Oh hey there, blogging world. It's been a while.

Senior year has meant I've been MAD busy (the productive kind though), so here's a condensed update:

- 18 credits...including a 3 hour lab and a 10 hours per week internship. Whoadie baby!
- I really am digging the internship. Middle schoolers are such nuggets.
- I'm back on the Young Life scene again...Wyldlife & working with the new leaders in training! Needless to say it's been a blast and the Lord is growing me a lot through it. In ways a lot different from when I did ministry with high schoolers. It's neat. I'll elaborate more later.
- As quad break comes to an end, I can officially say I'm 1/4 of the way through senior year. WHAT THE WHAT?!
- And with that, I'm not really sure what'll happen once May rolls around...grad school? YL staff? Both? Maybe I'll just go to the moon or something.
- I've made some pretty sweet memories with my roommates and other buddies at the GC. I sure do love them!
- There are only 4 months left til my dear friend gets married! Where did the time go?!
- I really need to go study for my theories exam. Ehhhh.
-I'm sitting on my very own bed in my very own home in Maine and the temptation to strap the mattress onto the car to take back to school with me is verrrrry tempting... ;)

For now I'll get back to work.
Mehhh.
Stay beautiful, readers!

Back to the old grind.

Guess what, guys...I've been back at Gordon for a week now! Feels like I never left this place. So far, things have been great. 

I'm living in an on campus apartment (shout out to Broms 204). Each of these roomies of mine have taught me so much, and are such women of God in their actions, hearts for ministry, and are just a bunch of goobers. These nuggets suprised me with a belated birthday celebration that included a home made pinata and dinner and PF Changs. Already we are rolling in memories and some pretty crazy quotes. Follow us on Twitter! (....yes...we have a Twitter. Is that lame?) I'm thrilled to have more of my crazy wonderful friends living on this floor, too! I truly couldn't ask for a better living situation. It's such a delight living in close proximity with people who make me laugh, encourage me, and know when to give me a good ol' whack on the head!

Classes have been great so far. An 18 credit semester means I have my work cut out for me, but it also means I get to spend A TON of time with my fellow psych majors, which excites me to the moon and back! Just today I went to orientation for my internship.(Yes, another one...and I'm already LOVING it). I'm workin' in a classroom for developmentally delayed children and am also working alongside an adjustment counselor. It'll take some time getting used to being called Ms. Eastman, but I'm so ready!!! I'm also TAing for one of my favorite professors, and it's been great so far. Can't wait to learn from her-- I aspire to be like her, and it helps her specialty is in a field I'm considering!

In other news, my two brothers have both started new adventures as well. Matt kicked off his freshman year of college yesterday with a 2.5 hour class where they watched Star Trek and drank Starbuck's (he's a technical theater major, people. It makes sense!). Nick is now in the great big world of middle school, and I'm sure he is loving it, awkwardness and all!

That's it for, folks. 

I'm outtie.

Portland?

If I hadn't stepped down from leading YL in the North Shore, I probably wouldn't have come this summer.
If I hadn't come home this summer, I wouldn't have been able to experience my internship at Sweetser, work at the jewelry shop, rekindling friendships, or time at the lake. I also wouldn't have been able to learn what God has been trying to teach me for so long. Talk about a season for everything...
If I hadn't come home, God wouldn't have been able to show me what is to come. Long story short: I'll be a comin' back to this beautiful state post-grad, and until further notice will be here to stay! Not only will I be a poor college graduate so getting my masters at USM and living at home for some time will make sense, but this summer God placed certain people in my life and brought me to certain places for me to realize just how powerful and almighty and wonderful He alone is. And not only that, but He showed me places right here in southern Maine that are so in need of His love. I live in the 2nd most unchurched county in the United States-- if that doesn't burden my heart, I don't know what will! So, in a nutshell, through summertime adventures and conversations I've had with people, God has casted some vision for me. And it involves this charming place...

Portland, ME, ladies & gents! Who'd have thunk? Coming from the girl who used to complain about there being nothing in Maine...turns out there is more than meets the eye. So much diversity, so much life, so much simplicity, and a whole lot of a need for a Savior! Will definitely be keeping this in prayer and updated as the year unfolds. I've never felt so drawn to a place before in my life. It sounds so silly because Portland is legit only 20 minutes from my current house, but still!

