Blessings upon blessings

It amazes me how God sends us blessings.  I am so overwhelmed right now, I just don't know where to begin!  


Before Zach ever left, I got a fantastic reminder from God.  I made Zach some notecards with scripture on them for each day of his trip.  Monday morning when I got up and was getting ready to leave to surprise him, I looked up my notes about what the verse was for their first day - Philippians 4:6-7...talk about a God moment...by trying to encourage Zach not to be anxious about the trip (mostly the traveling) it turned around and encouraged me as well.


So one of the first blessings was being able to track his flights...even though when their longest flight didn't land when they were supposed to I got a little nervous, but it all turned out okay, God used it to get me to trust Him more!  


Then, I am friends on Facebook with some of the orphanage leader's daughters, and she told me that they made it there safely and she was so excited to see Zach again (they got to be good friends when he went last year).  Even though I don't know Elizabeth, Zach has told me so much about her, as well as their friendship.  When I saw all of this on Facebook, I just felt this overwhelming peace and absolute happiness.  God has given me such a blessing by putting Zach in my life, and I am thrilled that he gets to spend time with the people in Myanmar and bless them for a while!  


I am following the blog of the trip.  I'm not sure how many people were asked to blog, but Zach was one of them.  He said he wasn't going to blog because it would take away time he would get to play with the kids after lunch each day.  So I have been reading it the last few days; read about their flights, their first day there - it just brings a smile to my face.  This morning when I woke up, I pulled the blog up, and there were 3 or 4 new posts.  So I'm reading through the last one...and it was Zach's!  Picture this, I was laying in bed, reading this on my phone, and when I saw his name, I all but leaped out of bed with excitement.  I would encourage you to follow their blog as well - even if you have accidentally stumbled upon my blog and have no idea who I am, it is great to read about the work they are doing and the love they felt from the instant they set foot at the orphanage: unchartedinternational.org/myanmar/  
It's great, and it will bring a smile to your face, I promise.


So after reading his blog this morning, I talked to Zach's mom to tell her about the blog.  We chatted for a few minutes about his trip last year and this year - she is certainly a blessing in my life!  I love his parents and am so lucky to have them.  So after I got off the phone with her, I was checking my email, and I noticed that my junk box was quite full.  Before just deleting all of them I check to make sure I don't have something in there that isn't actually junk...I'm so glad I did because I had an email from Zach! :)  He emailed me and his parents to let us know he made it safely, but he has had quite a trip already.  Poor guy has forgotten several things along the way, but thankfully recovered them all.  So keep him, and the rest of the team, in your prayers! 


I was all nervous about him leaving, and I think I finally figured out why.  I knew that God would take care of them, so that wasn't really why I was so nervous.  I was nervous about the flights because he was nervous about them.  I just wasn't sure of what to expect, and I wasn't sure how I would act/feel/think...sounds silly, I know, but hey last year when he went we were just getting to know each other, there are quite a few more feelings towards him this year!  I was wondering if I would be a complete mess, if I would be okay...and it turns out that this trip has turned into quite a blessing for me in a roundabout way.  It's almost like I'm on a mission trip myself.  Reading their stories, getting that surprise email, and just knowing that Zach is blessing others and he is getting blessed at the same time brings me so much joy and happiness.   It's like all of these ways of communication and little surprises are God's way of reassuring me that He is, in fact, in control and is taking care of Zach and the team, and through it all He is teaching me to trust Him more and to give up that control that I like to hang onto.  


I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful man in my life whom I admire and look up to so much!  Zach has so much faith and trust in God that it sometimes blows my mind, in a good way of course.  I am so thankful that he was able to go on this trip again and be a blessing to some other people.  As I have told many many people - God has given me one of the biggest blessings I could ever ask for, and I just have to give him back to Him for a while so he can go do His work. 

Technology

I'm so thankful for technology!  It's one of those things that drives me insane at times, but it has been quite a blessing for me today.  


