a fabulous weekend-- c'ville reunion! :)

i arrived back from a FABULOUS three days with some of my best friends in terre haute this weekend. i decided that i would forgo ethan's 5th birthday party next weekend (i will miss him though!) and used my gas money to drive three hours to isu to see my best friend-- see picture below.
after meeting some of her friends at "the office" premiere, we stayed the night in her dorm room. it was just really great to finally be able to visualize where she is every time i talk to her, but also to just talk honestly. God had been challenging me for some time to share some things with kate that i had been hiding for a very long time. turns out that little prompt and obedience to it brought a semblance of freedom-- on both sides. there is nothing like being 100% yourself with someone. she knows everything embarrassing or shameful i've ever done in my life now and although that leaves me completely vulnerable, i know it's all safe with her. i believe it's what the good Lord intended when He created us to be in fellowship with one another. i am blessed.

we met charlie for lunch friday, played around friday afternoon and grabbed dinner with kate's roommate and then finally headed over to daniel and lisa's late that night. we stayed two nights and had the best time surrounded by all our friends. their apartment was so stinking cute and we laughed a lot. charlie was in and out due to other obligations, but for the most part, we all spent the whole weekend together. it was exactly what i needed. i was telling my sister (as we were talking on the long drive home) that there really is nothing in life like the people that know your past and what you come from. i have AMAZING friends here at school- don't get me wrong- but sometimes it's refreshing to just be with people that love and accept the person that you've always been, not just the person you've become through all the experiences. God is good and He teaches me through these people. i feel so challenged and encouraged as i go to bed tonight.

things i'm thankful for...
1. a GREAT weekend.
2. hilarious games of Sorry. i'm obsessed.
3. belated birthday presents.
4. the opportunity to glorify Christ with my life each and every moment.

being thankful makes everything in life better.

tonight i went to visit my friend katie at payne's and we ended up talking for FIVE hours! i just love her...the thing is, we could have kept talking for much much longer. as we were chatting though, she mentioned that studies have been done that prove that by writing down/saying things you are thankful for at the end of each day actually improves your life and you are proven to get fewer colds!!! crazy what a little positive thinking can do for you...

here are today's three (or ten) beautiful things:
1. clearly, my time with katie. amazing.
2. my canceled 7:50 class this morning- yes!
3. today's amazing weather and sunshine.
4. suite Bible study. it blesses me to be with women that love Jesus.
5. winning an intense game of sorry this afternoon.
6. talking to my dad on the phone tonight.
7. a surprise birthday party for me, susan, becca, and jess! (mine's a little late, but we celebrated anyway and i got dirt pudding!)
8. lunch with steph and the hallis babies...i just love that little keegan and want to keep him all to myself!
9. laughing hysterically at raut (essentially having way too much fun in my suite in general)-- "this one's for you, stace!" or "stace, i need you in here!" ahahaha.
10. having a fully feminine heart.

i could go on and on and on because Jesus is just too good to me sometimes, but i will stop there. i have so many other things to update about...um, but they'll have to wait until later. bedtime!

three beautiful things...

1. being a part of something bigger than yourself...
2. laughing so hard that your abs get a workout.
3. meeting new people and rubbing lives with them.