One of those days...

Yesterday was one of those days.

One of those days that you realize that happiness is a warm spring day.

The day that you realize happiness is having a cup of tea with a friend.

The day that you realize happiness happens while cuddling a cute puppy.

The day that you realize you have a community and that this place truly feels like home.

The day that you realize that God tells you what you need to hear, when you need to hear it. And how privileged we are to be in a relationship with Him.

The day that you appreciate how nice it feels to take a hot shower right before passing completely out at night in a soft bed.

It was one of those days that I realize that happiness happens when you take the time to be thankful for all the lovely little things that happened that day.

Yesterday was so nice. It was busy as ever but so full of lovely little incidents. I get into this mindset that responsibility is putting work before pleasure. Which is often true. But I don't think I can afford not to take time out to enjoy my days anymore. 20 minutes of downtime appreciating my world and my life is probably one of the most productive things I did yesterday. It refreshed me so much and made me more ready to tackle my overwhelming to-do list.

Thank you, Jesus, for the ability to experience how beautiful life is.

Love

When I'm sad He comforts me.
When I'm lonely He holds me.
When I've failed He doesn't condemn me, but instead restores me.
When I feel ugly He makes me feel beautiful.
When I feel worthless He reminds me that He made me worth being loved.
When I feel unsure of myself He reminds me of His promises to stay with me and guide me.
When I am weak He strengthens me.
When I am helpless He shows His might.
When I'm ridiculous He takes me seriously.
When I've drifted away He brings me back.
When my heart has been broken and I couldn't find words to talk to Him about it He prayed for me.
When I didn't love Him He died for me.
When I've deserved punishment He's given me mercy and love.
He adopted me.
He freed me.
He woos me.
He treats me with dignity.
He is always kind to me.
He teaches me how to love.
He made it possible for me to come to Him and tell Him about everything.
Only perfection could love me when I have nothing to offer in return.
Only true Love would forgive me over and over again and give me the opportunity to start over new every day.
Only the forgiver of sins would wash me of my sins and never rub them in my face.
Only a merciful, gracious God would give His son...would give His own self...to make me His own.
He's everything I don't deserve.
He's more than I ever could have asked for.
There is nothing I could ever do to earn this.

It leaves me to wonder, "Why me? Why on earth does He love me so?"

It's like ripping off a bandaid...

you know what I mean, right? Those instances in life that hurt a little the same way ripping off a bandaid stings. It's over before you know it. But sometimes the bandaid takes little pieces of us with it. Not much; sometimes you would hardly even notice that it took a few skin cells, but a little, tiny piece of us leaves with that situation or person. On a sorry day it feels like you're getting parts of you ripped away. On a good day you realize that you regenerate healthy, new skin cells as part of healing and you're better than ever.

That's a much nicer thing to realize and focus on.

Instagram photos.

Snapshots...Instagram is fun!

Cleaning out the fridge is always an adventure at our house.

"When I was your age ice cream was colder..." a quote by my younger brother.

Boiler trouble at school.

I'm having fun with this little iPod camera. :)

Things that make me happy...

• the fact that my car no longer makes grinding noises when I use my brakes. Plus that fact that in the 5 years that we've owned this car this is the first time we've made any repairs to it. It's been a dependable little friend.
• Hearing updates and seeing photos of my new nephew. I'm excited to meet him.
• Listening to Diana Ross and the Supremes. I just love them lately. And Adele. Even though both are slightly sad, they're just so good.
• Sleep. Gosh I love sleep.
• Blue skies.
• Ceramics.
• The satisfaction that comes from slowly crossing things off your to-do list.
• wearing dresses.
• holding babies.
• Having Easter dinner with my classmates since we were almost all spending the holiday apart from our families. It's nice to have that friendship and community. It was also the most nontraditional Easter dinner I've ever had. It was Indian curry, Mexican dip, Asian cabbage salad, hard-boiled eggs and two different types of tea. It was also a chance to hear others' memories about family holidays, life experiences and also to chat. It was an experience to remember. How did I get so lucky to have such interesting, fun people in my life? I was also invited by a few friends from church to have dinner with them and I felt so touched to have that community as well. It's wonderful to have Christian family who bring you into their lives and make you part of their family too. College has been great in that way. I'm surprised and touched by how welcoming and loving God's family is and I'm grateful for them. I'm realizing more and more how important it is to have fellowship and close friendships with my Christian brothers and sisters. The encouragement and support we can offer each other is priceless and the love and bond we share is priceless too.

Recent work.

I've been playing around with some little pieces. Here's what I've made recently. Creamer and sugar...

Little bottles...

cups with fancy insides...

And little chocolate milk flasks. Since I don't drink. ;)

Hopes, wishes and ifs...

If : I were alive back in the 1800s I really hope I'd join a wagon train and move west. That would be so exciting. Could you imagine the things you'd see? You would probably learn something new every day. Life would be pretty unpredictable, and that would probably be hard. But oh the stories you'd have to tell about things you really lived through. I don't think I'd mind that kind of life, although it would be really lonely.

I really hope: that I can learn to be content with wherever I am while being open to new possibilities. Life is so unpredictable right now and it scares me. I love being here, but can't stay forever. I have no idea what to do after I graduate next year and that is both exciting and scary.

I wish: ...Actually, I've been told that if you tell wishes they don't come true. So the wish will just have to stay in my heart for now.

Just a bit melancholy tonight. Missing family. Missing...something. I'm not sure what. Do you ever get that slightly dissatisfied feeling? That although you are happy and things are good you still aren't quite content? I have that feeling right now. It's okay. I wonder if those feelings spur us into making changes that can be good for us. If we were comfortable with where we are now we might never move on. Maybe this feeling isn't ungratefulness on my part, but more of a gentle prod to make me just uncomfortable enough to get ready for the next change in life.

I have to take my car in to the shop to have it's brakes checked tomorrow. It's making grinding noises sometimes when I brake. It feels kind of grownup to be taking the car in for repairs. Like I've graduated to some new level of adulthood. Adults have debt and car problems. Sometimes. When I think of it that way I don't mind or feel so nervous about being up here alone with a strange sounding car. It seems like more of an adventure. :)

Dear Spring,

Your blooms are lovely. I marvel at the beauty and delicacy and strength of the new plants growing and greeting the world. They add so much pleasure to my day. Winter was mild and enjoyable this year, but the warmth and color you add to my life these days is a welcome change from the multiple shades of brown and grey I've grown used to during the winter. Suddenly the world looks lively and fun again. It's like you're throwing a little party and inviting the world to join you. I love it!


There is only one thing you could do to make this season more pleasurable and that is:
KEEP YOUR POLLEN TO YOURSELF! For reals, you're simultaneously charming me and making me too ill to go out and enjoy you. You're a little bit bad for me, Spring.

Love,
Gracie

Baby

My nephew was born at 11:01 pm yesterday. He weighed 8 lb 1 oz and was 22 inches long. That's 2 oz less than my niece and I think an inch longer. I hope I can meet him soon!

Sweetest smelling flowers

The trees in NC looked like they were dripping with these flowers. I'm pretty sure they're lilacs, but a botanist I am not....so don't quote me on that.

Break was good. Look at that blue sky and those beautiful flowers. While I consider the mountains to be my home now I still appreciate the familiarity of the flatter land and the bluer sky that I find down in North Carolina. Sometimes being down south is like visiting a memory. I keep wanting to visit the old farmhouse where I spent three of my happiest years of my life, but something comes up and prevents me from getting there. Maybe next time. :)