Day 25 - A picture of your day:

I have been able to track Zach's flights thanks to technology!  And before he took of and after landing in LA last night, he was able to call me.  Yes I'm a little bit of a nervous wreck about all this flying he has to do to get to Myanmar (partially because he was nervous about it and hates flying...) but I am so thankful that we were able to talk until he left the country.  It was definitely a blessing and brought me comfort being able to talk to him and creep on his flights ;)

The best kind of prize is a surprise!

Yes, it is a line from the new (and slightly creepy) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie.  I thought of this line as I was on my way to Boonville this morning to surprise Zach :)  I lied to him...I've asked him to forgive me so it's all good, and I only lie about his birthday, holidays, anniversaries, and, now, random surprises.  He left for Myanmar today (boarded his first flight about 10 minutes ago actually) and I have been telling him for about a month that I wouldn't be able to make it to see him off this morning...well...like I said, I lied.  I drove to the mall where they left, surprised the daylights out of him, and it was totally worth it!  I had his parents in on it, one of our friends from church (she went with me), and my entire family knew as well.  


So we're standing outside the Uncharted International Store, where they all had to meet, and I look at Zach's shirt and I held my sleeve up next to his...we had on the exact same color shirts from Old Navy that we both bought on Black Friday when we went shopping...you know you're meant to be together when...

Well worth driving to Evansville and back today :)

Hours of sleep I got last night = 6

Time spent on the road today = 4.5 hours

Gas money for the trip = $41.50

Seeing the look on his face after he saw his text that said, "Hey...turn around..." and turned around to see me walking towards him = PRICELESS

Day 24

A picture of something you wish you could change

Homelessness...when Zach, his parents, and I went to the Colt's game on Sunday, we saw so many homeless people while walking just under a mile from our parking garage to the stadium.  It makes me so sad to see people without a place to live, a place to sleep, food to eat, or people who love them.  If I could I would definitely change this.

Bullying.  Not just kids bullying, but bullying in general.  I am one of those people who wants everyone to get along.  I see no need for meanness or hatred.  I was bullied as a kid so I know how it feels.  There needs to be more love in the world because that is why God created us - to love one another and more importantly, to love Him.  And since we are all created in His image we need to treat one another properly. 

You know you're dating an engineer when...

I haven't written a lot lately, mostly because not a lot has gone on...well, I say that...that's false, I really just haven't taken time to write...

So I'm at my dad's, watching The Polar Express, because I love love love love LOVE this movie.  It just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  So, anyways, I'm watching it, and it gets to the part where the train is going down the giant, steep hill and then hits the ice...the little pin from a lever flies from the train and lands in the ice and makes it crack and fall in and it looks all dramatic and awesome...I found myself thinking, "That's not possible...the pin isn't big enough and doesn't have enough force behind it to land in the ice like that or cause it to crack..." and I realized just how much Zach has rubbed off on me...so I text him and told him to keep his engineering mind to himself and I'll keep my elementary teacher mind because it's more fun ;)

Day 23

A picture of your favorite book

Favorite book of all time.  I read it for the first time when I was in the 3rd grade and I fell in love with the movie shortly after that.  When the Johnny Depp version came out I refused to watch it for quite some time, and I still don't think you can beat the original movie :) 

Day 22

A picture of something you wish you were better at...

Crocheting...yes, old lady-like, I know...but I love it...I just stink at it...

Day 21

A picture of something you wish you could forget


Yikes...this is a tough one...there are a lot of things I wish I could forget...


Times that people who were my friends or people I trusted hurt me, I mean really hurt me and kinda messed me up when it came to trusting anyone for a while...


Choices I have made about my faith, like getting mad at God for things that were going on in my life, when in fact that was one of the dumbest decisions ever...God isn't the one to get mad at for bad things going on...


Family drama...we all have it...there are just some things that we all wish we could forget...arguments, divorces, affairs, jealousy, being hurt and extremely let down by the people you once looked up to and wanted to be just like one day...


Past relationships...yeah, enough said...


