No more silly rain boots, outfits that would be deemed ridiculous anywhere but Baylor campus, or gigantic puddles that inevitably nail the freshmen who walk too close to the street (I try to avoid them, I really do).  The rain slows life down a bit; the candles and the cancelled classes do help; there’s not the feeling that you should be doing something else– because, well… you cannot.

But… the Sun is coming. I’m ready. Excited.Vitamin D deprived, I’m ready to embrace the heat that will accompany that great ball of fire.

We always appreciate what we’re currently missing

[maybe that's why we long for heaven?  so much to ponder and so much homework to do... meh]
Tomorrow I’m sure I’ll be missing the sound of the rain (and cancelled classes).
oh, fickle us.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.

For God who professed is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23

my yellow obsession continues… yikes.and Baylor Football season begins.

[also, please know I lasted almost 3 quarters at the game.  Robert was proud, even though he far out did my Baylor pride]

I’ll never be able to keep up with his cheers, sports commentary, and intensity.

The truth is I’m too entertained watching him to focus on the green and gold ramming into each other on the field.

Is it a shame? nah.

Sic’em.

and Robert and Elizabeth are coming this weekend.
We’re off to a good start.

Robert told me he’d pay me to go to all of the Baylor football games,
but Elizabeth’s reasoning is what’s going to get me to stand in the heat for the Bears this Saturday:

“at least come to the football game for a little bit so we can take a picture”- Elizabeth.

So much in life we do for the picture
[how often do I really stand back to back to James?]

Regardless, pictures are catalysts for memories.  From this picture I can remember how I realized my borderline absurd tendency to wear yellow (4 days in a row), James’s “purposefully ridiculous” giant yellow watch, how almost odd it was to have James drop my new place…I could go on, but I’ll spare you.

Pictures are going to fill the wordless book that I flip through and recreate exaggerated stories (unintentionally but inevitably) when I’m in my rocking chair.

I’m thankful for family and pictures and pictures of family.

my new room= my new haven.

I’ve never been more excited about moving.  I guess now that I’m a senior (senior?! surely not so…) I’ve accumulated the perfect furniture, decorations, and a well stocked bookshelf (one of my not-so-secret goals in life), that moving was inexpensive and rewarding.

Yesterday Clayton asked me what was going to make this year successful, and it got my thinking about how many practical things can genuinely affect how we feel about daily tasks and stresses.  Here are just a few:

-keep a clean room– organization, knowing where things are, order.  I honestly think my haven is going to aid this year immensely!

example: I bought a second desk that is going to be called my focus desk (and yes, I realize it sounds a bit like a time-out chair for kindergartners).  The desk is to remain empty– clutter is a killer of all productivity for me.

-exercise– the rumor is true.  It makes you feel better.  Spinning classes here I come!
-live on a budget– it is written and ready to begin.  Whenever I spend money, guilt from sits on my shoulders like a heavy box.  Why carry needless guilt? Oh Dave Ramsey, you make sense.

but here’s the kicker: while I can do these practical things, the foundational truth is this: how I am spiritually affects everything –attitudes, motivation, kindness, desire for growth in other areas, etc all go down the drain when I don’t daily commune with the Lord  (doesn’t this point to how we’re wired? We are created by God and for God, right?)

I find myself dancing in a circle; I’m stoked about my room and motivated more than ever to stay organized, exercise, eat right, spend right, study right, and I could go on… and on… But just like that list, those “successes” can only take me so far.  Take my room:  It offers a home, a place to study and rest, a place to grow, but it’s still just a thing. It can only do so much.

My heart’s haven must be in the presence of the Lord, or my little room will just be a place of escape.

For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. Psalm 32:7

My goal:  that my little haven and new personal growth “kicks” might help my heart find and remain in the haven the Lord created in his presence.  That, I think, might be what it takes to have a successful year.

IHOP, Shenanigans in Walmart, and a great adventure, all after midnight, time well spent with Robert Gear, best brother I could ever ask for.

