On Good Friday

Pastor Scotty Smith on Good Friday...

“Lord Jesus, it’s the day in Holy Week we call “Good Friday.” I’ve always felt conflicted about calling the day of your crucifixion “good.” That there had to be a day when you, the God who made us for yourself, would be made sin for us is not good at all.On the other hand, that you so freely and fully gave yourself for us on the cross is never-to-be surpassed goodness. It is quintessential goodness, for out of the same heart came these two cries from the cross: “Father forgive them…”, and “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The first required the second. The second secured the first. Together they buckle my knees in wonder, still my heart with peace, and loose my tongue for praise…………….No one could ever take your life from you and we could never find life apart from you. Because you were fully forsaken, we are forever forgiven. Because you exhausted God’s judgment against our foul sin, we now live by the gift of your perfect righteousness. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! So very Amen, we pray, in your all glorious, all gracious name.”

Little Smiles

41. Chaco Weather

42. A week of long runs

43. This Hat

44. Being back in Nashville to celebrate friends

45. Diving into new books

46. Coffee Dates and Burma Valley Smoothies at The Forest

47. New Sushi Places

48. Days off with the labradoodle

49. Vintage finds for $2

50. Front porch quiet times

A Random and Spontaneous Weekend

As I am coming towards a close on my time in Greenville I find myself attempting to fit everything I want to do in not a whole lot of time and trying to take in every little moment. Despite my type A+ personality, I do sometimes attempt to be spontaneous so when my friend called me and asked if I wanted to go to Atlanta and see a Hawks game I said sure. It was 3 and the game was at 7:30 so I figured we had enough time. We drove to Clemson and met up with friends I had never met and drove to Atlanta. This would be an issue if I were not able to talk to a brick wall but since I can, I was cool with it. We made it to outside of Atlanta when the all powerful ATL traffic hit for no reason whatsoever other than that it was a Friday. A man also wordlessly offered us beer while we were stopped on a 5 lane highway for 20 straight minutes. Welcome to Atlanta where the players play indeed.

We met up with some others and had dinner after deciding that really missing the first part of the game wasn't such a big deal. I mean time with friends is priceless right? Cut to us driving around for 30 minutes looking for a place to park at the game. Did you know that the interstate cuts RIGHT through downtown and that you have to drive for 20 minutes to get around it? A man totally designed 85. We finally found a place to park and it was already halftime- so not looking good. We decided to be good citizens and pay to park at the least sketchy of the sketchy parking lots. Look when there is only one car in your parking lot, a rickety ticket booth, and some chains I ain't parking there. The parking lot was $10 and in my effort to contribute I may or may not have put in a dollar that was in fact taped together. And the machine may or may not have started freaking out and stopped working for a few minutes. Yeah, my bad. About the time the machine was spitting out my taped together dollar the other car called to say that the ticket booths were now closed. Soooo I guess we weren't going to see the game. Good thing there was Taco Mac where you can sit for 2 hours and eat some tacos while watching the basketball game happening in the arena beside you on TV. And then we got into the thankfully not broken into cars and drove back to Greenville. I wish I could say we have photographic evidence of such an epic adventure but we dont. Too bad because I really wanted to take a picture of that parking lot.

The next day I adventured into downtown Greer and discovered the coolest store in the entire world- Acme Hardware. They have ice cream and bulk candy, Chacos, a mini climbing wall, AND a Nerf gun on steriods arena complete with awesome helmets. Basically it is the coolest store ever and if I were a child in Greer I would insist on living there. Actually I would be ok living there now if they would let me sleep in one of their ENO hammocks and let me live off of Pixie Sticks and Birthday Cake Ice Cream.

Take no prisoners.

So not kidding about the helmets.

Also a giant metal chicken. Greatet. Store. Ever.

Rapunzel was there too.

Pinwheels for the less adventurous children.

Climbing wall yo.

Chacos Chacos Chacos.

They also had giant Tootsie Rolls. You know for your average giant.

Apparently Greer also has a city park with a fountain and playground that was too crowded to allow us to play on it to our hearts desire. Although the Greer po po will give you a nasty glare if your friend tries to jump into the fountain, just sayin. And I'm convinced will sick Kudzu bugs on you as punishment.

Who knew?

Fountain in which you are not allowed.

And the best way to end such an adventure? Irashiai Sushi in G-vegas. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you.

So until the next time I randomly decide to go to Atlanta, here's to more adventures.

Adventures in Charleston: Disaster Dress Edition

Even though I don't miss the insane humidity of Charleston, I do miss the people there so I was pretty excited to head down for the weekend for the annual wine tasting at the SC Aquarium. Because really is my natural habit not at an aquarium? So after driving through the monsoon that conviently located itself over my entire route I arrived and got ready in a record 11 minutes. Considering that work with kids all day, I feel like this is an accomplishment. Being both a girl and a micromanger I, of course, sent multiple outfit options to my friend to decide what the perfect outfit for a wine tasting with an albino alligator and jelly fish is.

Totally not kidding about the alligator.

Fast forward and we're in the car on the way to hang out with said alligator when I feel something pop on my dress. Yeah, that's not going to be good. Apparently the zipper on my dress just decided not to work anymore and I was left yelling at my friend to pull the car over and figure something out right.this.minute. And quick. To be fair this sort of thing has happened before but it was at a sorority function where the safety pins from a guy's suspenders saved the day. Unfortunately we had neither safety pins nor a MacGuyver in suspenders so back home we flew. Naturally the over planner in me had failed to see such a predictable event in my future and I hadn't packed another dress to wear. Because, you know, dont you always pack just in case your dress breaks? Well now I will...

