Just...tired.

I am so sick of school and paper-writing. Sometimes I find no purpose in any of this.

God just please open my eyes to the beauty in life, help me find it, because I've lost it completely.

He showed me a verse today...

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you...Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

Love Love.

I LOVE people,
my two adorable nieces,
hockey games that my boyfriend coaches,
chips & dip,
girl talks late at night,
toasted marshmallow cappuccinos,
having GREAT piano practice days,
seeing old friends getting engaged,
believing in a God who has EVERYTHING under control,
and being genuinely happy. :)

Oh, I also love the stress of writing research papers...not! (pray for me? ha)

Also, can I just live here one day? I mean, just look at that ocean view!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Fly.

"Being tender and open is beautiful. As a woman, I feel continually shhh’ed. Too sensitive. Too mushy. Too wishy washy. Blah blah. Don’t let someone steal your tenderness. Don’t allow the coldness and fear of others to tarnish your perfectly vulnerable beating heart. Nothing is more powerful than allowing yourself to truly be affected by things. Whether it’s a song, a stranger, a mountain, a rain drop, a tea kettle, an article, a sentence, a footstep, feel it all – look around you. All of this is for you. Take it and have gratitude. Give it and feel love."  - Zooey Deschanel

❤ ❤ ❤

"The good times and the bad times both will pass. It will pass. It will get easier. But the fact that it will get easier does not mean that it doesn’t hurt now. And when people try to minimize your pain they are doing you a disservice. And when you try to minimize your own pain you’re doing yourself a disservice. Don’t do that. The truth is that it hurts because it’s real. It hurts because it mattered. And that’s an important thing to acknowledge to yourself. But that doesn’t mean that it won’t end, that it won’t get better. Because it will." -John Green

❤ ❤ ❤

"My thoughts tend to sound better in books I didn’t write, and in the songs I didn’t sing. Even then, sometimes there is no piece of literature, no song, no work of art that can really explain the way you feel. There is a double-edge comfort in knowing that no one really knows." -Unknown

❤ ❤ ❤

"I wanted to tell him then how loneliness can become a tangible thing, after a while. It’s something that you carry with you on your shoulder, hold up like a friend with a twisted ankle. It sits with you and walks the streets with you. It’s a selfish thing and it refuses to let go or even split its attention. Of course, like a particularly annoying itch, you can convince yourself for a while that it’s not there. You can go to libraries and sit with friends and drink more coffee than your body can handle and you can feel surrounded and happy. But eventually you have to scratch it. Loneliness steals you away from the world, as if you’ve been cut loose and you’re lost, untethered, somewhere far above everyone else. Just you and this feeling that you just need someone to put a hand on your shoulder and turn you around, to look at you and tell you the three words that matter most: You’re not alone. Don’t be scared. I am here. It’s not about love or lust or any other inadequate word; it’s about being touched and realising that you are no longer by yourself." -Chloe Rattray

Hanging On.

You see my anxious heart 
You see what I am feeling 
And when I fall apart 
You are there to hold me 
How great your love for me 
Now I see what You're thinking 
You say I'm beautiful 
Your voice is my healing 

Without You I just can't get by 
So I'm hanging on to every word You speak 
'cause it's all that I need 
Hanging on to every word You say 
To light up my way 
Even every little whisper I'm 
Hanging on as if it were my life 
I'm hanging on 

And when the darkness falls 
I can't see what's before me 
Your voice is like the dawn 
Always there to guide me 

Without you I just can't get by 
So I'm hanging on to every word You speak 
'cause it's all that I need 
Hanging on to every word You say 
To light up my way 
Even every little whisper I'm 
Hanging on as if it were my life 
I'm hanging on 

You know me better than I know myself 
Better than anybody else 
Your love is sounding like a ringing bell 
Oh, oh, I won't let go 


- Britt Nicole -

Goldfish.

As I write my paper on the four types of parenting styles, I'm snacking on Goldfish crackers.

It's kinda fun eating something that is smiling at you. :)

By the way, "like" Joyce Meyer on Facebook. She always has the most encouraging status updates!

Click here for Joyce Meyer's Facebook page!

