the fireside is blazing bright....

A few things I'm grateful for this CHRISTmas...

...the birth of a savior who loves me and forgives me unconditionally.
...having quality time with my brother, he is wise beyond his years!
...presents and Christmas trees and multi-colored Christmas lights. LOVE.
...family and laughter and traditions.
...hot chocolate and hot tubs.
...star gazing and BEAUTIFUL sunsets.
...being in a different place but Christmas feeling just the same and just as special.
...my cousin Spencer and his incredible ghost stories and amazing hugs.
...my LIFE. Blessed every day and grateful for the journey I'm on and where He is leading me.

45 minutes til CHRISTMAS in Santa Fe, wahoo!!

Christmas vacationnnnn

SOOOOOOO...in just a few short hours i will be....

getting on a plane


and end up here with 15 members of my family, PHEW.



we will get to ski here...


stay here :)



and have a big, family christmas all together.

needless to say i am super excited and cant wait to be all cooped up together with tons of snow, laughter, wine and/or bailey's, and lots of time for memories to be made. every Christmas i am constantly reminded of His birth and the reason behind it. how a perfect child was brought into the world to ultimately die for ME. for US. mindblowing really. but oh how i am so grateful that i serve a God who gave his son as a sacrifice. so that every single time i screw up, He wipes my slate clean, picks me up and puts my feet back on the ground and says try again, i know you can do better. feeling BLESSED this Christmas season.

2 posts in one day, why not??

All of this is so true and so encouraging...i want to live a life i am proud of, show it off to the world, try new things, see new places, meet new people. that really is what life is all about after all...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"This is the thing: When you hit 28 or 30, everything begins to divide. You can see very clearly two kinds of people. On one side, people who have used their 20s to learn and grow, to find … themselves and their dreams, people who know what works and what doesn’t, who have pushed through to become real live adults. Then there’s the other kind, who are hanging onto college, or high school even, with all their might. They’ve stayed in jobs they hate, because they’re too scared to get another one. They’ve stayed with men or women who are good but not great, because they don’t want to be lonely. … they mean to develop intimate friendships, they mean to stop drinking like life is one big frat party. But they don’t do those things, so they live in an extended adolescence, no closer to adulthood than when they graduated.

Don’t be like that. Don’t get stuck. Move, travel, take a class, take a risk. There is a season for wildness and a season for settledness, and this is neither. This season is about becoming. Don’t lose yourself at happy hour, but don’t lose yourself on the corporate ladder either. Stop every once in a while and go out to coffee or climb in bed with your journal.

Ask yourself some good questions like: “Am I proud of the life I’m living? What have I tried this month? … Do the people I’m spending time with give me life, or make me feel small? Is there any brokenness in my life that’s keeping me from moving forward?”

Now is your time. Walk closely with people you love, and with people who believe … life is a grand adventure. Don’t get stuck in the past, and don’t try to fast-forward yourself into a future you haven’t yet earned. Give today all the love and intensity and courage you can, and keep traveling honestly along life’s path."

looks like i can go ahead and put norway on my list of places i must see someday. holy cow, that is gorgeous.

exactly.

Belated Thanksgiving

This is my delayed i realize butttt at least it's happening.

I find myself writing out blogs in my head way more often than actually logging in here to actually right one. the problem with that is...i am quite forgetful (i know many people in my life will vouch for this) so writing it down is key for me. helps me soak up life, process and actually see how the Lord is working and answering prayers in my life.

this past week i have so many things i am THANKFUL for...
...family who is dysfunctional at time but loves each other well
...my friends that are so so precious to me and that i love so much.
...the little blessings in life that make big things happen
...a jesus who loves me despite my sin, and always pursues me, who lights a fire in my soul to continually know. him. more.
...a church that challenges me and brings the gospel every week. no matter if it hurts or makes you feel uncomfortable at times.
...for a great, new job that's exciting and brings new changes every day. keeps me on my toes and i love it.
...for roomies who i love sitting on the white couch with, watching our shows, solving the worlds problems. (it's the little things)
...for my brother who teaches me more wisdom than he will ever know. he's a smart one.
...for holidays and new seasons of life that bring lots of fun, cool weather and lots of new memories to be made.
...for my parents who bless me in big and little ways and always have my back, no matter what.

