wednesday wisdom #11

we choose to live where apathy is normal and average is the goal. occasionally, some refuse to cooperate. they rise out of the rubble of decadence and conformity and by the power of god, they show us a new way. they force us to accept responsibility. they inspire and require us to consider a new way to be human."

-erwin mccmanus

why i'm like a lab rat.

sunday in church, randy told a story about some lab rats a friend of his told him a few years ago. the lab was getting shut down and they decided to let the rats free. they took the cage of rats out to an open field and opened the door and all of the rats just huddled in the back of the cage. the cage is all they had ever known and they were afraid of the freedom outside of the cage. he then went on to ask us to consider what our cages are. i identified my cages (fears of failure and lame excuses) awhile ago. the question i'm faced with now is this: what am i going to do about it? will i embrace the freedom i have been given, or will i continue to cower in my false sense of control?

friday photos: 2011.2

friday, january 7

construction.

saturday, january 8

arts and crafts.

sunday, january 9

binding journals.

monday, january 10

work-from-home snow day.

tuesday, january 11

my christmas gift from jen arrived.

wednesday, january 12

sometimes snow looks fake.

thursday, january 13

edgehill cafe gave me this creamer. i named her marta the moo cow and my roommates and i will now hide her around the apartment.

wednesday wisdom #10

"we are not what we were meant to be, and we know it. if, when passing a stranger on the street, we happen to meet eyes, we quickly avert our glance. cramped into the awkward community of an elevator, we search for something, anything to look at instead of each other. we sense that our real self is ruined, and we fear to be seen. but think for a moment about the million of tourists who visit ancient sites like the parthenon, the colosseum, and the pyramids. though ravaged by time, the elements, and vandals through the ages, these ruins still awe and inspire. though fallen, their glory cannot be fully extinguished. there is something at once sad and grand about them. and such we are. abused, neglected, vandalized, fallen - we are still fearful and wonderful. we are, as one theologian put it, "glorious ruins." but unlike those grand monuments, we who are christ's have been redeemed and are being renewed as paul said, "day by day." restored in the love of god."

- brent curtis/john eldredge

[enter blog title here]

roommate is baking a pie. ray lamontagne is on the stereo. snow is on the ground.

it's a good day.

time for a check up.

we're 10 days into the new year, and so i feel as though it's the perfect time to do a check up on a few of my resolutions. remember my 11 in 11 (parts one and two here)? well, i've been working on a few of them and i'm really excited to share one particular one with you.

i mentioned that i want to get rid of journals... i started making them and selling them a couple years ago. and i spent the past week making several new ones and i just re-opened my etsy last night. so. take a look. follow me on twitter. like me on facebook. and spread the word, will you?

friday photos: 2011.1

saturday, january 1

opryland hotel

sunday, january 2

hillsboro village

monday, january 3

creating journals.

tuesday, january 4

my potential reading list for 2011.

wednesday, january 5

putting away the christmas decorations.

thursday, january 6

keys.