breath

"So breath, life will surprise you. 'Just be' is what the world denies you." --Brandon Heath (Beauty Divine)

let that be enough

"I don't know how You swallow all I am, when I can't stand my taste " --Matt Wertz (All I Know)

happy feet!

This is crazy. I am blogging again. Twice in one day haha! Anyway I wanted to share that I just got a fantastic pair of new shoes--vibrams to be exact. And I LOVE THEM. To be honest, when I first laid eyes on a pair I felt completely indifferent. I didn't love them, but I didn't think they were heinous. Frankly, my preference didn't even matter since I had no need for them in my life. However, within the last year or so (probably way longer haha) I migrated into the barefoot lifestyle. In short, if I didn't need shoes I didn't wear them. It's not so much that I didn't like shoes, its more that I just would have rather been barefoot (and maybe I was a little lazy, but that's besides the point :). This preference quickly changed into a habit that occurred in shoe necessary settings (i.e. running, hiking, rock jumping, you-name-the-rough-surface). Although bare feet were most desirable, infected cuts, large blisters, and strange bug bites were not. So! as a solution to my barefoot issue I purchased a pair of vibram five fingers. Besides providing a natural barefoot feel, vibrams are known to help remove knee pain! Double win, I'd say!

happy feet :D

spoken from the heart

Like An Avalanche

Hillsong

Beautiful God
Laying Your majesty aside
You reached out in love to show me life
Lifted from darkness into light
Oh

King for a slave
Trading Your righteousness for shame
Despite all my pride and foolish ways
Caught in Your infinite embrace
Oh

And I find myself here on my knees again
Caught up in grace like an avalanche
Nothing compares to this love love love
Burning in my heart

Saviour and Friend
Breathing Your life into my heart
Your word is the lamp unto my path
Forever I'm humbled by Your love
Oh

Take my life
Take all that I am
With all that I am I will love You
Take my heart
Take all that I have
Jesus how I adore You

And I find myself here on my knees again
Caught up in grace like an avalanche
Nothing compare to this love love love

super seasons

Sooooooooo I promised my friends long ago that I would post pics and I haven't yet. BUT, I will now :D Here are some pics from this year for your viewing (ps. photo credit to Brad Elliott, Kierstin Brown, and myself for the pics):

first winter in Tahoe!!! 

new camera :)

entire city of Tilaran, Costa Rica

different views from hike above Tilaran

SO MUCH SNOW in Tahoe (not Costa Rica haha)

my beautiful bestie, Emma and I at sm graduation

overlook in hope ranch at sunset. recommended visit :)

my other beautiful bestie, Lauren and I at our favorite spot 

Alyssa balloons!!!!!!! 

feast of a champion, Alyssa Smelley :D

Free Methodist Church in Tilaran

rancho in Esterillos, Costa Rica

spectacular Nacho Libre moment. one of a kind

fourth of july!

overlook. too good.

this is what happens to a bunch of high schoolers in the airport late at night :D

hot springs!

helping out in Tilaran

hike to the cross!

hanging out in Tilaran

new friends!

saying hello to our new friends :D

new friends, for real this time :)

so much joy seeing kids stoked to get bibles

Selah joining in on our team meeting

one of the girls' room in Esterillos. crazy beautiful view!

last day in Costa Rica :(

hendry's

Drifting

I'm not really sure where I should begin. These last few months have been crazy full of new things all of which ended too soon. They were fun at the time and I was content. But not spiritually. I put my faith in things that would not last and pretended they would. After distancing myself so far away from God, I found myself wandering in loneliness and despair. God had never left me, but I had left Him. I chose to walk away, I chose to throw myself to the bottom. I don't regret anything that happened, but I am certainly not proud of my spiritual decisions. I'm still far from the top, but I have hope that I'll get there eventually.


Beautiful Redemption 
Joy Williams

I've had my forty days and forty nights at sea
I've had forty years in the wilderness, or so to speak
I've walked with sand from the ocean floor on my feet
To turn and say you left me

I'm a doubting Thomas in needing to believe
I'm a perfumed sinner just like Magdalene
I'm Judas kissing on your cheek eager to decieve
I am all of these

Chorus

I cry, Father, Father, forgive me
You say, Child, I already have
You are beautiful
Beautiful Redemption
You are Beautiful
Beautiful Redemption

I'm the guilty thief that's hanging by your side
and my shame is dying with your sacrifice
And all my fears come crashing down as I look in your eyes
I see paradise

Hallelujah (we all, we all, we all fall down)
Hallelujah (we all, we all, we all fall down)
Hallelujah (we all, we all, we all fall down)
Hallelujah (we all, we all, we all fall down)

You are beautiful
Beautiful Redemption
You are Beautiful
Beautiful Redemption 

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16

These past few weeks have been crazy ridiculous and I'm so glad, for once in my life, that I have not gotten any sleep! Last wednesday my awesome siblings, Kelly and Landon, surprised me by singing Happy Birthday at my window at 11 o'clock at night. I was so excited to see them that I threw my pillows and covers all across my room; I didn't even bother to be quiet as I ran down stairs and screamed at their presence. Luckily my parents didn't hear so we were still able to surprise them afterwords. It was definitely one of the best weekends I've had in awhile--full of birthday celebrations, graduation happiness, me and my girl chaos, and total joy. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family.