The Road Doesn't End Here...

It's been a while dear friend. There have been many instances where I have wanted to sit down to blog but the time and place never suited such. Then I get to my hotel room and all I want to do is take a hot shower and curl up with the duvet. Life on the road has been a whirlwind. I definitely cannot believe that it's already mid October. Excuse me, when did that happen?

Let me set the scene for you. It's a sunny but chilly 45 degrees outside. I'm sitting in a cafe called Drip Cafe // Coffee & Brunch. It's a cozy place that will be closing in a mere 30 minutes...so I'm typing crazy quick. Also, partly because that cup of coffee was just so good. There's a beautiful painting on the wall a good 50 feet from me. I could probably stare at it for a good few hours. I guess that detail wasn't necessarily needed but there you have it. Describing rather than showing is an art form in itself. I hope by writing I am growing in that area. To build the connection between what I say and what you perceive.

In any case, all of this to say I have some unfinished business that I would like to attend to. Things such as finishing my documentary on my trip to Colorado, writing about that trip itself (long overdue), writing about my fall travels and sharing some stories of my own and others that have left an imprint on my heart along the way. I want to share the moments that made my heart come alive and the moments that broke it. All of these things and so many more. I've been learning so much and a great deal about myself. There's beauty in the head-space I have been able to acquire this fall. There's freedom in it. I'm definitely thankful for it especially knowing that when I get back to the office I will have to make time to break away and find that head-space. A challenge I am accepting.

Although my time on this road is coming to it's close, it doesn't end here. I'm super stoked about the possibilities of the future. This journey is only a preview.

Coffee With Elinor

It's one of those days where I feel simply un-motivated. In hopes to kick this un-motivation to the curb I made a cup of coffee and took a little walk upstairs to see Mrs. Elinor. Now, you see Mrs. Elinor is basically the adopted grandmother of everyone in the office. She has been here working at Regent for longer than anyone I know. She is a wise soul with so much to give and always makes me feel special. I walked into her cozy cube and she asked me to take a seat in her chair. You see, Elinor's cubical has a ceiling to it made of drapes to block the harsh florescent light and several baby lamps to bring life to her space. It's a peaceful environment. It's one that makes you feel like you stepped into a very small living room. I sat there in her chair over my cup of coffee as she stood leaning against her desk. Times spent with Elinor are always a treat. I sat and sipped as she spoke from her heart about certain things that were happening in her life and within the workplace. She made me tear up a couple of times in the course of 10 minutes. I sat there in the moment knowing exactly where I was, what I was feeling and simply taking a heart-note of thankfulness and admiration for this woman and our relationship. I hope to have as much passion as her when I get to be in my 70's. I want to have much to give and hope to make everyone I meet feel special. She talked about that specifically as I sat there. She truly believes in the individual. It's a beautiful thing to hear her talk about her passion and care and heart for everyone she meets and comes in contact with. I know this is such a random tid-bit of writing but some things simply need to be expressed and who am I to keep them back. 

Not A Valentines Post

Well my friends it's February. I guess I've missed a month of blogging but that doesn't mean I can't start now! So here we go. At least two posts a month. That's my goal. Keep me accountable will ya? ;)

Here's a little dose of what has been on my mind lately. I'm doing some re-evaluating of my time and how I am spending it and where I am spending it and why. Something that I have been trying to be better at is being intentional with people. I'm not sure that I shared that here in my blog at any point in past months, so, if I haven't, basically I have been wanting to not only say I am going to do something but also follow through on those things. A lot of it comes down to my relationships. I don't want to just say that I would like to get coffee with you but I am going to say it and mean it. It can become hard when you walk into a local shop here in Virginia Beach so close to the university I not only attended, but also now work full time at ,because I am bound to see not only one person I know but probably a couple. So basically I am expanding my being intentional with people to also being intentional with my time. 

So what's that look like? Well, I have my absolutes that I am needing to focus on first and then build on those from there. Last semester I dove in head first to my job, small groups, church, and extra curriculars. Let's just say that it was a lot. Especially after spending most days by myself in Texas over the past year. That year went quick. 7 months of being back in Virginia Beach has gone quick. Life is speeding up I swear. So my absolutes are as follows: 

• Personal with the Lord - Daily Manna. Plain and simple. Not saying that time with the Lord is plain and simple. You get what I mean. :) It's an area that needs some work in my life since I moved back to Virginia. It was so easy being home, waking up at 930am and starting my day with the Lord. Now with a full time job and other responsibilities it's a bit harder and so I'm learning. Not failing. Learning, growing, and challenging myself in this new season. 

• Wednesday nights I go to a discipleship group called "Love Feast" - So this group is a group I attended last semester and that's how I met my mentee! (no not manatee) I really get to glean a lot from Sara who is a friend of mine who leads the group and her husband Mike (also a friend of mine) who is a part of my "family group." I feel like a mentor or someone to look up to within my family which is kind of neat. It also makes me more aware that I am being watched. I think it's a really good environment for me to be in. 

