Darling

I decided that "darling" is my favorite term of endearment. I never say it but I love it so much. So I may just start...be ready. Some great things about today...I decided to put curlers in my hair, just for fun. I also made a dang good smoothie: peach Greek yogurt, strawberries, raspberries, frozen banana, orange juice, milk, and honey...YUM. I organized my craft stuff to declutter my floor a little. I'm listening to a playlist of covers that I just made...I have some real good music, if I do say so myself.

10 awesome things about Wyldlife today...

1. A mom who had received my Wyldlife email came expecting to meet Rich McDermott's wife. When I introduced myself to her as Ellen McDermott, she got very flustered and confused. Then she told me I looked like I was in middle school.

2. One of the girls turned away from me when I tried to give her a hug...sometimes they're hard to love.

3. We played Duck-Duck-Goose and they loved it. Who knew?

4. We played Over the Mountain even though some of the boys thought they were too cool for it and I think they secretly loved it.

5. I ran more than any of the middle school kids when we played Capture the Flag.

6. A few new girls coming to Wyldlife also go to Camp T, which rocks.

7. We got to be outside at the park during a sweet sunset.

8. I kept turning around whenever the boys said Alan's name.

9. My team came up with a sweet list of team-bonding activities that we're gonna do this semester.

10. Instead of going to Waffle House, my team came to Ellen's House and I made quesadillas and they inhaled a lot of our food. Tristin said she felt very loved and they all liked my Raspberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies. I like that I can love my team by cooking and feeding them.

Best friends are the best

And I have the best best friends. Got to talk to this girl today. And it made my heart happy.

Photo courtesy of Paco.

Dear You...

I've been on this letter-writing thing recently. It makes me feel like I can still love people, even when they're far away. Plus who doesn't love getting mail?? So I've been crafting cards, writing notes, sending postcards, and receiving wonderful letters. It's the best ever. You should try it.

p.s. Look how cute my best friends are! It's their 21st birthday. They rock and I love them a lot.

Life to the full

I got to spend this weekend at Crooked Creek with lots of Young Life leaders, youth group leaders, and other cool people that love Jesus. I got to hear some good speakers and I got to spend time with some people that I love. It included lots of emotions, good conversations, and laughter, of course.

One thing that I heard that stuck with me was based on John 10:10..."The thief comes only to kill and steal and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it to the full." I have loved this verse for a long time, but now I am able to think about it a little differently. A full life or an abundant life is not just a happy, rainbows and butterflies life. The fullness includes joy and love for sure. But it also includes pain and sorrow. Because even those things are beautiful and purposeful. My desire is that I would be able to praise the Lord for all of it, the joy and the sorrow. I want to soak it all in and live my life and feel the sweet fullness of it.

I really like this quote that I just found and I think it relates to this idea of full life. I am so often looking forward to and dreaming of the future, or reminiscing on and feeling nostalgic for the past, so this is something that I want to become better at. 

p.s. On a totally and completely unrelated note, I have grown increasingly certain that my alter-ego is a gangsta.

{SIGH}

I have become a bit of a blog addict. I have recently subscribed to a lot more blogs and sometimes they overwhelm me and I feel like I shouldn't subscribe to so many. But sometimes, like tonight, I'm glad I found these randoms. Here is a great guest post in a blog that I found through Kelle Hampton's blog:
http://www.thewiegands.com/2012/09/a-mentor-post-guest-post.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thewiegands%2FZbOa+%28The+Wiegand%27s%29

Also, check this hilarity out...I love when my fam (in this case, Cathy) sends me these gems:

Waffle Cone Wednesday

Some great things happened today. I went to Kinard (the middle school I lead Wyldlife at) for lunch. I wasn't able to make it to lunch last semester but I've been twice this semester and it is fun! Middle school is one of the best people-watching environments ever. And I feel like I'm already meeting lots more kids than I did last year.

Liv got her SENIOR PICTURES taken today. WHAT???! So crazy. But I got to help with her hair and go watch the photo-shoot with my mom and it was awesome. My sister is dang pretty. We had dinner at Spoons afterwards and I got a pesto goat cheese sandwich...it was as amazing as it sounds.

Then I went with the guys from my Wyldlife team, Greg and Alan, to get TCBY. We scootered over there and, upon our arrival, we were informed that it is Waffle Cone Wednesday. All the fro-yo + toppings you can fit in a waffle cone for $2.99. Translation: BEST DAY EVER. Seriously, if you know me at all, you know how happy that made me.

Another great thing about today is that two of my favorite rom-com's arrived in the mail from Amazon. I got them way cheap and I can't wait to watch them [often] while I procrastinate on life.