For instance, today she had:
-"Don't let someone else's attitude determine your level of joy."
-"God has the solution to any problem you may have, trust in Him and His ways, not your own."
-"Unforgiveness hurts us more than it does anyone else."
-"God will give us the strength to do anything He's asked us to if we are willing to remain obedient to Him."

Love it!!

Positive Thoughts!

I almost said: I wish I didn't have to write this paper right now!!!


But I'm challenging myself to quit the complaining. The first step to this is to quit thinking negative thoughts, because eventually thoughts become words.

So instead I think to myself, writing this paper definitely isn't at the top of my "favourite things to do" list, but think of the results Jenny! I'll be so informed of how parenting styles affect moral reasoning in adolescents, -therefore parenting will be a breeze in the future...hahah not-, and i'll feel so productive once I staple this sucker and hand it in! What a good feeling that will be!


I'll just repeat that to myself a thousand times...

Walk On The Water.

You look around, staring back at you
Another wave of doubt, will it pull you under? You wonder
What if I'm overtaken? What if I never make it?
What if no one's there? Will You hear my prayer?

When you take that first step into the unknown
You know that He won't let you go...

So what are you waiting for? What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities, they try to hold to you
But you know you're made for more, so don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water, too

So get out, and let your fear fall to the ground
No time to waste, don't wait, and don't you turn around and miss out
Everything you were made for, I know you're not sure
So you play it safe, you try to run away

If you take that first step into the unknown
He won't let you go

So what are you waiting for? What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities, they try to hold to you
But you know you're made for more, so don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water, too

Step out, even when it's storming
Step out, even when you're broken
Step out, even when your heart is telling you
Telling you to give up

Step out, when your hope is stolen
Step out, you can't see where you're going
You don't have to be afraid
So what are you waiting, what are you waiting for?

So what are you waiting for? What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities try to hold to you
You know you're made for more, so don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water
Walk on the water, too


- Britt Nicole -

Under The Sun.

Ecclesiastes has always been one of my favourite books of the Bible. This statement is quite contrary to the "norm" as many people see Ecclesiastes as being the most depressing book ever.

I completely disagree! It's actually so incredibly enlightening and liberating! It makes me WANT to live.

It begins with the words, "life is meaningless. What do people get for all their hard work under the sun?"

The key words here are: UNDER THE SUN.

When Solomon wrote this, he wasn't kidding when he repeatedly said that everything he worked so hard to accomplish was so meaningless and like chasing the wind.

I mean, think about it. We live, we work hard...we pull our hair out getting B.A's and Masters and PhD's...we work 9-5...we make money...some of us even save our money and own a fortune by the time we retire. We live, work hard, and then we die. Everything we accomplished while we were alive turns into dust along with our bodies in the ground.

Our days lived according to the standard of living and dying UNDER THE SUN are all useless in the end. But our days lived according to the standard of eternal life are of great and extraordinary worth!

Solomon concluded, "there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God." (3:12-13). Each day is a GIFT from God. We should not put our worth and value in the things of this earth that will soon disappear with death; we cannot put our value in the visible outcomes of our accomplishments because that'll only lead to heartbreak.

We need to remember that each day is a gift, and God wants us to enjoy this gift He has so graciously given to us! Focus on the things above and not on the things of this earth.

Every day of our lives will be accounted for once we stand in front of those Heavenly Gates; so let's make them count. Let's love God, others, and ourselves. Let's not get caught up in working our lives away, buying houses, cars, writing papers, ect.

Let's remember the real reason we are here.

XOXO

Enjoy!

It's funny.

For so long I had zero idea of what I wanted to do, Why am I majoring in THIS? What for? Should I switch majors? Schools? All those questions racked my brain every single day.

But now...I know exactly what I want to do.

And I think it just might work out. Scratch that.

If it's all a part of God's plan, then He will give me the strength to do it!!

It's such a good feeling--having a goal and actually knowing the necessary steps to get there. I'm so excited for this.

I'm excited to be creative, to produce something with my own hands, to be on my feet instead of stuck inside of an office, and to actually ENJOY myself.

I can't wait! :)

Have Your Way.

