This sums it up perfectly.

Yes.

Meanwhile, in autumn

There are things you must do in autumn. There just are.

This past weekend has been good for the heart. Being at home for fall break has allowed me to do so many fall things. Marching band. Cornfields. Playing with my black Halloween cat. A bonfire, not without hotdogs and s’mores. A birthday party. Jumping in piles of leaves. Plus many other relaxing, homey things, like bubble baths, making cookies, and sitting around drinking hot tea and reading books. SO good.

In the last few days, fall has passed from being more summer-like to now being on the cusp of winter. Can you feel it? There is a definite chill in the air, much more so than that crisp, invigorating breeze we’ve had for the last month or so. I brought my winter coat back to school with me. I feel like I’ll be needing it soon, since a simple sweatshirt almost did not suffice this morning! I’m not looking forward to winter all that much, because I know it means the weather won’t be warm again for at least 4 months…too long for this girl. I have been doing some thinking on the matter, though, since it seems the majority of bloggers I follow live in Florida, California, or other such places. They envy our winter. Our frost. Our change of pace to seemingly endless cold. I’ve never experienced life sans winter before, so I can’t claim to understand where they are coming from. However, I do see the goodness of it in the fact that summer seems so much sweeter in contrast to the long months of bitter cold. How much more do we appreciate something, when we realize it is missing? That’s how our seasons work. I will hold onto the loveliness of fall for as long as it lets me, and then move on to winter with renewed appreciation.

For now, enjoy the beauty of fall.

P.S.- Not sure why I’m cheesin’ in all of these pictures…just keepin’ it real, I suppose. :)

I have to write something on here.

It’s ridiculous how uninspired I have been.

I mean, it’s not like I haven’t had things in my life worth sharing lately…I’ve had plenty.

Like…

flying kites through my sunroof while driving

having hopes of dancing with a boy crushed, that led to…

a midnight run- just enough adrenaline to sweep away my energy and emotions

a crazy, crazy Saturday night in downtown Kearney

drawn-on eyeliner mustaches photo shoot

seeing people almost lose their will to live because the Huskers lost

bug bites on the bottoms of my feet

Swear, I have had more than enough thoughts and moments to write about. As I sit here and try to conclude as to why I am so absent, I think it’s because I cannot conclude anything. Lots of things are taking place in my life right now, and I have lots of little philosophies about what they are teaching me, what direction I should be going, what has put me in the place I am in right now.

I know several things,

God loves. He knows what’s up. He only gives good gifts. His truth stands, even when I can’t feel it.

Our God is greater than emotions. He is stronger than circumstances. He loves us individually, and we can feel His love.

That’s where I’m at.

It’s September…

“The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel–
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Drying grass,
New books and blackboards
Chalk in class.
The bee, his hive
Well-honey, hums
While Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze.”

-John Updike, September

****

That is all. :)

As of late…

My blog. I love you.

Tomorrow it will be a whole month since I last posted something. I think I kind of have this unwritten rule in my mind that I can’t let it be more than a month between posts. Because…how will remember if I don’t write it down??? I don’t want to forget all the in-between moments.

So let’s go with a list. A compilation of all the goings-on as of late.

In no particular order:

1. I’ve learned that you can [generally] determine whether or not someone will go to college by the size of their garage. Or whether they even have one. Think about that.

2. I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’m a feeler. This means my logical side doesn’t kick in until I freak out about a situation. Ha! I can see that in so many areas of my life. It’s good to know. Also, I am an external processor. Hence the blog! I don’t fully realize what I’m thinking until I say it or write it out. Pretty cool. Lastly, I am an outgoing introvert. Meaning: I love being around people, but they wear me out. I really do need my alone time! SO much insight into myself lately.

3. I almost always solve the Jumble puzzle in the newspaper by figuring out the answer first, then unscrambling the letters from that.

4. I’ve scored some really great sales lately. $50 jeans for $28? Heck yeah! A book (one that will help me prioritize my life…more on that later) for only $1.98 [including shipping!] on eBay? You betcha!

5. I feel so defeated by school already, and it’s only the 4th week of school. No matter how hard I try, no matter how much time I invest in my homework, I am still behind. It may be a matter of prioritizing my time, but I’m not sure. I thought I was good at that…maybe I’m not. At least in this season of life. All I know is that something’s gotta change, or my whole semester will be so out of balance.

6. Because of poor time management, or kick-butt homework, or whatever…time alone with God has been rarely happening. If I don’t do my homework, there are obvious consequences. But not spending time with God? There are consequences, too. I’m starting to see that.

7. Do I really need that much sleep?

8. I realized tonight that I had a presentation due online in an hour, speed-skimmed the chapter, threw a bunch of words together, and pulled it off. Pretty impressive, I must say. But see what I mean about homework waging war and winning?

9. My goal this week is to look cute for 8 o’clock class at least once. 3 more chances. We’ll see.

10. My laptop battery is dying, and I’m too lazy to get up and plug it in. So this will be it for the night. But hey! I think it was helpful just to write what’s up. Like I said…external processor. Hopefully it will somehow help me solve my problems.

Later.

Spice up yo’ life.

This school year ain’t gonna be a boring one. Nuh-uh!

To add some spice to your life, to make your classes a little less dull…fancy up your notebooks a little. Like this.

Grab some old notebooks.

Everyone has those classes that require you to take notes for, like, the first 2 weeks of school. From then on you are smart enough to know the professor puts the notes online, or doesn’t really test over them…something along those lines. Anywho, I have tons of notebooks each with less than 20 pages filled in. If you aren’t the same way, you can use new notebooks, too. There are no rules in this game.

Find some cute paper.

I have so much scrapbook paper; not for scrapbooking (too much effort- I much prefer this blog to record my life!), but for whatever creativity requires.

Next: Mod Podge. Essential.

And really, the next step can’t be explained. Just let your creative juices flow. If you’re lucky, you’ll end up with some super cute designs…to be enjoyed throughout the whole year. :)

Now I’m excited to take notes!

Late-summer sweetness

I just realized today it’s been almost a month since I last updated this blog. My life since then has been…crazy? Busy? Boring? I really don’t know how to describe it. It’s still been busy, but a different kind of busy than when I was in Florida. I’ve been catching up with people and now I’m catching up with life in general…part of that includes updating this little blog! Since I’m good at it, I’ll throw some more pictures your way.

I’m pretty excited to get back in the school routine again, and to start blogging about less moments and more thoughts. I learned lots of things this summer, and right now they’re still sort of floating around in my mind…once I’m back in school with more free time (crazy how that works), I’ll be able to post some substantial things (I hope!). For now, though, I will enjoy the sweetness of late-summer and be looking forward to fall. :)