EVERYTHING

"I can do EVERYTHING through he who gives me strength" -Phil. 4:13

How many times in my life have I heard that verse. A million. Tonight I was taking down these quotes on my wall that I've had since high school. This was one of them. I can do EVERYTHING through he who gives me strength. I can love someone who seems unlovable. I can be stretched way out of my comfort zone. I can dream of living life differently than people around me. I can have hard conversations with high school girls. I can be free to be myself. I can face challenges. I can BE OKAY in hard situations. I can do EVERYTHING through he who gives me strength.

And then I found "Be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" -Phil. 4: 6-7. This has been up there since freshman year of college when we had to memorize it over fall break.

These are both what I need to hear RIGHT now. Crazy how that works.

opinionated

We're making a quilt for my brother and so I spent the day with my mother and Nana. We always joke around in my family that we reproduce the exact same woman generation after generation. Strong-willed, opinionated, driven, honest, type A personality, did I say opinionated? I like to know that when I'm overreacting about something, that at least I come by it righteously.

My nana said, "It's like we are Vietnamese sweatshop workers." We weren't allowed to take bathroom breaks today or anything. My family may not be the most normal, but at least they are entertaining.

I like...

I may never like to cook dinner for my family, but I do like fun colored things.



And this place:


And my mom, and worship at Common Ground, and talking to Katelyn about opening our own photography business, and getting hugs from Ella, and dancing in my car, and my dresser project, and sleeping in my own bed, and especially sleeping in my own bed with a new pillowtop mattresspad.

What I won't be

I want to start blogging again everyday. Well until I leave again for camp and can't for the week. But whatever.

Today Mary Ellen showed me another blog and I loved it. The girl is 21, married, and living this life of being a wife that was so precious. I think I would like being friends with her. And her blog was all about what she has cooked and packing her husband's lunch and all this sweet stuff. And then I felt bad because it was wonderful, but I will simply never be her. I won't like to cook and try making all these new foods and I'm not 20 and married and so on. But then Mary Ellen and Elyse said it was okay and that people will like me for who I am, even if I NEVER like to cook, which is a real possibility.

I also don't think I will ever like to garden. But Mary Ellen does, and I like to take pictures. So that works well.


Tonight we talked about our weddings and made some plans (some GOOD plans) and our future houses and it was so fun. And while I can't even imagine how great that is all going to be, I can't help but think that this, right now, is pretty great too.

no where

I've had an amazing summer. I have learned about myself, been in beautiful places, experienced God working, laughed a TON, hung out with amazing people. Now I'm in Indiana sitting for hours talking with one of my best friends and not really doing anything. And there is no where else I would rather be.

so soon

So many pictures to choose from for this blog! We only have like 4 or 5 days left here. The time has gone by so quickly, I can't even believe it. I can't imagine not being with this group of high schoolers after this week, can't believe that we are going to spread back all over the country and live different lives. I'm so thankful for this experience and what I've learned, and yet so thankful to be going soon and not sleeping on a bunk bed in a room with 7 other girls. Here are a few fun pictures!

monochromatic monday

This is Tyler from the dining hall. They have long days.

This is Joel while playing the game Pterodactyl (that's how spell check says to spell that...) They loved it.

Monochromatic Monday:

Wacky Wednesday:

Followed by 80's night:

Tank Top Thursday:

This is the life.