Feels like i`ve been here forever,
Why can`t you just intervene?
Do you see the tears keep falling?
And i`m falling apart at the seams.
But you never said the road would be easy,
But you said that you would never leave.
And you never promised that this life wasn`t hard,
But you promised you`d take care of me.

So I`ll stop searching for the answers,
I`ll stop praying for an escape,
And I`ll trust you,God, with where i am,
And believe that you will have your way.
Just have your way.
Just have your way.

When my friends and my family have left me,
And I feel so ashamed and so cold.
Remind me that you take broken things
And turn them into beautiful.

So I`ll stop searching for the answers,
I`ll stop praying for an escape,
And i`ll trust you, God, with where i am,
And believe that you`ll have your way.
Just have your way.
Just have your way.

Even if my dreams have died,
And even if i don`t survive,
I`ll still worship you with all my life.
My life.

And I`ll stop searching for the answers,
I`ll stop praying for an escape,
And i`ll trust you, God, with where i am,
And believe that you will have your way.
Just have your way.
Just have your way.

- Britt Nicole -

How To Be Happy.

In college I'm taking a class called Psychology of Interpersonal Dynamics. It's an hour and fifteen minutes dedicated to my most favourite thing in the world: relationships.

I love relationships. I love studying them, observing them, learning about them, and working on them. Out of the four personal styles of relating, I am a person who values relationships far above any task that needs to be done. For instance, if I'm studying for an exam that's about to hit me in a few hours and a friend comes into my room and NEEDS to talk, I will drop everything just so I can be there for her. I love people...that's just who I am (and proud of it)!

Anyway, for this class we are reading a textbook that I just LOVE, called "Person to Person: Positive Relationships Don't Just Happen". In all honesty, it is more like an encouraging self-help book than a textbook. Sometimes I have to force myself not to read -too far- ahead.

I just completed chapter four, titled "Achieving Happiness and Satisfaction". I gotta admit, I have not been the happiest person on earth lately. In fact I've been drowning myself in worries, fears, and negative self-talk. I've been overwhelmed with the faults in others while ignoring the faults in my own self. I have forgotten what it's like to be just...happy, and I have also forgotten HOW to be happy. This chapter really affected me--it was like an answer to prayer, really. So if you're struggling with finding your own happiness again, I would love to share with you what this chapter has taught me and maybe it can shine some light on how you can become and happy and stay happy...

First of all, what is happiness?
"Happiness is having a sense of self, not a feeling of being perfect, but of being good enough and knowing that you are in the process of growth, of being, of achieving levels of joy. It's a wonderful contentment and acceptance of who and what you are and a knowledge that the world and life are full of wondrous adventures and possibilities." -Leo Buscaglia.

Obstacles that hinder you from reaching happiness:

• Unrealistic Expectations
• This is a huge one for me; first of all, happiness is not something that just HAPPENS. It is something you need to do.
• Another unrealistic expectation is that we ALWAYS need to be happy. We need to accept that life is not perfect. The 10-80-10 spectrum of happiness can help with this: 10% of the time life is spontaneously wonderful and deliriously happy, and another 10% is extremely difficult, tragic, and miserable. The remaining 80% of life is WHAT YOU MAKE IT.
• Searching for Happiness Outside of the Self:
• Many times people rely on outside sources for happiness. These sources look something like: money, a certain person, a job, a baby, the weather, material objects, or even a day of the week. "Relying on an external source for happiness puts control of your life outside yourself. If externals make you happy, they can also make you unhappy." The four traits common to most happy people are: self esteem, a sense of personal control, optimism, and extraversion, and NOT money, a PhD, marriage, or plastic surgery. So, happiness is on the inside, and not found in external things.

