i cannot believe i have gone this long without blogging.
much has happened since the last time i wrote.
so much.
let's start from the beginning.
january 26th i said goodbye to KC for a few weeks and made my way to good ole Bolivar, Missouri.
as i pulled away from the city, an overwhelming sadness came over me.
sadness due to saying goodbye to my home, my family, and my city.
this sadness was almost immediately struck down my excitement and anticipation.
it had been a month and a half since i had seen almost all of my school friends and i was very anxious to see their lovely faces.
as i pulled in to my dorm, all sadness of leaving had been replaced with a readiness to start the new semester and see all that God has in store for second semester of my freshman year.
the first three days back were filled with no classes.
therefore, i ate at my favorite chinese restaurant, went thrift shopping, slept, hung out with friends, and just had a grand time catching up on life.
my classes began that wednesday and i was pleasantly surprised to discover that i enjoyed almost all of them.
then came weekend 1.
holy cow.
that first weekend back at school wasn't spent at school.
it was spent in branson
in the "mountains"
overlooking the lake
and surrounded by so many people i loved.
i went with about 30 other college students for a college retreat led by dave and laurel becker.
man oh man
i was blessed.
so much truth was thrown at me
so much healing was done inside me
so much good food was consumed by me
and overall
God's overwhelming grace, goodness, mercy,
love, light, presence, joy, might, peace
filled the home and all that inhabited it.
He was there.
the weekend also included making bracelets for orphans in South Sudan, small adventures, hypnosis (not really), pool, ping-pong, laughter, and so much coffee.
the week following this beautiful weekend was blessed with one of my most favorite things in the entire universe.
snow.
the week also included nighttime snow walks with Jesus and me.
those are also my favorite.
oh.
and a trip to the cemetery.
and of course an afternoon spent by myself in Springfield
with good coffee, sweet letters from my best, and the Word.
weekend two included the grand opening of bolivar's local coffee shop The Bean, a trip to the movies to see August: Osage County, and a semi-late night trip to Hurts Donut in Springfield.
this past week was the week that i hate the most.
valentines day on steroids.
something you should know about me is that i detest valentines day.
it's not bitterness because of my singleness.
it has been how i have been since before i can remember.
i don't know why it is.
i just hate it...
and want it to die...
anyway...
although this week was largely based around red and pink and hearts and love and such, i managed to have a few wonderful times.
(fyi i wore black & white all week. no red. no pink. no color.)
everybody knows about valentines day.
but not everybody knows about GALentines day.
february thirteenth is the day that ladies gather and celebrate their womanhood with breakfast.
it should be a national holiday.
my lovely friends Ashley Pyeatt and Trinity Griffin put together a celebration for Galentines that included pancakes and an enormous array of dessert.
it was perfect.
this brings us to yesterday.
dooms day.
aka valentines day.
but yesterday i was happy.
i got to come home.
home is love.
my dad has been getting my flowers every valentines day since what feels like the start of time.
i can still remember being in my preschool class and him walking through the door with a bright bouquet.
it's one of my most cherished memories and traditions.
my valentines day was spent simply chillin.
snuggling with my dog.
catching up on my reality tv.
and just being.
today.
today is close to perfect.
i went to brunch with my oldest brother at a restaurant called Farmhouse.
and now.
now i am sitting at my favorite table.
at my favorite coffee shop.
and i feel good.
so so good.
these past few weeks have been a pretty good preview to what the next three months will look like.
there have been changes from last semester to this, but they are good changes.
healthy changes.
needed changes.
i am already learning more about myself.
i am already gaining more knowledge and patience.
i am already striving to do my absolute best in everything.
it's been a good start.
let's continue.
