Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I am thankful for...

My friend Rae, who inspired me to make a thankful list.

My husband, who is working a graveyard shift right now in preparation for Black Friday at Target.

My family, that will be all together over one roof for dinner tomorrow.

This website

Creme Brulee


A Job.

A the ability to do what I love.

This Man. And his voice.

For My Friends...

I ache for my friends when they ache. Death is never an easy thing to deal with, it hurts. It hurts so bad and there isn't really a lot of comforting things to say when it happens. And it hurts. It feels like there is no hope and nothing good can come from it. And it hurts. When morning comes and your eyes are still red from crying the night before. And it hurts. School and work are not put on hold and the world moves on while you are in agony. And it hurts. It's okay to hurt. It's okay cry. It's okay to be broken. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Jesus said so.

After Watching Harry Potter...

...I tend to think with a british accent. How peculiar.

think about it...

Little Things

Little drops of water,

Little grains of sand,

Make the mighty ocean

And the pleasant land.

Thus the little minutes,

Humble though they be,

Make the mighty ages

Of eternity.

Ebenezer Cobham Brewer

Times, they are a-changin'

This week starts the beginning of something beautiful. Something I haven't experienced as an adult, ever. I... have a job. A single job. One. Full-time.

If you, for some reason, don't understand the excitement, let me fill you in...

Last September I got married ((yay)). Last October we realized we had little money and a sad looking income. Last October I got a job at Forever 21. Now, I must really love my husband, because I kept that job for a year. That job, for lack of a better term, was hell. Complete with moody managers, sassy customers and horrible corporate policies. During my employment at Forever 21 I was also employed at Newport Seafood Grill. Newport has its pros and cons, and after a dedicated year and nine months I put in my two weeks. My skills are now dedicated to one employer. They asked for full-time and I accepted! WooHoo! Killer Burger is my new work home. I'm so done with corporate companies. I'm proud to be with a family owned business, and in this economy thats what people like to support.

Excited about this, among other things...

This is my niece or nephew

This is what I will be witnessing on October 29th

Sufjan Stevens

Nathan is employed at Target (yay for discounts)!

Looking back.

Nathan and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary this past Sunday. It was wonderful. Our weekend started out with Stumptown Coffee at the Bipartisan Cafe and a drive to the beach. Cape Lookout is truly breathtaking. Someday we will camp there, without a doubt. The hike was fun, we booked it! We passed so many people hiking, I felt really good about myself. Working out has really improved my hiking skills, who would have thought?! 5 miles was long, but so doable!

After our hike we drove south to Pacific City where we had a fabulous lunch at The Pelican Brewery. Nathan enjoyed his beer while I enjoyed my... water.

The evening was beautiful, amazing sunset! On the beach outside our hotel was a really great tide pool, which was something I really wanted to explore! I am completely blown away by sea life. I could spend hours looking at all the incredible animals and plants.

Here is a collaboration of photos of Nathan and my first year together as a married couple. This year has been so much more than I ever could have imagined. I love my husband, I love the home we live in, and I love how the Lord has provided for us through and through.

Agape Life

Pennsylvania beauty

"Agape doesn't love somebody because they're worthy.

Agape makes them worthy by the strength and power of its love.

Agape doesn't love somebody because they're beautiful.

Agape loves in such a way that it makes them beautiful."

Rob Bell

With that quote in mind, I'd like to say a few things. First, I love that my God has the ability to make me beautiful without having anything to do with my physical appearance. I love that lately, I've come to understand and accept myself on a lot of different levels. The concept of being comfortable in my own skin is attainable. I like who I am and who I am becoming.

Along with that, I also have understood how to think more of others. The fact that I think more highly of myself has enabled me to have a deeper rooted love for humanity. I want so much for others to understand they have value.

Unconditional love, Agape, is amazing. It's really remarkable that this love has no boundaries. It has no agenda. It does not love because of anything. I want to live this way. I want to create and give and have relationships and have no strings attached. This kind of love is authentic. Life is way too short to not live this way.