finally.

it finally feels like F A L L. pulling on sweatpants this morning in order to make my coffee was an exceptional way to wake up. as i drove to nanny, i could see the colors of fall creeping into the trees. leaves are falling as the wind blows. it's perfect. and i love it.

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via Cydnee on Pinterest

as you know, Adele pulled a ninja move on us an cancelled her concert sunday. sister and i made the trip to ATL anyways and it was quite better then expected. lunch at Houston's (always a crowd pleaser) and conversation on the couch always proves to encourage, motivate and challenge me. not to mention the company was far above any adele concert. we enjoyed laughs, breakfast for dinner, a roach named allen and a 24-hour gas station. needless to say, i am ready to go back to atlanta again.

this weekend auburn exceeded my expectations as well. they beat florida. and it wasn't a heart wrenching event. i was proud of the tigers and enjoyed not going into cardiac arrest at the end of the game. so war eagle to that.

stead ventured to auburn this weekend. i was pleased to see him on the plains, however not so pleased with his choice in colors. typical of a "the other team" fan i guess. kidding... he didn't wear crimson, just florida blue and green. either way, sister and i are going to have to work hard at getting him here. but it is a battle we are willing to take.

monday munchies didn't happen... neither did tasty tuesday. so i guess wonderful wednesday will have to suffice. here is something i found that i think is wonderful. we have two categories... food (shocking i know) and event in the news.

1. food. feast your little eyes on these two things...

Source: wholefoodsmarket.com via Morgan on Pinterest

these are Cheesy Lasagna Rolls with Spinach and Ricotta and they look SO GOOD. they are beautifully put together too. honestly, the recipe doesn't sound too difficult either. it's a new way to spice up an old favorite.

and now this... i realized i must really like this because i pinned it twice on Pinterest....

Source: picasaweb.google.com via Morgan on Pinterest

i mean how cute is that. it's individual, which makes everyone feel special. AND you can customize for each person if you wanted, which is something i love. i really want do these for something... so give me something to do them for!

2. news...

Parents Urged Again to Limit TV for Youngest

Daniel Lai/Aurora Photos

Watching TV while a parent is busy: Video screen time has no educational benefits for young children, a report says.

Found this article in the NY Times today... i agree with this. and, as you are well aware, i do not watch tv anyways... so yea. i thought this was interesting. not really "wonderful" but you get the idea...

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looking forward to some new pictures from this weekend. NOLA and Baton Rouge could be a promising event for my nikon and me.

maybe i'll be brave enough to take the nikon to the game... we'll see.

until then....

a verse from my devotion today/last night

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." Mark 9:35

darkness.

Source: None via Melanie on Pinterest

for the first time in my life, i actually have a glimpse into what it means to be blind; to actually live in darkness.

sunday morning i woke up with red, bloodshot, weeping eyes. i thought i was having a reaction to my contacts. but they weren't getting better, unlike the times in the past. sunday, i was so sensitive to light, i went to bed at 7:45. no joke. i haven't been to bed that early since i was 7.

monday, after a day of nannying, kimmy called the med clinic, took me, and we discovered i had 3 abrasions on the upper third of my left eye.

eww. it hurt as much as you can imagine. they gave me drops, but i went to bed by 8 monday night. i felt like an old woman.

but monday and tuesday, i really couldn't stand to me in any light all day. thankfully, it was raining and cloudy all day, allowing me to stay cooped up in my bedroom like a recluse.

i experienced real darkness. 

and of course, the Lord showed me something through it...

there are so many times i grow comfortable in my life here at Auburn. we live here in a little bubble, and forget that there are people who daily struggle and are persecuted for their beliefs in Christ. however, living in the "Bible belt", we don't experience this as much.

i don't know what it's like to live in darkness without the Lord. everyday, i encounter Him. i recognize Him. i spend time with Him. 

i know Him.

but there are so many who don't. and that's what Jesus was reminding me the past two days... don't forget those who live in constant darkness. i need to remember those who suffer to live their lives for the Lord... not grow so comfortable.

it reminds me of africa. of my little ugandan children. i am praying the Lord will give me a heart for where He wants me to go. back to africa... or somewhere else.

i just wanna share the light. 

Source: vi.sualize.us via Adrienne on Pinterest

diligently.

this year, my dgroup and i are reading Lady in Waiting. it is exceptional. i would recommend it to any woman. really any demographic applies... younger, older, married, single, divorced. whichever.

i especially love reading it during the time of my life i am in right now.