• Friday nights I meet with a group of artists called "The Gathering" - I just started attending recently but really they have only been meeting for a little over a month so I haven't missed out on much. Many of the members couldn't believe that I just started attending because they could have sworn I was around when it all started up. I feel at home with these creative and inspirational souls.

• I am a mentor to a 18 year old girl in undergrad who is the absolute sweetest. We meet sometime throughout every week depending on our schedules. I think I am doing just as much learning and growing as she is in our meetings together. The Lord continues to surprise me with the little nuggets of wisdom that come from my mouth. Sometimes it's just what I need to hear as well. I cannot tell you how much I love pouring out and into her life and being of encouragement to her. 

• Sunday's I have church - This is another area where I am looking at where I need to be. I have been attending the same church I went to as a student and for some reason in the past month I have felt like I need to start visiting elsewhere. We will see what comes of this in time.

•  Work Monday through Friday - Of course this is an absolute that takes up quite a bit of my life. 40+ hours of my week to be exact.

• Love & Scissors - If you know me well you know that I am a part of a non-profit called Love & Scissors which is an anti-human trafficking organization that I do administrative, marketing, and event planning work for. I just recently became committed as more than just a volunteer which is very exciting. Big things are coming and we are spending some time dreaming which is always exciting. 

 So with those being my absolutes I am accounting for all the rest of my time which is precious since it isn't much. The rest of my time is spent being intentional with people and taking time to myself. I am needing more introverted moments. More time to myself to write, read, create, and dream. Sweet moments where I come home, make dinner, cuddle up in bed and watch an episode of Parenthood...because I can. More moments of getting off work to make my way to Cafe Moka to drink tea and read or write or knit. Peaceful moments. So good for my spirit. So needed. 

All of this writing, perhaps too much, to say that I am re-evaluating how I spend my time. I want to spend it wisely and to spend it in a manner that has me coming away inspired, or refreshed, or at rest, or excited. You get the idea. 

I suppose that's it for now. Just a long list of things. Nothing to significant or ground breaking. Just a little bit of life. 

 

Here's me // Happy Valentines Day

If you expected there to be some sort of irony in regards to my title of this post...sorrynotsorry. hahaha 

// Vacation, All I Ever Wanted

Forgive me readers I am soooooo behind on posting. The last month has been pretty eventful, which is great! I'm so thankful to have been busy! So I owe y'all some pictures from my spring break! I will put them in this post and then continue on today with another post about some new things!

So I totally forgot that there was this thing called Spring Break! My dad and sister have a week in March to take off and I never really took Spring Break when I was in college because I was a crazy person double majoring and always in a show or on a film set; so when I heard 'Spring Break' I was like... "what is this spring break that you speak of?"

We booked a trip to Florida two weeks before we left so it was super last minute. Omgsh how incredibly refreshing it was to be back in one of the places I once called home. I started writing this several weeks ago but never finished... so I will just leave you with what I previously wrote:

Spring Break. Something I forgot existed! I think I may have taken one spring break out of the 4 years I was in school. I usually was on set for a film, in a show or had RA duties during breaks. So when the opportunity arose to take spring break with my family this year I was ecstatic! Long story short we found cheap tickets to fly to FL for 5 days. When we got there we stayed at a familiar resort and got to spend a little time in St. Augustine where we used to live. Waking up with the ocean right outside your window is one of the most peaceful things on this earth. If I could wake up every day near the beach or in the mountains that would be the dream! Honestly I think I would prefer the mountains but the beach stole my heart for the time I was there. I ended up with a pretty gnarly sunburn which I am still recovering from but what else is new? haha. Spending time with family away from work and my sisters stress of schoolwork was really nice too. Dad mentioned it was refreshing to be driving down A1A and that it seemed like we were coming back home after a really long trip. I agreed and stated that we should just move back. ;) One of my favorite days was the day I got to spend with several of my wonderful girl-friends. It was so refreshing to be in their company sharing matters of the heart and growing closer to each of them. It takes a lot to be vulnerable with other people especially when it comes to sharing secrets of the heart and things that are on your mind. One particular conversation that encouraged me was one that I had in the car with my dear friend Caron.

It's incredible the things that we are so careful about sharing for fear of being judged for your way of thinking or for fear of being presently judged by your past mistakes. Anyway there was a lot of different things we talked about but there was just something that touched my heart about that moment in the car when we both talked about some of our past mistakes and neither of us knew we both had dealt with some of the same baggage. I was kinda blown away because we both have come so far from those mistakes and we both have learned some of the most valuable lessons of our age. Wow Wow Wow. How incredible and merciful God is and how He can restore ones spirit. I am so thankful for that conversation although it wasn't long, it was a moment to be human and express what humanity looked like in our lives therefore giving God all credit where credit is due for being almighty and redeeming. A moment to be reminded about how human we are and how Great God is. Blows my mind. 

Ok so thats what I had written several weeks ago. I also went to Oklahoma for several days which was a blast! Got to go to a wedding for a childhood friend. Caught the bouquet! Whoop! Spent time with people my age and enjoyed the company of a most beautiful and strong woman named Allison! But here are the pictures to accompany this post about Spring Break.