when i think about all of the people i have in my life i really am just THANKFUL. to know there are so many friends and family that stand in my corner, that would fight for me, that love me unconditionally. that is what matters! i would give up everything else (in a heartbeat) if i knew i could only have them and that would without a doubt be enough.

excited for the holiday season! for christmas and everything that it brings! a renewed spirit of what my faith MEANS, the weight of it all. lots of yummy food. lights. sparkles. celebrations. parties. friends. christmas trees. gifts.

thankful, that's really all i needed to write and that would have been just good enough.

my biggest fear and my biggest dream all piled into one quote. desiring to be challenged to daily to live the width and live in the moment.

this is probably one of the cutest things i have EVER seen. OH. MY. GOSH.

44 days til Christmas, soooooo excited!

maybe someday...

i love everything about this...
...that wall
...that chandelier
...that big mirror
...that couch
...the home-y feeling

LOVE.

sometimes life is nothing like i expect it to be. i find myself wanting something more than what i currently have and exhausting every venue to get there. trying to make life "perfect" is tiring for a reason...and i think.by think i mean know. the reason is because i'm going about it all wrong.

i love when God takes you out of a situation and allows you to almost see it from an outsider point of view. the past few days strangers have blessed my life and put smiles on my face when i really needed it. the lady at einstein bagels who noticed my a&m shirt and proceeded to ask me all about my life, job, and told me that "you will without a doubt be successful at everything you do." or the guy at church who saw me get teary eyed and proceeded to ask me my name, if i was ok, then give me a little squeeze side hug (not as awk as it sounds). it's kinda sad that initially these moments kinda shock me. a stranger is extending kind words to ME?? but if i really start to thinkin about it, It's moments like these that i live for and that i see Christ in. when i have a hard week filled with suffering, life lessons, tears - he uses the smallest instances to show His love to me. to show that everything really will be ok. to show that no matter what the circumstances, He calls me to press on. to get back up out of the trenches, dust myself off, clean myself up, calm my tears. whatever it may be. and put one step in front of the other towards finding his purpose in my life.

this is not always easy but i feel like this verse gives me the encouragment i need to try to make every day a constant step in the right direction...His direction. "Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always." 1 Chronicles 16:11.

so much more to say but i have no clue how to even put it into words, processing my life right now is SO overwhelming so i'm taking it one day at a time...maybe next time??

I gotta get back to NYC ASAP.

this speaks soooo much truth in my life right now...

big steps.

there is something about making the big jump. with whatever it may be in life its hard and challenging but i am EXCITED for what the Lord has for me in this new season with a new job and so many other things. knowing that i can make this step with the faith that He has brought me on this road makes me able to have so much peace about it.

He is so good and i love when He makes that statement such a true a constant presence in my life.

just a few odds and ends.

Heard this a million times before but still love it just. as. much.





I always wonder if pictures like this are 'real'...and if they are, i wish i could be there in a heartbeat.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fvcEb7iGpo&feature=player_embedded


love this video. something about the voices of the kids singing and lifiting up the people of 9/11 just seems to put things into perspective. and i realize more and more the "right" perspective is the answer to a lot of things in life.



i. want. this. puppy!!! sooo, cute.

Heart's Desire...no, no not the store in Frisco.

This was my email devotion that I get daily, honestly a lot of times I just delete, thinking, "oh, i'm too busy today or what not" but luckily today i read it. and needless to say, it hits close to home.

"There is a secret set within each of our hearts. It often goes unnoticed, we rarely can put words to it, and yet it guides us throughout the days of our lives. This secret remains hidden for the most part in our deepest selves. It is simply the desire for life as it was meant to be. Isn't there a life you have been searching for all your days? You may not always be aware of your search, and there are times when you seem to have abandoned looking altogether. But again and again it returns to us, this yearning that cries out for the life we prize. It is elusive, to be sure. It seems to come and go at will. Seasons may pass until it surfaces again. And though it seems to taunt us, and may at times cause us great pain, we know when it returns that it is priceless. For if we could recover this desire, unearth it from beneath all other distractions and embrace it as our deepest treasure, we would discover the secret of our existence.

