weep not for the memory

Hi friends!

Oh I'm so happy to finally sit down and take some time to write here. I got in my car after my last class today and it registered that I was finally on Thanksgiving break and I yelled out 'praise the Lord!!!' and laughed the whole way to my apartment. Wow. I've been needing this break.

So I got home and I took a five hour nap and it was glorious. I might not be sleeping for awhile tonight. BUT let me just say.. i am loving this night. LOVING THIS NIGHT!!! I feel like it's been awhile since I've taken time for myself to just relax and reflect.

I've started reading a new book and I'm kind of in love with it. It's called Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. The book is kind of like her journal from a year of traveling. She decided to take a year to live in Italy, India, and Indonesia (4 months in each) after going through a rough divorce. In Italy she focuses on the pursuit of pleasure; in India, devotion; and in Indonesia, a balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence. I love it. I love how she writes and I love her passion and her traveling experiences. I almost feel like this is a book I could be writing myself 10 years down the road.. hopefully without the struggles of a divorce as the driving force behind the journey but ah! i would love to take a year to do that kind of traveling and discovery! Also, I love Italy. I spent a couple weeks there this past summer and reading this book just fills me with this yearning and overwhelming heartsickness of desire to get back there as soon as possible!

So tonight I've been doing some reflecting/a little 'soul searching' if you will.. and here's some thoughts I've had...

This time last year thing's were very different. Things were new and promising and pure and good. A year later... not so much. haha. Those same things are complicated and addicting and hurtful. It always takes me awhile to learn and even longer to let go. But this thanksgiving, I'll choose to be thankful for the ability to love, and for friendship, and for great memories, and for the promise of better things ahead, and the strength that comes from faith in those promises.

Another thought I had was how deeply I've been blessed over this past year... God's given me so many great opportunities and great gifts that I never even thought to ask him for. He's answered so many prayers that I never ever voiced. He gave me a friend that gets me in ways I've never had anyone get me lol. He took one of my greatest fears and put me through it... and continues to prove Himself bigger every day. He took my insecurity in my new major and continues to give me more confidence and even recognition and honors in it. He gave me Italy, and volleyball, and new friends. It's always a great thing when God answers our prayers but what really stops me in amazement is when on nights like tonight I see the things He's given that I didn't even know I needed... things I would have maybe never considered asking for.
Blessed indeed.

Things that have made me smile tonight:
-mylifeisaverage.com (new addiction!)
-meykle (i love my brother more than anyone in this world! :) )
-a picture from an Alabama night
-a coffee mug with flowers and butterflys painted on it
-'application to date my little sister' that i found in the room
-talking to someone new
-hannah montana marathon


i hope this long post maybe made up for my lack of writing lately. i tried.

friends,
i love you and i'm so thankful for all of you. you're such blessings to me! have a wonderful thanksgiving - eat lots of food and love on your family!