joy.

I'm sitting at my kitchen table, thinking about my purpose in life (for a class. literally-this is our assignment), listening to nothing but the clock ticking, drinking a great big cup of coffee.  This is it.  I could die happy.

happy.

In the past week, several people have asked me, point blank, "Are you happy?"  Once was expected, many were not.  The first, the expected, my answer was automatic: "Of course." As I was winding down that night, though, I thought about it.

And I am even more certain of my answer.

I. am. happy.  And unbelievably so.  I am surrounded, in every arena of my life, by incredible, outstanding people (if I spend any amount of time with you, chances are, I think you're amazing.).  Inspiring people with huge hearts.  HILARIOUS people.  I am involved with organizations I think are doing incredible things. I feel like God is putting me in the right place in the right time.  I feel His presence in my life. 

Why wouldn't I be?  Life isn't perfect. But the thing is, if you look for the jagged edges, you'll find them.  But if you look for the beauty, it's everywhere.  The jagged edges included.  If you know my mom, you know she's probably the most positive person EVER.  And yes, sometimes this is annoying--mainly when I'd like to be complaining and she keeps trying to readjust my vision.  But as much as I sometimes hate to admit it, she's right.  I mentioned this earlier, and it's absolutely ridiculous and 99% of you would probably make fun of me for doing this, but I do it anyways.  Count your blessings (I literally do this.  yes, I'm a nerd.), because the thing is, the more of them you see, the even MORE of them you see.  Seriously, try it.  Just once.  If you think it's totally pointless, you can make fun of me, but it just makes me so FREAKING HAPPY when I remember all the wonderful parts of my day.   Life is life. Life is BEAUTIFUL.

Whoever is happy will make others happy too.
-Anne Frank

(PS, this is so true.  It's rare that I'm around a truly joyful person and don't leave that person overjoyed as well.)

grace.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”
II Corinthians 12:9

happy day, folks.

peaches, love, and gorbachev.

so the saying goes.  actually, that's one coined by my roommate and myself last year, in the height of my Cold War studies (read: when I was buried behind Cold War memoirs, records, and books for 18 hours a day, 2 weeks straight).  and a typo: when you're sleep deprived, peaches=peace.

but that's besides the point.  today: peace.  something that ironically is on the forefront of my mind when I am most WITHOUT peace.  If you've seen me at all today, you know that today was "the busiest day of my life."  Which is a lie, but it seemed like that.  Woke up at the ungodly hour of 5am to finish a paper, class till 1:45pm, meeting, hearing, meeting, meeting, HOME.  Home at 7:45, not having eaten since a piece of toast (which I made WIHTOUT catching our house on fire) at around 2.  Needless to say, I was relieved to walk in our little door and our little house to see my little roommates and eat my little sandwich (to add to my gratitude list: people who buy me food.  without me asking.  key to my HEART.)

but peace.

Ironically, everywhere I looked today, as I felt like I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off, I saw... and I almost hate saying this because I don't want to sound cheesy, but I really did feel like God was sending me little notes.

Love note #1:

I read a handful of blogs each morning, and one of them today had an entry all about this little boy finding peace in God.  The mom says to the crying little boy, "You've got some big feelings," which perfectly describes how I've been feeling the past few days.  I've realized especially lately how much more EMOTIONAL I've become.  And while sometimes it's lots of fun and I feel SO ALIVE and passionate, times like last night, where I felt like I would cry at the drop of a hat, make me ill.  But anyways, the mother essentially leads her child to peace in Him.  Not in her, because as I discover time and time again, true fulfillment and comfort cannot come from even the most amazing people in our lives.  The only true haven, safe place of comfort is God.

"For He Himself is our peace..." ~Ephesians 2:14

“The Lord of Peace Himself gives [me] His peace at all times, and in every situation” (2 Thess. 3:16). 

Love note #2:

Procrastinating, I of course looked at Twitter.  One of my friend's Tweets was simply Colossians 3:15.  Looked up the passage on my good ole crackberry, and I find these comforting words:

Colossians 3:15-17 (New International Version)

 ¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Talk about powerful.  Powerful peace.

Add in the random, encouraging text messages and wonderful people who helped me through the day, and I am ending this day (ok, not ending, because I'm about to go study for stat...) sitting on my screened in porch, drinking dessert coffee with a wonderful roommate, relishing in God's love, amazed that the "busiest day of my life" is one that has brought my mind to such peace.

peaches, love, and gorbachev.

count your blessings.

Literally.  At the (somewhat sarcastic) suggestion of a friend, I've taken to writing down the little things that put a smile on my face...

1. realizing that the book I have to read for history is 50 pages shorter than I thought it was.
2. the big hugs I get from the 2 year olds at Waumba Land :)
3. a text from my mom simply saying, I hope you're having a great day.
4. new friends.
5. meeting up with a very special faculty member of the Honors program, who asks me what I'm doing, how I'm doing, and telling me she's proud of me.
6. teach for america, and the wonderful people I get to work with.  enough said.
7. sunsets.
8. getting a book in the mail.
9. i love you's.
10. the incredible, laugh inducing atmosphere of a georgia football game... especially after a win :)

And now, back to statistics.  Which certainly does NOT put a smile on my face.

september = love.

I am in love... with September.

1. Changing seasons... cooler weather.
2. Concerts... and after the concerts.
3. Georgia Football... enough said.

happy gameday, chickadees. :)