Of course, these events and people are what have made me who I am today.  We all have crap in our lives that we would like to forget...but if I forget about all of the things that I mentioned above, I know I would not be the person I am today.


*If those friends hadn't hurt me, I might have been hurt even worse if they had stuck around in my life longer...
*If those people I trusted so much and looked up to hadn't hurt me, I wouldn't have realized that I was entirely too trusting of some people...
*If I didn't have ups and downs in my faith (like we all do) I wouldn't realize just how much I need God in my life, how much I need time with Him daily, and I wouldn't realize the importance of turning to Him and being completely honest and telling Him just how mad/hurt/angry I am...after all, He already knows, what's the point of trying to hide it...
*I love my family, despite our flaws and craziness...yes there has been a lot of pain over the years...my parents divorce, learning more about that as I have gotten older, not having a relationship with my brother like I have longed for, realizing that I am going to be judged a lot for being so different from my family...all of it just makes me rely more on God and remind myself that He has given me this family for a great reason...and while they test me and drive me crazy, I am here to love them just as He does...
*If I had been the person I am now while I was in high school, my dating experiences would have been much different, I think we can all say that.  I can't say that I completely regret my past relationships because I learned valuable things from all of them...the most important being that I NEED a man in my life who is more in love with God than He is with me, a man who will encourage me in my faith and not bring me down and mock me for it.  I learned how important it is to trust God with bringing me the right guy at the right time, thus practicing on that patience y'all know I need to keep practicing on ;)  Zach and I had this conversation last weekend, and I told him that I have the tendency to beat myself up about my past relationships (not that I did anything wrong, just wishing I could go back and be more patient and trusting of God) and he looked at me with quite possibly the sweetest face and said if it hadn't been for them we may have never met...as I am typing this, Blake Shelton's song "God Gave Me You" is on my itunes...I love how God works...


I guess what I am trying to say is while yes I would like to forget a lot of the pain and hurt from my past, it has truly made me who I am today.  Do I have it all figured out?  Don't make me laugh!  I have come to the conclusion that I will never have it all figured out, and I am trying to be okay with that.  I have this entire life to figure it out!  God has given me the right people at the right times in my life, the strength to make it through everything He throws my way (even though I don't believe it at the time), and He has promised never to leave me and He promised to give me hope and a future.  Everything in my life just helps me hold onto God a little more...

12/13/10-12/13/11

This is crazy...

We have both changed so much in a year!  The picture on the left is of us on 12/13/10 after we had eaten lunch at Steak n Shake.  The picture on the right is 12/13/11 after we had eaten dinner at Steak n Shake.  Both of them were my last day of finals for the fall semester.  I think last year I left early the next morning.  I came home last night after dinner.  

Crazy I tell you.

Day 20

A picture of a place you'd like to visit (of course I can't do just one!)

Australia!  For one, I love their accents...hello Keith Urban...and it's BEAUTIFUL!

Jamaica...this picture says it all...I really just want to go to the beach right now, that's all there is to it. 

Myanmar - I hope to get to go in May/June with the organization that Zach has gone with and is getting ready to go with again.  Hearing his stories and other people's stories who have gone make me want to go right now...but I can't...so hopefully everything will work out for me to go next summer :)

Day 19

A picture of you when you were little

I'm not sure where this picture was taken...I think at my brother's wedding...but wasn't I a cutie?? That'd be my dad holding me, my mom, and my uncle Steve.  

Catching Up

I'm not sure how behind I am with my pictures...but I'm going to catch up now :)

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you

My little cousins - Tanner, Peyton, Kady, and Kody.  They are the 4 most important kids in my life.  They inspire me to be a better person, a positive role model and influence, and remind me that it's okay to act like a kid :)

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

USI has obviously had a big impact on my life for the past 3 1/2 years, since it's where I go to school.  I have gotten to do so much here!  I have had great experiences in local schools and it has prepared me to do my student teaching next semester. 