We all share the same dilemma - we long for life and we're not sure where to find it. We wonder if we ever do find it, can we make it last? The longing for life within us seems incongruent with the life we find around us. What is available seems at times close to what we want, but never quite a fit. We must journey to find the life we prize. And the guide we have been given is the desire set deep within, the desire we often overlook, or mistake for something else or even choose to ignore. The greatest human tragedy is simply to give up the search. There is nothing of greater importance than the life of our deep heart. To lose heart is to lose everything. And if we are to bring our hearts along in our life's journey, we simply must not, we cannot abandon this desire. And so Gerald May writes,

There is a desire within each of us, in the deep center of ourselves that we call our heart. We were born with it, it is never completely satisfied, and it never dies. We are often unaware of it, but it is always awake? Our true identity, our reason for being, is to be found in this desire.

The clue as to who we really are and why we are here comes to us through our heart's desire."
Life is too short to not listen to, obey, go after, pursue, my HEART'S DESIRE.

Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.― Mother Teresa

 

 

that bob marley guy was a wise one.

sometimes life just becomes too much. and it almost always seems like it blindsides me when i least expect it. and i get to the point where the Lord is just screaming at me to pray. pray for the hard situations. pray for others. that ALL i can do is pray. and pray. and pray some more. and trust that His will always prevails and not my own. as hard as that is sometimes and as unfair as it seems in some situations.

and while i am praying wait patiently for His promises. or for His light to come and just take me home. at the end of the day, that is what this life is about and i feel like sometimes he uses hard situations to remind me of that.

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." 1 John 2:15-17

love this coat, those buttons, the blue chambray shirt and those bracelets. love, love.



i need a room like this is my house some day!! dream big, right??



http://dashofdan.com/post/6789933848/mini-oreo-cheesecakes
I really, really want to make these. Anything with oreos is always yum!!



I want to make one of these!! Good thing you can learn how here: http://meohmymama.blogspot.com/2011/04/diy-tutorial-for-wood-stained-painting.html 



this is a dream date if i do say so myself : )

i had the best day, with you, today.

saturday i just had one of those days. where i really wouldn't change one single thing about it. and it was everything i wanted and more.

lunch with some people i love so, so much.
cruising with the windows down in a 99 chevy blazer.
listening to new music by leagues, drew holcomb, andrew combs, the list could go on and on.
driving down music row.
chonga-ritas for hours, telling stories and reliving the glory days.
spending 6 hours at bluebird cafe listening to music & songwriting legends.
james t. slater, tony haselden, walker hayes, rory lee feek.
not being able to wipe a smile off my face.
thinking that all i want to do is thank God for these people at the table and the love and joy they give me.
tweeting inside jokes.
exploring a new city.
late night chats.
slumber parties.
listening to old and new friends play music, using their talents God gave them.
80 degree weather.
joy, lots of it. just lots and lots of smiles, laughter and JOY.

feeling inspired to bring a little nashville life back to dallas. slowing it all down a little and just taking things in. spending time enjoying what i have been given.

sometimes i just need this blog to get my thoughts on a page. so that in a month i can come back and process and maybe see how the Lord has worked on some things in my life, my heart, anything along this crazy ride He puts me on. Wait, not that He puts me on. More like the crazy ride we are on TOGETHER. that's probably the #1 thing i need to remind myself of, is that i'm not alone. ever.

a few things that i can't stop wrestling with...

