[Rafiki hits Simba on the head with his stick]
Simba: Oww. Jeez... What was that for?
Rafiki: It doesn't matter, it's in the past.
Simba: Yeah, but it still hurts.
Rafiki: Oh yes, the past can hurt.

But the way I see it, you can either run from it,

or learn from it.

Slow down you're doing fine

You can't be everything you want to be

Before your time

Although it's so romantic on the borderline tonight

Too bad but it's the life you lead

You're so ahead of yourself

That you forgot what you need

Vienna - billy joel

Love. I get it. Faith, hope and Love, but the greatest of these is love. I think I actually get it.

It is the greatest because it is the only thing that lasts... that is never ending. Not even faith and hope will last because one day, when we meet God face to face, our faith will be fulfilled and our hope will be met. There will be no need for it anymore.

All that will be left is love.

Generation Green ;)

I've always been a little bit of a tree hugger since I was a kid. I have always recycled (something my parents really encouraged and instilled in me) and I was even on the green team when I was in elementary school!

SO with this whole "going green" campaign I have been VERY excited! My good friend JR even won a competition for his song "Generation Green" (great song too!) and I have been so excited about it all!

More recently, my brother has started getting on board with it too, not in the same way that I have but definitely doing his part to help! When he and I were in Tennessee hiking on the mountains, we came across this:

someone had thrown all of their trash, including a half full paint can, down the side of the mountain. We both go so upset about this, but unfortunately, that was looking down the mountain and zooming in, so we couldn't get down there to clean it. It was just so sickening to see.

So anyways, this school year, my 'green goal' has been to pack my lunch in the most environmentally friendly way possible. So, I went out in search for a lunch box and came across a bag that was just perfect for me -

I love this bag. Everyday it comes with me, and it's perfect because I'm so on the go each day that not only has it helped me to save major amounts of money from not buying my lunch everyday, but it has also encouraged me to pack my lunch with the environment in mind! (plus, it reminds everyone that I am green AND gorgeous :])

One simple switch, really does make a difference.

My heart's constant prayer for my family.

God is preparing.

Words of wisdom that have recently crept their way into my life:

"When life is good, when things are steady -
know that this is not normal,
God is using this time to prepare you for what is next."

Life has been so great lately, everything is falling into place perfectly; I am so thankful for that at this point in my life. But I can feel God preparing my heart, my mind, my life for what is to come. I don't know what is to come, but I'm ready for it and I know that whatever it is, He will guide me through.

So here I am lord, I'm ready when you say it's time.

Dream Big.

When I was younger, I always dreamed of growing up and becoming a teacher; I had a classroom set up in my basement (complete with an overhead projector which I asked for one Christmas). But never did I actually think that this dream would be able to become reality.

When I started college, I started as an education major...but then I got scared. I was afraid I wasn't good enough, I wasn't smart enough, I wasn't equipped enough and that I would never become the great teacher that I dreamed of being. So I changed majors. I chalked it up to wanting to try new things - completely true but in my heart of hearts wasn't my ultimate passion. So I changed to hospitality administration. I loved this major, it was great, hospitality is truly my most enjoyable blessing which I have received; however, I wasn't passionate about working holidays, weekends, and ridiculous hours of the day....so while I would LOVE to be in some sort of hotel business the reality is I wouldn't love it...but I wasn't ready to switch back.

I remember playing with Nicole at the church one day, we were running around the church and Katrina looked at me and said "are you SURE you're not supposed to be working with kids?" and I couldn't honestly answer with a "No, I'm not." because in my heart of hearts, the answer was "I know I am, I'm just too scared."

With that I was pushed to change my major yet again - but still not back to where I wanted. So I went into child development. I loved learning about the development and progress of children, there is something so cool about how a child develops to me. And then I started working at Chesterbrook and I realized okay this is it, this is where I am supposed to be...but a few months in I started thinking to myself how much I loved my job and how much I loved working with the kids, but it just wasn't settling right. The thought didn't sit well in my stomach, I knew this isn't what I was supposed to do forever.

So I began to pray. And I began to trust. And then, I shoveled a driveway at two in the morning. And I turned it into a game. And my friend looked at me and said "You are going to become one of the best elementary school teachers." And that is when I knew what I was supposed to do. And that is what began my process of following God's plan for my life full force.

So standing in my boots shaking (literally, it was freezing out there!!) I decided no matter how scared I was, how worried I was, how hesitant I wanted to be, I was going to allow God to do in my life what He says is best, because He has never failed me before.

And now, here I am blessed beyond belief. I am not yet an elementary school teacher, but I am on my way to becoming one. Still petrified of how it will all work out but knowing that God is in control and that He is good.

This week I began preparing for the school year in my preschool classroom, setting everything up and organizing things for the year and that is when I realized - I am where I am supposed to be and I am becoming who I am supposed to become; and for that I am thankful.

Because God is good.

when you dream, dream big
As big as the ocean blue
'Cause when you dream it might come true
When you dream, dream big

Great day.

Today was a great day. Got to catch up with my cousin who I hadn't seen in years!! I sure do love spending time with my family, and I think their crazy chaos just makes it that much better. :)

Can you see any resemblance?

(From left to right) Me, Dad, Sarah (cousin), Scott (brother)

Scott, Sarah, Me

went for a hike today...

God and I had a great talk. He revealed to me that among rough terrain there is often simple beauty waiting to be discovered that is often overlooked.

Learning about me.

Since last Tuesday I have been on vacation, I first headed to Knoxville, Tennessee via Nashville to visit my best friend and brother, Scott :) We spent a lot of time hiking in the Smoky's and doing one of our shared favorite interests: taking pictures! It was absolutely gorgeous, definitely a good hike (my first real hike and my first time on a real mountain!) And the hard work made the end result so much more worth it!!!

This picture here is of my brother and I before the hike....
and here we are after we reached the waterfall....it was breathtaking!!!
Well this week I am up in Canada visiting my family (a fun little fact about me:I am Canadian, I actually have dual citizenship because I was born in the states but every single person in the rest of my immediate and extended family was born in Canada). This has been one of the most relaxing and rejuvenating vacations I have been on! It's been so great to just relax and enjoy the beauty of what God has given to me to enjoy.

This is a picture of me with the lake which my uncle's cottage sits on in the background....
One of my favorite ways to spend my vacations, well really my life, is outside. I'm a total outdoorsy girl! I love REAL camping (like in a tent) and swimming in the lake. Don't get me wrong, I love a good hotel and resort as much as the next person, but there's something so peaceful and homey to me about the smell of the woods.

While my brother and I were driving from Knoxville to Muskoka (where the cottage is located in Canada) we passed through many different cities and I saw many different skylines....Now don't get me wrong I LOVE the country - actually I really tend to enjoy anywhere I am and learn to adapt to my surroundings very well; however, every time I see a skyline I swear my heart skips a beat.

So in this year which has been dedicated to learning about who I am, taking risks and truly living life, I have learned that there is something about the city that holds a very special place in my heart. The pace, the smell, the people, the attitudes, the beauty that each building holds within it's architecture and the story behind it all. Each city has it's own story of how it began and I find that so fascinating and exciting to learn

So while I will always LOVE the outdoors and the beauty of nature, the city will always be held near and dear to my heart.