words + best friend

when you find someone you love, you bond with, you laugh with, and you trust. keep them. don't ever let them go. don't take them for granted, or use them but be there for them. be there for each other, through the hard and the good times and never let go. because when you find someone you love, you won't find someone exactly like them again. ♥

it seems silly to be this in love with a best friend, really, I know it does but I cannot tell you how much this girl means to me. she is always there for me through thick and thin and we have SO much fun together, she's just the absolute greatest. she is a walking example of Christ's love, and I am so proud of the person she is. I love you Lex. 

finding the joy

(the so beautiful and joyful Olivia. this picture is perfect for this post.)

"when you're sad, you're not really sad. you are merely oblivious to the good things in your life. there is always a crack of lightness in the dark. find it." I found this quote on tumblr today and it is so so true. When I moved to Duluth and was depressed for a short while, I never ever found the good in anything. I was hiding away from the light that was shining through the cracks in my rough time. Even during the days when nothing seems to be going right, there is always something to be joyful about, always something to be thankful for, and always joy somewhere, even when it's hard to find. 

proverbs 10:28//the hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

on with finding joy & i'm praying for all of you to have joy always, even when life isn't going so great. :) 

graffiti graveyard + adventurous friends

 Nina, Jess and I adventured down under the bridge here in Duluth to graffiti graveyard, full of thousand of colors and paintings and art on the bridge walls. It's a beautiful mess down there. Nina and I have a crazy sense of adventure. We have plans for next summer that include blogging together at small cafes in towns you've never even seen on a map, running barefoot through corn fields and dealing with broken down cars. When things go wrong, life moves on. No, but really I can't wait for this next year. I can't even explain how excited I am to start a new year of adventure, fun, living to the fullest, and deepening my relationship with the Lord. Check out this girls blog to read about her story + awesome life, and check out my blog to see all the pictures from graffiti grave.

reflecting 2012 & goal setting for 2013

The countdown begins ya'll. 15 days until Christmas. I like to refer to it as Jesus' birthday since the word Christmas can be said without evening thinking a second about the real meaning of the day. I mean, people who aren't Christians celebrate, but it's more a day of presents and cookies and trees decorated with fun colors. Do not forget the real meaning of Christmas. Celebrating the birth of our wonderful Lord and savior. 

We've got about a foot of snow, and it is BEAUTIFUL. I traced out into it yesterday to take some pictures and loved the white fluffy substance my boots collected. (and my oh my do I love those boots.) I want to encourage my readers to spend the last few weeks of 2012 thinking  about their year, how it was spent, all the good & bad things that happened, and maybe journal some. Count your blessings, think of the places you went, all the people you met, the new adventures you took. Oh boy is life ever exciting. Goals for 2013 isn't such a bad idea either, how do you want to grow on your walk with Christ? How do you want to form relationships with close friends? I really just can't wait for another year of excitement. 2012 for me, was one of my biggest years. I met so many new people, did a lot of new things, grew in a lot of different ways, figured out who my real and fake friends were, worked a lot harder in school, and started off in my new journey in Duluth. 

I'll leave you off with one of my favorite verses:

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. 

There's my two cents for the day. Have a wonderful week!

duluth lift bridge

I have memories, at least once from each summer, of coming to Duluth as a tourist and stranger to the area. I loved growing up coming here at least once a year to spent time at our favorite places. Canal park and the lift bridge were always the highlight of the trip. We'd sit out in the sun with hand scooped ice cream and watch the bridge lift just enough for a small or huge boat to fit underneath. We'd listen to stories from when my dad was young, growing up here. Most were about his experiences of delivering pizza with the lovely Sammys pizza. I never expected to move here, ever.  Duluth went from being my favorite place in Minnesota, to somewhere I was bitter about living at, to my beautiful home. I am truly happy with this beautiful place. The lift bridge lit up at night is the most beautiful site around.