respect.
what it looks like to receive it. from people i barely know and from people i love the most. mainly i think i have been reflecting on what it looks like for a boy to fully respect me. since i'm single i feel like the Lord is just continually opening my eyes to what he desires for me and i am slowly receiving it and learning its meaningfullness and necessity in my life. i read a blog post from Donald Miller a few months ago and again yesterday and it just really gives insight on what this should look like and what the Lord desires for it to look like. also, just a reminder that if i continually pursue things that don't have respect as a huge focus, then they probably won't work out in the end...why i would want to continually disappoint myself, i'm not so sure?? but again this is a slow lesson and ill take it : )

compassion.
this weekend i saw The Help. needless to say it sparked tons of thoughts in my mind and my heart. not just this movie but just the daily life we live. i find myself asking, how do i give compassion to people i love and walk with day in and day out? how do i give compassion to people i hardly know or people i dont even know at all? what does compassion look like? is it money, prayer, love, hugs, etc? this is a newer thing for me i guess but just with everything going on in the world, in my life, i want to be consicious of how i am called to use compassion in my day-to-day life.

gratefulness.
recently, everytime i spend time with friends, family, Marquejah i just have this overwhelming feeling of gratefulness. almost like i just want to shout to anyone that will listen..."how did I get ALL of THIS??" i guess if anything i am just reminded that i am grateful. blessed. that all of these people in my life are sooo precious to me. i find myself more and more ferociously defensive of the people in my tight knit circle and grateful that my circle has so much purpose and love and joy for every. single. person in it. why He ever gave me so much joy through these people i will never know but i wouldn't change it for the world.

struggle.
there are way too many things to list that i am struggling with in my life. i go back and forth with things that i just want gone. but it's like no matter where i am at, the Lord just continues to whisper "at least you're struggling." and the more i think about it, it's true. struggle can be hard and horrible but at the same time, it can be SO good. and the Lord promised ME that I would struggle. he never promised me the easy road and in the end i know that's not what i want. instead i want to be sharpened and challenged and always struggling. hopefully not always with the same things but, struggling all the same.

prayer.
the power of it. the NEED for it daily, hourly, in my life. the way when you finally "make the time" it allows you to feel like you and God are just bff's solving the world's problems one sentence at a time. just a necessity that gives me so much joy and clarity BUT needs to be done more often. also, through the village church i feel like the Lord has really shown me the true power in prayer and how He wants us to use it and what can come from it.

being intentional.
not so much with people because i feel like that is one thing i love to do. but just with the simple things that in the moment don't ever feel simple, easy, or exciting - working out, grocery shopping, eating healthy, reading my bible. all of these things are necessities (or should be) but i find my self not really liking to do and always putting off for one stupid reason or the other.

phewwww. it's been a while since i blogged and i instantly have a weight off my shoulders. there is something about getting it out of your mind and onto paper or this blog for that matter that somehow makes it real, which can be tough, but at the same time somehow makes things seem much more attainable.

so, here i go...

some moments, you just never want to forget.

this past weekend we had the 2011 McPhail Family Reunion! with almost 40 people split among two houses we had tons of fun and tons of catching up to do since the last time we had one was in 2004...We spent 3 nights at Lake LBJ in these awesome log houses with pools and lake views. we had lots of margaritas, sangria, unlimited queso from el arroyo, and lots of memories were definitely made.

on friday night since everyone was together, we had the first celebration for my grandpa's upcoming 90th birthday with the entire extended family. we had an awesome airplane cake, lots of stories, some tributes to him from his brother and at the end he wanted to share a poem that he learned in high school that had carried him to where he is now.

needless to say there weren't many dry tears as he recited it (from MEMORY!!...did i mention he is 90??) i had the chance to be sitting right next to him as he got teary eyed and he slowly recited it, i felt like he was drawing memories from each verse as tears came down his face. anyway, that was a moment I will never forget and this poem is definitely one that I feel I will carry with me from this point forward.

Rudyard Kipling "When Earth's Last Picture is Painted"

"When Earth's last picture is painted
And the tubes are twisted and dried
When the oldest colors have faded
And the youngest critic has died
We shall rest, and faith, we shall need it
Lie down for an aeon or two
'Till the Master of all good workmen
Shall put us to work anew
And those that were good shall be happy
They'll sit in a golden chair
They'll splash at a ten league canvas
With brushes of comet's hair
They'll find real saints to draw from
Magdalene, Peter, and Paul
They'll work for an age at a sitting
And never be tired at all.
And only the Master shall praise us.
And only the Master shall blame.
And no one will work for the money.
No one will work for the fame.
But each for the joy of the working,
And each, in his separate star,
Will draw the thing as he sees it.
For the God of things as they are!"

i just love this and am kinda amazed that i have never heard it in my life. grateful that i got to share that moment with my gpa as he shared it with us, seeing how much it affected him, im excited to carry it with me from now on :)

how many times do I have to tell myself this before i believe it?!?