Source: weheartit.com via * lEYSA on Pinterest

this past week we read about diligence. about becoming a woman who is diligently pursuing what the Lord has for her in her life. not fantasising about some knight in shining armor who probably is never going to make it to the front door. instead, we must strive for a relationship with the Lord. just as Ephesians 5:16 says, we must make the most of EVERY opportunity the Lord gives us. that includes an opportunity to be single.

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i started back the running. went for 2.3 miles thursday morning and it felt really great. today, i plan on running as far as i can. we'll see how that goes...

dad and i are doing the half marathon on Thanksgiving and i HAVE to get back into the swing of things.

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in other news.....

i am  upset ....mad...angry... devastated. Adele cancelled her north american tour. i honestly almost cried. she has a hemorrhage in her vocal chord, which i guess is a big deal. she cancelled them all... atlanta, nashville, austin, orlando, miami... all. of. them.

i am sad. but em and i decided to travel to atlanta anyways and enjoy a day with the grandparents and just exploring some atlanta stuff. 

dad is trying to get a refund. but still... every time i hear an adele song, i get sad...

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this week has been full of faithfulness; the kind of faithfulness i need to share. this week has been packed with hard stuff. emotional conversations, a nerve wracking interview, cancelled plans, rude behavior, disappointing news... fill in the blank. however, the Lord has filled me with JOY every single morning. joy that i know only comes from him. not happiness, we know that is conditional. this is something i have not experienced. super natural. joy that only comes from God, my Lord and Savior. 

His faithfulness to remind me he is ever present has been beautiful this week. yesterday, i sat with two of my best friends and cried over the LOVE and FAITHFULNESS of the Lord. the way his promises are reviled in His time. a magnificent display of his power, and awesomeness. 

i am constantly blown away by this love. today, i look outside, and all i see is his love. i got coffee with em this morning. and in her eyes, i see his love for me, by giving me a sister like that. 

just needed to share... joy does come in the morning. never forget that. 

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i am SUPER excited about tonight. kimmy and i are having a wonderful, fantastic, relaxing saturday at home. we went shopping after my coffee date with em, and i actually bought clothes. i am so cheap. and i actually spent money on two dresses and shoes. 

mom would be so proud of me...

but i am making roasted brussel sprouts tonight and baked balsamic vinegrette chicken. kimmy is making dinner too and we are going to sit around and watch the auburn game and enjoy some qt time together. 

Source: ahintofhoney.com via Karen on Pinterest

thank you pinterest for inspiring me...

oh and WAR EAGLE. beat ark pleaseeeee

weekend/weekbegin.

this weekend was wonderful. friday the grands picked me up on their way to montgomery to watch stead. quality time with them is always welcomed. we drove back saturday morning and had coffee at mcdonalds at exit 51. i was wearing tps sweats and chacos. definitely a look to remember.

saturday was spent doing my favorite things. cleaning [seriously, i love cleaning the apt. makes me feel so productive, domestic, and refreshed. not many things allow you to feel this way], watching college football, threw in a little exercise, fall weather, Amsterdam's for dinner, candles and open windows before bed... that is the equation for a good saturday.

although most of these things were done solo, i could not have asked for a better day. [i even did all my homework] sunday was great as well. you can't beat Cornerstone fellowship and worship, studying and two lattes [don't tell mom...] and bed time at 9:30. overall, i deserved points for productivity and usefulness. too bad we took the points system down...

now playing: ben rector- hank.
i do spotify now, which is great, if you do not know what it is, google it. download. and fall in love.
ben rector is one of my playlists. today whilst studying, Hank came on. i restarted it and listened again to the lyrics. it's the sweetest song. he wrote it to his nephew and it touched my heart. i'd love to do something similar for my sibs kids one day...

To a boy who looks just like his mother, who's a sister to her brother, who sings this song to that boy from far away

I am young but you are younger until you speak more words then mumble, You have to lend an ear to everything i say.

So be kind and love your mother and your father, though sometimes they seem to bother come by, Hank, and you'll know. 

There the ones who'll always love you and support you, they prayed for you before you stepped foot into this world. That's one thing that I've learned.

I remember you were walking, in a month I'll hear you talking. There's a million things I'd love to say to you.Though your parents, they are wiser and will be better advisers, maybe hearing these things twice will get them through.