Not to mention that view isn't too shabby, is it? And the plethora of coffee shops, cupcake bakeries, and thrift stores? For now I gotta return to the GC-- can't wait to reunite with friends, enjoy the North Shore of Boston, and get the ball rolling for SENIOR YEAR!!!!

Life is better at the lake.

I realize it's only been an hour since my last post, but I cannot help but post some recent photos taken at the lake this weekend :) 

The view from the dock. Check out that super calm skiing water!

Big brothers teach their little brothers the important things in life...like how to spell blood with your fingers.

Maine. That's all I have to say 'bout this one.

Double skiing!

Birthday buddies chillin' in the bow of the Supra :)

Long time, no see.

Greetings from the world's worst blogger! After WEEKS of letting this thing collect dust, I have returned. Hooray.

SparkNotes life update:
1. I finished my internship :) Over 320 hours in the bag! Let me tell you, it wasn't easy. There were days I wanted to chuck my alarm clock across the room and sleep in, days I just didn't know what to do with myself, and days when it was a pretty darn great experience. A mixed bag, really. Came out of it learning a lot-- not just about community psychology, but about myself as well.
2. That whole learning about myself tidbit? Yep. God has taught me so much this summer. I look back to when I got home in mid May, and can't help but think of how the things I've gone through this summer have shaped me. Psalm 73:26 sums up my summer experience. It says "my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever". HOW FREAKIN' GREAT IS THAT!? Situations won't always rise to the expectations I have for them. People-- even my closest of family and friends-- won't be able to ever fully meet all my needs, or love unconditionally, or any of that stuff. I get tired and lazy. But God is constant. He has showed me this summer how He picks me up when I am down, that my love and dependency on Him can always increase, and that through frustrations, or times of depression or sorrow, or joyful moments or whatever it may be, He is there, He is strong, and He is able. There have been times this summer when I have been absolutely stripped of a multitude of internal and emotional things. And God showed up and taught me a thing or two about humility, dependency, and even gave me a few glimpses for the future.
3. I have decided that post-Gordon I will come back to Maine! Grad school at USM (hooray for Gordon debt!), leading YL, workin', and living at home til I have the moolah to get an apartamento. It's not for a while, but that's the current direction :)
4. I've been having fun with all sorts of neato burrito friends. Of course, it all starts to kick in within weeks of returning to school. Why couldn't it have happened earlier?! Like, in May?! Oh well. Blessed nonetheless :)
5. I GO BACK TO THE GC SOOOOON!! Can't even wait. I've never been this stoked for school, haha. Life in "The Projects", a new internship, a handful of neato classes, fabulous friends, a great church, and so much more. It shall be grand.

More to come soon, homies.
I'm outie.

A goodnight word of encouragement.

Brought to you by none other than my girl, Mother Teresa.
My mom emailed this quote to me at the beginning of my freshman year of college and since then it has encouraged me through thick and thin-- I hope it does the same for you :)


May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.

Caitlin, I know you're reading this on your night shift...

so here's a shout out to you. Miss you!

21.

Not to brag, but I think I had the absolute best 21st birthday a girl could ask for! It was a 2 day celebration thanks to the lovely, caring, friends I have (who spoil me so much! Geez, guys!). I spent my actual birthday sleeping in a tad, going for a run, and grabbing ice cream with my brothers at our favorite local ice cream spot. Yummy! Note this adventure would not be complete without a session in the LL Bean photo booth... :)

Later on, my dear friends Elizabeth and Abby went out to eat with me!

Here's me and Elizabeth, my soul sister...

...and me with Abby, the most thoughtful, kindhearted girl I know!

First we went to a little bar for my first drink. White sangria...not too shabby! We sipped and snacked on pretzels and cheese and crackers while having life chats. I always love hanging out with these 2 wise women of God. They each have had such unique experiences and sure know how to shed light and love on any situation! We're been tight since we did Young Life in high school together, so it's a blessing to get back together and continue to not only be a part of each others lives, but to see how God is at work in the fabric of each of our own lives. How neat! And of course, they are always up for a good laugh :) The rest of the evening was spent in the Old Port, with dinner and dessert at Flatbreads. Complete with "Call Me Maybe" stuck in our heads, lots of sweet tea and pizza, and some memorable moments, these 2 made my birthday a great one!

