Athens, Flowery Branch, Atlanta, 

It's been fun, but I'd like to go back to Mentone now.

Grace does not depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors.

LOVE.

"I don't mind living in a man's world, as long as I can be a [Heineken keg robot] in it."

Marilyn Monroe, with a little help from Wieden + Kennedy.

I can't believe this ad actually aired in the 21st century. Women are more than beer serving, slipper delivering, cleaning and cooking sex robots.

Thanks.

Oldddddd.

20 August 2009

Off to learn about juveniles and their government-approved life without parole sentences. Hello, mercy.

26 August 2009

There’s a poster of Chad Reed hanging beside my bed. He was some guy on some dirt bike on some dirt track.

It’s the first thing I see every morning.

That has to be the best thing about marriage; opening your eyes and seeing a person, your person, not some cheap poster of a motorcycle taped to your wall.

“Good morning, Chad. You’re looking the same as ever.”

6 September 2009

I hate any academic buildings that are not Sanford, SLC, or Brooks. Business people do it better, newer, cleaner. Le Conte smells like old history textbooks, Boyd like the cats we dissected in Mrs. Sutton’s Anatomy lab, and Baldwin like arrogance, as only a sociology building can.

What is it you want, Mary? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary. 

Learning that “happily ever after” is a choice, not an expected outcome.

I'm from strawberry shortcake.
I'm from sweet tea and homemade peach ice cream.
I'm from Southern Living recipes and casseroles.


I'm from acres of green and miles of long dirt roads.
I'm from cowgirl boots and horses,
lakeside barbeques and magnolia trees,
pink roses and hydrangea bushes.


I'm from loving my husband.
I'm from wondering if I've met him yet.
I'm from being terrified to admit my mistakes.
and feeling I have nothing to give him.


I'm from the John Piper quote, “the really wonderful moments in life are not those of self-realization, but of self-forgetfulness.”
I'm from never being selfless enough to know what self-forgetfulness is.


I'm from loneliness.
I'm from “My grace is sufficient.”
I'm from wondering if that's true.


I'm from Daddy,
his 6'5'' shadow, Levi bluejeans and servant's heart.
I'm from provision and protection.
I'm from being convinced I could never love any man more.


I'm from a beauty queen.
I'm from secretly wishing I was half as beautiful,
inside or out.


I'm from an open front door.


I'm from Annabelle.
I'm from her legalism and her love of people.
I'm from fighting over hairbrushes to singing Taylor Swift.
I'm from her forgiveness.


I'm from Daniel.
I'm from his humility.
I'm from envying his love of life.
I'm from wanting him to be proud of me,
and not feeling like I deserve it.


I'm from Nathan.
I'm from feeling like I love him more than he can imagine
but wishing I knew how to love him more.
I'm from screaming matches and Buford football games.
I'm from all his undeserved grace.


I'm from Joseph;
from adoring his quirkiness and his love of mechanics.
I'm from hating that he's grown up so fast,
and wishing I was there in high school.


I'm from feeling like a failure as a big sister.


I'm from an NFL giant.

I'm from "here she comes, Miss America!"

I'm from twirling and piggy back rides.

I'm from a wooden hospital chair and empty eyes.

I'm from being forgotten.

I'm from reading that grace does not depend on suffering to exist, 

but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors.

I'm from "Jesus loves me, this I know."

I'm from an insatiable imagination.
I'm from constant daydreaming.


I'm from wishing I lived a life of integrity.
I'm from a paralyzing fear of what that would look like.


I'm from thinking cursing is perfectly acceptable,
but stopping, because “it isn't lady like.”


I'm from wondering if I've ever done anything to be proud of.


I'm from a floral couch and an kind, oblivious counselor.
I'm from telling her what she wanted to hear,
and sugar-coated pity parties.


I'm from St. Augustine, CS Lewis and Dr. Seuss.
I'm from Johnny Cash, The Beatles and Taylor Swift.


I'm from a rope swing and daisies,
"bouquets of sharpened pencils" and notebook paper.


I'm from "oh to grace, what a debtor."

Sister, let me be your servant.

21.

I'm in the process of writing a "to do" list for the next year.

Here's what I have so far.

To live a life of integrity.

To make straight A's.

To get into graduate school.

To run a half marathon.

To journal daily.

To join a small group in Athens.

To live loved.

To make an interior decorating board.

To plan a wedding.

To always have flowers.

To listen first, then speak.

To learn to cook and bake.

To read through the Bible in a year.

To run for Miss UGA.

To join an intramurals sports team.

To love people.

To learn to do a cartwheel.

To try 365 recipes – a new one every day.

To dwell on whatever is “true, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.”

To give.

To love mercy.

To cherish honesty.

To not let my “left hand know what [my] right hand is doing.”

To act justly.

To forgive.

To pray.

To support a child overseas.

To drink a glass of wine every day.

To read three C.S. Lewis books.

To make a photo portfolio.

To whiten teeth.

To smile at strangers.

To host a little black dress cocktail party.

To write a letters.

To speak French fluently.

To take a yoga class.

To never have less than half a tank of gas.

To always be manicured.

To give flowers.

To fly in a plane.

To go overseas.

This pretty cool guy once told me his life was going to be “a big adventure.”

I hope I can keep up.