Go and find a girl for whom your love is selfless, someone who makes you helpless, to change the way you feel. But stay away from girls who always look so pretty, who's hearts just aren't fitting for the man in you I see. 

Would you remember that for me?

i just thought it was sweet.

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red finger nails.

Source: tumblr.com via Morgan on Pinterest

it's time. october for me means fall... which also means red fingernails. it's a sort of signature of mine that i did not discover until now. i love red nails. right now mine are "valentine" by Revlon. they will be "vixen" in November. don't know why, just glad it is finally red fingernail time.

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monday munchies.
today is a little too busy for me to do this, but i am going to start doing one recipe a week on mondays. here is one for you to dream about me making, because two tests today might not be a good combo in the kitchen...

Source: foodgawker.com via Morgan on Pinterest

Lasagna Soup
(print recipe)

for the soup:
2 tsp. olive oil
1-1/2 lbs. Italian sausage
3 c. chopped onions
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2 T. tomato paste
1 28-oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
6 c. chicken stock
8 oz. mafalda or fusilli pasta
1/2 c. finely chopped fresh basil leaves
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

for the cheesy yum:
8 oz. ricotta
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. salt
pinch of freshly ground pepper

2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add sausage, breaking up into bite sized pieces, and brown for about 5 minutes. Add onions and cook until softened, about 6 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute. Add tomato paste and stir well to incorporate. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the tomato paste turns a rusty brown color.

Add diced tomatoes, bay leaves, and chicken stock. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add uncooked pasta and cook until al dente. Do not over cook or let soup simmer for a long period of time at this point, as the pasta will get mushy. Stir in basil and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

While the pasta is cooking, prepare the cheesy yum. In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, salt, and pepper.

To serve, place a dollop of the cheesy yum in each soup bowl, sprinkle some of the mozzarella on top and ladle the hot soup over the cheese.

Servings:  8

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found this last night in the midst of looking at job openings in the atlanta and birmingham areas. why i was looking in October... who knows. but i was, and i found this instead. 

i love when God reminds me of things....

Source: chasingafterhearts.blogspot.com via Flaming on Pinterest

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Source: elizabethgilbert.com via Ariel on Pinterest

I have been reading eat. pray. love while nannying after i study and such. i saw the movie last year, but i love a good book and this is definitely good.

i discovered my love for a place i have not even been to yet. a place full of mystery and love. and carbs. and beautiful words and even more beautiful landscaping created by masters of architecture and The Master of gardening.

i love italy.

and i want to go. and get lost.

it is one of the journeys i need have to go on. before i am married. i literally want to pack my things, fly over, and get lost.

sometimes, when you're lost somewhere, it is the only way you can ever be found. or find yourself.

i believe there is so much romance [not love romance, but world romance] in italy. relationships with words, foods, buildings, and the people who made it happen.

imagine getting lost in this place.....

Source: tumblr.com via Brooke on Pinterest

until another day...

falling: in and out.

i have discovered something ironic about myself. although i was a gymnast from age 2 and have walked on a balance beam long enough to be considered "talented", i am clumsy. 

not necessarily in the traditional sense of the word, someone who falls down a lot, literally, but i've learned through recent events in my life, falling in and out of things is a basic necessity to being called human.

examples: falling in and out of love, in and out of like, in and out of step, swing, place, rhythm.

need i continue this list... 

a couple weeks ago at Cornerstone, Rusty spoke about Peter walking on the water with Jesus. but he started to sink... fall into the water. why?

he took his eyes off the PRIZE. he took his eyes off of Jesus. clumsily, Peter got all nervous, like clumsy people do when they are off balance, and before you could say "go" Peter's tunic hem was all wet. 

sound familiar? sure, because our ADD, clumsy, stupid sheep-like humanity gets in the way. we hear little whispers from the Evil one... you're gonna trip, you're gonna fall, i told you you could not make it....

shhhhhh. focus. on track. like when we're running toward something, you cannot start looking around, you'll fall. [remember the mailbox incident... yeah. don't look around]

Source: blog.whereisthecool.com via Dana on Pinterest

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i was thinking about falling/ falling in the sense of the word of falling- the act of experiencing the season of fall/ and this came to mind. so i thought i'd share. 

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so what does fall look like for me??? oh let's see... october means...