And as if that wasn't enough, my darlin' friend Megan came to visit me today!!! Am I lucky or what?! The afternoon was spent shopping in town and in the Old Port, with soooo much laughter, and more life giving chats, and just fun stuff. I really appreciate Megan's heart-- it's very big, very open, and very funny! We were LONG overdue for a reunion, so this was perfect. She's an amazing friend for coming all the way down here to visit me (seriously Megan...I owe ya!) Don't know what I'd do without any of mahhh girls. Here's some documentation of today...

The infamous Bean Boot shot!

Workin' the camo overalls like we were born for them. Puttin' some class in redneck-dom.

FISH BUBBLE!

So, that pretty much concludes it. Thanks to all who wished me a happy one...much love to you all. If this year can start out this wonderfully, I'm sure the rest of my 21st will be just as great if not greater. Thanks be to God!

some thoughts from today...

This whole day off thing? It's nice. So nice that it's pretty much dangerous....because it's gorgeous outside, and I got ice cream with my brothers, I went on a nice long run this morning after sleeping in, and it's actually feeling like SUMMER. I'm still going into work later (just no internship today...dentist appointment!), gotta make that moolah so I won't starve this upcoming school year! 

I got thinking though. Sure, I'd rather be soaking up some sun and enjoying sweet summer freedom at times, but then I was reminded of something important. It's not what you do, but your attitude. Each morning I can go into the day with a negative attitude, grumbling about what's on the agenda. OR, what's better, is I can flip the switch and be reminded that my attitude should be Christ-like and oughta reflect His glory in my life. To look forward to things, instead of complain. To replace a spirit of negativity with a spirit of joy and contentment. Smell what I'm stepping in? That's what God's lookin' at. The attitude of my heart, not the things I do. How 'bout that for a little motivation?

More updates to come soon, champs.

Read Genesis 16. I dare you. Perhaps you're familiar with it, perhaps you've never come across it. One of the things I love about spending time in the Word is how it not only is transforming, but no matter how many times you read a passage you can get something so different yet so meaningful out of it every time! Amazing, huh? But anyway, back to what I was saying. I was reading this particular chunk of Scripture the other day when I was sitting alone in my internship office. The daily crossword puzzle had lost it's zest, I had exhausted my Pinterest crafting ideas, and it was around lunch time, so it wasn't terribly hip happenin' in there. So I whipped out the good ol' Biblia and began reading...



In this passage, Sarai and Abram wished to conceive, but for whatever reason could not. Sarai, so desperate for a child and so eager to take matters into her own hands after reaching her wits end, ordered her husband Abram to sleep with their servant, Hagar. Next thing you know, Abram agreed, and Hagar was with child.
So what was Sarai's reaction to this order she set into motion? She didn't like that Hagar had what she so deeply desired, and she shifted the blame on Hagar and Abram alike. Hagar began to despise her so much to the point that she fled. The story continues, but for the sake of what I'm getting at, we'll stop here.


This got me thinking, friends. How many times in my life have I:
a) wanted something so, so badly I went out of God's way to pursue it?
b) craved something that was not aligned with God's will for me?
c) been so impatient with God's timing that I neglected God from the picture and took charge?
d) made an impulsive decision out of my selfish ambition? And then in my frustration with the outcome, blamed it on someone or something other than myself, the catalyst?
e) simply forgotten who ultimately is in control?


Out of my own insecurities I've made some pretty rash decisions in my life to gain control. And by "gain control", I mean "find some sense of security". Because having security means finding roots in your identity. Security, significance, and self-worth-- those are the big 3 it comes down to if you ask me. How thankful and grateful I am that we have a God who loves us so unconditionally, who values us with passion and looks at us with worth, and who gladly helps us up when we fall to the wayside. We have a God who knows our hearts on an intimate level, a God who has every aspect of our lives and being planned out and set in stone. A God who only gives us small pieces of the big picture at a time so that we depend on Him, so that we do not get overwhelmed, and so that in the day by day/moment by moment living, our identity and worth can be found in Him alone through the wisdom and love He longs to share with us.


Neato burrito stuff, eh?
I'm off to the beach now. Adios amigos. Be blessed on this sunny Sunday!

Aaaaand...she's back!

