Perks

This week has been one of the longest but one of the best. My heart leaps with joy seeing or receiving news, an email or picture of something Andrew is doing in Spain. Seeing the smiles of the kids or even such a different variety of the earth and how God created it there and it seeming like a whole other world. Sitting here in this little coffee shop with couples mingling around me, and growing closure even just through little talks, has made me realize how thankful i am for my time with Andrew and all the things from our smalls talks, big talks, crazy friend times, insane spur of the moment adventures, to cozy movie nights. We easily take those moments for granted when we are in them, i find myself as odd as it, finding joy in the memorie and looking back then actually in those moments and i wish i could remind myself to do both. People like Andrew are rare in this world. And though i know God would still have led me somewhere amazing, I sure am glad he led me down this way. 

More on love - I had the honor of taking my sister 

Erica and future brother in law's engagement pictures!

Here are two from the evening 

Their wedding is quickly approaching and I am so excited! Not many people get to be a bridesmaid four times, but this girl does and my four sisters do! Love it, absolutely love it.

A season's change.

Hello there,

It's been quiet some time since my last write. I assure you, I'm still here. 

These last few months have been filled with so many lessons and laughs, I've been having trouble containing it all. Though some days i feel like a chicken with my head cut off, one thing i can say for sure is I am on a journey. It amazes me how faithful our creator is, consistently, all the time, day and night, when we choose him and when we don't. I'm discovering the quite side of God, the the subtle answers and how to lean upon him. I've been waiting for a blessing, when i realized all along, so has he. I realized that i may have no idea where I'm supposed to go from here, but while I'm here and even when I'm not here, all i have is the desire to bless him. And i know, and i can trust in the fact he will provide in this life that he has set before me. There have been so many lovely things that have happened just in these first three months of the new year. Such as going blond again (Thank goodness!) I couldn't take it anymore, I'm a natural blond and at heart i am too. Pictures of that soon? I'm sure :)

Here are a few other things I've been up to, Instagram style

- cafe's, craft's, reading, exercising, great shows, thrifting, my love, Andy -

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I hope this year so far has been as splendid for your as it has been for me. 

My goals for the next few weeks include not letting work take over my life (haha, not kiding), reading more, sleeping more, friend time more, family time more, serving more and maybe.. maybe dusting off my old sewing passion. Hiking trips are beginning soon, I'm sure I'll be back before long with talks on those. For now there are books to be read, a room to be cleaned and clothes to be altered.

 Have a wonderful weekend!

I feel like a big kid today.

Firstly i cleaned out a some junk from my room and have began to think of things that i will replacing. Starting with my ridiculous ceiling fan. I will most likely jump and yell with pure joy when i purchase a new one. Planned all my lunches to take for the week at work. Then i got to pay off $200 of my bill for getting my breaks fixed. Two thumbs up for budgeting! After that, i bought gatorade and shopped for a laundry basket, which in case you were wondering.. are way over priced. Then washed my car! 

After all that adulty-ness, my mom said we were going to Mcdonalds. 

Which we never do, but when we do it always is a fun time. It was nice to do something kidish. 

Which was what our Pastor talked about this morning! About how we need more play in our days. God gave us friends and family, and the earth to enjoy! So please, do some different things this week and enjoy it!

Have a splendid Monday!

-Lea

The Change Of Seasons.

This has been the best weekend for me in so long. Partly because the cool weather! Oh, how i can't even describe to you how much I've been longing for this season. A season change in weather and spiritually.

One thing I've learned going into this new season of my life, is that i can be real with God. Actually, he's the one i feel i can be most real with! I've come to learn (even when others have disagreed) that when tough situations and events roll around, even when happiness isn't applied to every moment of every day, the Joy that Christ gives can be. I believe in these past situations, the joy i sought and found has restored me. I've learned that God knows how human i am. So even when i do fail, I don't feel i have to hide it from him or try to cover it up with impressing him some other way like I've often seen people do in my life. In this season of my life, I am real with God. I always have an itch to get to know him more. To be like him, to the best of my human ability. This chilly weather has brought so many great things with it, and i couldn't be more excited! 

As for my weekend. It was a blast! 

Friday consisted of art walk with a good friend. It was so nice just to be around her, and feel relaxed for the first time in a while. Even though art walk is not the same or as good as two years ago, it was time very well spent, with a very cool person. Plus i got Mud House which is always a plus. 

Saturday morning, i took pictures of my big sister for her boyfriend who is stationed in Afghanistan. He's going crazy for some pictures of her, so we took a little time out of our morning to do so. Here's one from that!

