on the road again.

it feels like i just got back, but i'm headed out again today.
and i could not be more excited.

today's flight: boston to raleigh.
carride with jaime to winston-salem for pre-wedding festivities with catherine and her bridal party.
cat's wedding on saturday.

carride with ross to asheville - 2 days, 2 nights in a hostel in the heart of one of my favorite cities i've ever been to. on my own. a mini vacay filled with re-visiting a church there, long walks, taking lots of photos, meandering beautiful streets, cute shops, bookstores, reading, coffeeshops, meeting cool people.
i'm excited.

then a little drive out to ridgecrest for the us church planting conference - staffers from all of our US church plants in one place to reconnect, refresh, learn, grow, worship, etc. so pumped.

carride with the rest of my staff up to NJ on thursday to crash on megan's couch in Ocean Grove. Pull an all-nighter so i can spend time with some of my favorite people in another favorite place. drive back up to beverly.

next saturday: to maine for an amos lee concert at the llbean outlet for sarah b's birthday.

so many sweet sweet friends and memories and places to be in the next week and a day.

chock full.

i am so excited.
and so incredibly blessed.
bon voyage!

i have to brag.

ok, big sister's gonna brag for a minute.
last week, my brother's band, My Maker and I got to play on both the main stage and the arkansas stage at Cornerstone - a hardcore christian music festival. he's in a christian scream-o band. he's a rockstar.

i heart my bro.

so blessed.

a lot of my weekend was spent making this:

I swear i love making cakes for people. But after 5 hours of cake making and decorating, i'm done. i'm exhausted. i fell asleep on the couch and i dont wanna see another cake for weeks.

This one was for a friend of a friend's baby shower. she's having a girl and her name is arielle. the shower was a block theme and the mom-to-be hates pink. and chocolate. so the cake was vanilla with strawberries and white chocolate. and blocks.

after cake making, i went out to run errands and hang out with elisa, then we met the other roommates for roommate birthday dinner at not your average joe's. always my favorite.

sunday was church. it was fantastic. i had so much fun playing music. i love what i do.

then beach all day at brackenbury with friends.

also fun.

so blessed.

then off to a bachelorette party. again, so fun.

now its monday and we're back into the swing of things.

i'll post pics soon from the 4th and india - but this is what i have on me right now.

out of hiding

i've been MIA - and i'm sorry.

I did this thing called travelling for 27 straight hours to a place far away called India. Then I travelled back after 2 weeks of chicken tikka masala, learning to be the rickshaw master, praying for people, seeing healings, playing worship music in clubs, inviting people to know Jesus, and i didn't even get sick - until i got home.

maybe i'll post pictures soon, but i'm still super processing. i dont really know how to "post" about a trip to india except to say that i loved it, God is good, and i was ready to come home.

now that i'm home, i'm back to working at the seminary. i'm in my same office, but working a new part-time position which currently is providing more full-time hours as i continue to train in the new job and train the new person in my old job. I'm trying to pick up scattered babysitting jobs in the meantime, and i'm officially on support with the church starting this month. but i'm only at 30% - pray.

my car was out of commission for almost 2 weeks. i came home to it not running, had a sketchy mechanic neighbor take a look at it and misdiagnose it, got it towed to my local mechanic, who also misdiagnosed, charged me for a minor repair that it also needed, and had me tow it to the dealership. i passed on that offer and got it towed to the saab specialist who sold me the car. he made two very expensive repairs, and a week and half later, i'm now reunited with my old, sometimes faithful saab, Amadeus.
car stuff stresses me out. i dont have money to buy a new one. and my credit card has taken a few big blows this year on repairs to this one. but God provided awesomely generous friends for a week and a half that were willing to drive me places or let me borrow their cars. I am well looked-after, and so thankful for it. now let's just pray i dont have to talk to another mechanic for a loooooong time.

the fourth of july weekend was awesome.
a day in rockport and brackenberry beach with elisa and angela = more sea glass than i've ever found.
playing music at the highland bean supper/folk festival = fun and a possible offer to play music at the topsfield fair
leading worship with a 56-youth choir, then getting in a car with j and liz to connecticut.

connecticut was so refreshing. i'm still kind of reeling in thankfulness and awe of chill time spent with friends, of an absolutely gorgeous setting, of camping outside, up close and personal fireworks displays, walks on the beach with liz, watching the boys do silly things at the beach, and just resting my soul a little bit. i'm just so thankful for friends and for where God likes to take me.
so thankful.

this weekend includes, but is not limited to, making a baby shower cake and a bachelorette party.

23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
Ephesians 4:23-24

Currently baffled that this is possible - maybe more thoughts later. :)