Fourth of July, some sunshine (complete with a tan, thanks to my Italian skin!), early morning runs, late night shifts, and spending some quality time with a lazy, old dog. That's been my week, anyway! I finally have a few moments to jot down some stuff on this here blog. And not to be a copycat, but I just read my friend Megan's post and I really liked it, so now I'm going to take my turn :)

Things running through my head slash happening in my life lately:

1. Afterthoughts from a sweet word the Lord weighed on my heart the other day. I'll write about that more tomorrow :)
2. I really want to get another piercing. But what to do!? Doubles in my ear lobes? A tragus? Do I go edgy or not? What to do!?
3. I can't wait to sleep in. Sleep is a wonderful thing, friends.
4. A customer at the store I work in was wearing a YL shirt the other day, and it made me so happy! Of course we chatted and made the whole Young Life small world connection. But fo realz-- so cool. Made my shift an encouraging one!
5. Tomorrow there will be over 35,000 people in downtown Freeport. Say WHAAAAT!? How that is possible, I am scared to find out. Looks like I'll be walking to work. Eew.
6. I think I've figured out what I want to do with my major. I think I want to be a child psychologist, and get into child development or early intervention or something like that. It fascinates me, and believe it or not, the Developmental Disabilities class I took this past semester inspired me to go this direction...we'll see!
7. I was told on 4 separate occasions today I speak my own lingo. I won't even quote myself, it was that embarrassing!
8. I need to go to bed.
9. GOOD NIGHT! 

That one time when I...

decided it would be a good idea to do an internship, work part time, and house sit all in the same few weeks.

In other words, this kid is swamped! I'll be back once the madness subsides for more blog-tastic goodness.

Hasta luego!

Just a couple lists...

Awesome things that have happened in my life recently:

1. My nana came to help me at my internship the other day. Let's just say everyone LOVED her and she was a hit! Nana is 100% Irish and has a way with words, humor, and entering people's worlds. So when she came in on Thursday, I knew she'd be able to bring some life to my office!

2. A precious, kind married couple came into my office to donate art supplies (super awesome ones, too!). As if that wasn't enough, they later returned with an original manuscript written by psychologist Carl Rogers. HOW FREAKIN' AWESOME IS THAT!? I love the generous hearts people have. 

3. A plethora of life updates with long time friends and newer budding friendships. Whether it be the first reunion in a week, a month, a year, or anything in between, I surely can say I've been nothing short of blessed with amazing friends who show me what it means to love and who bring me closer to the Lord! What a gift :)

4. I've been getting my nose in a new book! I can't remember the name of it. Oops. But it's really good, I promise.

And other things:

1. I'm mad tired! But am so thankful for a Sabbath tomorrow. Last summer was probs the first time in my life I grew to understand the sabbath and the value God puts on rest. Needless to say, I cannot WAIT to chill tomorrow. Ahhh.

2. It's gonna be a busy week at work. But that's ok. BRING IT.

3. Maybe I should go get some sleep now. I'm pooped!

Happy weekend, friends.

Keep it real, spotted seals!

137.

Meet the Swaggin' Wagon. It's a '95 white Volvo wagon my parents just purchased for their busniess, but after some convincing that it's too cute to be used for traveling to foreclosed on houses and to be driven by a bunch of men with ladders strapped on the roof, it's mine! I'm trading Dora for it. (For those of you who don't know, Dora is the Ford Explorer. Dora the Explorer. Get it? I'm so funny.) 

So back to the point: not only is this new (ahem.."new") car swaggin', it has the best lisence plate number EVER on it. My Papa was a firefighter for years. I could go on forever with stories of the fires he fought, the lives he saved, and the shenanigans he pulled, but that's aside from the point. His badge number was 137. I kid you not, ever since he was assigned that number, those 3 digits have been following us since. Allow me to provide you with a few incidents...

1. 137 is on the Swaggin' Wagon's plate (duh).
2. The day my Papa passed away, the winning lottery numbers had sequences of 1, 3, and 7. The numbers he had been playing his entire life. Go figure!
3. The landline for my internship is a jumble of 3's, 7's, and 0's.
4. My uncle once built a house that was given #317 for it's address.
5. A while ago, on my Papa's birthday, my mom looked right at the clock at 10:37 when she remembered it was his birthday.

This sounds SO stupid, and I have a gazillion more examples of 137, and I promise I'm not supersitious! Sometimes I think we tend to pay more attention or give more credit when something happens involving 1, 3, or 7. Case in point: I love, love, love being reminded of Papa everyday. That darn number can show up anytime, anywhere in my life!

Oh, and PS: There are 5 cars sitting in our driveway. Everytime I look out the window or drive by, I think of how it looks like there is one serious hip happenin' party going on, or how redneck we look (at least all the cars function and are not dead, so I think we get less redneck points for that).

