hope.

for my organization, "artists," we had a project over a verse. we could paint or write about or photograph or draw anything that we feel like has represented our semester and this verse."but he said to me, "my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." therefore, i will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that christ's power may rest on me. that is why, for christ's sake, i will delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. for when i am weak, then i am strong. 2nd corinthians 12:9-10

heavy stuff, but good stuff. hard to grab a hold of sometimes. but loved the project and was happy with the outcome as well :)

probs to dj for helping me out and letting me use his yard, his garage, his bikes, his self. keeper.

shalom.

shadows.

making them.

taking pictures of them.

being silly with them.

i like them.

shalom.

current.

obsession.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF9ESdfwV5o

its on repeat in my car. over and over and over again.

you just cant help but dance. and move your head side to side. and laugh.

grow yourself a giant afro.

incredible.

shalom.

sticks and stones.

may break my bones.

but words will never hurt me.

lies.

every last word.

but i do like this photo. and liked seeing this pile on the side of the road. and hope they got recycled.

say something particularly nice to someone today. you wont regret it.

shalom.

graduation.

for my pup.

not me. unfortunately. soon. but not soon enough.

anway, petal graduated from puppy school last week, i'm just about as proud as can be.
here we are in all our glory :)

i feel like i have been blogging/talking about her a lot lately. but shes my baby, and does, in fact, bring a heck of a lot of joy to my life.

enjoy your day. go to petsmart. look at the pups and kittys :)

shalom.

serendipity.

favorite word.

An unsought, unintended, or unexpected discovery and learning experience that happens by accident and sagacity.

i hope something unexpected happens today :) but don't look for it. otherwise it might not happen.

shalom.

nutcase.

new obsession.

i want this.

top of the christmas list. i can totally see me rockin this.

plus. it will keep me safe, because i have become quite the bike rider. it's exhilarating.

check out their website by clicking on the title. it's a cute one.

shalom.

a pup a day.

is the best kind of day.

so i love my dog. mildly obsessed actually. she is a complete nut and just totally unpredictable.

we went to riverside campus, which is where i have my canoeing class. i wanted to go take pics and wanted some company as well, so dragged petal along.

push yourself a little more today. canoeing was a huge push for me and i have loved it. i'm awful at it, but i love it :) dont let nerves or fear drive your ability to do or not do something. take a leap. just try it. it feels good.

shalom.

comfort.

so today i had the day off of work. which has been wonderful and much needed but the reason i have the day off is because the family i nanny for is headed up to pennslvania to sign for their house in which they are moving to at the end of december. i know. depressing.

anyway, i was able to have such a wonderful morning. played with petal, read some blogs, looked up stuff for my new york trip that im taking in january. yah great stuff.

for lunch, i decided to continue the comfort and took a step back to my childhood. this meal is only fixed when i'm in the mood, and really, isn't fixed very often.

it consists of macaroni and cheese (disney princess of course) with hot dogs (dont judge) apples and peanut butter, and a capri sun. and because i am not one to ever. ever. ever. take pictures of my food (please hold me to this) you will just have to take my word for how precious it was :)

afternoon schedule: walk/exploring in the woods with petal, bike ride around the neighborhood, photography in downtown bryan, reading more blogs, study?, maybe even a few errands. what a day, what a day.

and just for fun, a recent photo of the pup :) i'm a proud owner.

shalom.

flag football.

i have been wanting to broaden my range of photo taking abilities. so when i was invited to watch some dear friends play flag football, i was delighted. unfortunately, most of my photos were pretty blurry, but you gotta start somewhere :)

here are a couple of my favorites.

definitely made for a fun evening. we were just about the best cheer squad ever.

try something new. watch something fun.

shalom.

i's shometimes talks a wittle funnies.

otay. so i dont nose what the dealio is, but i's likes to talk funnies. most of my friendsies do toosies. and while i's talk likes this a lotta, i's not very good at writing how i talks. its so weird. it may have started with that lolz cat kick a bit back. i's dunno, babys. but it makes me look like a sill sill when i write like a talks.

mostlys. adding 's' to almost everything.s.
shortening words. ie. dins (dinner)
repeating the same word but using it as just one word. ie. i can't waits to play play with you todays!
adding a "h" to words that start with 's' ie shleeping. unfortunately i use this when i say "sit" yah, not a goods idears.
leaving out letters. ie tanks tanks baby (thanks thanks baby)

yah, i nose. it doesnt make sense to me either.

a provider of joy, despite the silliness? yesh. quite definitely. try it sometime. you can practice by yourselfers if you're not confident.

shalom.

someday sundays.

5. put change in someone elses expired parking meter.

simple. thoughtful. absolutely helpful.

they may not even notice it, but that is the best way to serve someone else. i like secret serving :)

eat an m&m today. and share one with someone else.

shalom.

happiest of happys to my father.