Day 18 - Your biggest insecurity

Yes, my weight.  Working out is not exactly something I consider fun, most of the time.  Zach and I have been working out together a lot recently - it's much better when you have a workout buddy as opposed to when you work out alone.  We push each other to work harder, which is what I need.  I lost some weight over the summer and I've kept most of it off...now if I could only tone up, I think I'd be happy...the whole school/trying to have a life thing tends to get in the way of working out on a regular basis though...maybe that'll change one day...we'll see.

1 Year :)

1 year ago today, Zach and I went on our very first date :)  We went to Garvin Park after watching the IU-UK game at my apartment.  He had kept it a complete surprise from me - I knew we were going somewhere, but I had no idea where we were going.  His plan was to take me on a carriage ride (how stinkin' sweet and romantic is that?!) and unfortunately it was raining when we got there, so we just drove through the Festival of Lights, which was still a whole lot of fun because I LOVE Christmas lights :)


Me, being the reminder of dates and special moments that I am, thought we should do something to celebrate our 1 year anniversary of being unofficially official.  


Last night was the IU-UK game and we most certainly watched it together again.


Since today was the actual date of our first date, we did this...

I got my carriage ride! :)  It was so much fun.  It was cold but it was worth it!  Afterwards, we talked about how crazy it is that it's been a year already since we were unofficially official (as Zach likes to say, I mean I do too, but anyways) and what a great year it has been.  I couldn't have asked for a better, more caring, sweeter guy to have in my life. 

And...my cheeks hurt from smiling absolutely nonstop today...I know, some of you are going, "Oh puke..." and for that I apologize...but, it's true! :)

Adventures in babysitting

I got to babysit tonight. 
For two of the sweetest girls I know.  Jeff and Becky (my campus minister and his wife) went out and had an evening for just the two of them and I stayed with their girls.
It was an adventure.
I realized a few things throughout the night.

1. I truly want nothing more than to be a mother one day.  I fixed dinner for the girls.  I gave them their baths.  I helped the oldest with her homework.  We played games.  We made a fort out of the kitchen table chairs, blankets, and chip clips.  We watched parts of several movies.  We had a good ole time. 

2.  I feel for single parents out there, raising kids on their own, for whatever reason.  While I was making dinner (granted, it was by no means anything fancy at all) I was ecstatic that I was doing this for the girls and it just made me happy, for one.  But then I realized, "Oh, I need to make myself something after I get them fed."  and then during dinner they both (at different times) needed something which meant I had to get up and fetch it for them.  Please don't misunderstand me, I am not complaining about it at all.  I am not a parent, but I felt somewhat like one tonight, and I was delighted to get up and get these girls what they needed/wanted and put my needs aside until they were good to go.  I cannot imagine being a single parent, ever.  Zach came for a few hours, thank the Lord!  I had been there for about 2 hours when he got there.  He stayed for a few hours and it was a wonderful few hours. Not that the whole night wasn't fun, but I think you catch what I'm trying to say here.

The funny part of my night, was when the 4 year old said this to me,
"It makes me happy when you say you have to go home because that means I don't have to play with you anymore."  She was mad that I told her she had been rather sassy all night (which she had been) and we had to lay down and watch the movie and calm down (it was bedtime!) and Zach had just left.  Then she proceeded to lay on the floor on her "bed" that I made up for her and "cry" and give me "I'm mad at you looks" until she fell asleep 15 minutes later. 

I love kids.

Days 14 & 15

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

God. Jesus. I wouldn't be who I am without Him! I have no idea where I would be in life, where I would be going, and I don't think I would feel as though I know that I have a purpose in life. I strive every day to make Jesus my life, and even though there are days when that is really hard, I keep trying. I definitely cannot imagine my life without Him.

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die
 

Skydiving!  Crazy coming from the girl who is somewhat scared of heights unless I have a big platform to stand on.  But hello - who wouldn't want to see something like this?!  It's actually on my list to do before I turn 30...less than 8 years to go...oh that's somewhat depressing...I'm getting old so fast!



Can you say, AWESOME?!

It has been an AWESOME day (yes, all capital letters are, in fact, necessary). 

