Drops of Jupiter

-Taylor Swift Cover-

Now he’s back in the atmosphere
With drops of Jupiter in his hair, hey, hey
She acts like summer and walks like rain
Reminds me that there’s time to change, hey, hey
Since his return from his stay on the moon
He listens like spring and she talks like June, hey, hey

Tell me did you sail across the sun
Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all fadeing
And that heaven is overrated?
Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star?
One without a permanent scar,
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?

Now that he’s back from that soul vacation
Chasing his way through the constellation, hey, hey
He checks out Mozart while he does tae-bo
Reminds me that there’s room to grow, hey, hey
Now the’s back in the atmosphere
I’m afraid that he might think of me as plain ol’ Jane
Told a story about a man who is too afraid to fly so he never did land

Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet?
Did you finally get the chance to dance alone in the light of day,
And head back to the Milky Way?
And tell me, did Venus blow your mind
Was it everything you wanted to find?
Did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken
Your best friend always sticking up for you even when I know you’re wrong
Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance five-hour phone conversation
The best soy latte that you ever had, and me?

Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet
Did you finally get the chance to dance alone in the light of day
And head back toward the Milky Way
Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star?
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken
Your best friend always sticking up for you even when I know you’re wrong
Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance five-hour phone conversation
The best soy latte that you ever had, and me?

❤ ❤ ❤

God Gave Me You.

My current laptop background:

I Love It. :)

❤ ❤ ❤

Friends Who Love.

"Theheartfelt counsel of a FRIEND is as sweet as perfume and incense" -Proverbs 27:9

Friends. Friends are absolutely incredible. I have missed these friends. You know you have been blessed with great people in your life when...

:: you leave their house and you are feeling fantastically encouraged; you get into your car and end up blasting the PRAISE station the entire way home, feeling like nothing could ever bring you down.

:: you're sitting together at the coffee house, just in complete awe of how amazing Jesus is. "Think about your favourite person here on the earth...think about the person you love more than anything and anyone...the person who makes you laugh and smile like nobody else. Jesus is like that person, only an infinite amount of times BETTER."

:: you bond over Taylor Swift's Speak Now concert DVD, singing at the top of your lungs.

:: you can talk about those problems in the past that were once so hard to deal with...all the fights, the bad relationships, and the bad choices, all-the-while now wearing a smile on your face.

:: the talking lasts for hours...when it only feels like minutes.

:: you both inspire one another to do better, to set -small- goals, to move on, and to keep on trusting in the Lord with EVERYTHING.
God has been good to me, and He has blessed me with the most amazing friends ever! It's gonna be hard going back to school 7 hours away and not taking these girls with me, but God puts certain people in my life in certain places for certain reasons.

God, thank you for sending me angels. You know exactly how I have been feeling these past few days, and you sent these girls to me to encourage, inspire, and remind me that I am LOVED.

❤ ❤ ❤

Babies.

A great friend of mine just had her very first baby, so I went to go visit her in the hospital today.

As I entered into the hospital parking lot I saw the words EMERGENCY ROOM and saw a few ambulances outside the building. This caused me to realize...I don't actually like hospitals. This is weird...I'd rather not be here...I am creeped out for some reason...maybe I have seen to many movies and doctor shows...all I know is that I am expecting to see corpses being rolled down the hallway in stretchers and being passed by doctors with bloody hands. GAH. It just is funny that I never realized how much I disliked hospitals until today. (and it didn't help that we entered through the sketchy basement entrance either!!)

It was such an amazing experience for me though; before this I had never visited someone in the hospital after they had given birth, so it was a first time thing for me! And wow, was he the cutest baby EVER! Trust me, I didn't think it was even possible for babies to look so cute after emerging from the womb that soon! Haha!

When I saw the tiny baby in the father's arms I thought to myself: wow, how incredible would it be to hold something that you and your spouse created together? An actual human being composed of both your DNA's. He has his father's nose, and he has his mother's lips...it is just so amazing.

So I was in an emotional dreamland of: Hmm...a baby...I want one. UNTIL the brand-new-parents started talking about the whole 22 hour labour, c-section, epidural experience and I thought to myself: Hmm...a baby...NO WAY. Sounds absolutely horrible!!!

Now don't get me wrong, I fully believe that babies are definitely God's little miracles and that parenthood is absolutely wonderful and Biblical, but I also believe that there is a time for everything. And now is NOT the time for me to have a baby. One day...far, far, far, faaaaar away. :)

Set Me Free.

"I just need to get away from me,
I just need to find some peace of mind,
Caught in this game of unmet expectations,
I wanna leave it all behind...

So in that moment when i lose myself,
Let the world fade away from me,
Give me a moment to just seek the silence,
I just wanna be set free.

I wanna be small,
I wanna be just like a child,
I wanna be quiet in your arms,
I wanna be small,
I wanna be just like a child,
I wanna be Quiet in your arms."

Amanda Falk's lyrics portray exactly how I'm feeling. I am caught up in this world again. I find myself desiring approval from this world, and when I don't get it, I doubt myself...I doubt the capabilities I have been given...I doubt the woman God created me to be. And then the lies begin to set in: you'll never be taken seriously, you are not capable of anything, you'll never be considered, you'll never be heard, the choices you make will never be good enough...

Your opinion matters so much to me; your approval is all I'm longing for. But why? What good would your words of acceptance do for me? You didn't create the world and you certainly didn't create me. You are merely just human. You are just as lowly as me. You are not perfect and you are not my idol.

