Trolley Wood

On very short notice, my sweet sister was willing to shoot some senior pictures for me. We woke up bright and early Thursday morning (after staying up until 2:30 the night...um, morning...before), she grabbed her camera and we drove to a pretty field I had hoped to get some good pictures in. There was only one problem. The sun was nowhere to be found. (This is actually a serious dilemma for a photographer. Lighting is key, guys.) We didn't let that put a damper on our little adventure, however. I turned the car around and we chased the sun. No, really. That was plan B. I drove on down Old 78, until we pulled over on a little county road to find a darling field full of sunshine. Okay, so it wasn't full of sunshine. It was slightly overcast, but still lovely and sunny enough for us. It turned out to be a Trolley Wood kind of day.

Here are a few of our favorites:

I couldn't let my beautiful photographer stay behind the camera all day.

Most of the fun was actually had afterward. The rest of the day was spent in shorts and t-shirts, in the hammock, and on the frisbee field. It was definitely one of my most favorite days.

 We're so dysfunctional.

On that note, Happy Tuesday!

This Spring Break, I will...

It is an ever-fixed mark

Amid all the candy hearts, pink balloons, and cheesy Hallmark cards of this over-marketed day of love, let's hear what Shakespeare has to say about real love in his 116th Sonnet.

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved, 

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

To read is to fly

There is beauty in simplicity

{all lovely pins via Pinterest}

Take me to the mountains

Engadine, Switzerland

Queenstown, New Zealand

Anchorage, Alaska

Scotland

 

{source}

Thankful

I'm currently listening to the Little Women soundtrack, which makes me feel all happy and nostalgic inside. I'm sitting at the computer. (Obviously.) I've been typing up a couple of papers, and trying to catch up from last week's absences. Last week, I flew to Oklahoma, saw old friends, met new friends, learned a lot, and had an all-around wonderful time. (Which I hope to post about soon...ish, but it will require more thought and effort, since I'd like to include pictures and whatnot.)
Life. It moves at an incredible rate. I still can't believe February is just around the corner.

Fast forward. One day later.

I've been thinking about my own ingratitude. I had to stop and make a list.
Thankful:
-I wrote a paper on God's love this week. (This is why I love my classical, Christian education.)
-I took my one Latin student to GiGi's for class today. It was very educational. Trust me.
-I have a car. (Granted, she's not in mint condition at the moment. But I'm working on that.)
-I'm taught from the Word and blessed with the fellowship of godly believers at Christ Church.
-I've had the privilege of attending the filming of the Behold Your God talks given by my pastor for about a week and a half.
-I have the best family in the whole wide world. (No, really.)
-I serve a faithful, kind, almighty, loving, holy God. I am His, and He is mine!

Sometimes I forget these things. Sometimes I focus on all the little things that don't go according to my plan. But He knows far better than I do. He is faithful. Give me a grateful heart that takes nothing for granted, O Lord.
 

A Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night

O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant,

O Come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him, Born the King of angels;

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

God of God, Light of Light,

Lo! he abhors not the Virgin’s womb;

Very God, Begotten not created.

Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation;

Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!

Glory to God, In the highest.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning;

Jesu, to Thee be glory given;

Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing.

--John Francis Wade