the more encouraging ones...

"O Lord, grant that I am more amazed that I am forgiven for my wrongs than that I have been wronged."
(john piper. i follow him on twitter :) dont make fun.)

"but he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? what he desires, that he does. for he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind."
(job 23:13)

in the midst of rush. 2 goals:
1. stay emotionally detached
2. stay OUT of the drama. i wont even let people tell me what's going on

i love my upstairs team. theyre a lot of fun... and its already day 4! so only 2 more days :) and then bid day!!

the gospel and alpah chi

"never be content with your current grasp of the Gospel. the Gospel is life-permeating, world-altering, universe-changing truth. it has more facets than any diamond. we will never exhaust its depths."

(c.j. mahaney)

back in tuscaloosa... rush workshop started today... back in my house with sara(h).

i really want to portray the Gospel during workshop and rush- talk about a challenge. you can pray for me if you want :)

"love is patient."

in the middle.

im moving back to tuscaloosa in 4 days. 

mixed feelings? yes. 

pros: cons:

sarah     rush

sara      class

caple-HOOD. summer friends

friends

mary lynn!

i made a playlist called long dress. cause some music you just need a long dress for... this occurred to me last summer in my kitchen, listening to nelo with sarah teague. summer, long dress, barefoot, grass. dancing around. 

kitchens have the best memories. freshman year, sitting in the floor of my kitchen with sarah and jessica, talking and laughing well into the night

all growing up with my family, cooking and hanging out. most of our memories involve good food

last summer cooking almost nightly with sarah, dancing  barefoot

this summer, too... various kitchens, various families, sweet conversations. learning to love new people and finding out who they are. 

i think this has been my favorite college summer.

lessons learning.

right now the Lord is teaching me...

to wait. (story of my life.) on Him, on His plans. Love is patient.

to be satisfied in the morning by His steadfast love. everyday. (psalm 90)

how to hope in Him and let everything else be a pleasant surprise.

to lean into Him and His wisdom.

that if pleasing man is my goal, i am no longer a servant of Christ. (gal 1)

to trust Him. (im trying)

i feel like i learn the same lessons over and over again... isaiah 28:10...

goal-oriented

new goal: stop biting my nails.

we'll see how it goes.

richmond

im in virginia, and life is good :)

staying with erica and stevie of course, and enjoying my time with them. i flew in on thursday; highlights so far...

• dinner at erica's parents' house last night- her dad made steaks and afterward we talked politics
• getting to see where erica will be teaching little fourth graders in the fall
• staying up late talking to stevie the first night i was here; exposing ourselves as sinners and finding common ground there. we also laughed some :)
• mrs. bonnie (er's mom) took us to get our nails done. richmond mom-time
• meeting up with my summer staff ropes girls, alex and sarah greico. i love them!

today was the best though. erica and i drove to three different wineries between here and charlottesville and did wine-tastings. an experience for sure- i think i tried 20 different wines today, which kind of blows my mind. we had lunch at this local cafe-thing and i think i had the best turkey sandwich ive ever eaten. we bought a bottle of chocolate wine that we liked a lot... should be good.

right now my biggest struggles...

hoping in the Lord & resting in the Lord. this is my fav from this morning: 

"satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days." (psalm 90:14)

i want to go for the ride

shotgun, on the passenger side

we could leave this whole world behind

pack a lunch and just sail away

but then again im scared to let go-

this world is all that i know,

God don't let me wake up and find

ive left you  someday...

(mandi mapes, "maybe if i sing")

the past 6.

while filemaker loads...

im the only intern at the office today. slightly depressing. it's been me and bubba all week, which has been really fun. he's in starkville now. :(

for the update...

went to the beach this weekend with chris and brad- we met my family down there. the weekend included: red bar with the boys and caroline, kayaking and being within 15 yards (probably less) of a pod of dolphins, enjoying the sunshine, swimming in the pool, good meals with the family, the illusionist, more kayaking, and a little seaside. 

got to play with sarah on monday- got her a new mac! then had dinner at brad's house and met the kenyan kids staying with him! so cute.

tuesday night fun night was at makar's house- he cooked shrimp and grits and we got to meet The Famous Egyptian and Champ. then we went to the midnight premiere of Harry Potter. (what were we thinking?) i think i got in at 3:45.

last night i met eric parker's new girl- stephanie. AND i got to see sandra! i heart her.

tonight im meeting with anne and then small group, and tomorrow...

Richmond :)