..who is actually a bear preparing for hibernation. Seriously, people..we are NOT winter folk. I admire friends such as the Lilley's (holla Aaron and Kim) who thrive in their cute flannel outfits and their love for the crisp winter air.

To us, all we notice are dead trees and the lack of fresh fruit (or affordable fresh fruit for that matter), the inability to breathe normally outside, and the extra time it takes to wear 254 layers and then shed them/put them back on as necessary. The one good thing about winter--is how much more excited and grateful I am when it turns to Spring. Sorry. Looks like we've just knocked out a large portion of the US in terms of future places of residence. (Kidding, I hope that God doesn't use this to call us to live somewhere frigid and to rely on him for sanity...never say never I suppose. *Cough, mom, Columbia, cough.)

Sorry. Digression. Okay. Thus, every time I come home lately, Chris has one of these:



Bring on the canning and the preserving and the eating of good fruits and things alllllllll year! :) I promise we won't turn Scrooge-y all winter. ;) We're just silly kids who love the warm sunshine.

Apple butter and peach preserves for Christmas gifts, anyone? :D

This is the INSANE workout called Insanity that everyone has been talking about. It's supposed to be the hardest one out there, and Chris and I started it today. It's 60 days of working out (with a day of rest each week) and I can honestly say I have never sweat so much in my entire life as we did the first day (and the first day wasn't even the full work out, it was just the "Fit Test" so that we can mark our progress every two weeks. My entire body is sore, but we love it. The best part about it is that Chris, being a health science major, knows all about the best work outs to do to see results..and all of these are the ones he's talked about since I've known him...they are just condensed into a ridiculously hard and condensed set. They don't require ANY weights or mats or all that jazz, just your body! I will admit though, you have to be in SOMEWHAT descent shape before you start..otherwise it would be WAY too demotivating. Also, we both tend to enjoy the "it hurts so good" workouts involving a lot of sweat. And tears. (Kidding about the tears.) (But I'll probably cry tomorrow.)

Here goes! :)

Sarah of The Tattered Traveler is one of my old college neighbors, and she is extremely talented. She's got tons of artsy talent, and you should pass along her Etsy Site to all of your friends! Go look! :)

Can scratch that sucka' off! And don't tell me they don't deserve a place on a bucket list. These guys are great. And little did I know I'd be this close. And very little did I know I'd have a sweet camera to take pictures of them with. (Thanks Mom.)

While driving. However, it's an incredibly hard but good way to practice due to the super fast changes in light. Anyways, I started getting a bit dizzy so I just looked up to the sky for a moment. And bam. This is what I saw.





Can I get a "what whaaaat!!!" for creation. Fureal.

[I'm floating up the stairwell with my toes grazing the cedar, thinking softly what a tinder box we live in....and what a flammable heart I've been given.]


I'm finding more and more throughout this internship of the state of my heart in the midst of a darker side of the world. I find myself leveling on a playing field so similar to that of Habbakuk....


Except I have not yet been able to rejoice and rest in the sovereignty of the Creator.


My heart wants to separate away this broken and lost side of the world from what I desire God's plan to be. This isn't what He desires for us, for anything, especially for children. Then I remember that he's pursuing them too, they just don't know it.


Or they don't want to know it. This broken and lost side of the world is just an extension of the evil we have allowed to come inside.


And I'm just as guilty as the worst of these.


God still holds my heart.


He still holds their heart. He's madly in love with them too.


They beat their children. He's still madly in love.


They sexually abuse their children. He's still madly in love.


They give their children drugs. Still in love.


They'd rather give their children up than have to give their drug addiction up. Still. In. Love.


Heartbroken, but in love. And in pursuit. And wishing their eyes would be open to the one thing that would fill the emptiness...wishing they could experience the gift of parenting.....and of being a child.


Heartbroken. But in love. And that's where I am too. Heartbroken, but in love, in a tinder box, with a flammable heart.

this post won't be as entirely exciting as my last post alluded to it being. Mostly because I am exhausted and a bit overwhelmed, but don't worry..there are hints of excitement on the inside. I promise.

1. Interning=still great, a lot to learn and still getting adjust to the flow of things.
2. My emotional state=can't decide if it wants to be depressed about the evil people in the world or rest in the fact that God is still sovereign..
3. House Church=it's official. The Lilleypad is hoppin. (Few will understand this reference.) Pumped about the awesomeness that is this year.
4. School schedule=shoot me in the hand. Probs the most difficult semester of them all. (Bonus: at least my last semester will seem easy in comparison.)
5. Husband=rocks my face off. Have I mentioned that I haven't cooked a meal in who knows how many days. I love to cook, people. This is not normal. AKA, busy schedule (AKA...my husband rocks my face off), and I am so stinkin' grateful he is such an amazing/willing chef.
6. I decided two seconds ago that I AM going to cook a fabulous dinner tonight for him to come home to. My soul needs it.
7. Espanol= Es muy dificil y no comprendo......y estoy asustado.
8. Is it acceptable to take a nap before making dinner?

On that note..