pining.

Yesterday, this is how we spent our afternoon:

Piper ran from front window to back door, whining at the boy dogs that live across the street. They were free, she was not. So she pouted.

She was pitiful. And precious. And I fell in love with that puppy all over again. She let me pet her and love on her and she gave me so many besas. Today, of course, is a slightly different story. The little Houdini escaped from the house this morning and scared me half to death. I had to chase her down and get a boy to help me catch her. It shook me up pretty badly, but she is okay. She's also on lock-down, but sometimes puppies need that to learn lessons.

peace.

I wanted to squeeze in a quick post before I leave for class today.

Thankfully, I'm feeling peaceful today. The earlier parts of this week have been filled with new strength in many of my friendships, but it has also been tarnished with those moments that make me lose faith in humanity. I was so discouraged Tuesday because of people I thought were my friends. Malicious comments and "sarcasm" (which really is just mean. We are all guilty of it. But good grief it wears a person down after a while!) pierced my heart, and I lost it. Yesterday I chose to ignore it and delve into my classes, volleyball, and the people that make me laugh but those feelings came back at me with a vengeance...because of someone I thought was a close friend. What are we doing to each other? What is the point? So that people think you are funny? We are willing to hurt the people closest to us just so everyone on Facebook will think we are funny. Good plan. I can't imagine that's what God's plan for His people is.

I've been praying a lot in the past few days and running until I literally cannot feel my legs. Today I'm okay. Today I'm distancing myself and focusing on other people. Today I'm thinking about this:

Psalm 34:15, 17-18
"The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry."
"The righteous cry and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Lord, I am crying out to You, praying that You keep me pure and righteous today when I am so frustrated with people. Help me to remember I am Yours and that I show others Your love.

things I love: weekend edition

taking Piper on a loooooong walk.
meeting the elderly couple who walks every afternoon just to meet the dogs and give them treats.
watching Piper watch birds.
babysitting Leah and Sara.
watching little Sara dance like a rockstar.
seeing Reed make small children giggle and cry when he leaves.
getting paid.
monster muffins.
70 degree weather in January.
Town Creek park with Reed and Piper.
watching Piper and Kingston be friends.
CiCi's.
surprise birthday parties.
taking pictures.
spur of the moment road trips to the Gump for some KK.
the seven-fold amen in "The Lord Bless You and Keep You."
Sundays.

today.

Today is going to be more than yesterday. Yesterday began as a mountain-top experience and quickly morphed into to rolling down the mountain uncontrollably, gaining speed and hitting every large boulder on the way down with no one to help and no one to stop me. It didn't get better until I reached the bottom and caught my breath. I'm fine; I'm a little broken, a little bruised, but whole. And wholly faithful that God will show me something wonderful today. That's why today will be more than yesterday- I have a Savior, and He is Good.

a break from cleaning.

I'm back in Auburn, and my space is a WRECK. I tried to get everything straight today because classes begin tomorrow, but I think I've lost all functionality in regards to organization. I have so many things that I do NOT know what to do with! I am hesitant to get rid of things because I know that I will need them or use them sometime in the near future, when these college days are over. So here they sit. Waiting to be loved.

Class. Tomorrow. Ready? Not particularly. I enjoy the start to new semesters because everything is new and fresh. New professors, new classmates, new books, new knowledge. At the beginning of the semester, I am always reminded of how blessed I am to not only attend an excellent university, but what a blessing it is just to further my education in general.

This morning in worship, Jim (our campus minister) spoke about Genesis 1. When I heard the title, I wanted to tune out...Genesis 1? Really? How many times have we studied creation?! How many more things can we learn about it?! Needless to say, I was humbled greatly this morning, as I usually am. (When did I become such a proud person?) Jim didn't necessarily discuss creation, but he focused more on God being the main character of the story. It's not about a debate or science or knowing all the answers; it's all about having faith. He told us that "It always takes faith to accept Genesis." I have NEVER thought of that before. I guess deep down I knew that faith had to play a major part in reading the book, but I always just took it as truth because...that's what I had been taught my entire life. Spoonfed Christianity. Hello, slap-in-the-face. I've heard this before and have been working on it off and on since the summer, but I still don't feel that I always have my own faith. I believed Genesis because someone told me to. Jim says "our problem isn't lack of resources, it's lack of humility and faith," two things I need a heavy dose of.

"A god so small that I can understand is not a god big enough to worship."

new year, new blog.

I hate what I've just done. I would be so frustrated at someone else for doing this and immediately accuse them of succumbing to peer pressure. It's horrible really....I created a new blog.

I am not a blogger. I am not a journal keeper. I really don't have many interesting things to say at all. I don't think I am terribly clever when it comes to writing, and I don't take very great pictures. I also don't really have a good reason for joining blogger. I still love tumblr and may end up going back, depending on the ease of posting and various other characteristics of both realms.

And so, here it is. My new, not so interesting, not updated so frequently,and not so terribly cute blog.