I really wish the balcony doors in my condo had blinds or curtains of some sort.... then I could really dance around my kitchen like nobody's watching.... haha!

THIS Christmas...

Sooo excited!!! Dream come true!! :)

Oh, Love.

It's true what they say--they...whoever they is, is pretty darn wise--

...when you know, you know. :)

"One hundred percent, with every penny spent, he'll be the one that finishes your sentences."

Waiting.

I found this website called "All Groan Up" (thank you, Kaila! I owe you one!), which is all about learning to make the best out of this awkward stage of life called your 20's. Lord knows I am totally in it now--going from job to job, constantly second-guessing my future career choices, thinkin' about marriage, feeling "old", feeling "poor"(thanks to rent!), and suffering from obsessive-comparison disorder. So this website really did knock on my door at the perfect time.

At this time in my life, I feel like I'm ALWAYS waiting for SOMETHING. I'm waiting to find a better job. I'm waiting for marriage. I'm waiting to go to culinary school. I'm waiting for some sign from God. I'm waiting for this...and waiting for that.
When I went to Bible school in Germany, our principle always told us, "In God's eyes, waiting time is never wasted time". So often in this period of "waiting" we just want time to fly so we can just get to where we want to be. But this time of "waiting" is really a time of growing! There's so much that can be done in it!

And that's pretty much what this article, "There is No Such Thing As Waiting" is all about...take a look:

The only constant is change.

We have all heard that phrase at some point or another during our twenty-or-thirtysomething lifespan.  However, when it comes to waiting, the above phrase seems a tease.

Personally, I feel teased right now. And taunted. Relocation to my home city, after spending one year on the East Coast, has me energized…and yet, confused.  I find myself, a very capable, confident individual, not sure of the next step—taunted by the current atmosphere of waiting.

But does it have to be this way?

Photo by Tom Magliery – Creative Commons

Waiting can be tough because waiting masks itself as stagnancy.  Our creative Millennial Generation does not fare well with stagnancy–especially when we have a song in our hearts and a vision coming to life deep within us.  Waiting seems incongruent with success and forward movement…but is it really?

I would like to propose that truly, there is no such thing as waiting.  Since time is constantly in motion, as is the world and everything in it, I believe that we are also ever in movement.  When used wisely, periods of waiting can be active, rewarding and revitalizing.


1. Waiting is RESTORATIVE.

In a culture full of fast-paced competition and addictions to instant gratification, a return to a state of rest is a most fulfilling (and needed) act.  We are mere human beings with limitations, so allowing ourselves to rest, reflect, and rejuvenate will prove humbly worthwhile in the long run.  Consider a waiting season as an opportunity for whole-self restoration, be it involving prayer, exercise, connecting with people, reading for pleasure, or journaling.  Find what restores you and seek it out.

2. Waiting is PREPARATORY.

I’d argue that one of the best ways to use periods of waiting is in learning and growing.  Expanding one’s mind through reading books, watching films, taking classes, or learning a new craft or skill is priceless…and can be used in the long-run.  What have you been itching to learn about, but have not had the time to until now?  Pursue that and prepare your mind for the future.

3. Waiting is RECONNECTING.

During all-consuming times when life moves like rapid-fire, it is easy to lose sight of what is most important.  When was the last time you reflected upon your most closely held values? Times of waiting are perfect opportunities to slow down, remember the past, and reconnect to what matters the most.  Is it family?  Learning?  Creativity?  Revisiting what is most vital to your well-being now, as opposed to later, will serve as a guide when the going gets crazy again.

4. Waiting is REVEALING.

Perhaps you have never stopped to consider what is most important to you, what makes you you. You are unique–now is the time!  Waiting periods prove an ideal chance to discover your values, passions, goals, and motivations.

When it comes to waiting, what choice will you make?

My Photo Stream.

A few weeks ago, I sold two of my old-school iPods (seriously, the iPod video 80GB is a BRICK), and I bought myself a brand new iTouch--white, to be exact. And since my camera is long broken, I now use my iTouch for photography purposes. The advantage of this little thing is that both my music AND my camera are all on one device, the downside is that it takes horribly bad quality photos. I thought they'd be better for some reason...but I think that's just the iPhone. Ah well, I'm not complaining--I have something to document my life with now! So here are some of the random things I've been up to:

[My little niecey and I. I think she likes photos!]

[My mom wanted to give these little pillows to my niece, but I quickly snatched them--with permission. They were too cute to pass up!!]

[Skype dates with my favourite Marylander!! P.s- He survived the hurricane! YAY]

[Colouring time!!]

[Reading God's Word. "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"]

[Self-portrait...isn't this something you have to do if you have an iTouch/iPhone?]

[Lunch at the Bistro with mum! Cheeseburger soup, Caesar salad, and garlic bread = MMM!]

[I made oatmeal-pecan-walnut-pumpkinseed-sunflowerseed-chocolate chip cookies!!]

[Probably my favourite page from the "Me, The Professor, Fuzzy, and The Meaning of Life" book. It's an awesome comic strip-esq book dealing with all the important questions such as evolution or creation? Islam or Christianity? Such a great, educational, and easy-read! Thanks mum!]

