(i heart) Saturday.

I just finished my homework for Monday. :)

I worked until midnight last night at Starbucks and slept in till 9am this morning.
Josephine and I walked to the farmers market to meet Susan after her running group.
I bought BEAUTIFUL fresh flowers.
Susan bought an almond danish.
The weather was cool October weather...we came home and had coffee.
It was a lovely "I love life" morning.

And did I say its October weather? I love October weather.

Night Before 1st Day of School

In a few very short hours I will be sitting in my "1st day of school" outfit (skinny jeans, with billowy mauve/pink collared peasant shirt and bronze flats. Hair down, wavy and jangly bracelets.) I will be sitting with my newly organized binder. If you open the binder you'll find colored folder/dividers with a freshly printed syllabus in each folder corresponding with the name of the class on the divider tag. I will get to be with all the people I have not seen for the past 3 months and of course there will be new people meet as well. I will then be able to sit and soak in all the wisdom my professor has to offer!...have I told you I really, really enjoy going to grad school?!

Thank you, Lord for this opportunity! I pray a blessing over this semester and year!

Love is Still a Worthy Cause

Have you listed all the times you tried?

Have you called on all your alibis

when somebody asks the question Why are you hiding?

Did you feel the pull, did you hear the call?

Did you take a chance and lose it all?

Do you fear there is no collateral after trying?

Even though your heart is raw

love is such a worthy cause.

Picking up and pressing on

love is still a worthy cause.

Like the touch that starts the thaw

love is such a worthy cause

Or the word that breaks the pause...

Love.

In the midst of pasing bravery

in the face of our own injury

its the constant generosity of grace.

Its the beauty in the tales we tell.

Its the pressing on and ending well

and the joy that comes when we give ourselves away.

And I love because you loved me when I had nothing.

Oh, I love because you loved me when I had nothing.

And I love because you loved me when I had nothing.

And I love because He loved me when I had nothing

When you count the cost and all seems lost

love is still a worthy cause.

when your pressing on and your strength is gone

love is still a worthy cause.

-Sara Groves

This is the song that most struck me on my run today. It challenges my attitudes towards relationships both past and present. It calls me to stand up and confront my fears and push pass hurt. This is also a extremely relevant song for the church. We as a church need to remember that love is still a worthy cause, with those inside and with those outside. Isn't that what Jesus called us to? Love.

God's faithfulness

Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the goodness of God. The joys of sunshine and the sorrow of being far from family. Reading about my friends time in Puerto Rico was like looking at reflections of how trusting in God always works out best. Reading Jeremiah today reminded me that if we would just listen and obey God...we would see God's faithfulness even more.

weekend.

Friday -
6:30am Wake up in Arkansas at Tom & Leah's house. Arrive at airport at 7:20, flight departs with me safe in seat and luggage checked at 7:50am. I love small airports!
9:45am - Safe in Chicago riding back to Deerfield in Maggie's white SUV. Stop at Starbucks for some time in the sun and a crossword puzzle.
2:30pm - Dressed up as a rockstar (pictures possibly to follow) at a 10 year olds birthday party.
6:30pm - En route to Arlington Heights in a cute outfit ready for some time with the girls complete with a frozen pizza and games.
12:30 - home to bed.

Saturday -
7:30 - 12:30pm - REST!!!
1-7pm - Work at Starbucks. One of those days I drove away from work thinking "I love these people!"
8-12:30 -Complete in a Cornhuskers Football t-shirt and cowboy boots I find myself at a birthday party for a friend from Nebraska.

Sunday -
8:20 - Ten minutes later than I wanted wearing heels and jeans off to church to work in the nursery, meet my friend Lindsay's boyfriend for the first time, and meet a new girl named Alana.
1:07-1:45 pm - Lunch at chipotle with "the group" of people who all tend to be together Sunday after church. So much fun.
2:30-8:37pm - Starbucks time again.
9:30-10:30 - more pizza, Josephine is finally home, and one episode of the Gilmore Girls before bed.

I know I need to slow down. I'm learning. I'm trying to balance. I'm so loving the people that are around me right now.

Writing this out I can't help but notice patterns (ie. frozen pizza) and the variety of outfits I wore in a weekend. Thank you Lord, for the details of joy you put in life!