three things for Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!  This marks the beginning of the holiday season, but let's not get too caught up in the act of ushering in Christmas and pause to enjoy our many blessings today.  I'm ready to eat tons and TONS of food (my family attends two Thanksgiving meals in one day), but wanted to jot down three things that I'm thanking God for today:

one: my pit crew of people.

In her book, Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, Anne Lamott writes about how one of our biggest blessings is the "pit crew" of people God gives us to help us get through this life.  I absolutely love that phrasing because, as you grow up, that's really what the people you do life with become.  This year, more than ever, I have felt overwhelming gratitude for the pit crew of people God has given me.  My sister and best friend and I refer to this group as "the people who love us," because that's what it is--the people who love me tangibly.  These people are the ones who are there through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows--the ones who I feel absolutely happiest with, yet also the ones who literally serve as the glue that holds me together during hard times.  I am ridiculously blessed with an amazing family and wonderful friends.

two: my + my family's health.

It recently occurred to me how easy it is to take health for granted.  I've never been through any traumatic health experiences, nor has anyone in my family.  But it never really hit me that we are not a majority in that.  I want to make it a point to be more thankful for the mental, emotional, physical and relational health that God has blessed us with.

three: the past four years of my life.

I'm pretty constantly overwhelmed by how blessed I am to be at UVa.  My time there has been priceless.  I cannot even put into words how much I have grown and how much I have learned--in terms of both academics and life in general.  UVa now takes up a MASSIVE part of my heart; the memories and experiences I will take away from Charlottesville when I leave in May will last me forever.

What are you all thanking God for today? 

on becoming less available

Throughout this past semester, I've noticed this feeling of stress and frustration that is directly tied to my phone.  I am definitely one of those people who has made my phone an extension of myself--I feel like I pretty much have to have it on me at all times.  And you know what?  That is really starting to take its toll on me.

Being constantly available is socially stressful--it's almost as if I feel trapped, to some extent.  I know it's not just me; we live in a culture where rapid-response is the norm.  Everyone is expected to be accessible in all ways at all times.  And that is just.not.healthy.

As finals approach, the typical end-of-semester stress is building.  I have a ton of papers to write and exams to study for and little to no time with which I can do that.  In order to minimize that stress a little bit, I plan to put my phone away more so I can really focus on my work.  I also know that going "off the map" will help me be more present as I spend time with my family this coming week.

I am just so, SO ready for a break--for a retreat of sorts--and some time where I feel like I can have my brain to myself for a bit.  Oh, what a treat it will be.

three for your thursday

As I start getting back into the blogging world, I decided I want to have a fun weekly post that I can play around with and basically say anything that might (or might not) be relevant to that week (kind of like my Wednesday Ramblings in the past).  So as I thought of fun things to do, I decided that I would start a "Three Things Thursday," where I pretty much just put a random theme out there and then write three things about that theme.

So, for the very! first! installment! of Three Things Thursday, I give you:
Three things I will never, ever, EVER do again.

uno: use abbreviations when speaking to a professor.
Yes.  One time, at office hours, I was attempting to have an intelligent conversation with a professor and used "JK."  Intelligent conversation fail.

dos:  cut my own hair to have a "piece" like Mary Kate & Ashley.  

Needless to say, it didn't turn out like MK&A's.

tres: date in the "gray area" for an extended period of time. 
I guess this is a bit more on the serious side.  But staying at a place in the relationship in which you're not actually dating but not not dating...that's dangerous.   For both parties involved.


Good news, y'all--the weekend starts TOMORROW!
Happy Thursday!

glass case of emotion

Since fall of last year, I have increasingly become a complete emotional wreck.  I cry so damn easily--tears of joy, tears of sadness...tears of everything in between.  In the past 12 months, I've never felt so in awe of beauty, so content in my friendships, so hurt by people I trusted, so distraught from loss.

It's the messiest, most beautiful paradox.  And it makes me feel INSANE.

Everything is so stressful right now.  I'm job searching.  I'm preparing for 4 term papers and 3 finals.  I'm facing the loss of my precious, precious puppy--Chase.  And the littlest things push me way over the edge.  But at the same time, I just feel so thankful.  Thankful for this place in which I've learned and grown so much--though I'm pretty over exams and papers--thankful for a point at which I get to make new decisions and begin transitioning to a new stage of life; thankful for a puppy that has been more of a blessing to our family over the past 9.5 years than we ever imagined possible.

I've shared this quote before, but man, it is too true not to bring up again: 

"...Because that’s life on this planet.  It’s messy.  It’s joyful.  It’s mournful.  It’s busy.   It’s chaotic.  It’s unpredictable.  And though we are overwhelmed, we are still a blessed people, because we know the One that has overcome it all." 

-Amy Heywood

Amen, right?
This life is just too, too crazy/chaotic/ridiculous.  But God is so, so good.
And that's the best paradox of them all.    

sunday funday

I have grand plans of coming back to this blog over Christmas break.  Like really, I do!  But for now, I just wanted to share some pictures from a little wine tasting adventure we took yesterday for Ashlyn's birthday.

She had found a precious little place called Meriwether Springs Vineyard--which just happens to be the on the property of Meriwether Lewis (yes, Lewis from the Lewis & Clark expedition prior to the purchase of the Louisiana Territory).  Wine + friends + historical significance?  I'm in.

It was such a wonderful afternoon--the weather was gorgeous and it was great to celebrate such a fabulous woman!  If only every Sunday could be spent just like that...

apparently it's summer?

I've been out of school for a few weeks now, but life has been absolutely INSANE since finishing finals.  

And you know what?  I wouldn't have it any other way.  The past few weeks have been a roller coaster, to say the least.  I've traveled a lot, made many sweet memories, and said some hard goodbyes.

Anyways...how about a summer 2k13 Instagram recap?

From Charlottesville adventures, to Myrtle Beach, to NYC, to Northern VA...Summer 2013 has treated me pretty well so far.  I'll be back with the details later :)

I'm going to try to be consistent with posts this summer...we shall see how that goes.
But for now, I hope everyone is having an absolutely brilliant week!
xoxo.


P.S.  I feel it necessary to apologize for this blog's current awkward stage.  She's full on braces and headgear right now, and I am totally to blame.  It will all be pretty again soon...I have just been too busy (read: lazy) to work on the coding and formatting and all that jazz.  We'll get there!

serendipity.

Baby, I confess, I was not expecting this

I have been waiting for someone like you
{Someone Like You--Matt Wertz}