(deeeeep breath)

praying for tomorrow to be even more than amazing, how about that?

 (and vacation)

last week in Seattle was everything that i needed for so many reasons.

i got to spend lots of time outdoors, driving with the windows down, not wearing makeup, playing croquet, hiking, sailing, tubing the icicle river, reading, laying in the hammock, camping (all by ourselves, such a proud moment), not sweating, spending time with family, swinging on the rope swing...i could go on and on.

Seattle is a place I love so much. I have been there countless times and always in the summer so it is normally lovely weather (a nice little break from Texas) which this time i seemed to be super grateful for since we are heading for the record number of days of 100+ degrees in Texas. SICK.

the more time i spend in a different place than texas and outside of my tight-knit community of friends and family the more i realize how people's world views are just soooo different. after conversations with my cousins, a random stranger on my plane from seattle to denver and my taxi driver from ethiopia i realized a few things: people have different opinions than you, believe completely different things but i guess what really hit home for me this past week was just that ultimately there is a place in your heart that only Jesus can fill. he created you and created that desire that nothing of this world will ever fill. i'm grateful that i have that in my life but my heart hurts for people that don't and that aren't interested at all. but at the same time i get excited to meet people that are interested in hearing my story or that also may have some wisdom to send my way.

3 different people/situations, 3 different stories, 3 different levels of insight. but ultimately desiring one thing. i just pray that everyone gets to that place on their own journey and have so much faith that the Lord will continue to pursue their hearts until they are there.

getting out of my comfort zone is always a good thing and i'm grateful to be reminded of that.

but now that vacation is over, back to reality. grateful that my reality is actually very awesome! blessed.

This girl could use a vacation and in less than 24 hours, this will be my view. literally.

So excited for cousin bonding time, 70 degree temps, hiking, camping, floating the river, wineries and lots and lots of memory making!

Bring on SEATTLE!!!

this is like a real-life version of a Bachelor date...and i think i'm in love!

(I think this picture would also work for #1 below)

2 things i learned/realized this weekend:

1. a couple weeks ago i was watching this q&a thing on the village website and matt chandler was talking about the sabbath and what that looks like for different people. he went on to say that the sabbath isnt just a sunday but was asking what time in your day/week/month do you withdraw from eveyrthing that consumes you and spend time with the lord where you heart actually is stirred. at first, i had the thought of i have NOTHING like this. no place. no special hideaway. sooo...i kept thinking about it for a while and then this weekend i went up to the lakehouse. just me and my parents and a few of their friends. but there is something about getting away i never really realized until i lived in the city. which i know seems silly, but it is true. but being up there i realized this is my place, this is where my heart is so easily stirred for the Lord. Whether it is spending time up there with all of my best friends or with just people over 50 i feel like i wouldn't want to be any other place but there. so im grateful that the Lord helped me realize that this weekend. and that he loves me. and gives me the good ol' moss lake to just rest in Him and see how perfect his creation is.

2. we got to spend some time with one of our married couple friends on saturday night and it was SO FUN. that's really about it but it was just encouraging to see them and how much fun they have and how well they love each other and are PERFECT for each other. gives a girl a little hope, which is never a bad thing...

i know this is so simple but i feel like its always so encouraging to see that God is always teaching me new things, and i love when i have my eyes open wide enough to actually see them.

there is this song i love that says "You never stop chasing my soul...I want to waste my life on you Jesus" and I've probably listened to it over 20 times but recently this verse just keeps sticking out to me.

what would it look like if ALL i wasted my life on was Jesus? that's a question i need to continue to ask myself.

because all of that other "stuff" i waste my life on every. single. day. i cant take with me. all it will do is define who i am on this earth and is that what i really want? most of the time, i'm gonna go with no. not at all.

