slowest countdown ever

54 days.

I'm beginning to feel that Lincoln is just that place I live in between summers. My patience is failing me.

kid quotes

Devon: (3 yrs old): "Look at those gorillas, Miss Alyssa!" Me: "Where? I don't see any." Devon: "Look out the window!" Me: "huh?" Devon: "You know, what you hold when it's raining!" Me: "Devon, that's called an umbrella, a gorilla is a big monkey." Devon: "Nope. You use gorillas when it rains."

Reminds me of the parents/carrots mix up I had just a few weeks ago. Me: "Quinn, your parents are going to be sad when I have to tell them you were in timeout." Quinn: "Which ones?" (lots of confusing dialogue later...) Quinn: "Which ones? My orange, crunchy parents that I eat? Or my mommy and daddy?" My job is so entertaining, yet so confusing sometimes.

closing two decades.

Just realized this is my last week of being 20! Hoping for a good ending to these two decades. So excited to spend time with my birthday twin, my best friend and another dear this weekend! Until then, it's papers, projects, school, training and working for me. Oh my! Happy Monday, everyone.

missing mexico

I really, really miss Mexico. It's been eight months since I crossed the border, which was a tease since we couldn't go to La Iglesia Cristo Rey anyway. I miss the kids, the culture, the weather, the ministry, and that full, full feeling my heart has every time we arrive. We just received a letter from the Pastor of the church we work with in Mexico. It is still too dangerous to cross the border, although he still does twice a week to lead worship. This man is the most dedicated man of faith I have ever met or even heard of for that matter. Hoping I will again one day get to see that little church in Mexico that changed me, back when I was a measley little high schooler who thought she knew God. Boy, was I wrong. This place makes my heart overflow with joy and love like I never knew was possible. This place gave me my very first feeling of the Spirit's presence. This is the place that made me want to do youth ministry. made me want to continue with spanish. the place where I met adults I desire to be just like. the ministry that gave me a wonderful relationship with the people at my home church. this is the place where I met people who have shown me how I'm supposed to live and love. and most of all, this is the place that gave me the once and for all real feeling that there is a God up there. and He is all any of us needs. Hoping my kids and their families are safe.

Book review: The Book Thief, Markus Zusak

"The people who climbed the trees were called word shakers.
The best word shakers were the ones who understood the true power of words. They were the ones who could climb the highest. One such word shaker was a small, skinny girl. She was renowned as the best word shaker of her region because she knew how powerless a person could be without words.
That's why she could climb higher than anyone else.
She had desire. She was hungry for them."

Everyone go to your library or nearest bookstore and get yourself a copy of The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. Right now.
I could have read this in one sitting. Absolutely beautiful story. I was a little unsure at the beginning, having found out that the narrator of the story is Death himself..but I couldn't put this book down. I even snapped at my dad when he was trying to talk to me as I finished the last few pages. (Sorry, dad!)
I'm always a little sad to finish a good book, sad to leave the characters behind, as if I actually knew them.
this was no exception. definitely one I will read again and again.

Oh, what a beautiful morning.

This is what I woke up to today.
I'm not even mad that it's practically April and it's a winter wonderland. It's too pretty to be upset. Glad my brother's track meet is indoor today!
Happy Friday, everyone.

rivers and roads

The past few days have been so good to me--
*no alarm clocks.
*nice long runs around the pond and bike trail.
* lounging around reading good books (Water for Elephants and The Book Thief)
*lunch at the Plum Thicket, where I haven't been since I was a little girl!
*productivity! finished one paper this morning! phew.
*gooood food all around.
*family time! had a fun dinner with the whole fam last night and helped my not-so-little-anymore little cousin practice for cheer tryouts.
*spent plenty of time looking at design blogs and magazines. just a little excited for next year's apartment.
*thought a lot about camp and the fact that I get to live there again in less than two months!
---------------
and now for tonight: sitting at my little makeshift card table-desk getting ready to buckle down and really get started outlining this paper! I've got my sweats, space heater and coffee to keep me warm in my old room. I don't ever remember it being this cold down here when I was in high school. waah.
Anyway, gotta go be productive again.
Happy Thursday!
Oh my gosh, is it really Thursday already?
Goodness sakes, time flies.
Hasta luego, lectoras.

