Where have you been?

I need to be famous so I can have someone write for me when I get busy. What's new...nothing, everything. Here's a quick run-down for you:

I started college, oh gee. My math class is, well honestly, self-taught. I'm quite proud of myself; I've taught myself some completely new math concepts all by my lonesome. And Mr. Tucker has a become a super great study, homework, complaining partner. My composition class is being taught by my seminary teacher and it is absolutely fantastic so far.

I have no high school classes. Now I know you already know that, but it's still a little crazy to me. I still go up to the school at least twice a week (I know, I can't believe it either) just to say hello & turn in any nonsense.

My grandparents (Van Tassell) moved to China, yes, China. They left last Wednesday (24th) and will be  gone for an entire year teaching there. I miss them so much already, it will be so hard not being able to share my last year at home with them when they have always played such a huge role in my life. Only about forty-seven more weeks until I can see them again. Then again, only about forty-eight weeks until I move out for college, yikes.

Here's the big, well biggish one, I started running. I know, I don't know if I can believe it either. My body is still getting used to it. I won't allow myself to lie and say that I love it and my body does too. I was incredibly sore to start with, but am getting a little (*note: a little) better at it. My time shortens and my runs lengthen. Which is good.

So yeah, that's my life in a nutshell right now. Any sidenote emotions such as the stress of growing up, the happiness I feel when I'm with my best friend, or the craziness I feel when I turn off my alarm clock every morning at 5:00 AM can be addressed in person.

Here's some happy music for your soul.

Do your ears here this talent right there? Oh I love it.

The Power of Words.

What words do you choose to use during the day? Are the words laced with love, generosity, compassion, and kindness? Strive to show your love not only through your actions, but also with kind words.

The Rationalizations of my Best Friend

(Also known as my sister to most)

Defining my life, one letter at a time.

Joy in the Journey

I've recently realized/remembered that I have something very special at my disposal, the ability to hope. To hope that things will get better, to hope that everything will be okay, to hope that my heart will heal. Right now I'm hoping for several things...One, the ability to be okay again, to be able to smile and laugh again. Two, that this experience will strengthen my testimony further & prove to me that I was & am doing the right thing. Three, the most important, I'm hoping for hope; that as I feel hopeless, alone, scared, and lonely, that I will be able to find that little place inside of me where hope hides and dwell upon it. Recently, through a lot of prayer, I have come to find these scriptures that have helped me to remember that my Savior has not left me to struggle alone: Joshua 1:9, Psalms 31:24, Hebrews 10:23, Proverbs 3:5-6, and D&C 24:8.

This is a project called Hope Search. These women have created a wonderful work, that helped inspire me to write this today.

And this is Jessica Frech (mentioned in previous posts). This is her song called Hoping Against Hope, I love it. For those of you who don't quite understand what hoping against hope means (because I sure didn't), I did the research for you. Hoping against hope: to hope when even a situation is hopeless. Hope even when one is abandoned by hope. See Romans 4:18.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a wonderful talk on hope, that can be read here. This Mormon Message outlines his thoughts.

So here's to hoping for hope, as well as hoping against hope. Because everyone needs some hope in their lives. I'm so thankful for the people in my life who have taught me how to hope. They have given me one of the most important gifts of my life. So I hope that you find joy in your journey as I try to seek it in mine.

Remembering how to breathe.

Oh I need Thee.

True that.

Gee-whiz.

College is a lot of work.
There are some pretty pricey parking passes, textbooks that put Les Miserables to shame with their width, syllabuses for signing and meal plans for dining, and an appropriately unattractive student ID. Orientation? Generously, it was boring. A girl can only read a map, hear a lecture, or doodle doodley things for so long. Did I mention that it hasn't even started yet? Well, it hasn't. Two more weeks of partial freedom until I may or may not drown. I'm not sure if I can do this growing up stuff.

On the brighter side, Mr. Tucker was there with me, which made it better. I can't imagine going alone to something like that. I'd probably have sketched hearts and what-not extending past my elbows. So yeah, that was good.

This music keeps me calm(ish) lately...as well as slightly jealous of his talent. It's great stuff.

Lorinda's Lunch Box Lowdown

This fabulous woman/mom/leader/blogger goes to church with me, she really is simply fantastic. You can check out just how great she is here. And you can enter in her upcoming giveaway here.

I'm a working woman. Well sorta.

This is what I look like when I lay on my kitchen floor before work. I bent down to pick up my lens cap and decided to chill for a while. It ended up being worth it. I've been exhausted lately.  

You may be asking, 'Where does she find the time to lay on the floor without abandon?' The answer? I'm joint-enrolled at Georgia Southern University this semester and class doesn't start until August 22. I am so bored, so lonely. I miss high school. I can't believe I'm saying it either.

Fake & bake.