So grateful that he loves me but realizing i never need to be complacent. satisfied. ok with where i'm at. instead i need to always, always be running after HIM no matter how hard it is at times. no matter what distractions get in the way...there will never be a good enough excuse for sitting back and thinking "oh life is good" or "im happy with where i'm at"

"look to the Lord and His strength; seek his face always." 1 chron. 16:11

ohhhh, where do I even begin...

manic monday.

it's time to brush the dust off the blog...

today is one of those days where i just can't seem to focus. a little on the distracted side...it all started last night when i just couldn't fall asleep (which NEVER happens to me, luckily)

but i just found my mind racing about...

relationships mainly.

how blessed i am with so many great, genuine, awesome, loving (i could go on and on) friends.

the purpose of some people in my life. why they just pop in and out and what is God trying to teach me in that. i think that is something i go back and forth with the most...like i'm afraid to miss something. i really value the relationships in my life but when to step away from situations and when to go forward is a constant struggle.

that some people just suck at life. and they always will. but at the end of the day i don't have to answer for them, only for myself and the decisions that i choose to make day in and day out.

that God is good and His plan is good. even if i have to continue to constantly remind myself of that. but something i've definitely been humbled of in the past couple weeks is that if i'm not continually seeking Him and His plan as well - it's definitely way too easy to miss. which slightly terrifies me and something i definitely don't want to continue to happen.

DID I MENTION THAT THE MAVS ARE THE CHAMPIONS?!?!?! SOOOO awesome! Hopefully, I can blog about them soon. I mean they did make history after all : ) #mffl

WOW (words of wisdom)

I have this little calendar by my desk (along with my dry erase one) so that I can always have two months in sight. it helps when i'm talking dates with clients, etc.

Anywho, the July one says this:

"May you always have
walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain,
tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you,
those you love near you,
and all your heart may desire"
- Irish Proverb

Definitely hits home. and SO SO TRUE.

Sometimes it's just the simple things that are the most important/what I should spend my time thinking about instead of the dumb stressful stuff that I probably can't change anyway.

LOVE THIS.

things i love today.

 I 100% believe this. life is way too short for regrets.

"Faith is not the belief that God will

do what you want. It is the belief that

God will do what is right." this quote definitely puts life into perspective.

 

 cam gave me this to read in Puerto Rico. soo interesting, loving it.

 

I love meeting new people, hearing there stories, learning their hearts. I have met some AMAZING people on my trip this time around. Grateful for who they are and what they do daily to protect our country.

 

 this has been my view the past couple days, so beautiful.

 

MY FRIENDS! being away always makes me MISS THEM and I can't wait for a day at the lake and to be home for the next couple months!

This whole week I have just spent lots of quiet moments pondering and just feeling grateful. my life is not perfect by any means but i love what the Lord is continually doing in me and what He is continually calling me towards.

Being in Puerto Rico always makes me just really get to thinking about the last year. Right after me and my ex (the one who must not be named, ha) broke up I had to go to Puerto Rico for a trip. Honestly I thought it would be the end of the world (quickly my mom gave me some tough love and told me to put my big girl pants on) but really when I think about. really think about it.  that was a time in my life where the next phase really actually STARTED. The Lord taught me so much that week in what I could live without, what I actually didn't need in my life, how important and special my family and friends are who proved to me once again that they are always there for me and the GREATEST.  It's the people that truly love you the most that will be there for you in the trenches, when you are at your worst and see you as the person that they love no matter where you are at. Everyone's lows in life are different and for different reasons but equally important and life changing for them. I think He allows the people you are closest with to go through so many different things so that you can gain wisdom even if you aren't in their exact shoes. that you can love them through those seasons and they can love you through yours. really when i think about it, i think thats what genuine, true friendship is...loving people when they aren't at their best.

God has just placed so many people in my life for so so many special reasons and I love to see how He continues to use them to encourage me, challenge me, teach me new things, and love me unconditionally. I really don't think a lot of people can say they have THAT in their lives.

