Thanks for sharing your umbrella today, Abby! I hope you know you made my gray day a little brighter.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Umbrellas
Thanks for sharing your umbrella today, Abby! I hope you know you made my gray day a little brighter.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Sarah
We made a scrapbook for graduation but I couldn't fit everything on the page I made so I thought I'd continue it here. So here's some memories and pics of life together....
Taking pictures together when we met at Ice Cream Olympics
Bonding over a ride to Windy Gap (as campers!)
Working at the Firehouse together
Making up dances while ringing the Salvation Army bells
Prom festivities
Campaigners by the river
Quest small group
Making tshirts for Jhall’s graduation
“What haaappened?”
Making matching fleece animal blankets
Visiting Union over fall break ‘07
Making you watch Friends for the first time
Spring Break at PCB (many more go with this but we’ll leave them unsaid)
Black Friday Shopping in Georgia
Quest graduation (we're finally YL leaders!!!)
{insert the year we rarely hung out}
Jhall's wedding
Road trip to Cookeville/Nashville to visit boyfriends
Spring Break to St. Augustine #1
We were all going to transfer to Flagler
Living at the Bunkbed/Mold House (Why haven’t we lived together more? I am sad about this)
Dixie Stampede
Fall Break 2009 to Nashville
Line dancing at Wildhorse Saloon
Drew and Ellie concert in Knoxville
Spring Break to St. Augustine #2
Giving you a temporary tattoo sleeve
Chris Blingle and the Ho Ho Ho’s
Snowboarding/skiing
Zac Brown concert and taking artsy pics
Coming to stay with me in Knox for your last fall break
Many Many weddings/dance parties (and more to come!)
Being obsessed with the Bachelor/Bachelorette
Being able to be completely ourselves and comfortable
Christina and Meredith
Being Younglife leaders with our Younglife leader
Secret conversations about boys
You are my human GPS
Your nursing skills balancing out my hypochondria
Girls Night Out
...There are so many more and so much to come!!
Congratulations sweet friend!!!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Bittersweet
Bittersweet. It's a word that I've used a lot but never really thought much about. It is a word that nicely defines this season of my life. Knoxville has been my home for nearly four months now, but has yet to feel like home. The struggles and heartache I have faced from leaving my family and dear friends sometimes seem unbearable, but the raw, fierce, and unchanging love I receive daily from the Lord allow me to experience a unique sweetness. I have met wonderful people who have graciously welcomed me into their community, and I live with two wonderful girls who are walking alongside me in building a life in Knoxville.
Coming home to Johnson City for Christmas has been bittersweet as well. It means facing the reality that life has moved on and it means catching up on all the things I missed; but it also means getting to look into familiar eyes and see the same sparks of love and friendship that have always existed. Gathering after gathering, conversation after conversation, I am filled with years of sweet memories and lessons learned.
My hope is that one day soon I will look back with thankfulness about what I learned, who I became, what the Lord gave me and what He took away during this season.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
College
"I graduate college TOMORROW! How crazy is that?! I feel like I keep talking about it but it won't really come. I don't feel ready to be done with college. I'm not ready to leave my friends and family in the fall. Although, I don't think I'll ever feel ready. It has been a great four years! So many good times and some hard times- but ultimately they ended up good.
During college, I figured out who I am and where I "fit". I made my faith my own. I made friendships that will last forever and some that only lasted a short time but had a great impact on my life. I "got in the wheelbarrow". I realized my love for teenagers and desire to show them Jesus' love. I spent a month at Frontier Ranch. I learned about God's never ending, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love for me. I watched Katy Ann and Austin grow up. I had my heart broken. I broke others' hearts. I ate tons of Barberitos. I learned that I can be artsy and musical... if I try. I watched my sister grow up and grew to love and admire her more everyday. I spent way too much money. Fall break to Charleston was the best trip in spite of stomach problems. I had long talks over iced soy vanilla lattes. I lived with my best friends. I watched people start relationships with the Lord. I released all inhibitions at dance parties. Kimber and I drove to Boone a lot. I watched my friends be great Younglife leaders. I went to the beach with friends every spring break- each trip was different and great. I spent a month in Oregon. I loved being at Windy Gap. "With You" by Chris Brown was my favorite song. I was a lifeguard. People called me hessie, Jaguar, Lynn, and Gooz. I was a Younglife leader with my Younglife leader. I had friends who loved me enough to tell me things I didn't want to hear. I spent many days at the lake. I rarely did homework. I learned how to be a leader. I learned how much I need Jesus. I became friens with my parents. I listened to lots of Drew and Ellie. My favorite treat was peanut butter m&ms and coke. I got really sick for a while, but eventually got better. I climbed trees at the VA. I went night hiking and night swimming. I learned lots of lessons the hard way. I went rollerblading. I watched my sweet Charlie grow up. I worked at Hollister for a week. I learned to let people love me. I figured out I don't have to be perfect. I watched through tears as some people very dear to me moved away. I learned to trust God. I watched (but didn't really watch) movies with my friends. I played tennis with Zach. I watched my friends get their hearts broken. I smoked cloves and drank cream soda. I dressed in goofy outfits. I went to concerts. I was (and still am) indecisive. I lived in Rose Park, the Casa, and the Mold house. I learned from my friends. I peed in my pants. I pulled all-nighters. I took girls to Younglife camp. I saw brokenness in the form of eating disorders, breakups, abuse, and abortion. I have seen the beauty and joy of adoption. I went to drive-in movies. I passed notes in class. I had many sweet moments with the Lord. I read the pals sign everyday. I played cornhole and ultimate frisbee. I spent many hours at the Caldwell's house laughing, crying and everything in between. I was on student staff with Amber. I read the Blue Book. I endured many homeschool jokes. I got scared. I worked at the Bristol Races. I watched my Younglife team grow and change. I went to Waffle House in the middle of the night. I watched YouTube videos over and over. I was "Sue" at club. I forgot and re-learned how much I need Jesus. I loved going to church for the first time. I played on the playground in the Tree Streets. I changed my major 33589733 times. I spent way too much time of facebook. I went to the Carter Family Fold. I grew out of my shy, awkward stage. I drove to Charleston to watch the sunrise. I had my first kiss. I ran away from the Lord. I ran back to the Lord. I prayed like crazy. I made mistakes. I got hurt. I learned to be intentional. I met many different kinds of people- funny, angry, crazy, mean, happy, & lovely. I overanalyzed. I sang at the top of my lungs. I watched every season of Dawson's Creek. I loved and was loved. I learned. I grew up. I became the real me."
No wonder I miss it so much!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a sweet time that was! Reading this makes me miss it, but it also makes me excited for the times ahead. Bring it!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
A New Way of Struggling
to grab with both hands
and shake
and twist
and turn
and push
and shove
and not give in
but wrestle an answer from it all
as Jacob did a blessing.
But there is another way
to struggle with an issue, a question-
simply jump off into the abyss
and find ourselves floating
falling
tumbling
being led
slowly and gently, but surely
to answers God has for us-
to watch the answers unfold before our eyes
and still be a part of the unfolding.
But, oh!
The trust necessary for this new way!
Not to be always reaching out
for the old hand-holds.
-Susan W.N. Ruach