Source: None via Danielle on Pinterest

LSU. geaux-ing [haha] to baton rouge to watch the tigers go head to head. should be a very interesting weekend.                    going to NOLA... eeeee            

Source: None via Julie on Pinterest

LITTLE EMILY GETS INITIATED. 
that just makes want to burst. i get to pin her... yayyyyyy

Source: weheartit.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

Source: curvymagazine.com via Sara on Pinterest

OCTOBER 16th. need i say anything more about this??? i literally cannot wait to see this amazingly talented artist sing at the FOX [better venue...? nope]

mostly i am looking forward to running again. the leg is all healed and i am signing up for the atlanta half marathon again in November. i miss the road. i miss the long afternoon runs. 

Source: weheartit.com via Carmen on Pinterest

fall is my favorite. 

lattes are now acceptable for everyday consumption. boots and leggings will be my wardrobe wear-out. 

my obscene amount of scarves will come off the hangers. 

thinking about it makes me happy. 

Walk with ME in intimate Love-steps,

but do not loose sight of My Majesty - Jesus

bubba.

bubba. the name my little brother was given at age... 2 maybe? well it stuck for a while. and it was pretty cute.

stead was a round, blond angel. i always felt a special connection with little stead, because i knew he was a boy all along. literally, before mom and dad went to the ultrasound, i told them it was going to be a boy. low and behold. he was.

i still remind them of this story often. because i was right... which is kinda rare.

but as i have watched my little bubba grow up, i am honestly amazed at the young man he has become. he surprises me every time i come home. whether he has grown a foot, or his biceps have grown larger than my waist, or i am told about him leading a bible study with his peers; i am constantly blown away by him.

last night, after i took some medication for a headache, i was lying in my bed, about to go to sleep. Stead walked in with his guitar and told me he wanted to play me to sleep to help me feel better.

really? what an amazing little brother. i almost cried as he was playing. either it was the meds, or the genuine love he was showing.

i love my bubba. i miss him everyday when i am in auburn. so does little em.

hello. hello.

well hello again. 

it has been quite some time since i last wrote my blog fans anything interesting. or anything for that matter. i hate always having to apologize... so i wont waste your time with an excuse. we will just start at the beginning.

first of all, happy senior year to me. cannot and almost refuse to believe it is my last year (as of this moment) at this beautiful university i have called home for the past three years. it's unreal to me that in May, i will dress in cap and gown and receive a piece of paper that says i completed however many hours i needed. 

so many wonderful things have happened over the past three years. all the schooling is only a small piece of what i learned at Auburn. and this year has only just begun... i feel i am taking leaps compared to the steps taken these past three years. it's amazing what one summer can do...

today is actually my love Kimmy's 22nd birthday! we have had a wonderful year and some months living together. she is my laughing buddy, my funny face picture taking, my baking guinea pig, glasses stylin', uber photogenic, super supportive, gracious, loving, WISE best friend. she lights up rooms with her laugh and her love. if you don't know miss kimmy, you need to get to know her. she'll rock your socks off. 

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i am so happy that my baby sister is an ADPi with me now! she is a little alpha and i am LOVING having her in Auburn. i couldn't be more lucky and thankful to have a sister like her... now she is my TRIPLE sister (biologically, in Jesus, and adpi) cheesy... yes for sure. but i don't care. she is my absolute best friend. 

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in other news... 

 here are some things i've been up to this semester so far:

1. stead's football games

we try to back for as many as possible. he is a junior playing receiver/running back and a rockstar. i miss him every single day. i wish he was here on the Plains with Em and i, but at least he is only 45 short minutes away. i get to see him this weekend and i am very, very excited. 

2. i turned 21.

enough said. 

3.  dressed like a hippy for psychedelic. it was one of the better events of my college career. i have amazing friends. and we have an amazing time together. 

el presidente

some psychedelic chicks

fraser. my great great date. rocked that shirt.

auburn football was disappointing this weekend. after traveling to clemson and watching our wonderful boys loose was difficult...impossible. i am hoping we come back stronger this week. i saw Gene today at church and i just wanted to give him a hug. he'll be getting some flack from this. i just hope he knows we are still "all in." i love my tigers. 

i wish i had some fun stories on top of my mind right now. i don't. but i will be working on it over this week. 

i am so EXCITED about what the Lord is doing. i want to dedicate another post to simply that. and i think i will. hopefully it will be popping out in the next couple of days. until then... i hope your little hearts out there in blog world can take the anticipation. ha. 

ps.... 21 days until ADELE!!!!!!!!

i get to see her with Emily for my birthday at the FOX. i am slightly excited (as you can tell from above)