First, it was my last day of Undergrad classes...ever.  I have a Synthesis class next semester to go with Student Teaching, but it doesn't count.  Today was the last day that I will ever walk from my apartment in the morning to go to classes on campus...the last day that I will call my dad on that walk...the last day I will go to the library between classes to get on Pinterest, Facebook, check email, and not be productive...the last day I will stop by the Link to grab a snack before class in the afternoon...very, very bittersweet. 

Being the sentimental, picture person I am...I got my picture taken again in the same spot I did on my very first day of classes...

Check out that hair!!!!  The one on the left was before I truly learned how to use a straightener :)

The other slice of AWESOME news I got today....

I PASSED THE PRAXIS II!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw on someone's facebook status that she had passed, and she took the tests the same day I did...that meant that my scores were available for viewing...I was in the library, with Melanie, after my first class this morning.  I go to the ETS website, go to login...can't remember my username/password...crap. 

In the meantime, I text Zach and told him my scores were available but I was freaking out and afraid to look...Melanie leaves to go to another floor, I figure out my username and password...

I sign in...

I click to the scores section...

my heart was beating wildly, I was having trouble breathing, for real...

Zach calls me...

"Hello?" I say in a whisper...

"Are you in the library?"

"Yes..." also in a whisper..."I can't bring myself to open up my scores...I'm freakin' out!"

"Well that's why I called you...open them."  *in the meantime, my heart is going Aaaawwwww because he called me because he knew I was freaking out about seeing my scores*

"Ok...here goes...I don't know what this means...there's a bunch of Y's on the first page...ok...ok...AHHH I PASSED!!!" *keep in mind, all in a whisper*

I was so excited that I even spent the money to print off the 3 pages.  I was EXCITED!  To say the least.  To top things off, Zach and I are going to eat tonight in celebration of my last day of classes and passing the Praxis...instead of working out like we had planned to do tonight. :)

I think eating is always a much better route to take than working out...much more enjoyable too!

Day 13

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist

I have a lot...not sure if I can pick a favorite...so here are some :)

Christ Tomlin

Keith Urban...all-time favorite

Toby Mac - new favorite

Francesca Battistelli

Lady Antebellum

Opposites

This post is about opposites...

I'm happy and sad today - I just got back from working with my 1st grade reading student for the last time this semester.  I am incredibly sad that I won't get to see this little guy twice a week anymore.  At the same time, I am ecstatic about the progress he made over the semester.  I remember days when I left crying, but there were many days when I left laughing or with a warm heart because he said something completely off the wall funny or drew a picture of us and said I could keep it.  While working with this little guy caused me quite a bit of stress over the semester, he brought so much joy and happiness to my life at the same time.

I blame it on the rain that I'm in an, "Oh my gosh I'm freaking out about graduating" mood today...I'm sad that my last semester of classes is coming to an end...I'm sad that I don't know that all of the people who are in my life right now will be in my life as much a year from now.  I love the people in my life!  God has truly blessed me with a great support system through college, and I can only hope I have been able to help, support, and encourage the people in my life as they have for me.

To continue with the opposites, I'm doing Days 11 and 12 of the picture challenge together.  They are pictures of something I hate and something I love...

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate

Yes, I know this is a tough picture to look at, but it's real.  And this is something I hate.  Children who are starving.  Children who have no family.  Children who do not know what love is.  Children who go to bed hungry at night.  Children who die because they do not get the nutrition they need.  This breaks my heart.  If this doesn't break your heart or make you feel sad in some way shape or form, there is something wrong.  I wish it were possible to feed all of the children in the world...wait, it is possible, because we all have way too much and more than we need...so why are there children like this in the world?

Day 12 - A picture of something you love

Old people, specifically old couples.  I love them, a lot.  I love seeing them together, wondering what they have been through in their lifetime together, seeing how much they love each other, and hoping for the same thing one day.  I want to be a part of a cute old couple one day :)

Ok, I'm adding more pictures of what I love...obviously I love Zach, a lot :) 

 I love having him in my life...

