Top Ten Things I'm Looking Forward to in Spring
10. Dresses, skirts, flip flops.
9. Opening my windows. The apartment just feels and smells better with fresh air flowing through.
8. Colbie Caillat and Andy Grammer on repeat.
7. Leaving night classes without nearly freezing to death.
6. Springtime-scented soap and candles.
5. Seeing campus come alive like it did over the weekend.
4. Walks.
3. The mysterious promise of Wonderful Wednesday.
2. The occasional Sonic Happy Hour excursion.
1. Blue skies and sunshine.
It's a beautiful day and I chose to spend it doing homework at Panera. And what always happens when you settle in to get things done? Unrelated inspiration. So homework will just have to wait a few more minutes.
A week ago, Johnson City was covered in snow. I didn't leave my apartment last Thursday except to take pictures of the tiny snowman that my sister built for me. And today it is in the 60s. The sky is a bit overcast but there are patches of blue and a comfortable brightness. I'm sitting by the wall of windows at Panera and soaking it all in.
I know that this glimpse of spring may be only temporary. Mother Nature is a temptress. For all I know, this time next week we could be covered in another foot of snow. Or wading through six inches of rain to get to classes. I certainly hope not, but I am not blind to the risks. However, I feel joy and happiness at this week's reminder that spring is coming.
I suppose that we all go through seasons when we feel like we are waiting. Waiting for answers, for milestones, for ends or beginnings. I feel like I'm in one of those seasons - literally and figuratively. I am more full of joy and peace than I ever have been in my life, but there is still waiting. And this week has reminded me that God has promised things. As He has promised that winter passes into spring, this season of waiting will also pass into a more full understanding of who He is and what He is doing.
And so as I type this, I breathe in the fresh, teasing air. I may have more cold air to breathe in before the warm air is here to stay. But as I breathe it out, I'll know I'm one breath closer to another one of His promises fulfilled.
There's a tree outside my window
that is losing all it's leaves,
and it looks as if it's crying
but the cold will not retreat.
Even in the coldest winter,
still the spring is on its way,
and everything that once was dying
will bloom and take our breath away.
Tyrone Wells
Top Ten Unique Signs that I'm Growing Up
10. I can sleep in a completely dark, completely quiet apartment. Big improvements from the days when I couldn't sleep without the TV on.
9. I order water at all restaurants and I haven't touched sweet tea in weeks.
8. I wear my socks properly. I wore them inside out as a kid because I couldn't stand the seams.
7. My parents did not do my taxes this year. I didn't either, but hey, it takes a resourceful, adult-like person to find help, right?
6. I occasionally opt for face products with hints of anti-aging ingredients. You know. Just in case.
5. I got great joy of taking care of my sick sister yesterday. I was not happy that she was sick, but I felt great purpose in caring for her. Maternal instincts?
4. I have a work email and it has a signature. Getting fancy.
3. I watch Jeopardy whenever I have the evening free. Maybe I jumped past "growing up" and moved right on to "approaching retirement."
2. The other day I talked myself out of buying a bag and into buying a nice book of crossword puzzles.
1. I've been awake before 10 most days out of the past week.
Top Ten Songs I Can't Stop Listening To
10. Dark Horse - Katy Perry
I know.
9. The Monster - Eminem feat. Rhianna
Not by choice. It just comes on the radio every five minutes.
8. Story of my Life - One Direction
Same as #9. But I like this one.
7. She's Gone - Jay Ollero
Beautiful NoiseTrade find!
6. A Beautiful Place to Be - Tyrone Wells
NoiseTrade does wonderful things.
5. Let Her Go - Passenger
I don't care, I love this song.
4. In Summer - Olaf the Snowman, Frozen Soundtrack
My favorite animated character of all time!
3. Pompeii - Bastille
Same as #8&9. But it's my favorite radio song right now.
2. Bonfire Heart - James Blunt
Watch the trailer for A Long Way Down and you'll see.
1. Make It Through - Tyrone Wells.
Even in the coldest winter, still the spring is on its way. And everything that once was dying will bloom and take our breath away.
Top Ten Mildly Embarrassing Confessions
(at time of press)
10. I watched an hour of Full House yesterday morning.
9. My favorite PJ pants are gray, and all of my softest t-shirts are gray - so I often end up sleeping in a gray onesie. Bonus points if it's cold enough for one of the gray sweatshirts. I need some color.
8. This weather gives me super-dry skin. And I super-hate lotion. I apologize for my crackly hands.
7. I have had bizarre nightmares every night since I got back from Christmas break. Topics have included non-existant Breaking Bad spin-offs, kidnappings, 30 Rock characters, and being abandoned by my best friends in a shady neighborhood. And a bunch of other things I should've written down.