Popsicle,

thank you for being a wonderful daddy. thank you for letting me bug you while you watch your sports games and for always letting me be on the same side. thank you for taking care of all the boring businessy stuff of life, like taxes and cars and insurance. thank you for letting me call you "popsicle" and for calling me "icesicle" in return. thank you for being so patient and supportive when you taught me to drive my car and retaught me how to ride a bike. thank you for not giving up on me, even when my grades land in the toilet, my tears land five states away and my bank account lands in the valley of steep and scary. thank you for your playful teasing, it is a good way that i always know that you love me. thank you for checking up on me and for your emails and text messages and phone calls.

i love you so so much and hope your birthday is wonderful!

thanks for being my daddy, and for letting me be your daughter.

love, icesicle.

new sunnies.

new confidence. i got some new sunnies in the mail recently. i just think they are about the best new practical accessory that i own. and although i have worn them to school, i haven't been confident enough to flip them up when i walk into a building, or when i have a conversation with someone. but i will get there. in time. baby steps.

get out of your comfort zone today. its good for you.

shalom.

peek a boo.

i get to enjoy my wonderful backyard several times a day, especially now that i have a puppy.
it is always a joy, but i woke up one morning to these precious friends peeking through the fence.

it was such a treat!
each one was so delicate and lovely.

look for simple reasons to smile :) they are out there. promise.

shalom.

henna.

here is mine.

a dear friend, sheeba, did it for me a couple weeks ago.

ironically enough, she was actually the one who did it for me for the first time at a college womens conference, we just weren't friends yet.

other henna tattoos that i have seen online or on friends is just incredible. i wish it lasted longer, but i guess that is what regular tattoos are for :)


be creative today.

shalom.

fightin' texas aggie ring.

one of the most exciting days in aggie history.

hah.

after completing 90 hours,
students are eligible to get their "aggie ring"

this day is always one to look forward to for most people
(i actually didn't get super excited until after i got my ring...)
and! my dad said i could drop out now that i completed this big accomplishment.

now that is something that causes joy!


but don't worry, i'm sticking around until graduation. whoop.

thanks and gig em.


shalom.

someday sundays.

4. send a message in a bottle.

i would love love to send a message in a bottle. there is just something whimsical and childish about it. i would just need to figure out what words i want to share.

write something today. to yourself, to a friend, to the future, to god.

shalom.

marc johns.

a favorite.

i love his work.

it is full of quirky charm.

which is the best kind of charm to have.

visit him at marcjohns.com.

you won't regret it. it will bring a lot of smiles to even a not so smiley day.

shalom.

a simple strum.

brings joy in the most beautiful way.

sit.

listen.

soak.

absorb.

reflect.

every string. the purity of the sound. the calmness of the melody. the simplicity of the rhythm.

start this week off with some down time. find a guitar playing comrade. use this time to listen and enjoy what is being created. but allow yourself to create something in you too.

shalom.

someday sundays.

3. poker.



i don't know why i still haven't learned to play. i feel that this is an essential activity that i should know how to do. that is definitely still on my bucket list, and hopefully before i finish college. can't put it off for too long...


enjoy your sunday. enjoy yourself.


shalom.

twenty one.

so, i just turned 21 recently. as in about a month and a half ago. i still forget that i'm 21. until i walk through the wine aisle and think "wow, i could totally buy something." weird.



here's to being legal. and old. cheers.



shalom.

smudge.

i have really been enjoying painting the last several months. i hardly ever clean off my palette because i love when all the colors join together and sit on top of each other. i definitely paint more for relaxtion and fun, than for showing others.

but really, some of the great joy comes solely from squeezing the paint onto the palette, and watching the colors and textures form.

paint a picture. be creative. don't be afraid to use color.

shalom.

someday sundays.

2. make ice cream from scratch.

this may have definitely been something i did as a child but it has been so so long. too long.

and really, i'm not picky. anything with chocolate. i'm such a girl.

be sweet.

shalom.

proud parent.

i got to take my pup to the beach when i went home for a couple days. she is still a pansy. seriously. i cannot get this lab to like water. she hates lakes, pools, oceans, bathtubs. you name it.


but you can't really tell from the photos. my darling mother shot away. she says she likes being a "grandma." hopefully its very clear that this pup is the only baby headed her way for a lonnnng time.

do something for you today. suprise yourself.

shalom.

someday sundays.

1. host a tea party

i love tea, and loving sharing tea time with friends. but i haven't actually had a "dress up, wear gloves, act prim and proper" tea party. that is something i want to do in the very near future.

shalom.

seven things of fun: a wheeled vehicle.

new project. seven things of fun featuring pictures of things that i find fun :) below the pictures are the (hopefully) references to where i located the photograph. this will be a fun project to search for.