Sad, broken dress

My dear friend Katie saved the day with a dress left over from her college days. Apparently I can wear a junior's dress still- if you finagle the straps up with a bow hair clip and in the words of the darling Tim Gunn, Make it Work. Of course this event did allow me to tell the story to anyone who told me they liked my dress and wear rhinestones for the first time since 8th grade. It also allowed me to pretend to be Katie for the entire evening in photos- I'm practicing for Halloween.

And best yet the weekend ended up being a blast filled with an incredible Mission's Conference, walks on the Cooper River Bridge, delicious food and time with friends! Apparently weekends that begin with a dress falling apart can end up being pretty wonderful.

At dinner with our friend George- the guy beside us wearing running clothes, sitting at a bar, and drinking Martinis. You know, the usual.

Little Smiles

Little Smiles:

31. Being back at Leopard Forest

32. Bike Rides with Daddy

33. Days of Long Runs

34. "Barton Hollow" The Civil Wars

35. Having a special needs Valentine

36. Starting a new journal

37. Holding week-old labrador puppies

38. Birthday flowers

39. "Come Away" by Jesus Culture

40. Phone Dates with some of the best friends a girl can have

So December and January were pretty fun.

Take a minute and breathe. Being incredibly type A and always going, going, going, I have to remind myself often to take a minute, be still, and breathe. Nothing helps me realize how beautiful this crazy life is more than looking back at pictures and realizing just how beautiful it all is. Reminding myself of God's goodness and blessings, of sweet friends, of our own utter ridiculousness, of memories in the making. So here are my breaths of stillness and happiness from the past 2 months.

December: A blur of taking final exams, moving, getting to see friends, Christmas festivities, and lots of laughter.

Med School Prom- and getting to hang out with this lovely lady and all of our awkward faces

The sweetest Bible Study girls who make me laugh and my life happy

Finishing classes for OT school with some amazing friends

Being reunited with this beutiful lady in Nashvegas!

Orpyland lights!

Finally meeting the one and only Chewie Bear

Silly Gifts

Getting to be home for Christmas

Christmas morning with a sweet Scarley dog

The hilarity that is our family at Christmas

January: A New Year spent on Shem Creek, moving (again), starting step 1 to the real world, MCO Winter Retreat turning 24, and rediscovering Greenville.

Walks on Sullivan's Island

Holy City Sunset from Pitt St. Bridge

Being back in Charleston, even for a few days

New Years on Shem Creek with Oysters

Hiking with my amazing, beautiful friends

Getting to be with my ridiculous friends at retreat

Birthdays with my momma

Having the best daddy in the world who makes me hilarious birthday songs.

Being reunited with sweet friends (while baking!)

A Year in Review

What on earth have I been doing with my life?

Case it point, I started writing this blog December 31st- you know, like a month ago. Isn't that terrible? I thought that surely with classes ending and rotations starting I would have all of this time to be crafty, sew clothes, write blogs, help plan friends' weddings, pintrest excessively, etc. etc. But the truth is I got thrown into the real world head first and I'm still reeling. Of course rotations are wonderful and I am in love with all the sweet special littles I get to see and not having homework for the first time in my 24 years is the best.thing.ever. No, what gets me is the schedule. I get up at 6:15 or 6:30 (ok who am I kidding, its 6:35 now), go to work all day, come home and force myself to run so I don't go insane, watch Jeopardy, eat and pass out in my bed. I am regular par-tay animal. Seeing as I went straight from college to graduate school I have never actually had a real job apart from being a camp counselor. After my first full day, I called my mom to apologize for all the times I made fun of her for falling asleep during "Project Runway" because I get it now. At 9:30 I want nothing more than to curl up in my bed and sleep.

Of course I am getting to do all of this in Greenville so I can't really complain. I can't even explain what it's like to be back. Sure I miss Charleston because I adore the beach and of course adore my friends there even more. But nothing can compare to the fresh mountain air here, being in my favorite coffee shop without homework to do, finding a new incredible church and getting to do what I love. Basically, God knows what He's doing- which is a good thing because if we'd followed the plan I came up with when I was 16 I'd be married and living in Ireland. 2011 was a rollercoaster of a year. There were tears and triumphs, times I just wanted to curl up and crawl and times where my heart broke for the world around me. But I also got to make some truly amazing friends and learn more about myself than I ever thought possible while living in a place that only God could make so beautiful. And I finally fulfilled the dream of my 10 year old self and visit the continent that has called to my heart for so long. I made friends thousands of miles away in East Africa and friends down the street. 2011 was pretty stinkin good but so far 2012 looks bright.

But because I'm incredibly cheesy and love things like this... here's my year in review.

Flights taken: 6

Continents visited: 2

Days in Uganda: 10

Times I played the entire "The Reckoning" album from Needtobreathe: 20 and counting

New bands discovered and subsequently can't stop listening to: 10

Diet Cokes had: let's just not say and say that we did

Seasons of Arrested Development watched (for the 3rd time): 3

Times my childhood ended: 1- I'm looking at you Harry Potter.

Books read for fun: 15 (including the Hunger Games which if you haven't read you need to right.this.minute)

Harry Potter books read over Christmas: 4

Times bathroom flooded: only once but it was incredibly traumatic

Times "Super Bass" played: shameful

Times moved: 2

Times then vowed to move never again if I could help it: Countless

Classes taken: 15 (ish)- I think I might have blocked some of them out.

Blogs read: Also shameful

Hours spent on Pintrest: Let's not go there.

Awesome years: 1