Because we could.

It was one of those beautiful days that popped up in the middle of winter.  It was in the 60's and sunny, and we went on a date at the park.  We read and talked, and snapped this photo of ourselves with his fancy camera. Because we could.

Sick Days.

For the last two days, I've been stuck in bed with this awful cold type thing.  I haven't been this sick since I was in Scotland last summer.

I've been filling my time with all sorts of things.  By all sorts of things, I really mean all sorts of TV shows.

Ok, and I'll admit that I actually watched this too...

And I liked it.

Monday afternoon, Josiah pulled off surprising me and came over and brought me medicine and tea.  He spent his afternoon taking care of me and reading out loud to me.  He prayed for me, made me guacamole (because he knew that if I'd eat anything it would be something involving avocados), and made me drink TONS of water and tea.  It was the best surprise ever.  I am so thankful for him.

Caroline came over Monday night and brought me Moose Tracks ice cream.  We ate way too much of it, and just sat and talked for a couple of hours.  It was so good for my heart to be with her, and to have these people that I love drive 30+ minutes to see me while I was sick.

Tuesday pretty much looked like this:

Allie and I had Tuesday night dinner dates every week for the last two years.  We were supposed to have dinner together last night, but I was sick.  She texted me and said she heard I was sick, and she was coming over and bringing me Moe's for dinner.  I tried to argue, but it didn't work.  She came and hung out for a few hours.  Our friendship is one of those that was completely unexpected, but I'm so SO glad she's in my life.

Today, I got up and got ready in hopes that acting like I was better would make me better.  It didn't work.  But, I did spend today working on Scotland support raising.  Get ready for a fairly long blog post explaining my upcoming move to Scotland!

Learning.

I am waiting.
God is working.
I am learning.

"And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, 

because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." 

Romans 8:27

Move. Eat. Learn.

These videos have stolen my heart.

3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage... all to turn 3 ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food.



MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.




EAT from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.




LEARN from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

The Little Things, Number Eleven.

126. God's promises to provide, always fulfilled in His timing.
127. Good books.
128. Sunday afternoons.
129. Skype, and the ability to see the faces of people I love in Scotland and in Spain.
130. Laughter in the kitchen.
131. Converge Coffee Company's coffee.
132. Texting.
133. My bookshelf.
134. Seasons of life, and how quickly they come and go.
135. Learning to live fully in each season.
136. Reading out loud.
137. The presence of grace.
138. The Yellow Deli.
139. Sunny days.
140. Bright stars on clear nights.
141. Josh Garrels' Love and War and The Sea in Between.

Is this real life?

Yes, yes it is.

Currently, "real life," aka post-grad life, trying-to-find-a-job life, living-with-my-parents life, looks like this in my planner:

I feel like I'm kind of in a holding pattern.  You know, when a plane can't land at an airport yet, so it just has to fly around in circles, leaving its passengers anxiously anticipating their arrival?  I feel like a perpetual passenger on an airplane that doesn't know when or where it will land.  

I'm waiting to hear back about two different job interviews.  I'm waiting to figure out more details for Scotland before I continue raising support.  I'm just waiting.  God is teaching me patience in ways that I never would have anticipated.  And I'm choosing to praise Him for it.

Because although I'm running out of money, have no set plans, and am not nearly as busy as I was a month ago, I'm learning to just be.  I'm taking advantage of being able to sleep as late as I want every. single. day.  I'm reading books that I want to read, not books I have to read.  I get to choose to learn.  Choose to spend time with people.  Choose to organize the room I'm living in, because I've never lived in it before and everything needs a place.

I need to enjoy now, because now will never happen again.  

I do need a job.  And I'm actively looking for one.  But instead of stressing about it and being miserable while I wait, I'm choosing to learn and to enjoy where God has placed me.

Enjoying looks like:

 These two. Lots of these two.

 Saturday nights on the mountain.

 Much needed time with the roommates.

Bread baking. 

Boyfriend. 

Reading + coffee + boyfriend. 

 Getting creative in my salad making.

Loving the sunshine.

For now, I'm just going with it, thanking God every step of the way.

Lately, according to my iPhone.

Time for a photo update.

On the last night of classes, a bunch of us from Jungle did pilates in the commons.  In the middle of it, I suggested we should make a waffle house run (because of course you need greasy food after a work out).  We put rain boots over our sweat pants, and headed down the mountain for my last middle-of-the-night-waffle-house-run. ever.

Lyss + The Roommates went to Rock City to see the lights the night I turned in my SIP.  So good.

I have so. much. stuff.  How am I supposed to move across an ocean?

This happened on my last day of school ever.  And I promised I would never date a Covenant guy...

Last Day in Fouders: Me + AC.

Me + Caroline.

Love this rain + this place.

Christmas Road Trip!  Morris kids go to Savannah.

Christmas Eve.

IPC Savannah.

Candle lit singing.

Oldest + Youngest Cousins.

Time for presents!

12 + 21. Cousins.

Girls night + Baxter at Blythe's house.

New Year's Eve Bonfire.

3rd Annual Jug Drop - New Year's Eve Party at Baxter's.

Happy New Year!

Can't wait for this years' adventures.