Creating Happiness and Well-Being:

• Cultivate self-knowledge, self-esteem, and an optimistic attitude:
• Get to know yourself. Know your goals, your hopes, and what you desire out of life.
• Developing self-esteem is essential because people with low self-esteem put themselves into situations that perpetuate unhappiness.
• Be optimistic! Unhappy feelings follow a pessimistic way of thinking; Optimism lends itself to endless choices and opportunities to make the most of an enjoy all of life.
• Have realistic expectations
• Don't expect to be the best at being a full-time student, mother, wife, friend, and member of the church all at once. Which one of those is most important at certain moments? By realizing this you can free yourself from exhaustion and stress.
• Initiate Activity and Pleasure
• Don't be one of those friends who never does the initiating; because to the other person, it may appear that you do not care about the friendship. Happiness in a relationship requires effort from both parties.
• Take Responsibility
• Making excuses is a common way for people to avoid taking responsibility, and can create dissatisfaction and misery. Distinguishing the difference between an excuse and a reason can help you avoid making excuses in the future. A reason is a statement of fact usually offered with acceptance of responsibility and control. An excuse consists of facts, but lacks responsibility for one's behaviour. For example, "I did not have time to study" is an excuse, "I did not take the time to study" is a reason. When exercising, "I feel winded because I am too old" is an excuse, whereas "I am just not in shape yet" is a reason.
• Excuses limit choices, and responsibility gives us the power to make changes and to create the kind of life we want. 
• Change "Can't" and "Couldn't" Thinking:
• Thinking thoughts like "I cannot get up this morning", "I can't ski", or "I cannot talk to people" are so limiting! Life has circumstances or external forces that cannot be changed. You cannot control the weather, many tragedies, and other people's behaviour. You DO control your reactions and future actions regarding these uncontrollable events. Learn to recognize your own internal power and avoid thinking CANNOT when you actually DO have control.
• Rethink "Should" and "Should Not"
• This one hit me the hardest. When someone says to you "We should hang out" or "we should go for coffee"...it does not sound that inviting. It would be much more positive to hear "I would like to hang out with you!" or "I want us to hang out!". Happiness is more likely if you replace forcing words like "should" with "want" or "do not want" because you are acknowledging your desires.
• Other forcing words that are best to be avoided are: must, have to, need to, and ought.
• Concentrate on Positives
• Telling yourself that you are not good enough, smart enough, or attractive enough are obstacles to achieving happiness. They also dampen the spirit of those around you. If you keep telling yourself "nobody likes me", eventually you'll begin acting in a way that indeed makes nobody like you. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.
• The words you use have a HUGE effect on your mood, health, and interactions. For example,
• Say these words aloud slowly: "No, not, negative, never, ugly, sick, gloomy, dumb, bad, bored, bleak, worthless, hate, wrong, awful."
• Now say these words aloud slowly: "Yes, cheerful, super, laugh, right, well, fun, smart, good, able, great, wow, love, excited, alive."
• When you employ positive self-talk, your mental image will focus more often on what is GOOD about yourself, what you CAN do, and what you have done WELL. 
• Seek Alternatives
• The happiest people are those who do not limit their choices. Being confident that you can solve your problems by thinking of several options is a sign of maturity and strength.
• Avoid Chronic Procrastination
• The costs of procrastination:
• waste of the present
• an unfulfilled life
• boredom
• anxiety
• impotent goals
• unsolved problems
• continuous frustration
• poor health
• a mediocre career.
• Realize WHY you procrastinate:
• Because the task seems overwhelming or unpleasant?
• Is it an excuse for a poor performance?
• Are you waiting for more time?
• Do you use procrastination to gain sympathy?
• Are you defending against blows to self-esteem by putting things off?
• Live in the PRESENT
• Futurizing: "Your life is not a dress rehearsal for the future. It is right here and now". Living for the future is a huge problem of mine. I get so excited about the things yet to come that I'm completely ignoring what is happening right in front of me.
• Pasturizing: is living in the past. The "if onlys" are examples of wishful thinking that destroy opportunities for present happiness. Learn to appreciate the past and use it as a series of vast learning experiences so that the present may be more rewarding.
• Count Your Blessings
• What has God blessed you with? Make a list and write these things down!
• GIVE to Life
• Develop Nourishing and Rewarding Relationships

I really didn't mean to delve so deeply into this topic, but I am passionate about it, and I really believe the things written above can bring about change! Remember to seek God first and foremost though. He is the creator of all things, therefore, He is the one whom you can depend on for true and total happiness. :)

Hope.

