don't like to cook...I actually like cooking alot! I just never have time to put anything together...and since I'm just feeding myself I have no ambition to go to much lengths to make a good meal. Well...my roommate has inspired me...and I am starting my food makeover by eating lots of fruits and veggies!!! Perhaps I went a lil overboard...but I'm learning =)

Growing up...

I will soon be starting my last semester of college. As expected...I have SO many mixed feelings about this. I feel like I just finished high school....or at least my freshman year of college. I don't feel grown-up enough to be in the real world yet. I spent last week at home--and it felt "normal". Coming back to the cities makes me feel more independent and grown up, but deep down I feel like i belong at home with my parents. I've always had issues with growing up since I was little. Of course I look forward to the future and what it holds for me...but as always its all a big, scary, unknown. I guess that's where faith jumps in. But just for the record, I'll always be daddy's little girl.


"Too many people grow up. That's the real trouble with the world, too many people grow up. They forget. They don't remember what it's like to be 12 years old. They patronize, they treat children as inferiors. Well, I won't do that." --Walt Disney

Banana Bread

I made my first loaves of banana bread today!! I am home in Trf for the week, and was bored during the day so I called up my grandma for her recipe. I wasn't so sure it would turn out because I don't really bake much, and let's face it--no matter what, grandmas always bake their own recipes the best! But it turned out wonderfully!!

Side-note: The last time banana bread was made in our house, the dog jumped up onto the counter (which he NEVER does) and ate the whole loaf!!!

Grill out happiness

Today I got to come home. I was met with hugs and "How was the drive?!" My parents know my favorite growing-up/at-home memories were those days when the lawn is freshly mowed, and we have a grill-out picnic and invite the grandparents. Today, that's just what we did. It was wonderful--the food was amazing and the company was even better. To top it off we had angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream on top. Just thought I'd share=).

Slow down...

Perhaps it is because I grew up in a small town in northern Minnesota. Perhaps it is because i've spent time abroad. Perhaps it is simply because it doesn't feel natural or right. Why are we always so busy? We are always running around doing all of these things--and lose sight of what is important. We stay up too late, eat fast food that is hazardous to our bodies, and most people doesn't exercise because they just are too worn out. We were created to be in relationship with other people. We were created to match the rhythms of the earth--slow, peaceful, calm. I grew up being fairly busy with school and sports, but being an only child I was never crazy busy. I loved it that way. I had time to sit down with my parents and talk about everything and nothing. Even my first year in college I never signed up to be involved with more than I could handle. But the city life seems to be getting to me. I feel like when I have free time, something is wrong. However, I still have not lost sight of who I am and how I was brought up. I have learned never to be idle or lazy, but make sure you always have quality time to spend with those you love, and also to spend by yourself. God can do anything, but I'm sure it makes it alot harder for Him to work through us when we have our own agenda packed tightly into every 24 hour period. We have to make sure we leave some "open space" for Him, too. So this is my challenge: Slow down a bit, take care of yourself, and let God do His thing.

My Yesterday

8:30 woke up & ate breakfast.
9:15: worked until i ran out of door hangers.
12:00: ate a peanut butter sandwich.
12:30: went to the beach to lay out and watched lil kids fish and build sandcastles
2:00: went to LA Fitness and worked out
3:00: came back home, showered, and got ready.
4:15: headed to u of m and got stuck at almost every red light possible
4:30: hung out with the bf and corey--i cut up some watermelon, yum!
5:15: played the best game of wiffle ball ever!!
highlights: -catching corey's homerun ball out of the trees
- scoring my very first wiffle ball homerun
- nathan and i winning!
7:15: grilled burgers and had corn on the cob
8:30: went hot tubbin!
9:45: watched beiner the gecko eat crickets.
10:15: headed back home and talked to my lovely roommate

i love summer.

Sometimes Songs Say It Better!

So, you know when a song just completely speaks to something in your life? Well..here's mine lately=) It's not the whole song, just a part that says it better than I could!

"Whatever Your Doing" by Sanctus Real

Time for a milestone
Time to begin again
Revaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow your will
or just climbing aimlessly over these hills
So show me what it is you want from me
I give everything I surrender...

Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something heavenly