I love being in love with him...

 I love how he makes me feel...

 I love how I have found the person who makes me feel like no one else ever has or ever will...

I love not being able to imagine my life without him!

Thank you Kasee for taking our pictures and incorporating Scrabble tiles :)

Oh there's more!

I completely forgot to mention a few things...

1.  My weekend was awesome. 
*I got a lot of Christmas shopping done. 
*I got to see some really awesome Christmas lights with Zach, Quynn, and Andy.
*I got to relax and not freak out about school.
*I got to hang out with OCC's Youth Group tonight and had a BLAST (there are some pretty funny videos of our craziness...it's always good to laugh until you cry).

2.  I went a week, an ENTIRE week without getting on Pinterest.  Well...except for the very brief moment when I got on to send invites to Zach's mom and sister so they could join the wonderful site :)  I had his permission...I did no searching while I was on there...he was right next to me and will totally agree with me.  SO - I get Pinterest brownies AND dinner at Texas Roadhouse...win, win, WIN!  I say 3 wins because, (well those brownies alone deserve 3 wins) I get brownies, I get dinner, and all with my wonderful boyfriend :)

I think that's all...I'm really excited about the brownies...I hope Zach makes them soon...hint hint...nudge nudge...wink wink if you're reading this dear ;)

Days 9 & 10

I missed my blog this weekend!  I had a fantastic weekend though.  It was a much needed chill out kind of weekend.  The end of the semester is almost here...I only have 2 more days of classes...then some finals, and then I will be heading home for my last Christmas break as a college student.  It's so stinkin' weird.  I have moments of excitement, and then moments when I just want to sit down and cry about how fast it has all gone by and how I really have no idea what is next for me!  Anyways! 

Um, I kind of have a summer job!  At least for about 4 weeks.  I found out today at church and I am so super excited.  If all goes according to plan, I will be a counselor at a church camp in Newburgh for 4 weeks next summer!  So excited!  More details as soon as I get them :)

Day 9 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

That person would definitely be my mama!  She has been my best friend, um, forever.  We have gotten through so many things together.  Yes, we have stressed each other out many times, but we have worked through it all together.  I know that I can call her at any time and she would get in her car and come to wherever I am if I needed her to (trust me, she's done it).  I don't know what I would do without her.  She's one of the first people I want to talk to when I get good news, bad news, have a good day, a bad day, whatever...I am so thankful to have her for my mom!

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most screwed up things with

Not that Kasee and I have ever done anything really screwed up together, but we have done a LOT of silly, crazy, goofy, insanely fun things together the past 7 1/2 years that we have been friends.  Especially the past 3 1/2 years that we have gotten to be roommates.  I love this girl, hence, why she is my best friend!  We have laughed (a LOT) together, cried together, been there for each other through SO many things.  I am very blessed to have her in my life!

Mary Martha's and Mustaches

I had a fabulous night!  My campus ministry has Mary Martha's/Guy's Night each month, and it was tonight.  It was the first one I have been able to go to for over 2 months.  We just hung out - did an ornament exchange, wore our pjs, and watched Good Luck Charlie's Christmas Movie on Disney.  I also got a makeover...complete with a 'stache...

So, what do ya think?  Ava was the artist...what started as a red dot on the end of my nose turned into a purple line down my nose, yellow freckles, a red line across my forehead, and the mustache and beard. 

The stache still hasn't completely come off...

Day 8

A picture that makes you laugh

This is from our Royal Wedding Party...and this makes me laugh because we took about 7 pictures before this one...and each time one of us got cut out of it...it was funny...you had to be there

Who doesn't laugh when they look at this picture???  This was one of the times I got to visit Zach over the summer.  We had a cute picture before this, and I said we needed a goofy picture...this was the result

I love my dog...I'm not sure why this picture makes me laugh...it just does :)

Pinterest, I miss you...

Zach bet me last weekend that I couldn't go a week without getting on Pinterest...