P.S. Check out The Head and the Heart.
cannot. stop. listening.

craft lust.

I have been in an extra crafty mood these past few days. I'm getting really excited to start thrifting and crafting for our apartment next year. I really want a sewing machine. Badly. I want to make pillows and curtains and attempt to reupholster the antique chair that I hope I [will!] find. Once the sun is out to stay, Lincoln will be having many a garage sale. Can't wait.
For now, a trip to the local craft stores on the island might satisfy my craft hunger.
..after I finish this paper that is. Motivation?

spring break.

Want to know something pathetic? I'm happy it's finally spring break so that I have time to work on papers and projects. Sad. Not exactly the ideal break, but I am happy that I can get things done without having class and work. It's so nice not setting an alarm!
I have a long to do list that is organized by day. Since I'm on the island for the week, I am telling my mother she has the power to ground me if I don't have my list complete for each day.
So far I'm two for three on today's list. Better get back to that paper.
Gotta wake up early tomorrow so I can babysit Paisley while her parents are at work. I am a lucky duck! :)

race day.

First race is officially checked off the list!
It didn't go as well as I had originally planned (nothing ever does). I was sick/out of town/bogged down with school for a while so I was forced to slack on the running. Bad idea.
We ended up walking a few times, but we made it under our goal time! :)
It helps having a great running buddy.

Next up, 10k in May.

For now, back to running but with some fun stuff added in.
Can't wait for zumba and turbo kick next week! Although, I think I'd prefer to enjoy my spring break first.
Off to go visit my couch, blanket, and continue on with Water for Elephants.


Happy Saturday!

Paisleys and clovers.

I'm not Irish, nor do I see the significance of me celebrating St. Patrick's day--but these were just too cute not to post.
So, happy St. Patrick's day, everyone!

Sweet P is now crawling up a storm and can pull herself up onto furniture.
I can't wait to have some quality Paisley/Aunt Aly time over spring break!

primavera.

Spring break is so close, yet so far away.
I cannot wait for a week of sleeping in, eating wonderful food, hanging out with my family and catching up on my long list of books to read. Picked up my requests from the library today. I want so badly to start, but studying for my tests must come first. Sigh. Anybody have any book recommendations?

On a side note--
It felt like spring today! I went out to Holmes Lake with Hanna for a nice run and to enjoy the sun and scenery. Evening well spent.

Now back to those text books.

sigh of relief.

I am certain that I have the best family I could have ever hoped for.
My dad always says "You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family."
That doesn't hold true in my case. I couldn't have chosen a better mother, father, sister, brother, brother-in-law or niece than the ones God handed to me.

I am so blessed to have the best support system in not only my immediate family, but in my Grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors and friends, too.

God has been pretty extra awesome to me lately.

Thank the Lord for such great news.

joy.

"...so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."

"I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace."

--John 14 & 15.

Normally, I'm pretty good at taking life one day at a time, but this week my head is spinning. I go to bed at night with my mind racing so fast I can't even distinguish one thought from another. It's like a fast motion movie. A fast motion movie of stress. And it makes me dizzy. and nauseous. and nervous.

Time to consider the lilies. Over and over and over. This past weekend, I went back to the Island. Went to church with my family and my pastor did a sermon called "Consider the lilies".

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"
--Matthew 6:28-30

Isn't it funny how sometimes the sermon is exactly what you need to hear? When you feel like the pastor read your mind and wrote the sermon specifically for you [and your family]?

There's a lot I don't understand right now about the circumstances given, and I won't lie, I'm getting tired of hearing "God just has another plan for you." But it's true, He does. I'm confident in that. Someday soon I will know exactly why and I will be thankful.

...but sometimes it's hard to let go of something you wanted so badly. something you've spent months daydreaming about. and planning and researching and praying. and thinking that you finally have your chance to get out and make a difference in the world. something that you felt so strongly called to from the Lord. those somethings are just hard to forget about in one day.

and hard to deal with those other somethings that are so unknown.

but you know what? the sun will still come up tomorrow. [thanks, dad] and for now, I will rest in the fact that my life is still pretty great, I shouldn't have much to complain about. Wonderful family, awesome friends, a roof, food..I've got it made.

God is still good. Always will be.