After their adventure into the wee hours, Robert woke me up with pure excitement to tell me all about it.  I’m not sure how much I retained at that hour, but I’m confident countless memories were etched into the little brother’s mind. Memories to be stored forever.

but the fact that we’re so happy reveals that we are…

at Fun Acre batting cages along with the entire city of Springfield. plus some.

p.s. batting cages are a PERFECT way to generate humility.  The tough-guy-macho-man who repeatedly struck out on slow pitch would definitely agree.  ESPECIALLY after Robert repeatedly dominated it.

pps summer nights are dwindling.  Sad. sad. saaad.
Rule:  thou shall not dwell on approaching fact. 

Back to the Wack in TWO days.

However, the act of organizing implies something very very negative (or so I’m learning).

I’ve spent all afternoon not only packing for The Wack but also trying to have a rhyme and reason for where I put every single thing (brilliant, huh).  If you know me well, you know I get on these kicks every once and a while– and rightly so– especially here at home.  Nothing gets put in drawers while in Springfield, so I often get in trouble for my room oozing out into the hall.  Disturbing, right?

Very.  This afternoon I started getting frustrated, because to have a need to organize assumes you have stuff that doesn’t logically fit into a certain place. So much effort is spent on finding the tools to get our lives in order, when in reality, it’s because we simply have too much.

I don’t have a solution, except I’m determined more than ever to not accumulate and let go of what I have with a giving spirit.  Tomorrow I’m giving away my cruiser bike.  Step one!

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal… [and where you have to have garage sales and where things stress you out and cleaning is really just rearranging things you don't need...]

Now an about-face to contradict my anti-stuff rant:

look what 25 cents can do!  My dad picked up the old frame at a garage sale for 25 cents and painted it.  Today Walgreens happened to have free 8×10’s, and done!  more stuff, yes, but at least it’s creative and personal?

Project number next in the works:

…We boated.

…Watched James wakeboard [and face plant]

Tried to visually depict how Grandmother needn’t worry about James being in the far away land of Waco. Taylor and I are there to mother [and father?] him.

And then we worked really hard at getting a cousin picture. The task used to be to keep Jonathan from blinking, but now it’s to get the Beach Boys (the-too-cool-for-pictures two on the left) to smile.

Growing up, my definition of vacation meant visiting these cousins.  Now they’re getting married, having babies, ahhhhh we’re growing up.

Again, I confess to loving my family.
And we enjoy each other
learned to love each other
make fun of each other
spend Christmas sleeping on the living room floor together [well until "someone" decided they were too old]
all because of these two:

aren’t they precious?

amidst chaos, uncertainty, ready tears, and focus set on tomorrows, nexts, and soons, stopping and putting due focus on what is constant, steady, and unchanging was needed.  desperately needed. 

For God alone is faithful.

The stars themselves speak of His glory.
My favorite part of the day was lying under the stars by the lake with my favorite person, the Clayton Rothschild, and then seeing a shooting star showing off, dancing across the sky
[as if bright shining balls in the sky weren't impressive enough]

regardless of circumstance, stress, doctor’s report, or mood [or whatever devious distraction "Screwtape" is up to],

God is good.

Sometimes a little dance in the sky is what’s needed to get me to look down, right next beside me, and be grateful.

 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:17

Clayton, you are a gift
and when I see you as you are,
you lead me to worship Our Lord more.

When everyone links arms, you don’t end up with a line; you end up in a circle with everyone looking right back into the eyes everyone else.  I think that’s where my family is and probably why my posts (as does my time) follow the same mentality.

My precious grandmother has been in the hospital for several weeks.  We’re praying like crazy, determined to beat the unexplainable blood disease, and in the process, our circle is being knit a bit tighter.

Seeing my family tag-team and rally around my grandmother, taking turns having “sleep-overs” and story time, makes me know that I am loved.  I am so blessed to be part of such a team.

That is family.  That is love.

What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life – to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories.  ~George Eliot