Hope for today,

Hope for tomorrow,

Hope that everything is going to be OK.

The Virtuous Woman.

I'm currently writing a paper on Proverbs 3,1 the chapter of"The Virtuous Woman", and I came across this:

"She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future."
-Proverbs 31:25

That sounds pretty ideal to me; I really want to be like her...

p.s- this is what I ate post-workout today:

[baby spinach, slivered almonds, sliced apples, sliced chicken breast, Egyptian olive oil, and strawberry balsamic vinaigrette]

Oh and because that was just too healthy, I decided to indulge in an ooey gooey 2 minute brownie mug cake:

[Recipe HERE]

❤ ❤ ❤

Heart.

Seriously, I drink like three cups a day...maybe even four.  ;)

Truth North.

So I did it. Pertaining to my previous blog post, I woke up and said it to myself:

Something wonderful is gonna happen to me today!

And it worked, just moments ago! I was sitting the library, and as I sipped my thermos of Green Tea, my eyes glanced up to the window above me and I saw at least over a hundred Canadian geese fly by.

See, I have a love-hate relationship with Canadian geese. When it starts to get chilly here and I see them happily flying south, I fall on my hands and knees and plead TAKE ME WITH YOU; I hate them because they never seem to give me the time of day.

But ohhhh do I ever love them when I gaze up into the sky and see them flying back to the "TRUE NORTH!!!!" (copyright to the Winnipeg Jets fans).

Geese flying north = summer's arrival = a happy Jenny.

By expecting something wonderful to happen to me every single day of my life, it inevitably causes me to pick up on the positive things that occur rather than the overwhelmingly negative things. I begin to notice the wonderful things in life and add them to my mental checklist of happiness, rainbows, lollipops, and fluffy bunnies.

Wonderfulness is everywhere, you just need to open your eyes to it!

❤ ❤ ❤

Something Wonderful.

Tomorrow morning, as soon as I wake up I'm going to say to myself:

Today something wonderful is going to happen to me!

Everyday is a mystery and only God knows what's gonna happen.

But I believe that everyday is a choice. We can either choose to face the day with thoughts of negativity and worries, or we can seize the day with positivity and happiness!

Therefore, tomorrow, something wonderful IS going to happen to me. I can just feel it. :)

Reading Week.

I am back from my reading week at home!

I got to go to the Winnipeg Jets game with my bestest friend in the whole entire world/my boyfriend (hee hee!) :

See my brand new Jets shirt? It's even baseball-tee style!

And Jarryd's new Jets cap? Love it!

Despite the fact we were sitting beside a guy ringing a giant cowbell in our ears, we were pretty dang happy. :) The atmosphere of that place was INCREDIBLE!

And the Jets WON!!! :)

Other highlights of the week include:

hanging out with my best girlfriend. We were finally able to watch Pastor Tullian Tchividjian for the first time together!

Going to Olive Garden with my two favourite ladies!! (it's definitely a tradition by now)

Watching the Junior hockey game in town. So fun!

Celebrating my brother's 30th birthday at Swiss Chalet. YUM!

Going to my old church again, two Sundays in a row. I absolutely love my church and the people in it.

Visting one of my best girlfriend's and seeing her baby for the first time in two months! He is the cutest chubbiest baby ever! He has great parents too. :)


Having a mini Bodenseehof Bible School reunion. There were only 5 of us but it was still awesome!

The number one highlight had to be baking up a storm! I baked:

Hello Dolly Bars.
Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares.

Pigs in a Blanket.
Rainbow Bit Cookies With White Chocolate Chips...

And last but not least, Texas Roadhouse Sweet Yeast Rolls with Cinnamon Honey Butter. They turned out amazingly!! They were super soft and when warmed up the cinnamon honey butter just tasted SO good with it. As I began mixing the first ingredients together I thought to myself, "if I can conquer this recipe, then I can conquer anything!" So after being told that they taste JUST like the restaurant's rolls, I was so proud of myself! I do not have much experience with the intricacy of preparing yeast, so you can only imagine my happiness. (as you can see in the photo I made them to be quite tiny rolls, I think next time I'll go for larger sized)

Everytime I'd hang out with friends I brought some of my baking along, and they were all a hit, especially the rolls! Giving is honestly one of the best feelings in the world. (this topic is definitely another blog post for another time--COMING SOON!)