[Found my dreeeeeam dress at the thrift store!! Black, strapless, and flows all the way down to my feet. I feel like I'm walking the red-carpet when I wear it!]

[My uber creamy/cheesy/meaty/vegetabley/comfort-foodie baked penne that I conquered tonight! Turned out SO amazing and satisfying! I used THIS recipe; I highly recommend it!]

[This is my little work-out calendar. All of the pink X's = the days I have exercised. So far I have exercised 12 days/21 days. Decent! It's been a mixture of Jillian Michaels Ripped In 30, P90X, and running outside. Two truths: 1) the hardest part is deciding to start working-out again and then ACTUALLY doing it. Once you start, it's hard to stop! and 2) Keeping a little calendar like this is huuuuge motivation for me! I don't want to see any more blank days!!]

Stay, Stay, Stay

You took the time to memorize me

My fears, my hopes and dreams

I just like hanging out with you all the time

All those times that you didn't leave

It's been occurring to me

I'd like to hang out with you for my whole life

Stay.

I'll be loving you for quite some time

No one else is gonna love me when I get mad, mad, mad

So I think that it's best if we both stay, stay, stay

Stay, stay, stay

Stay, stay, stay

I've been loving you for quite some time, time, time

You think that it's funny when I'm mad, mad, mad

But I think that it's best if we both stay, stay, stay,

Stay.

-Taylor Swift-

A Continual Choice.

"I used to think life was like a series of highs and lows, but now I believe life is more like a set of parallel train tracks, with happiness and sorrow running side by side. Happiness AND sorrow are a part of our existence. Regardless of the emotion, God's joy can be present."

The Hope of Eternal Life

So, I'm doing a distance-course from college so that I can finallyyyy achieve my A.A. in Social Science. This course is called "General Epistles", which is pretty much a Bible study on the books of: Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1 & 2 & 3 John, and Jude. I JUST completed the course notes on 1 Peter and it pointed out something absolutely spectacular to me! When we accept that God is the creator of all things and that He sent His son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for all the world's sins because He loves us so, we are promised amazing things! And because of this we are are told to "be truly glad; there is wonderful joy ahead..." (1 Peter 1:6).

I would just like to quote 1 Peter 1:3-5 to you:

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is by His GREAT mercy that WE have been BORN AGAIN, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. 

Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance--an inheritance that is kept in Heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see."

Are you reading what I'm reading? First of all, we have been BORN AGAIN. How incredible is that? We are made new! Our slates are totally wiped clean. We are white as snow--our sins and old mistakes have been completely forgotten. The world will always remember our stupid mistakes, the words we said, and the horrible things we did, but God FORGIVES us and remembers not our trespasses!

Secondly, now we live with GREAT expectation. I don't know about you, but I'm very good at living with looooow expectations. I tend to see the downside of things and am prone to zero-in on worst-case-scenarios when they're totally irrelevant/impossible. I'm talented at making myself feel sad and am horrible at getting up in the morning because "sighhhh, it's another day....sigh....". This is only because I'm not focusing on the things above...I'm not focusing on God and His beautiful promises...I'm not living with the GREAT expectation that I'm meant to live with!

Adding on, we have a PRICELESS INHERITANCE! This inheritance is kept in Heaven and it lasts forever! I love thinking about Heaven...about it's perfection and how wonderful it will be. I try to wrap my head around the concept of ETERNAL and FOREVER...but I just can't! I can't imagine a moment, a time, or a place lasting forever and never ever coming to an end! Forever is wonderful if we're talking about Heaven, but it's not so wonderful if we're talking about Hell... :\

Anyway, lastly, through our faith, God is PROTECTING us by His power until we receive our salvation. He is protecting us, always watching us...He's holding us in His hand because He loves us. Protecting doesn't mean He will keep us from suffering (because suffering is inevitable when living in a Sinful world), protecting means that He's provided us with faith so that we will be able to endure suffering until the end!

So incredible. Reading this just makes all my worldly problems seem so little and silly! How can I go to bed upset when I have so much to look forward to? :)

Starlight

I'm a barbie on the boardwalk, summer of '45
Picks me up, play one night at the window
He was 17 and crazy, running wild, wild
Can't remember what song it was playing when we walked in
The night we snuck into a yacht club party
Pretending to be a duchess and a prince

I said oh my, what a marvellous tune
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place was dressed to the nines, and we were dancing dancing
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight

He said look at you worrying so much about things you can't change
You'll spend your whole life singing the blues if you keep thinking that way
He was trying to skip rocks on the ocean saying to me
Don't you see the starlight, starlight?
Don't you dream impossible things?

Like oh my, what a marvellous tune
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place was dressed to the nines, and we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight

Ooh ooh he's talking crazy
Ooh ooh dancing with me
Ooh ooh we could get married
Have ten kids and teach them how to dream

Oh my, what a marvellous tune
It was the best night, never would forget how we moved
The whole place was dressed to the nines, and we were dancing, dancing
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we're made of starlight, starlight
Like we dream impossible dreams
Like starlight starlight
Like we dream impossible dreams
Don't you see the starlight starlight
Don't you dream impossible things?

This is my new favourite Taylor Swift song and I absolutely love it because it reminds me that it's OK to dream "impossible things", and that dreaming is fun and lovely and beautiful! <3 <3