Of course, when anyone (especially Zachary) tells me they don't think I can do something, I just have to prove them wrong.

I have Pinterest brownies AND dinner at Texas Roadhouse on the line for this...I only have 55 more hours to go until I have gone a week without getting on Pinterest...I'm about to crack though.

I have all of my portfolios turned in, tests are done, homework is only a smile pile rather than a mountain...I have ample time I could be pinning and finding wonderful ideas of things I will most likely never bake or make :) But I can't get on it and add to my already wildly full pinboards...I'm a little sad about this...

For my fellow teachers

One of my good friends, Melanie, told me about this video a few weeks ago, and today she posted it on my Facebook wall.  It's about what teachers make...watch it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuBmSbiVXo0&feature=share

Day 7

A picture of your most treasured item.

I have more than just one treasured item...I have a lot of treasured items...I'll limit it to 4 :)

This big monkey is Doug, the mouse is Mousey, and there are 2 rings on the monkey's foot.  Monkeys are my favorite animal...I don't know why, they just always have been.  Well, I got this monkey Christmas 2002, which is the year that my mom's boyfriend (Doug) died.  He always called me the Little Yardape (just a made up term from him).  If you don't know the whole story behind how I knew Doug and what he meant to me then you're probably super confused as to why this monkey means so much to me...just go with it.

Mousey.  This poor guy is over 18 years old, and falling apart.  He's like my baby blanket.  I never had a blanket, I've always had Mousey.  Yes, I do still sleep with him.  I actually can't fall asleep unless I'm holding onto him...not gonna lie.  Zach asked me one weekend at his house what I'm going to do when I get married one day...I just looked at him and said, "He'll probably come with me."  Go ahead, judge me, it's okay :)

These are the 2 rings that I wear ALL the time.  The heart ring is actually from Texas - I got it when we went on our mission trip Spring Break 2010.  I think of it as a purity/reminder ring.  I wanted a purity ring, couldn't ever find what I was picturing, and then I saw this and I was like, "Oh my gosh...I need it." (and it was only $20!).  But I wear it because it serves as a reminder to me of God's love for me as well.  Texas was my first mission trip, my first realization of God's love for us.  So, I guess there's a lot to this ring - reminder of the purity I believe we are all called to, reminder of God's love for us, and a reminder to serve and love others.

The other ring there is one that I got this past spring, and it says "Everything is possible when you have faith."  Since I'm about to begin a whole new adventure in my life, it's taking a LOT of faith and trust in God to get there and know that everything will work out however He wants it to.  This ring/saying got me through the summer - while I was 2 hours away from Zach and only able to see him every 3 weeks, after seeing him nearly every day all last semester.  I was TERRIFIED of the whole distance relationship thing, and I did not like it at all (who in their right mind does?!).  I wore this ring every day and when I would look at it I would just remember that God is going to get us through it, He's having us separate for a season for a reason, and He's walking with us through it all.  That is true in all of our walks of life, whether it's a relationship, school, career, anything.  It's crazy how I have gotten so used to wearing these rings.  I don't feel like the same person without them, almost like a part of me is missing! 

Day 6

Day 6 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day...

This one was kind of tough...there isn't really anyone that I can say I'd love to trade places with...sure sometimes I say, "Oh I wish I had her life," or something similar, but there's not a famous person, or even remotely famous person, that I'd like to trade places with.  I don't want to be in any big spotlight, because I don't like being in front of a lot of people for one.  I wouldn't want to be a celebrity because they are always followed by a crowd...no thanks.  So here's who I chose for this one...

Belle...go ahead, make fun of me, I'm okay with it.  The reason I would want to trade places with her is this...

What bookworm wouldn't love this????  Maybe this is what I should tell Zach I want for Christmas...hm...now there's an idea ;)  Everytime I watched Beauty and the Beast when I was little (and even now), my favorite part is when he gives her the library...my little heart just beats wildly for a bit, wishing I had a giant library of my own!  No I am not jealous of a fictional character! 

