An excellent reminder from one of my best friends

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself.

Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of God. Whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt His plans are unfolding as they should. (A quick apology to Mr. Max Ehrmann, I took the liberty of changing his wording in this paragraph and the next as I am a firm believer that we are children of God and not just of the universe)

Therefore be at peace with God. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Nothing is more practical....

than finding God, that is,
than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
... It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you will do with your evenings, how you will spend your weekends, what you read,
who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.

Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.

attributed to Pedro Arrupe, S.J.

Listening to....

Brandon Heath and making new necklaces today. I will post pictures soon.



Love is not proud... love does not boast
Love after all... matters the most

Love does not run... love does not hide
Love does not keep... locked inside

Love is the river that flows through... love never fails you

Love will sustain... love will provide
Love will not cease at the end of time

Love will protect... love always hopes
Love still believes... when you don’t

Love is the arms that are holding you... love never fails you

When my heart won’t make a sound...when I can’t turn back around
When the sky is falling down... nothing is greater than this
...greater than this

Love is right here
Love is alive
Love is the way
The truth the life

Love is the river than flows through... love is the arms that are holding you
Love is the place you will fly to... love never fails you

It's been a while...

... since I've posted anything. Things have changed a lot since November.
I finally graduated from Bethel University in December, and despite taking 18 credits, I actually managed to make the Dean's List. In January I was hired to work for a wedding boutique in St. Paul. I love seeing the beautiful bridal designs everyday and getting to hear the romantic, funny and crazy engagement stories of the many Minnesotan brides that stop in. The ladies I get to work with are a lot of fun and make the time I spend at the shoppe fly by.

Things that are still the same...
I am still dating the most wonderful guy in the world, Matt and I have been dating for just over a year now. He has been such a blessing in my life over these past 12 months. I still can't believe that we've been together for that long, it seems like just the other day that we were going to get coffee 'as just friends'. I am still living in the garage loft on the lake and I still enjoy my almost daily morning runs. I have been making and selling more necklaces lately and plan to post some pictures soon.

I want to live here....

French Catalonia right next to the Mediterranean


cute little dog

Vera Wang 2009

Vera Wang Spring 2009 (Holy-moly... gorgeous!)
i saw these images at averybleu and was stunned by these beautiful spring designs

Crazy Love....

a book by Francis Chan... 

I received this book as a gift and it is amazing.... I was told that it would totally change the way that I think about my faith but if anything so far I have just really found that it reaffirms everything I believe to be true about God. I really enjoyed the way that Chan expresses the  the messages presented in this book through quoting scripture.