day twelve.

Day 12 - how you heard about blogs and why you started one:

Well, I'm fairly certain that I had a blog sometime in my angsty teenage years (although, to be fair, I was a pretty angst-free teen), but I abandoned it long before college. I decided to start blogging again when I spent a semester in Europe, as a way to keep my family and friends updated on my European adventures. After I got back, I kept up with it, because (to keep it simple) I like writing. I like to journal, but it's so much easier to type out everything than to write it by hand. Plus, I enjoy the feedback of my (few) friends and family who read.

So...there it is - the story of my blogging life :).

In other news, I had yogurtland today and it was so. dang. good.

day eleven - my pretty friends!

Day 11 - another picture of you and your friends:

Well, since I (1) have some more time on my hands today and (2) neglected my blog yesterday, I think I'll put some effort into this one and post lots of pictures:

My goodness...my friends are so pretty. I've been so blessed.

day ten - some music.

Day 10 - songs you listen to when you are:

- happy: "You Make My Dreams" by Hall & Oates. Probably because now every time I hear it, I see this.

- sad: "Jesus, King of Angels" by Fernando Ortega, because no other song makes my heart feel so calm and rested in the love of Christ.

- bored (or all the freaking time, actually): "Comes and Goes (In Waves)" by Greg Laswell. I. Love. It. So. Much.

- mad: "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele. So much emotion and so great to sing. Loudly.

On another note...I'm disappointed in myself for not posting this yesterday, but we had some friends over last night and by the time I remembered to do this, I was already in bed. And, as Meg says, the price I pay for having the bigger closet is that I don't usually get internet in my room. So...I weighed my options (getting out of bed vs. staying in it) and staying in won. Easily.

it is well with my soul. (day nine)

Day 9 - something that inspires you:

this song:

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
   When sorrows like sea billows roll;
   Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
   It is well, it is well, with my soul.
   • It is well, with my soul,
     It is well, it is well, with my soul.
2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
   Let this blest assurance control,
   That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
   And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
   My sin, not in part but the whole,
   Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
   Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
   If Jordan above me shall roll,
   No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
   Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
   The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
   Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
   Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
6. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
   The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
   The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
   Even so, it is well with my soul.

day eight - some goals.

Day 8 - short term goals for this month:

- consistency (I've rambled about it enough this past week...I don't need to do so anymore)

- lose a few pounds (swimsuit season is quickly approaching)

- finish reading all six of Ms. Jane Austen's novels (I've got two to go)

- file my taxes

- clean out my closet and donate some clothes to Good Will

- keep up with Karissa's blog (because she's funny and awesome, and because her super healthy lifestyle inspires me!)

and a picture, just for fun (snow makes everything beautiful):

day seven

Day 7 - something that has had an impact on you:

What to write about? I think that it's part of what makes the human experience so incredible - our whole lives are an accumulation of things and people that have impacted us. I could write about my best friend Rachelle, who has been the most consistent friend imaginable. Or I could write about a tragedy that both devastated and united a community and taught my 12 year old heart the true meaning of life and loss. I could write about my high school youth group that gave me a safe place to start understanding my faith. I could write about my college friends who showed me how friends can be like family - learning and loving and encountering life together. I could write about one friend in particular who forced me to believe in my own strength, beauty and worth. Or I could write about my college, where I was given the tools to become the person I am today. I could write about a fire. About a ceremony. About a move. About a job (or two. or three.) Or I could write about discovering a passion for coaching basketball and the immense joy that discovery has provided. But I think that I will write about my family. Because while all of these things have had unknowable impacts on my life, nothing has impacted me quite like my incredible, accomplished, loving, driving, perfect-in-their-imperfection family. I have been blessed with the consistent presence of the most amazing people I know. I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again: they gave me my life, but the have also given me life.

(And the greatest impact of all is this: that God so loved the world (so loved me) that He gave His one and only Son...)

Amen.

day six - Superman.

Day 6: your favorite superhero:

No question - Superman. Need I say more? He is a super man.

(Plus...you gotta love the forehead curl.)