Oops, I did it again...

I'm still not entirely used to this whole blogging thing :) So here's one final life in a nutshell update and then I PROMISE I'll carry on with the daily posts (and by that I mostly mean I promise myself I'll do that. But anyway...moving on...)

- Since it was freakin' HOT all last week, I took the pleasure in going to the beach with the littlest brother of mine! Truthfully, I'm not much of an ocean kind of girl. Don't get me wrong, I do love love LOVE the ocean! I've grown up right next to it my entire life and attend a school within 5 minutes of a beach. The coast has always been to close to my heart to not have access to it. However, if you know anything about me you know that I'm a lake girl at heart! You can't quite water-ski on the ocean the same way you can on a lake, am I right? :) Back to the point: I went to the beach, body surfed in the waves, got awesome beach hair, ate a hot dog, and read me some Bible while workin' on my tan. Since the internship and my job have started, I haven't gotten much sun time. Thanks to my Italian genes I tend to tan prettttty darn fast and it lasts for a while, so hopefully this will hold me over for a while!

- Internship is going well-- definitely getting better! Running and planning programs, meeting people with amazing stories, learning the ropes...not too sure whether or not this is a field I'll go into, but the experience has been great! Tomorrow I teach my first pilates class. Um what was that, Steph? Sometimes I'm not quite sure what I got myself into, but if people can experience wellness and happiness then I'm game for helping in any way I can!

- On Sunday, my older of the two brothers, Matt, and I went back to the church our family had been going to for a while. I don't really know what happened, but my fam fam kind of made a switch when I was away at college. I've done some church hopping since I've been home this summer, and it's official: Stroudwater is my home! It was so wonderful to be back-- the two of us definitely will continue to go there til it's time to head off to college (for the BOTH of us...how weird is that!?)

- I can't wait to reunite with my Freeport buds (via Fatboy's, breakfast dates, coffee runs, barbeques, welcome home parties, and typical LL Bean shenanigans).

- I ALSO can't wait to see my lovely Gordon friends!! Miss them so much. Shout out to you reading this extremely long winded post.

Ok, folks.That's all for now. More exciting posts to come soon. For now, I gotta grab a snack before "The Bachelorette" begins!

Life update!

So, I realize I haven't written in a few days...oops! This whole blogging thing is still new to me. But in a nutshell, here's what's been going on and running through this little noggin of mine...

- Internship is going well...tomorrow I teach my first pilates class. Don't know what I got myself into, but here goes nothin'!
- I went back to my job at a quaint little jewelry store in downtown Freeport on Saturday. Thankfully they were kind enough to give me a few hours here and there! It's always great when a poor college kid like myself can earn some extra dough. Bonus: playing dress up with all the pretty earrings, necklaces & more!
- I've had some pretty great encounters with long lost friends this week. Catch up sessions make for great cure-alls!
- My hermanitos and I made Dad a hip happenin' Fathers Day gift!
- Right now I'm watching The Bachelorette (TV guilty pleasure...but not really. I really do enjoy watching it!!)....Ryan needs to go home, Chris looks like Sid the Sloth from Ice Age, and Croatia looks realllllly beautiful! Adding that to my wanderlust list. Fo sho.

Will write more tomorrow. Good niiiiiiiight err'one :)

Notes from the Intern: Lessons & The Like

Yes, I will admit it. It was a little dry at first. Ever seen that movie Enchanted? I sort of felt like Giselle, being plopped in a sea of unfamiliarity, and yet aside from being captivated by a whole new set of things to learn, was majorly distracted by the fact that I didn't even know where to start let alone had the resources. So, out of my element I was, not terribly sure how to navigate through something so foreign.

But that's the thing-- I'm a big girl, right?! I'm supposed to suck it up and find my way. So that's exactly what I did...and so the list of lessons begins.

1. Growing familiar with the culture of my program. I'm working in peer support; where most of my education so far has mostly touched clinical methods, peer support is more about relationships and opening up the conversation. And I like it. A lot.
2. Listening to stories...it's humbling. I've heard of lives pierced with loneliness and hopelessness, yet amidst it all, there is so much hope in the journey of recovery.
2a. Recovery is not about the destination, it's about the journey.
3. The faith and patience of a pal go a long way.
4. Art provides an escape.
5. The human heart longs for companionship, as we were designed not to be alone but to be relational beings.
6. A simple smile rings volumes.
7. Meet other people on their turf.
8. Find commonalities-- and if you can't, discover new things for yourself.
9. Don't measure your success. Just be faithful, devoted, and hang in there.
10. Be slow to listen, slow to speak, slow to assume.
11. Be patient.
12. You can never be too engrossed with a curiosity to learn.
13. Elevate the needs of others above your own.
14. Encourage others.