That evening, we had our posse over and played kickball (and i realized how I've gotten and out of shape i am)

and played games and as always, had crazy fun. 

Sunday consisted of me being an air head thinking church started at 11:30 (why, i have NO idea) 

So as I'm just getting on the highway at 11 which is when it starts, and I'm 35 minutes away, i quickly had to think of something to do to kill time til my best friend got out of church. Target seemed like a decent choice. Haha.

After all that, i finally got over to Andrews for a super lovely birthday bash, and shrimp and crab boil. It's always a new experience over at the Edwards home. I love It! That night i got my first real watch of 5 episodes of Modern Family which was too funny, and a long walk in the great chilly weather with Andrew. That made for a perfect day. 

And last but not least. Today! Today my whole family was off so we packed up the car, snatched Andrew and chilled at the lake. It was seriously the most comfy chill day. Jeans and a jacket were perfect for today, and we had such a good time relaxing.
We snapped a few photos from our day out as well!

 

I crawled into a tree! Great fun, everyone should try it. Haha

With all that said. God is so good! This weekend was perfect and was right when i needed it, and it's been so great. I'm excited for what the rest of this year holds, and I'll be sure to share whatever may come along!  Now, it's bedtime. 

Hope you're weekend was great, and that tomorrow is even better. 

Good night!

-Lea

The 23rd was as great as expected! 

I began it working, but got off early to color my hair for the very first time. I was nervous up 

until the day before but waiting to get out of work couldn't have felt any longer, i was so anxious at that point. I really needed a change, and though it's still hard to get used to i am diggin the new do. 

I'm stoked for fall with jeans and jackets. In my mind, It's already fall. Haha

- Before -

 

- After -

After all that exciting stuff, i headed to Springfield to kick it with my best friend on a pretty special day. I stopped and made a quick trip into wal-mart, started to back up and heard a few thud's thinking i was running over a cup or something. Well, i started to drive away and realized i had a flat. I stayed pretty calm, but was disappointed that i was going to be late surprising Andrew at his car with my new hair, after his big first day of college (both very big things for us) so i pulled into a spot and called mom of course. She calls dad, calls me back and he's literally just passing where I'm at.
As i was telling Andrew after, when i was sitting there even before i called my mom i felt a sense of peace. Before this year, i would feel like saying "Just my luck". But sitting there i felt God was saying "Go ahead take a shot at ruining her day. I still have perfect timing."

I love that God gives a chance to choose to worship him. Even through flat tires in walmart parking lot.

My dad came to the rescue and had the tire changed with in ten minutes. I was so thankful. I ended up meeting Andrew for dinner, and not even too much later then planned! We dug up our treasure from a year ago, and grabbed some orange leaf. Needless to say, we had a blast as always :)

I am always blown away by the joy Christ alone can give. I am feeling such a different happiness and I'm thrilled that it's not from the feeling of a secure relationship, job or even the friendships i was longing to make in the beginning of this year. In simply choosing him only, and desiring whatever he has for me, he has still blessed me in some of those area's which again, amazes me. 

We serve such a marvelous creator!

 I challenge you, whoever you may be, to go and dig into who he is and the love he has for you. 

I promise, you won't be dissappointed. 

Have a wonderful breezy summer night!

- Lea

Tomorrow holds many things. Exciting, odd, different and all.

For now, watch and listen to this good tune!

It's official! I have a full time (but temporary) job. Even though it might be for a short amount of time, it's good money for not too shabby of work. I am there 8 to 4 Monday through Thursday, Friday's til noon and Saturday and Sunday off because they're Jewish.. but hey, works for me. Haha

But I absolutely adore all the people i work with even though we really don't work near each other, due to different projects. But come lunch time, it's nice to get together and eat lunch in the big kitchen with everyone. The only down fall, i get lots of paper/binder cuts, and soap now burns my finger tips everytime i wash my hands. But, i will stay tough! I have been tremendously blessed by this, I can't thank the man up stairs enough.

Speaking of tough. Ya know.. I've been pretty good with spiders ever since i was little.

But i must say i had a.. well a little freak out this morning! I was greeted in the shower by a nasty black spider, that definitely fancied my ankle. Gross gross gross. I smacked it and began to freak out even more. Thank goodness of a near by razor! By then, i was awake and alert for work. But that will definitely not become part of my morning routine.

I always wish i had more time to write, but hopefully i can soon. For now, It's time to crawl into my sweats and get some sleep! I value it so much more these days.

See ya lovelies

- Lea