whatever is lovely

This started as a tiny Instagram post. I was going to tell you about what a weirdo I am that I'm super excited to be drinking this pretty bottle of wine, painting this old corkboard, and making extravagant plans to cook brussels sprouts on a Friday night. But God gave me a different story to tell. And Instagram told me my caption was too long. And then someone brought home pizza and the brussels sprouts plan flew out the window too.  Monday was a sleepy day, because Nashville was a whir and I got home at 12:30 am. That night I went for dinner (it was free because thanks Aunt and Uncle for doing Crossfit) and was ready for about a 7:30 bedtime. But my car didn't want to start. Didn't even want to sputter to start. It was pulled in to a parking spot and even jumping it was looking hard. Aunt Dana and I were jumping ahead to what car repair would look like for my 45 minute commute the next day... trading cars? taking time off? Thankfully, when ...

I'm going to let my crazy show a little.  My sister and I are headed to Nashville tonight.  Why you ask? We're obsessed with a singer named Ben Rector. I could try to say it in a more dignified way, but it's the truth and I have accepted it. I've seen him in concert several times, approximately every time he came to Waco while I was at Baylor, and once in grad school. But Alizah never has, and at the time the tour dates were released we realized that he would be in Dallas the weekend of Baylor Homecoming. So we looked into other cities. And College Station, or even Tulsa, would've been closer. But Nashville... We both are a little starry-eyed about this city we've never visited. So with more notice than this summer's Hawaii trip, but in the same spirit of spontaneity, we booked flights. We'll be there less than 48 hours, but I'm excited for adventures with my sweet (and hilarious) sis.  In the spirit of our weekend getaway,for this week's Friday ...

This weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to go the the final year of the Women of Faith conference.  The tour is entitled "Loved," but for me three things stuck out: beautifully strung together words (you should've seen me scramble to write down the perfectly constructed prose verbatim), anxiety, and dreams. To me, those things became the weekend's theme.  I of course got swept into stories and inspiration. I laughed a lot. I sang praises in a room of 20,000, united in lifting our voices the day after people were shot for professing the same faith to which we cling. I somehow walked away not sponsoring a child through  World Vision , despite the tear-inducing REAL stories. I will soon, surely.  But I really clung to those three aforementioned things, because they're what's relevant for me.  Here's the thing: I haven't ever felt like I have a "thing."  You know, like a hobby. Passion. Obsession. Ridiculous natural inclination or t...

This week we're talking about traditions. I started typing on my phone at 11:56, so I doubt this will be finished on Friday. But I kept thinking about fall things I love so I simply had to make it happen.  1. Baylor Football  The truth is that I really only have figured football out in the past few years. But oh, to wear green and gold and get swept up in the excitement and now, finally, kind of appropriately independently cheer without waiting to watch others' reactions!!  2. Pumpkins and Peanuts  Just trust me on this one .  3. Warty Pumpkins  I didn't get my mom's love for fall decor growing up. And I sure liked my pumpkins orange, round, and smooth. I have learned to see the beauty in the quirky punkins!!  4. Fall Scents  Anything warm and spicy. The signature candle from my favorite Waco boutique is the happiest fall smell. I also love diffusing "fall" oils like Thieves or a combination of Orange and Clove to both smell and keep myself well e...

I've already told you about the community I've found within the For the Love Launch Team. Part of the reason we've clicked so well is that a lot of us are naturally inclined to writing. All the feelings, all the thoughts, all the words. Some of these women link up every Friday for "Friday Five," in which a topic is predetermined and they share five thoughts. I am joining the fun for the first time this week! The topic is "Five Open Tabs." My little writer brain almost ran off with over-interpreting this and writing about five deep things that are always on my mind.  An Open Tab= something unfinished and left accessible to resume. An article. A video. A night of drinking. A thought or concept. Open yet for repeat enjoyment or torture, or maybe with the intention to return and avoided thus far.   I'm joining this link up for practice and for fun, so it's time to switch up my MO!!  Here are my five open tabs: 1. TripAdvisor ...

I've done some surprising things of late.  I got my hair dyed pink this summer.  I got a small heart tattooed on my wrist.  I walked into a party of 220 people I had only met online. And bunked with 20 of them on a strange property with Buddha figurines.  They're all kind of related, really.  When the Facebook page for the For the Love book launch team was very first created I remember being so proud of myself for being among the first on the scene with a witty comment, or so I thought at least.  We were timid at the outset, but a community quickly started to form. I told 500 strangers, from 10 miles away to Saudi Arabia about my new job first, before it was ever official.  When I started work, I drew back, because the information and the feelings on the page were kind of a lot. It was beautiful, but I did not have the bandwidth to take on the testimonies of infertility, abuse, financial ruin, and more. I watched quietly as hurts we...

It's been a day. Really every day this week has been a day, but "it's been a week" just doesn't sound as dramatic and I've never heard a witty person say it. So, a day it has been.  I have been adequately warned about the pure joy that is joining the ranks of employed adults, by just about everyone ever. "The first year sucks," they said. "It's lonely and confusing," they told me. "Don't do it," I ignored.  In December, at the ripe old age of twenty three and nearly one half year, I finished grad school. I did wait until after graduation and the holidays to start looking for work, so I guess I held out for a few extra months, what with applications and interviews and the black hole named HR. In April I started work with Arlington Independent School District.  But it was fake work. It was the things I kind of actually knew how to do. Like providing speech and language therapy to kids.  Then I played at the beach int...

Well friends, I didn't write a book. Maybe someday. Actually, scratch that. Someday.  Let me tell you what I did do. Gather round, ducklings.  First of all, you need to know that there are some badass women doing some badass things for Jesus right now. They don't think Christianity and social justice are mutually exclusive, and they act on it. They write the truth, they speak the truth, they live the truth. They are smart - word wise and world wise. They are brave. They are real. They are funny. Good things are happening in minds and hearts and houses and around the world because of it.  One of these women is Jen Hatmaker.  I've been following, reading, loving her for awhile now. My latest roommate Callie was a huge fan of Jen since they both have a special place in their hearts for adoption, specifically adopted kids in their lives who come from Ethiopia. This turned into my interest growing and Callie and I casually referring to Jen and her family membe...

Three years ago this week I departed on the trip of a lifetime, my three months of studying abroad in Europe. I wrote a letter to my former self in reflection of that incredible   experience. And it was a great excuse to share some of my favorite pictures  :) Dear Girl Before the Trip,  Welcome to some of the most growing, challenging, confusing, stretching, funny, amazing months of your life. You have the big backpack, a new camera, and suitcases stuffed with sensible clothes (you'll buy new ones, because black is boring  and then eventually everything in your suitcase will be boring ). You have a Skype phone number.  You've sat through endless meetings and read all of the materials. You're ready. At least you think you are.  As much as you've listened and read, you are still clueless about the trains. When you arrive, you'll follow the herd and think that navigating public transportation with signs posted in other languages is hopeless. You'll ...