unexpectedly expectant.

Through a series of unexpected events, I have found myself living at home with my parents.

My plan is for this to be a temporary thing, to move out and find a teaching job in the fall, but you know how plans are.

Not that I dislike being at home, or don't love living with my family, it just wasn't at all what I was expecting or mentally preparing for this summer. I just don't want to be that person; the college graduate that moves home "just for a little while" but ends up living with my parents indefinitely. Also, I basically have no friends at all that are my age in Pine Bluff.

At first, I was disappointed, and felt like this would be a waste of a summer. But the more I thought about the things that could potentially await me, the more excited I became about the potential of the freedom of living in my parents house.

No paying rent.

No buying groceries.

A summer job waiting for me (teaching swimming lessons, which I LOVE).

It was starting to sound not so bad. I made this to do list for the summer, and I'm starting to get excited about it :)

Write Letters

Cook

Create

Organize

Purge

Exercise

Reflect

Play

Scrapbook

Simplify

Travel

Downsize

Serve

I want to look for opportunities to serve my family, the people I most often overlook when it comes to serving. I want to get re-involved in the church I grew up in. I want to play and travel and make the most of this short season of my life when I am practically free of responsibilities.

So, although I definitely didn't see this coming, the Lord is opening my eyes to the adventures that await me.

I'm excited :)

deciphering me

For one of my job applications, I had to write down 5 adjectives that describe myself. To get some direction/ideas, I texted the people closest to me to get some suggestions :)

Some of them are really great, some are really funny, and some are just making fun, but I really enjoyed getting to see other's perspective on who I am as a person/future teacher. Also, I thought my blog should get to show off this little list too :)

Creative

Determined

Enthusiastic

Generous

Grateful

Loyal

Resourceful

Thorough

Adaptable

Steady

Devoted

Independent

Dedicated

Lively

Aesthetic

Judgmental

Faux Pas

Perfect< from my older brother, dripping with sarcasm I'm sure :)

Tenacious

Mellow

Supportive

[these are all from my mother... clearly she loves me]

Determined

Stubborn

Obstinate

Strong Willed

Irascible

reasons why I love being a girl

1. I can dress up with my friends no matter how old I am

2. I can talk about how attractive celebrities are and no one judges me for it

3. I can unashamedly love Taylor Swift

4. I can buy pretty underwear

5. I can wear skirts and high heels

6. I can giggle with my friends

7. I can cry at Disney movies and not be embarrassed

8. I can cuddle with other women

9. I get to do things like the sunshine box

let's risk the ocean

Disturb us, Lord,

When we are

too pleased

with ourselves.

When our dreams have

come true

because we have

dreamed too little.

When we have arrived safely

because we have

sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord,

When with the abundance of

things we possess,

we have lost our thirst

for the waters of life,

having fallen in love with life,

we have ceased to dream of eternity,

and in our efforts to build a

new earth,

we have allowed our vision of the

new heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord,

to dare more boldly,

to venture on wider seas,

where storms will

show your mastery,

where losing sight of land,

we shall find the stars.

We ask you to push back the

horizon of our hopes,

and to push us into the future

in strength, courage, hope and love.

This we ask in the name of our Captain,

who is Jesus Christ

Sir Frances Drake

today I am thankful.

...that I had time to finish my whole cup off coffee (not in a to-go mug) before I had to leave for school.

...that the sun was shining and I got to be outside in it.

...for an "I'll come by for just a few minutes" that turns into an hour.

...for dandelions (they are my favorite thing about spring).

...for 5th graders that miss me when I'm gone for only one day.

snow day.

here's hoping for another snow day :)

"funny the way it is, somebody's broken heart becomes your favorite song"

I guess songs, like most art, are best when they express strong emotion. My favorite songs are about heartbreak. I just love them because of how much they feel, you know?

No one writes songs about heatbreak quite like Sara Bareilles. The woman is brilliant. She almost makes me wish I was heartbroken because of how beautiful she makes it sound.

My new favorite is this one:

Bluebird

Listen to it. Please love it like I do :)

[the title is a Dave Matthews quote... love that guy]