6. The power went out in part of my house on Friday night and I couldn't find the fuse box, even though I searched every room in my apartment and in the hallway. I didn't find it till Saturday afternoon. The fuse box is literally visible from my door.
5. If I start a page of notes in class and I don't like my handwriting, I'll toss it and start a new page.
4. I spent too much money on food storage containers last week.
3. I crave soda, drink soda, and immediately regret it because it makes my throat all gurgly.
2. Confession 3.c happens because I am physically incapable of burping.
1. On more than one occasion this month, I have found myself awake in the middle of the night and proceeded to eat something sweet (ex. donut or muffin) on my couch, drink a glass of milk, and go right back to sleep. Basically the night is a very strange time for me.
If you've known me for a while, you know that I'm organized. I like schedules and lists, especially if they are color-coded. I like routine.
Well, the past few months have challenged that, and I'm finally starting to see the good in the challenge.
All through school - elementary, middle, high, undergrad - there was a schedule. Even last year working in Res Life at Point I had a schedule. But then I re-entered the world of Milligan Res Life combined with graduate school. And it was weird.
Don't for one second misunderstand me. I love where I am and all I have.
What's been weird is my striving toward routine again. Toward "normalcy" - whatever that is. And what God taught me in a conversation I had earlier this week is that normalcy ought not to be my goal. Living effectively should be my goal, whether or not I go about it in a "normal" fashion.
When I say normal, I'm mostly referring to a schedule. I imagine that a Normal Day in the life of a Normal Person in the Work Force goes a little something like this: awake by 7AM, at work by 8AM, lunch break at noon, home by 5PM, dinner, relaxing, maybe an evening commitment here or there, and to bed at a reasonable hour.
My day went like this: awake at 10AM, breakfast-slash-lunch, a shower, working my house-cleaning job from 1 to 2PM, staff meeting at 3:30PM, an hour at the library, grabbing dinner before class from 5:30 until 9:15, then an hour at my friends' house for our weekly TV show, and finishing up yoga at midnight. I'll be up for another hour or so as I get ready for bed and do some reading.
It feels weird. I struggle because I have what seems to be a lot of downtime. "You get to sleep in until 10 some days during the week?" I feel like I could be labeled as lazy, or maybe I just do it to myself. Yes, some days I don't get up until 10, but those are after the nights when I was up until 1 or 2 because so much of my life happens in the evening. I sometimes beat myself up because my day-to-day doesn't resemble that of other people my age working "normal" jobs.
But what God is showing me is that He has not prescribed a schedule. He has not demanded an order in which I do things. He has not given me a bedtime. He has only blessed me with work to do. He demands things of me, yes. He demands that I do my jobs well, that I work hard in school, that I seek Him. But He also commands me to take care of myself, to rest, to laugh. He has given me a to-do list and I have to decide when to get things done.
To my friends living the "normal" life, know that I envy you some days. Take advantage of it and see that work and that structure as a blessing - and fill your free hours with things that give you life and further the Kingdom.
To my fellow graduate students and friends working the odd hours, let's embrace it. I have a feeling that I am not alone in my feelings of awkwardness at the structure of my day-to-day life right now. I'm 23 - I'm supposed to be an adult, right? Well, it's time to banish the "supposed to's" and the preconceived, American-dream pictures of adulthood and success.
Praise God for where He has you. Right now. And live in it.
Good evening, friends!
I hope everyone had a wonderful 3-day weekend! I know I did! I spent my day off in Knoxville with my sister and aunt. I got to experience the magic of Puppy Zone for the first time!
I named this little guy Hawthorne.
I hope your day off was great, even if you didn't get to enjoy the company of adorable puppies.
But now, welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!
Top Ten Things I'm Obsessed with Right Now
10. Breaking Bad. I finished the series but I can't stop thinking about it.
9. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul. See #10.
8. Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser. I was skeptical because I have acne-prone skin and this doesn't contain medication, but it has proven to be excellent! I use it at night - it even removes eye makeup.
7. Good Grips food storage containers. Google them. I've bought three in the past week.
6. The Blacklist. The first drama series that I have watched from the beginning. Amazing.
5. Frozen. The best Disney movie of the past few years. If you haven't seen it, you haven't lived. And if you don't know all the words to "In Summer" you should listen to it on repeat immediately.
4. Awards Shows. Always, but especially now since we're in the middle of Awards season. Golden Globes, check. SAG Awards, check. Oscars, let's go.
3. My kitchen. Christmas resulted in a bunch of new kitchen supplies, and I can't stop using them!
2. DoYogaWithMe.com. I'm getting back in the yoga game, and this site is amazing! Tons of free videos.
1. This blog. Duh :)
