July Life {part 1}

July so far has been wildly exciting so far! It started with my dear Stephie's amazing wedding and I just finished thefirst week of my internship at ADAPT Training in Beaverton...and it's INCREDIBLE!

[beautiful bachelorette]

I was in Beaverton for two weeks before Stephie's wedding. I'm so thankful I was because I could play pseudo-wedding planner since I didn't (and still don't) have a job. I had nothing but time to do craft after craft and make list after list of things that needed to get done for the big day. After a super fun Bachelorette party in downtown PDX, and awesome rehearsal dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory on the Waterfront, the big day came and went without a hitch (except the hitching of Stephie and Andy!). Somehow I didn't get a single picture with the bride (fail) or of all the adorable details (fail #2). 

Identity Crisis

Warning. This is not a fun and fluffy post. It challenged me to even articulate this. I hope it challenges you.

I can guarantee we have all wrestled with the issue of identity. Who are you? What defines you? What makes you who you are??? I'll whole heartedly admit that to this day I struggle with this. It's funny to hear what people say when you ask then to describe themselves, their identity. Even looking at my own "About Me" section I define myself in such small and worldly terms. I have defined myself by my field of study, my passions (which are apparently only fluffy and sparkly things..what?), and who I love, Jesus (which is not worldly, obvs).

It's just so curious that we often define ourselves by things that can be taken away instantly; upon things that are clearly temporary but are being used as a definitive and supposedly permanent descriptor.

New Seasons

Spring is finally here! Here in Oregon you know this because even though it is 50 degrees still, the variance of sun, rain, hail, and spontaneous heat waves nearing 60-degrees on any given day tell you it is no longer winter. Oregonians have HIGH hopes that good weather is nearing, and so we put on our shorts, sandals, and sundresses just so we don't miss an opportunity that it is actually fitting to wear them [we are crazy people]. 

Potential good weather and adequate vitamin D intake aside, I am beyond excited for this season of spring! Why you ask? I give you exhibit(s) 1-6:

1. Last term of classes of my undergraduate career!
2. Moving into a new house with three fabulous new roommates that I get to build relationships and share life with
3. Spring means Oregon comes into full bloom...literally. I love the iris, tulips, daffodils and all the variety of flowers that pop up this time of year (I'll bet God had so much fun making all the flowers - what an artist our Creator is!)
4. More chances to be outside! Aka more runs, more hikes, more lounging and studying on a blanket, more coffee dates sitting in the sunshine. It's a beautiful thing.
5. MY BIRTHDAY! (May 12th everyone, mark your calendars, 23 baby!)
6. Spring clothes. Skirts, dresses, sandals, tank tops, bright colors, and florals OH MY! ...which leads to the fun part of this post, my first of many spring outfits :)

[dress/belt: HM | shoes: target | necklace: borrowed - thanks to my Stephie pug!]

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.

Goals not Resolutions

One week in 2013 is already gone. Can't go back and redo anything, change anything, add something in. All we have is the next 51 weeks. I had a BLAST bringing in the New Year with some of my favorite girls in the entire world. Obviously I had to create a little photo montage since I'm in the blog world now (click on the photo to see full):

My twins, Stephie (left) and Ruthie. I'm the third twin.
Don't judge, but we also refer to ourselves as pugs. Don't even get me started.
[Stephie's dress: Free People | My Dress: Zara | Ruthie's dress: Kohls]
BTW My dress is actually Ruthie's and Stephie's dress is actually mine. Love sharing closets.