Being in Puerto Rico makes me realize that God's plan is always even better than I can imagine at any point in time. That sometimes when you have hit rock bottom, you are at your lowest, you think your world is just ruined...it is really JUST BEGINNING.  And for that I am so, so grateful. Everything that has happened in this past year, I wouldn't change for the world. and for that...i really am just grateful. being here in PR and the Lord just reminding me of that and all the lessons he has taught me and challenged me with this year, i'm just grateful.

It's not always easy but His plan is good and perfect.

"But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge that I may tell of all your works." Psalm 73:28

May you grow up to be righteous, may you grow up to be true. May you always know the truth and see the lights surrounding you. May you always be courageous, stand upright and be strong. May you stay forever young.

— Bob Dylan

Maybe?

I LOVE this:

"Maybe. . .we were supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

Maybe . . . when the door of happiness closes, another opens; but, often times, we look so long at the closed door that we don’t even see the new one which has been opened for us.

Maybe . . . it is true that we don’t know what we have until we lose it, but it is also true that we don’t know what we have been missing until it arrives.

Maybe . . . the happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Maybe . . . the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can’t go on successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.

Maybe . . . you should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of, and want to do.

Maybe . . . there are moments in life when you miss someone — a parent, a spouse, a friend, a child — so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real, so that once they are around you appreciate them more.

Maybe . . . the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had.

Maybe . . you should always try to put yourself in others’ shoes. If you feel that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person, too.

Maybe . . you should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone.

Maybe . . . giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don’t expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it doesn’t, be content that it grew in yours.

Maybe . . . happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lives.

Maybe . . . you shouldn’t go for looks; they can deceive; don’t go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

Maybe . . you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy

Maybe . . . you should try to live your life to the fullest because when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling but when you die, you can be the one who is smiling and everyone around you crying."

Pura Vida.

it really is the smallest things that actually change your life.

so grateful for this week and the things He taught me. He never hesitates to show me that He is in control and that His plan is perfect.

it's kinda like He always has the trump card and i wouldnt have it any other way.

"...and behold I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

there is something about being in a foreign country that just will always continue to surprise me, no matter where it is really, i feel like this will always continue to happen for me.


let me give you a few examples...
our bus driver emilio, kisses me on the cheek constantly and tells me how fabulous my spanish is. can you say charmer? did i mention he is the age of my grandpa and it totally builds my self confidence so i'm not complaining.


people literally cross the highway here. like imagine running across 75, the tollway, 35...well the roads in costa rica are exactly the same here, and men run across 4 lanes, straddle the median to climb over and then wait until there is an "open space" to continue their death run to the other side...all with a smile on their face


being put out of your comfort zone is always a good thing, even if its scary the day before you have to leave and you complain to all your friends about how you dont want to go and how nervous you are. ;) thanks to all the people that love me so much and just smile and pray for me. i know my  (or what i make into problems) are in the scheme of things nothing but im still so grateful for you and your prayers.


you can still learn something from a 17 year old. or a lot of things.


now, i'm just going to continue watching project runway in spanish and read my weird jodi picoult book.


most random post ever? maybe. but sometimes i feel like i just need to write stuff down so i can see how He continues to work in my life and how GOOD he is. through the funny, insightful, life changing stuff, He is good.

My new favorite city...CHICAGO!

 (did i mention i LOVE this place)


 (one of the few pics we got together!)

 (these were on every block and in full bloom, SO PRETTY, and in every possible color, we probably said "look how pretty the tulips are" 100+ times)

 (the only mirror shot we got, it was REALLY HARD haha)

 (we went to the aquarium and i was obsessed with these pot-bellied sea horses -- sooooo cute!)

 (this was the coolest fish ever.)

Soooo most random blog post yet?? (possibly) but all in all I LOVED THIS PLACE! The restaurants, bars, hotels, everything were just so impressive and so fun!

Can't wait to go back! And for next week...I'm headed to COSTA RICA!

If I ever got to go spend any amount of time here, I would probably never leave.

perfect definition of paradise : )