Hello, old friend.

I feel eons away from ever catching up on here.

Soon, I hope to write about the last several months and everything between. Like: 

-Good books and life lessons

-Forward movement and recluse - how they connect

-Generosity: giving joyfully and and also being a recipient of it

-Traveling to unknown territory (local and international)

-Perspective from beautiful street friends in Seattle

-Celebrations, traditions, and other merry occasions

Until then, let's not waste time on fickle things.
(This is a reminder to myself.) 

  

Wisdom from Tolkien

"That night they ate their very last scraps and crumbs of food; and next morning when they woke the first thing they noticed was that they were still gnawingly hungry, and the next thing was that it was raining and that here and there the drip of it was dropping heavily on the forest floor. That only reminded them that they were also parchingly thirsty, without doing anything to relieve them: you cannot quench a terrible thirst by standing under giant oaks and waiting for a chance drip to fall on your tongue" (The Hobbit).

Full Circle

THIS just in. Fresh fruit, tasty veggies, you are welcome anytime.

I can be a bridesmaid AND carry a camera ...

Thirteen months ago, my friend Katherine and I went to visit our dear Nina-pinta-santa maria. Two days prior to seeing her, this guy named Brendan took her on their second spontaneous date (within a week of meeting her), and told her, “Nina, my grandpa says when you know, you know. And I know - you’re going to be my wife.” That same weekend, the church ladies at Nina’s bible study received the word “husband” for Nina, without realizing the situation that Nina was in. That very day we started planning her wedding. Four months later, they were engaged. Two weekends ago, I was able to watch one of my best friends say “yes” to learn how to put another person before herself, to be loved, and to drink tea evermore with her favorite one. Nina and Brendan, I love you both and am so, so happy for you two. Thanks so much for letting us celebrate with you guys!

Take it easy, English majors. Calm down, you're too loud.

I've never been in a room full of English majors when it wasn't class time.

Until today.

I've decided the quiet awkwardness could have been one of two things:

1) We all stayed up late writing final 15-30 page papers. Or,

2) We are all introverts who just want to go read books and drink tea.

Either way, I'm now a Sigma Tau Delta member. So that's cool.

That basically means I just get to put "English Honors Student" on my resume.

Nothing too special.

Also... I'm half and half with this whole 'introvert' business.

Anyways, I just learned this last week that I'm graduating (in seven days).

I need to go study for finals.

Happy Saturday, friends. I hope you find something good to read.  

Well, hey!

Over the last few months I've been ...
-inventing things.
-driving to Portland.
-drinking matcha lattes.
-experiencing the Lord's generosity.
-eating a lot of popcorn with my husband.
-learning the art of rhetoric and persuasion. 
-writing many papers covering many topics.
-figuring out how to cook and cope without a kitchen.
-greeting five 4:30 mornings a week with Z to go work out.
-delivering little love notes to let people know how significant they are.
-spending lots of time listening to stories on drizzly downtown Seattle streets.
-praying for revival over Seattle campuses with a wild crew of beautiful people.

Oh my soul, rejoice.

This season has been lovely.

Almonds

When one asks the question, "How many almonds is too many almonds?" it is time to set the honey roasted delights aside and eat something green instead.

Street ministry

3 necks: healed.
2 cases of flu: gone.
2 backs: completely restored.
1 individual with bitterness: melted.
1 broken foot: bone put back into place.
Someone recently asked me who my Jesus is.
That's who my Jesus is.
Ridiculous love.

SEAHAWKS

For the Seahawks' homecoming,
my campus cancelled all classes just so students could go to the parade.
Uhh..WHAT? That happened.
An entire university: shut down to the ground.

Seahawks, you champions, you. Seattle is proud.

 

 

 

We waited four hours, in 20 DEGREE WEATHER, to catch a bus.
Finally we called a friend to bring us home.
Bless her beautiful soul.
 ...
I'm also a little amazed:
750,000 Seattlites gathered to celebrate their team, and not one arrest happened.
Humanity - well done.

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Image via

Today I held a baby just born. I watched her parents look at her features with beguiling awe; they didn't expect their child to come, but she did ... and there is joy.

Today another friend told me that she aborted hers at 16. She's glad because now she doesn't have to take care of a child. She also mentioned that the baby wouldn't allow her to go to bars as often.

Tonight, my heart pounds for opposite reasons. A storm of tears presses against the back of my eyelids and they just don't know how to fall.

Adventure day

Green trees, green plants, and little birds that sing.

Hometown, relaxed flannel, and siblings who explore.

Logger's road, shotgun shells, and Melvin the Subaru.

How did we never see this place before?

Oh flu, how did I catch you?

Last night proves that I made a good choice in marrying Zachary.

I threw up consistently from 2am until 6:30am.

At one point I passed out.

My husband stayed up and read to me,

 while making sure I re-hydrated properly.

He's a treasure.   

Surrender

Six months ago, my husband and I started planning our four-month trip to Thailand. 

Three months ago, we scheduled our move-out date as December 20th, 2013.

With one week left until our move, we heard about political chaos occurring in Thailand; the trip cancelled because our destination was/is entirely too unstable and dangerous for the work we were planning on doing (I'd be teaching, he'd be mentored/taught by a man he looks up to). 

On December 19th, stress took over. We registered for the classes we need (instead of traveling), and everything aligned perfectly. Still, we didn't have a place close to school to live. I stayed up late searching for apartments in Seattle in hopes of assembling a "Plan B."

It was 2:00am.

"Do you trust me?" The Lord asked.

"I do."

"Then go to sleep."

I slept. The next morning three housing opportunities opened up.

We took the second. So much peace, peace, peace; we couldn't be happier about it.

   

All this to say that we're learning what it means to surrender.

To surrender what we think is best, only to realize somehting better.

To find that the Lord likes to stir things up, as if to say,
"Um, hello, I've got you. Didn't you know?"

Jehovah Jireh: The Lord will provide.