Fashion(B side), alone, tian mu cycling, TallBike, SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle), three wheels on forgotten court, Tricycle

fun stuff.

enjoy the summer. ride a bike.

shalom.

petal.

no, not the flower.

this is petal :)

she's my new baby. and she definitely acts like a baby. its ridiculous. but oh so fun.

we went to the pool today. i tried to get her to swim. my shoulder has scratch marks to prove it. what a pansy. and i thought labs were supposed to love water.

enjoy your day, go google over cute puppies today. but be careful, its dangerous :)

shalom.

flower.

equals joy.

enough said.

take time to smell the colors and admire their beauty.

shalom.

destination.

unknown.

but i'm excited to go on the adventure to get me there. it's my last year of college and I really don't know what i'm doing with my life. i have ideas, but i really don't want to start a real job right away. i'm open to a lot of things, traveling mostly. i could go places by train, how sick is that??

this train track is on an awesome bridge about 25 min from where i live. i found it one day when i got lost going somewhere but didn't have time to take photos. so i tried to get lost again, and it took a few tries, and several new roads but i finally found it. it was worth it too. super great place just to take photos, be by myself, be in nature, and think. love.

spend time by yourself today. people are rewarding but dont be afraid to spend a few hours without your phone doing whatever you want to do. you wont regret it.

shalom.

someday sundays.

new project.

yay!

i'm hoping that having a project/idea will get me consistent with my blogging.

this project won't necessarily feature my pictures but will be consisting of photos i find a liking to on flickr, google, etc

this will feature things that i want to do/see someday, so more or less my "bucket list"

here's to another new project.

cheers and shalom.

free fallin.

cliche.

i know.


but so dang sweet.

probably one of the best experiences of my life.


i would go again.


and again.


and again.


New life goal is actually to be a skydive photographer/videographer.

legit.


start saving your money, go skydiving, and be happy.


shalom.

three.

this is jill.



she was reading her bible outloud on campus in a tree, and looked calm, peaceful, serene, etc. it was beautiful and so encouraging.


she was reading in revelations but said her favorite book was romans.


read psalm 86 today. outloud. in a tree. it's perfect. and super full of hope and truth.


shalom.

one for one.

so. you may have heard of tom's shoes. you buy a pair and then they give a pair to a child in need of shoes. it's pretty cool. and probably my favorite pair (or 3) of shoes that i own.


i had a pair of white tom's for oh so long and finally decided to decorate them. yay creativity.


at my university, wearing tom's is usually part of the "stereotypical christians." we tease about it, but its kinda true :) what i like most about my lovely colored shoes are how expressive they are. the colors themselves are highly expressive but on the sides i have other cutsie joyful things. i have the verse romans 12:12, "be joyful in hope, paitent in affliction, and faithful in prayer" on one side. on the other side is an elephants bottom, that is so painfully cute, with the words "choose joy" something that i strive to choose. the other shoe has dandilions on one side and a little birdie on the other (my newest craze)


anyway, just wanted to show off my dabblings.


go paint something, today. even if you "dont think you are any good." it just feels good. really.


shalom.

busy bee.

i'm a busy bee. life is a swirly whirly and i'm just flittering shmittering around.



like this little guy. i like him.



i've been goin nuts with photography projects, school stuffs, people, pretending to study... thus lacking on the blog posts.

but its almost summer! and i will definitely be posting more.

embrace who you are today. its fun.

shalom.

two.

this is aaron.



i thought he looked cool, thus capturing this photo for my new project.

i asked him three things that he liked to do, and i think he was caught off guard. he said "playing basketball, jammin with friends, attending texas a&m"

i regret not asking him what he was listening to.
how great would it have been if he was listening to abba... or glee.

yes.

be blessed today. listen to abba. or glee. they will calm your soul :)

shalom.

raindrops.

i love rain.
and sunshine and snow...

but this post is about rain :)

i actually looked up the lyrics to "raindrops keep fallin on my head"
and it's kinda sad. and the person in the song doesn't like the raindrops.
boo.

but i do.
a lot.



the day that it rained, i actually didn't carry an umbrella or wear rainboots because I wanted to get POURED ON. but i didn't. bummer.

instead i just watched it from the window during class, really hoping that i would get to play in it. i didn't get to... but i'm quite confident that it will rain again :)

enjoy your day. enjoy the rain. or the sunshine. whatever comes your way.

shalom.

one.

so, I have a new photography project idea.

i want to photograph 100 random people. preferably, i want to do people that i don't know. just people i see around campus and such, but this first one is a good friend of mine. i liked this picture and just wanted to get this new idea rollin.

this is daniel.

he is letting his hair grow out so i can give him dreads.
he spends 23 out of 24 hours a day outside.
i'm hardly exaggerating :)
he loves to garden, slackline, and build fires.

here goes a new project.

shalom.

easter joy.

easter weekend is such a sweet time.

it is a celebration of who Christ is and how much He absolutely adores us.

it's an exciting and colorful time.

spending beautiful time with friends and family.


painting eggs.

making easter baskets.

enjoying perfect weather.

and really, most importantly, being reminded of why Jesus came, how he lived, how he died, how he defeated death and rose again. It is a beautiful message.

"when he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. while he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. and they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

luke 24:50-53

praise God today. rest in our Savior.

shalom.