shuffle.

I was visiting over at Short Southern Momma's blog- and decided to steal her idea of a very random post. I only have over 2,000 songs on my ipod. The songs vary anywhere from classical, to christian, alternative, jazz, rap,  and all the way to a little Southern rock. You'll mostly find country on my playlists, but I like just about everything. Isn't it funny how we can be in a different "music mood" every day? I know my mood changes all the time!

Here's the first 10 songs on my ipod shuffle.

1. How Should I know {Eli Young Band}

2. Collide {Howie Day}

3. Pretty Eyes {Jason Reeves}

4. Only You Can Love Me This Way {Keith Urban}

5. The Little Things {Colbie Caillat}

6. I Still Believe {Jeremy Camp}

7. A Storm Blew In {Brandon Rhyder}

8. We Are Broken {Paramore}

9. Please Don't Stop the Music {Rihanna}

10. Whatcha Say {Jason Derulo}

Pretty random list of songs! Haha. Gotta love the random posts! So what's on your shuffle playlist??

summer projects.

Hi friends! Sorry I've been out of the loop lately. I've missed you all dearly. Summer is HERE!! FINALLY. I tried to stay off my laptop during the week of final exams. Once they were all done I celebrated with friends. Relaxed. And just enjoyed myself. I packed up and headed home to stay with my parents for a few weeks.

It has been just lovely. It has been nice at home just doing things around the house. I always have to have projects. I like to keep myself busy. Who would've thought? After a CRAZY long semester of classes you'd think I'd like to take it easy. Well, I did take a couple days to be a couch potato, but that didn't last long! I'm not working right now, and I don't start summer classes until the first of July. Since my parents are working I always try to do my part when I've got free time - and get some things done that they don't have the time to do. So these next few weeks I'm looking forward to being one busy girl! Here are a few things I've gotten started on...

1. Excercise 5 days a week

2. Clean OUT closets

3. Have a garage sale

4. Paint guest bedroom

5. Backyard flowerbeds

I do love projects! Especially if it involves organizing, or getting rid of junk. The excercising- not so much. Blehh. But hey, I'm doing good so far. Since I don't have my gym here I take Bella to the local park where we have a real nice 3.5 mile trail. I've gone every morning this week. I really look forward to the trail. It leads through woods that run smack in the middle of town. Over a few small streams, and by several children's parks. For that hour and 15 minute walk- no cell phone, no internet, simply just my ipod playlists and the whistling of nature that surrounds me. I really enjoy it a lot more than the treadmill. I get so bored with that machine... My parents are putting our house on the market later this year so we're doing our best to clean out as much as we can. I've always been a major packrat so now it's time to throw out old junk! There's a few rooms in the house that I'd like to repaint. Some good neutral colors will do... I absolutely LOVE working in the flowerbeds! I like to get my hands dirty. Isn't it strange that I'd much rather pull weeds, trim hedges, and plant rather than paying somebody else to do it?! I don't think it's strictly a man's job! Planting beautiful flowers. Landscaping. I love it all!

I'll keep you posted on my projects. We're having the garage sale next weekend. What ever we can't get rid of will be going to GoodWill...I've missed you, bloggy friends! I've been searching for some inspiration lately for a good post. I guess this will have to do! Lots more going on around here, but I thought I'd share a few things with you. What summer projects do you have going on?!

fiesta de mayo.

When I think of Cinco de Mayo I think of

bright colors.

fiesta.

mexico.

independence.

pinatas.

sombreros.

fajitas.

chilis.

margaritas.

fruit.

 

[photos from here and here]

Have a fun, festive day!

unfortunate pattern.

It seems as I've been in a spiritual rut. I've been getting overwhelmed with classes, exams, studying, and daydreaming of summer time approaching. I have not been putting God first. When I get this way- I tend to withdrawl. I don't want to hang out with friends or go to functions- I just want to have "me" time and do what I want. No, I don't like to sit at home and sulk. I just stay focused on my studies, working out, shopping, or other little things I enjoy doing by myself.

