Kayaking

Emily and I went out kayaking!
we were both first timers and i must say
we were pretty successful

Over the weekend, I bought
a brand new camera
canon powershot
I absolutley love it!

the feeling of being "one with nature"
was ever present
nature, conversation, excercise
all in one: kayaking
I recommend doing it with a friend
Very stress relieving

I spoke to him for the first time in two weeks
and i wont talk to him again for another two weeks
{ bonus: I get to see him}
may seem like a simple thing to be excited about
but i am,
non the less

We've had a two year long-distance relationship
and i'm stuggling over two weeks!?!
you'd think i would be better prepared
but im not
{sigh}

More than you can imagine

All this study aroad business is putting a bit of pressure on my wallet
housing,visas, passports, plane tickets!!
everything costs a pretty penny if you catch my drift

How do these people expect college students to afford all this!
I'm alone in all this financial stuff. I always hated financial matters!
{Maybe thats why i didnt enjoy my econ class last semester!}

My parents aren't able to help me as much as they'd like to.
And as much as i hate to subject my body to science, it looks like
that's my only option to earn some serious dough!
My little ole summer job at catering isn't cutting it.

Maybe I should host a fundraiser or something;
a yardsale perhaps

Who knows! God has a plan and He will provide!

{Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.} -- Matthew 7:7-8

Lessons

Lessons
by Dorothy K. Fish

There's a lesson of love where the blossoms lift
throught the fragrant, clinging sod
in the woodland places where sunbeams drift

There's a lesson of hope in the voice that sings
throught the grey and chilling rain
and, ah, in the bitter loss that brings
the soul to it's greatest gain!

There's a lesson of faith in the smile that gleams
through the hot and blinding tears
in the heart the holds to its dearest dreams
through the crushing weight of years

And, ah, there's a lesson in little deeds
that brighten the weary way
in hands outstretched to another's needs
and the lips that have learned to pray.

I have a plaque on my wall saying:
these three remain: Faith, Hope, Love; and the greatest of these is love.

ah. we will see if it is true. i'm hoping love conquers all. praying.
i'm thinking that love is at it's greatest when combined with hope and faith.
makes sense. doesn't it? i think so

We have that. still.
through all the fragrant, clinging sod;
through all the grey and chilling rains;
through all the hot and blinding tears
through it all...love remains. It has to

life moves on

My sister graduated!

She looked beautiful

and

made me remember the good days

of high school

So happy
{Her cap in remembrance of a school mate
who passed away right before}

Her world was beginning as mine was falling apart
sitting in the stands with my high school sweetheart,
didnt seem so sweet any longer
I could feel us drifting apart further as we sat in the
hot sun watching the ceremony. But I know it will be alright.
somehow, I know. I pray more now than
I ever have, because I have a purpose, a reason for praying? maybe.

{For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans
for good and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.} Jeremiah 29:11

Seems fitting for both occassions. Doesn't it?

What a Day

The one and only day I dont work is the day I decide to paint my room
and clean up the house! I guess it's ok because it had to be done.

finding the time to write is becoming much easier. I thought at the
very beginning of all this blog stuff that I would

never be able to get to it,
never be able to sit down and clear my head.

supposed to be meeting V today when he gets off
work, today will be our last day together. We've decided
to take a break from each other, not the typical break your
thinking of, but more of a 'discernment' to see what our
future together will look like. whether or not we're meant
to be. We've been together for quite some time, but you can't
let one bad moment spoil the fantastic, heart pounding,
over the fence, cant live without good ones.

Because that's what people do. They leap, and hope to God they can fly, because otherwise you just drop like a rock, wondering the whole way down, why in
the hell did I jump? But here I am, falling, and the only one that
makes me feel like I can fly... is him.
- Hitch

man, what a day!

Trinity Sunday

one God. three persons. what a concept.
The Holy Trinity: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit. all in one

Father Bill told us today in his homily that we cannot
understand this, but we must accept and believe in it.
Believe in something, someone, you dont understand;
by far the most difficult catholic teaching to grasp.

Blind faith. yes it may be blind, but walking blindly into
a room full of Christ love is worth the discomfort of never
fully understanding Him in three parts.

But God doesn't want us to be left with a feeling of discomfort,
He wants us to find strength in knowing that his bicycle is
supported by three wheels instead of one, knowing that
his kingdom is supported by three beams instead of one.
If anything, this concept is reassuring and comforting!

Just the Beginning

Hello blogging world! I'm happy and excited to leave my mark in blogger history. My main focus and hope for this blog is to share daily happenings and life experiences while studying abroad. But until that blessed day in August, I guess this blog will be no different than the next because my mind will probably wander to writing about work, the boyfriend, friend drama and the like...

Come August 24, I will be happily seated on a 12 hour flight from the states to...

Turku, Finland =>
(where I will stay for four months, right until christmas.)

At least one country can be checked off my world travel list!

I've never traveled outside the U.S, and I really must say I'm terrified of flying over the ocean. I don't know why. I've been on a plane before, but not for 12 hours nor over miles of water.

Life's an adventure.