❤ ❤ ❤

Trials & Tribulations

Right now I am in this stage of life where I'm 21 and have almost completed three years of college...and I STILL have no idea what I'm going to do.

Sometimes I go to bed happy and motivated because I feel like I have everything figured out; I have a plan mapped out in my head, and I'm ready to pursue it.

But sometimes I go to bed in tears because I feel like I've failed in this stage of life. Society tells me that I should be completed college with a degree by now, I should be financially independent, I should have a career landed already, I should be moved out of my parents house, and I should be exactly who I have always planned to be.

And because I'm not ANY of those things, I just fall into a pit of frustration because the gap between my actual self and my ideal self is much too large for my liking.

I pray that God would give me some direction...God, where are you in all of this? Why is figuring my major out, college, work, living situation, and money so difficult for me and yet so easy for some of my friends?

Then something one of my friends said to me tonight really hit me: at the end of your life you are going to stand before God and the only thing that is going to matter at that point is what your relationship with Jesus Christ was like throughout your life.

God is not going to ask me how much money I saved up or gave away. He's not going to ask me if my major in college lead me into a successful career or if I was able to move into my own apartment before I turned 25. Society's standard of "success" is something that God certainly does not care about. He only cares about how I loved Him and how I loved others with His love.

I gotta admit, loving God is so easy during the good times. When things are easy and the sun is shining, it really feels like God is looking out for me especially that day. But what about the hard times? We are called to love God through the hard times: "love endures ALL things".

By loving God through all the hard times, your relationship with Him grows and grows stronger than ever before!

It took me awhile, but I finally realized that what I'm going through in this stage is a hard time. No, it's nothing compared to the poverty or homelessness of the world, but it's hard for me and where I'm at in my life. I am going through a TRIAL and the Bible is filled with verses about depending on God during trials, such as:

James 1:12 "blessed is the man who remains steadfast under TRIAL, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who LOVE Him."

Romans 12:12 "rejoice in hope, be patient in TRIBULATION, be constant in prayer."

James 1:2-3 "count it all as joy my brothers, when you meet TRIALS of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

I've realized I haven't been confident in God. I haven't had faith that He has great plans for me and that He is always here to guide me and that He will make everything OK.

I currently have a few hopeful plans set up for my life after this college semester wraps up in April...I have a few ideas. But this time I'm giving them to God...because if He wants them to happen, then he will make them happen! If they don't happen, then I know He has something else out there planned for me. God's plans aren't always my plans, but you know what? His are so much better!!

Slow Fade.

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

- Casting Crowns -

Marchy March.

Hello March! I am so very glad you are here :)

It feels like you took your time getting here, but at the same time I cannot believe I'm living in the third month of 2012...ALREADY.

Because of your appearance I have many things to look forward to:

• As reading week has officially begun, I get to go home tomorrow! I am so excited!! If only the snow would melt...
• My man and I have tickets to a Winnipeg Jets game. It's my first live NHL experience, and there is no one else I'd rather spend it with than Jarryd. This is also super special for us because the only date nights we can afford to go on as college students are take-out subs from Subway while watching One Tree Hill in the dorm common lounge.
• After spending two months of collecting recipes from Pinterest, I'm going to use this time at home to test out/improve my cooking and baking skills (in my Mom's lovely-sized kitchen. hee hee). First on the list is: Texas Roadhouse Rolls with cinnamon honey butter. Mmm mmm!
• I get to write seven more essays/research papers for school! um...yay?
• It's that time of year to hand out resumes and find myself a promising full-time job for the summer. This is the first summer where I don't have any vacation plans--it's kinda nice, because now I can just focus on working without begging for any time off.
• And....I can't think of anything else...

This looks like a promising month. I am happy that I am able to look at it with optimism rather than dread. I want to use this month for God; I want to do something I've never done before. I don't want to live in fear anymore...I want to make the most of it.

❤  ❤  ❤