[birthday pt. 1] three generations to celebrate

Let's just say I had an incredible few day celebrating my birthday - before it was even my birthday! Also, I realize I haven't formally introduced my beyond incredible family...how the heck did that happen?! Ok. So my birthday this year fell on Mother's Day [which is actually a common occurrence] and it also happen to work out that amazing Grandma - who I haven't been able to see for five years! - was coming out. So therefore we took the liberty of coordinating all our crazy schedules so we could celebrate my birthday AND Mother's Day for my mom and my grandma. Three generations to celebrate all at once! You might think " oh boo you have to share your birthday celebration with other people," (and actually you're probably not think that at all) but it was just a huge blessing to have my entire family together, Grandma included. 

[My amazing parents, Mike and LeeAnn. Seriously they're the best.]

[Beautiful Grandma Gwen. I have never met someone more full of Jesus than her. She powerfully radiates and lives out His love]

{come what} MAY

Happy May! First post in a while and first post in the brand new month. This IS my birthday month - 12 days baby! - and I'm gonna be the big old 2-3. Scary huh. Ok not really because I still feel like a small child. I've started to reflect on the past year but when I did I immediately thought of my New Years goals I set for myself (thank goodness I blogged then otherwise they'd be lost in the abyss of my brain). And here's best news: I've already accomplished (almost) four!

1. Start and consistently post in my blog: considering I haven't had a functional computer for the past two months I'd say I've done quite well!
2. Take a trip outside of Oregon: I took a pseudo-spring break weekend down in Arizona and just got back from Laramie, Wyoming of all places. I drove out there with my girl Emily since she got her big-girl dream job at a hospital out there. Definitely farrrrr to much driving but always a fun adventure!
3. Perform Somewhere: Ok this one is bittersweet, but I sang at my Nana's funeral with my sister and brother in law a few weeks ago. It was such a beautiful service and wonderful celebration of her life. She is so missed and loved, but I praise the Lord I will see her again one day. 
4. Move out of Corvallis: Ok, I still live here. BUT I got a paid internship in Portland for the summer, aka I'm moving to Portland!!! I'm so stoked because the Lord pretty much threw this in my lap and I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity. This also mean I get to live with my other twin pug, Ruthie...we've literally been talking about living together since she graduated last year and moved back up to PDX. 

All this to say God has really blessed me even  in this first quarter of the year, and I'm stoked for what the rest of this spring has in store. The weather so far has been BEAUTIFUL and warm! This is unheard of for the Willamette Valley this time of year (I'm still in shock) so obviously this means another stylish spring ensemble was long overdue....and I promised I'd throw in some royal blue so here you go! 

Oh I also want to mention this entire outfit cost me less that $50. I'm a bargain hunter always and forever. 

[dress: $8, Old Navy - or as I call it old naval | Shirt: $14, TJ Maxx]

Waiting

WAITING. It's like going anywhere in the middle of thick fog. You can't see a single thing that's in front of you, you have no idea where you're going, you're trusting you're heading somewhere amazing and you  just have to ...keep...moving...forward. 

If I'm honest I can be quite an impatient person. I think that's partially hereditary, partially society, partially my type-A personality's fault. But if I'm really honest, there are things in my life that I cannot control and all I can do is wait. One of my least favorite activities.

This season of my life is one seems more open ended than ever before: 

• Final year of undergrad
• Trying to figure out what happens after school...grad school, jobs, internships oh my!
• Praying for my living situation to pan out for next term (cause I'll be roommate-less after this one)
• Investing in relationship that must take a slower pace than we would like
• Financial "struggles" (aka doing more career related activities which=cut hours at work. boo)
• Dying to be involved in church
• Wanting to make music a part of life again
• Seeking a clear and specific direction for my life

I'm not shooting for the stars here am I? Yes,  I know there are quite a few things in that list that I can be proactive about, but despite my proactive attempts, I still have to WAIT on some Divine timing. Not always an ideal or fun process.