Here We Are

Ethiopia: cominatcha in 29 days.

preemieWill

Bethany

-smiles at the thought of Africa-

Carionmywaywardson

Jordanne, the wise

Vanessadances

OH MY KAYLA!!!

Mindy.she.sweet

not pictured: Oh Captain my captain Jhamilton

"It is important to recognize that your team will have a collective identity and personality. A team is not just a collection of individual personalities. Rather, as the team comes together, a collective personality or team dynamic will emerge."

--The Essentials: A Teams Training Manual.

Created by Food for the Hungry.

speaking of curls

"I have realized that we have a wrong understanding of hope. It is only meant to be pointed in One direction."

--Erin Simmons

So that's why America loved her so much

I caught something deep while studying for my film midterm:

"Rescued, adopted, and rewarded with untold wealth for her simple trust and love, the miraculous fortune of Shirley Temple's screen characters made her the embodiment of every spectator's desires."

I see Jesus all over this.

dang.

I am really going to miss this lady.

Oh my Morgan

Me: "Do you want to go get dinner tonight?"
Morgan: "I would love to, but I'm going to a Persian fire-jumping party as soon as I get off work."

Dear Sweet Girls

Carrie. Susannah. Mindy. Kayla. Beth. Becca. Erin. Becky. Rachel. Katie. Stacy. Aril. Stephani. Natalie. Morgan. Nanette. Corrie. Meghan.

Thank you, thank you, thank you sweet girls for blessing me so much last night. After everyone left and my house went to sleep, I sat in the middle of my living room with all your cards and presents and just soaked in all your love.
Your letters to me are priceless. Surely you all must have plotted this ambush of encouragement. Thank you for being such intentional sisters.
I don't think you know that I could not make it alone in this city without you.
Your precious personalities are so familiar to me that I didn't even have to look at the signatures of your letters to know who wrote them. You have such wonderful gifts to give to this world.
You artists, teachers, counselors, singers, mentors, intercessors, writers, healers, encouragers...you have no idea how eternally significant your actions in this time and town are.
Thank you for being vulnerable with me and letting me be vulnerable with you. Thank you for sharing Jesus generously and always with me. I have lived all over the world and never seen anything like it.
I love you very much.

~Bethany

just a few negligible things

• this is my last day to be 21
• for the first time in 2.5 years, I bought new makeup. Sister will kill me when she reads this.
• I walked into my old happy place today--from 2 years ago--and the baristas still knew my name and drink. Made me wish I still lived in OP.
• my dad is in Haiti right now. He goes all the time but for some reason I'm really worried about him this trip.
• I'm getting really excited about Ethiopia.
• I had two exams cancelled this week
• that means 4 next week.
• having a day where I have no responsibility to be anywhere makes me feel like a completely. different. person.
• I'm throwing a nice little party tomorrow night. you should come.
• a human head weighs 8 lbs.