Truth be told, it's not easy when you're given a task you feel so inadequate to do. I'm the kind of girl who wants to do things well and does not want to give people anything less than what they deserve. Thankfully these past few days I've been showered in kindness and support from other employees and I have a better feel for what I'm doing! I'll keep posting those little lesson nuggets, and more updates as it all unfolds :)

Monday: Not my favorite day...

but this one's an exception, because I got a letter from a darling friend. Thanks Megan!

Today was just one of those mornings when the second my alarm clock went off, all I could think of was my burning desire to go back to sleep the second I got home from my internship. But, thankfully, I just got home and I feel energized 3 cups of coffee later to do laundry, clean my room, and enjoy some time with Jesus before my mom and I go "lupine stealing" (that's what she referred to it as, anyway...lol. Oh ma). 

I'll write more later.

For now, happy Monday, hooligans!

Graduation day!

When we were little, we would spend rainy afternoons playing Lego's, sunny summer days swimming and splashing at the lake, and log hours into playing outside in our big wooded yard. And where some things have changed, others have not; one of those very things being how close me and my not-so-baby brother are. Well, readers, today he graduated from high school, and you can call me the proudest big sister on the planet!

Keepin' it classy since the 1990's.

Matt and I are only 3 years apart. We spent the first 9 years of my life (and 6 of his) just the two of us. Growing up, we never fought. Not to say we always got along, but we were happy little campers! Together, we experienced losing our first teeth, the joys of the first snowfall, jumping off the dock into the lake at the same time, the birth of our younger brother Nick, working hard at school, the loss of our Papa (the first time either of us had faced death), the pure joy and excitement of being at YL camp, worshiping together, laughing til the point of tears, "The Office" marathons on rainy days-- I could go on forever! As we've grown older, we've only gotten closer. He may be my younger brother, but there certainly have been times when we've experienced role reversal, and he's been the one who has been there for me, to offer advice or to  make me laugh or to give some consolation. He's got a heart for serving others, for using his God-given gifts of music and hands on work, and for just being who he is in his identity in Christ. I hope that as the next years of his life unfold as he goes off to college and experiences independence for the first time that he will continue to seek that identity on a deeper level. Needless to say, he's the bomb dot com and I can't believe he graduated from high school!! Watch out, world. You don't know what's comin' at ya!

Pre-grad ceremony. World's worst jumping shot.

YAY! On his way to receive his diploma :)

Aaaand here we are. The 3 amigos (terrible picture...little guy isn't even looking at the camera. Oh well!)

I'm 8 days into half marathon training.

Excuse me. What?

I know 8 days doesn't sound like a big deal where it's right on the cusp of "she's going to stick with it" and "doubt she'll keep it up", but a few short years ago I never ever envisioned myself saying anything remotely close to this. I used to despise running; ask me to go take a lap and I probably would have punched you in the face. I played field hockey and softball in high school, but rarely did much training out of season (tisk tisk, I know). It wasn't until my junior year or so when a friend encouraged me to start running, and painful as it was to take this beached whale to the pavement, it was the most invigorating, empowering feeling ever. There was no one I was up against but myself. It was an escape from the stresses of things that seriously harshed my mellow. I knew I could only get better, and that motivated me. So, since then, I've been obsessed! I certainly am not the fastest one out there, but I'm determined to improve (and fall more in love with it!) as these next few months unravel until the half marathon in the fall with some lovely pals :) Bring it on, hilly roads of Freeport! 

Oh...and to those of you out there who have never given running a shot, try it! 

The first pair of running shoes I wore out...many good, challenging miles in these suckers!

I feel like I need an introductory post or something...

Just to get the ball rolling. Smell what I'm stepping in? A couple friends and I thought it would be a delightful idea to hop on the blogging bandwagon, and alas, here I am. Bring on the  memories of my senior year of college, scribblings of the great thing God's teaching me, and the random thoughts that run through my mind on a daily basis. Ready or not...here I come!