If you would give me your nods of approval and your words of affirmation, I would feel absolutely great and proud, but only in the moment. For matching up to your standards only offers me a temporary high.

I don't want to believe any of those lies...and I know that if you knew how I was feeling you wouldn't want me to believe them either. I practically kill myself wondering WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR THE WORLD TO SEE AND BELIEVE THAT I AM JUST A GIRL WHO IS LETTING GOD LEAD HER LIFE AND THAT THIS GREATLY EFFECTS MY CHOICES? I am just trying to live my life the best way I can. I am a big girl and I am trying my best to live my life the way God wants me to.

All I want is to be set free from these lies and from these chains. 1 Corinthians 7:23 says "you were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men". I hold this verse close to my heart because I don't want to be a slave, I don't want to waste my life away on my hands and knees begging for the world's empty approval.

I have a high conscience of morality and I just want to do the right thing. God, thank you for this desire to want to live for you. Help me to love fearlessly, even if I feel like I'm not good enough for the world. I want to truly feel and believe that You are enough for me, and that You are all that I need.

"Do you want to be free?
Lift your chains,
I hold the key.
All power on Heaven and Earth belong to Me...
You are FREE."

-Casting Crowns-

Home For Christmas.

Wow. It is half past midnight and Christmas Day has already come and gone. It's funny actually--every year until this one, I have always dreaded the day-after-Christmas. I would just drown in sadness that all the anticipation for Christmas had just officially ended: no more Christmas music, no more lights, movies, gatherings, presents, or Christmas food.

But this time around, this Christmas 2011, things are different. Being busy in school with six exams and papers all throughout the month of December, I never even had time to think about Christmas. Sad, I know. I couldn't let myself think about Christmas! If I did, then I would have lost all motivation to study and finish my semester strong! (So yes, I am definitely that girl who finishes her Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve). The moment I left my dorm room and arrived home seven hours later was when it finally began to feel like Christmas, and that's when I just "went to town" with it!

Christmas Day is over, but I'm not sad at all! In fact, I feel like all the festivities have just begun! Over the next few weeks of Christmas break I have plans of family gatherings, attending my home church, visiting with old & good friends, and just enjoying time with family.
I have missed home...alot. It has been a tough semester in all areas, and I know that the only reason I made it through was because of God. I'm really grateful for this college I'm going to, but I realize that I need to be more grateful...

God has brought two girls into my life there who have been my angels through all of this, and I am so excited to see them again in January!! We do everything together, from studying for Anthropology and History, praying together, working out together, eating tuna together, and watching "awkward-romantic-comedies" together. I love them. :)

Another blessing is that my boyfriend and I attend school here together. The fact that we applied separately while just in the beginning of our relationship is a total God-thing, because we originally live far apart, in different countries. It's like God completely opened the door for us to grow in our relationship at this school and I am totally grateful for this. AND our one-year anniversary is approaching quick and I'm so excited!! :)

Also, have I mentioned the AMAZING weather we have had so far? Today is December 26th and it is plus 6 outside right now. I LOVE IT! And even while I have been at school the winter weather has been so mild, and it definitely makes me a happier person. Haha. Although people keep telling me that January and February are going to be the cold months...hope not!

I am also really happy to have a different major right now. I have switched from Humanities to Christian Ministry (Family Studies & Missions) with a minor in Psychology, and I am now taking classes I am interested in! Ironically enough, English class, my favourite & forte in high school is now my least favourite and definitely NOT my forte in college. What happened? I don't know. What am I going to do with this new major? I have no idea. Although Focus on the Family is still in the back of my mind...

This has been a great Christmas break so far and everyday I am here with my friends and family I am reminded how blessed I am! Am I excited to go back to school in January? No, not at all...but maybe by the time January 8th rolls around I'll be ready for it. Sigh. Last year was so different. I was missing my Bible school the minute I stepped on the plane leaving Frankfurt to go back to Canada for Christmas Break; I just loved going to school in Germany!! But now, I don't miss my school in Saskatchewan at all and I am praying for joy and the strength to endure there. On the upside, I like it much better than I did when I came home for Reading Break in mid-October! Back then it took ALL my strength to return, but now, it won't take much strength at all.

Anyway, I'd better stop before I get any more off topic here. Merry Christmas and don't forget the reason for the season: Jesus' Birth. Happy Birthday Jesus! :)

Christmas Eve.

It's Christmas Eve at my house! :) All that is missing is my family.

Think About It...

She's a Wildflower.

She’s a wildflower
Just waitin’ on a sunny day
Just waitin’ on the winds of change to blow
Just a red hot spark that’s looking for a little flame,
Trying to find the perfect place to grow
She’s a wildflower
She’s a wildflower

She makes a wish on every single star she sees
Yeah somewhere deep down she still believes
She prays every night before she goes to bed
Pretty soon her luck is gonna change
She just doesn’t know it yet

She’s a wildflower
Just waitin’ on a sunny day
Just waitin’ on the winds of change to blow
Just a red hot spark that’s looking for a little flame, yeah
Trying to find the perfect place to grow
She's the secret that nobody knows...
She’s a wildflower
She’s a wildflower

- Lauren Alaina -

❤ ❤ ❤

ONE.

Here I am, keepin' my hair up with a 90's hair clip, studying for Psychology of Children. It is almost bedtime and I am calmly thinking to myself...

YAY I ONLY HAVE ONE EXAM LEFT AND THEN IT IS TIME TO GO HOME AND CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH MY DEAR FAMILY!! :D THANK YOU GOD FOR GETTING ME THIS FAR!