Okay, maybe a little, but only for the library part :)

My Savior, My God

God likes Jesus Juking me, I have discovered this recently.  He's done it a lot lately, with the same thing (you think He's trying to tell me something??). 

One of my favorite songs EVER is My Savior, My God by Aaron Shust.  It has become a song that instantly brings peace to my life, no matter what is going on.  In the past 8 months, God has used it a lot exactly when I need to hear it.  There were many many many times over the summer I would just go into a full fledged panic attack about my life, the future, and whatnot. 

I would go out to my truck on breaks at work and this song would come on...

I would be driving down the road trying to breathe normally and this song would come on...

I would be in the middle of saying a prayer, asking God to help me worry less and this song would come on...

I would think of something random that happened, or a conversation that I had with someone that made me panic and I would start going, "Oh what if..." and this song would come on...

Well, it happened this morning on my way back from the school I go to Mondays and Wednesdays.  It was one of those, "Oh gosh what if this happens in the future..." type of thoughts that crossed my mind, and sure enough, Aaron Shust starts singing to me through the radio.  I love it.  It made me chuckle a little, not gonna lie.  It's like my own personal thing from God that no one else truly understands, but we all have our own little thing from Him, whether it's something that makes us smile, cheers us up, reminds us of how He loves us, or whatever it is that does what it does for you. 

It's always good to get a little reminder that God is in fact in charge of this crazy thing called life.  There's no point worrying about it (I know, I'm working on that one).  He's going to reveal His plans to each and every one of us...when His timing is right...in the meantime, we better work on our patience and loving those around us wherever He has us right now.

Day 5

Wow what a day!  It snowed today!  I was excited.  It only snowed for a few hours, but it was beautiful.  I even did a little happy dance when I looked outside and saw that it was snowing. :)

Day 5 - A Picture of Your Favorite Memory

This one could take a while...I have way too many memories to pick just one favorite...so here are a few of my favorites...

My first mission trip - Spring Break 2010 - Arlington, TX, Mission Arlington.  It was such a great experience!  Definitely something I will never forget.  It was a great week of serving, learning humility, and thankfulness for everything I have.  Not to mention the fantastic group of people I got to hang out with all week!

I got my dad tickets to a Kentucky basketball game for his birthday last year (2010).  The game was in December, while I was on Christmas break.  No I am not a Kentucky fan (and refuse to ever be one) but it was one of the coolest things!  More than anything, I think I enjoyed it so much because it was one of the first things my dad and I had gotten to do together, just the two of us, in a very long time.  We had a great little road trip and some much needed bonding time.

Last Christmas break was Pepsi's "Holiday Dinner" and that's where this comes from.  I got to fix my mom's hair, which I love to do, and it was fun just getting to see people I have worked with each summer and catch up on their lives and fill them in on mine.  And my mom and I got to hang out!

It's a Royal Wedding Party! :) JANK (that would be us four lovely ladies pictured above) got together this past spring when the Royal Wedding happened, and we threw a party.  We had crowns, goodies, cookies, eclaire cake, watched the wedding, and then watched The Princess Diaries.  It was a fun hangout night and we got to be somewhat goofy with it...but I wouldn't trade those silly nights for the world!

:) For our 7 month anniversary, Zach and I went on a picnic...in the back of my truck because it was raining.  It was one of the cutest, most fun things we have done together!  It was great because we got to spend over 2 hours together, eating, talking, and not worrying about school or work!  I remember coming back and telling Kasee what a fantastic time I had doing something so simple.

If you haven't noticed by now, I'm the kind of person who would much rather spend time with those I care about than have them spend money on me, and vice versa (especially since I don't have much of it these days...).  Time means so much more than any monetary gift I could ever give or receive.  Each of these memories involves simply spending time with my family, friends, and wonderful boyfriend, and taking time to experience life with them and love on them a little bit.  Yes, it's great when we get to go to concerts, movies, games, and whatnot...but if you haven't ever taken the time to just go on a picnic and simply enjoy spending time talking with someone...do it.