I haven't written in three weeks. :(

Have I mentioned that I've been taking 21 hours this semster?

Yep, 21. Crazy. Long story of why I'm taking such a load, but it has nothing to do with the name of this blog (other than of course I'm 21 years old and think I can conquer the world, starting with all of these courses). Hehe.

Anyways, I have not forgotten the blog and am sorry that time has not allowed for me to post as much as I have wanted. Life is going on- I'm still trying new recipes, taking photos and living with heart. And the Lord is blessing me in big ways.

However, this thing called school has slowed me down lately.

So, be looking forward for a couple of weeks from now when classes are over and I am home with my family, sitting on my parents' back porch, sipping sweet tea and looking out over an East Texas pasture chatting with my mom and sister. Then, I'll be posting something lengthy on here, sharing my experiences of the semester. It's really been a great one. The best yet actually.

Until then, I will be studying... :)

Beware of Christians

My friend Matt Owen and his friends made a movie.

I met Matt about a month ago in bus on the way to Austin for the Abbott Family Leadership Conference. Somehow our converstation turned to traveling and I asked him about places he had been. Then, he begin to tell of his trip to Europe with his friends this summer. He was so humble, telling me of their vision for their trip and eventually of this movie they had made to share their experience with us.

It's being shown in College Station next Wednesday and Thursday.

www.bewareofchristians.com

Turning Home

This is my new favorite song.

No town like the old town, No friends like the old friends, No love like the first love.

I love, love, love my hometown. You've heard me talk about it before and you'll hear me talk about it again. Logan and I dream of moving back there someday and raising our family in the place we love so much, surrounded by the friends and family that we've had for decades.

Usually after being home for breaks, I remember again how much I am deeply connected to that place and those people. It has made me who I am.

This Spring Break it was even more so.

My Uncle Tom died after battling a brain tumor for a year. It was an incredibly rough week. However, it made me feel so, so blessed for my family and I to live in a community that loves us. The outpouring of love and support for him, my aunt and cousins and family as he neared the end and stepped into heaven was astounding.

God gave us so many gifts that week,

amidst so much sadness and hurt.

He was a great man and part of what made that town what it is.

You'll hear more about him, how much we loved him and where he is now later.

Today, this is what was on my heart and I wanted to share.

If anyone from Quitman, Texas is reading this, I hope you have been as blessed as I have been.

From the man who gave us the light bulb:

"If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literallly astound ourselves."

-Thomas Edison

Today's thoughts:

"Good art is not what it looks like, but

what it does to us."

- Roy Adzak, American artist

"Look beyond the paint.

Let us try to open our minds

to a new idea."

- Julia Roberts at Kathrine Watson in Mona Lisa Smile.

She is an original.

I love that part about moms taking care of babies and the children

no matter where they come from.

I have this plan: I'm going to move to Austin, meet Sandra in one of her restaurants and we're just going to become great friends. Yup, that's what's going to happen.

But seriously, this woman is so real.

I admire her.

((And you've got to check out that dress!!!))

Seeking out adventure

Adventure:

ad-ven-ture (noun)1 a : an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks b : the encountering of risks 2 : an exciting or remarkable experience

I fell like I'm in a constant state of restlessness. The world is out there waiting for me to discover it. The problem is, I'm broke. A college girl with no cash to get me to the Amazon yet,

I fell trapped.

I want to be an adventuress.

ad-ven-tur-ess (noun) : a female adventurer; especially :

one who seeks position or livelihood by questionable means

But what constitutes an adventure again?

I can find "remarkable experiences" right where I am.

Someday I will travel through every (safe) country in South America,

hike the wilderness of Alaska and visit communities in Africa.

(My three A's are Amazon, Alaska and Africa. :) )

However, until then I will make adventures happen around me,

trying new things and making discoveries.

Thankfully, Texas has so mucuh to uncover anyways.

Note: I've loved National Geographic since I was a kid. My grandmother used to have a subscription and I can remembered being marveled by the world as a little girl sitting in her living room looking at the pictures. They are probably part of what built this desire inside me to travel and learn about the world. National Geographic has part of their website devoted to adventure. It even gives adventures to embark on in the US.

You should check it out!

This gives me chills:

We Are The World

Help Kristen help Haiti!

My friend Kristen (who is one of the coolest chicks I know) is going to Haiti over spring break with a local church to love on the people there and help with the relief effort.

She's trusting God to bring her the finances to make this trip happen and is selling paintings like this to help raise funds.

You can check out more cool paintings and other ways you could help her on Kristen's blog.

Help Kristen...help Haiti.

I like to be artsy.

I had forgotten how much I loved painting until I painted this over Christmas break.

There is something so relaxing about the way paint comes off the brush onto the canvas, and letting your imagination run loose.

Creativity is fun and no doubt, a gift to us from the Father.

We are all artists.

Here's a great and powerful talk on how Christian artists can use their art to reach a broken world.

David Taylor-In His Own Words from The Austin Stone on Vimeo.