When I get this way I tend to pick a part myself. Not just physically, but mentally as well. I question if I'm doing the right thing, or if I'm heading in the right direction with my life. I wonder if I'm ever going to "get there". Will I ever accomplish my goals? Will I ever meet the love of my life? I continue to pick apart myself as I look around me. All my friends are graduating college. I on the other hand, still have a couple years to go. (If I had known exactly what I wanted to do a few years ago- I would be graduating too)...Most of them are either engaged, married, or married with atleast one kid. I just feel so behind. To me, it seems as though I'll never get there. I don't want to wish my life away- I want to stay young forever. But I do want to get on with this stage in my life. All I can do is pray that God guides each step of mine.

I have not been in my Word lately. So therefore, I know exactly why I'm in this rut. When I'm reading God's word every single day I feel more at peace. I'm comforted. Guided. Fulfilled. Reassured...and when I fall away I begin to feel like THIS all over again. It is a pattern. At times I'll get on a spiritual high- and I'm feeling on FIRE for the Lord every single day. I'll see Him speak to me. I see Him in my life EVERY DAY. Then I continue with that satisfied feeling and try to carry it with me for as long as it lasts, and I'll get out of my faithful habits. I'll skip reading for a day...or two....then it becomes three. Before I know it I haven't read my Bible or prayed to the Lord and thanked Him for all he's done in an entire week! Then, this leads to the return of old habits, sinful ways. I'll feel so guilty and convicted that I don't even feel worthy enough to pray to the Lord. So I don't. I mean why should I ask for His help and forgiveness when I fail Him over and over again? When I do things I promised Him I'd never do again. So you see, it's so easy for the devil to attack me when I'm in this rut. It's like I'll take one step forward, and two steps back.

Praise the Lord that He continues to be there for us even when we neglect Him. I know He is here for me. No matter what I do. Sometimes it is just hard to swallow my pride and ask for forgiveness, even when we know we don't deserve it. It's hard to even grasp the concept of His forgiveness.


"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgivenss of sins, accordance with the riches of God's grace." -Ephesians 1:7

"Cast your burdens on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteouss to be moved." -Psalm 55:22

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." -1 John 1:9

i'm dreaming of a place...

Two weeks! Just two weeks left of the semester for me. Next week I don't have class, but I'll be stuck in the library or at my laptop studying my time away. Many of you dealing with the same stress right now...it's ALMOST over! Today I've been dreaming of a heavanly place...I can't seem to think of anything but having my toes in the sand.

Akumal, Mexico. In just 2 months I'll be headed there for a week full of relaxation! My parents' best friends have a 3 story rental house down there. It's amazing. My parents have stayed there, but this will be my first time. I've only seen pictures. We are taking a family trip- my parents, the brothers, me and our friends' family. My mom is afraid that this may be the last year that one of us isn't engaged or married. So she's all about the "family time" right now. This will be our first family trip in about 4 years. And even then, my oldest brother didn't get to join us. So we're pretty excited to say the least!

The house is a bit secluded in a cove. Walking out on to the back porch is the inground pool. Then you'll come to the  beautiful, crisp white sand. You'll walk under the shade of many palm trees until you reach the ocean's surface! Yep, the beach is their backyard. Although there are plenty of bedrooms in the house, you can sleep on the roof- on one of the couches, and count the stars until you fall asleep. Or how about a hammock under the palm trees??

I'm so looking forward to it. The last time I've been to the beach was Playa del Carmen, Mexico. My parents took me and a friend for my senior vacation. It was very luxurious and fun-filled. This trip, however will be very low-key. Relaxing. We will spend most of our days at the house. I'm sure we will have cookouts in the evenings. Perhaps we will go in to town a few days. My family and their family are big scuba divers- so I'm sure we will be taking a few dive trips. I've never done it- I'm still not quite sure if I want to. I'll probably stick to snorkeling...

Also, the Mayan Ruins of Tulum are close by- We will be spending a day checking those out as well.

I'm especially excited to see a few sunsets like this one!

Beautiful, huh? These pictures are not of the actual house. You'll have to wait until I return from the trip! :) Are you taking a vacation trip this summer?? Where to!?