God is good! Road trip

I don't know what else to say except for this trip is turning out to be completely amazing! Every unplanned road, town, people we come in contact with or happen upon has been completely perfect and completely from God. After waking up in Sturbridge (the Yogi Bear Park there), we wanted to see the town and it was really cute.. anyways, we decided to go further (I don't even know why because there was nothing else there) but we decided to go to this yard sale and the woman we talked to asked if we were here for the Brimfield Antique Show and we asked what it was and she told us it's the biggest antique/flee market in the United States. It's national, people all over the country go to this "thing" we just happened to stumble upon.. (and I know that national means people all over go to it, I just felt like it needed to be re- iterated) It was HUGE, I don't even know how many miles it went down alone but on both sides, it wasn't just a line of tents, there were lines from there too! Anyways, it was awesome and I ended up getting a ring! It's like my "hear of the ocean ring" I lost last year (it was plastic) except this one was metal. :) I love it... I do have to use a gum wrapper to wrap around it for right now because it's a bit big.

After that we went to YALE UNIVERSITY! New Haven is BEAUTIFUL and I just really love New England! We saw so much of the campus, the library, academic buildings, RESIDENCE HALLS... yeah! ... There was a guy that swiped his card when we were walking by and I walked in and mom reluctantly came after. Being that it was also the end of school for them, they had donations outside the halls and what is the only option for me to do but go through them!? I was in heaven; I got really neat clothes and a book and mirror. Mom got this vase that was originally $30 or so. It was just amazing! Only God could have put us there at the right time and not only that but we went on the other side (Yale's Residence Halls have courtyards .. OH and the buildings are gorgeous) and there was a dorm that was open so I got to see the rooms and they were really nice. They definitely weren't like anything you would see at Ball State!

We got internet connection at a local Panera Bread and we decided we were going to go to Providence, Rhode Island and I wanted to get on the road that night because it was going to be nice the next day (today), so I drove to Rhode Island which was going to be 1 hr. 40 min. Mom saw some camping along the way but I wanted to get more driving done than that and when we got to Providence, of course, there wasn't any camping so we decided to go on for a bit. We ended up just staying at a rest stop and got up the next morning and mom wanted a shower. We saw an exit that had camping so we got off and the people who own this park are friends of my grandparents and we've actually met them!!! We actually got a free night stay! This park, Normandy Farms, is just SO nice and we got to talk to the Daniels (the owners) who are just sooo nice. We went shopping and then just relaxed (ran some) the rest of the day. OH, i got my hair done; it's darker now. :)

Now i'm up at their very, very, very nice lodge charging everything I have that can be charged! It's almost going to close though and me and mom are now going to watch a movie on my laptop.

God is good!!!! No way could this road trip be work out as perfectly as it has if he wasn't in it.

Massachusetts

Yesterday was great! We drove most of the day but in the middle we stopped at this cute town, _______, all the buildings were so old looking and there was this old school house that just took me back in time. I loved it. We got pictures, mom got her hair cut... oh and we saw this "dummy light" that may be what it's called. Anyways it's only like 1 of 2 that are left in the world. What it is, is the light post (green, yellow, red) the whole thing is built into the ground and just stands about 12ft tall above ground in the middle of the road. So awesome. We stayed at a Yogi Bear Park for the night! (I must say ours is better). This park is in Sturbridge, MA. ... The drive in Massachusetts is beautiful; trees line the whole way with rocks and sometimes you can see small towns with little houses built into the landscape. We're now off to New Haven, Connecticut to visit Yale! :D Then we're off to Rhode Island. So far all nights have been a success for our being able to take a shower. Hopefully we have as much luck this next week.

some favorite songs

My favorite songs:

My Heart Will Go On- Celine Dion (but really every single version of this song there is)

Stolen- Dashboard Confessional

Free Fallin' - John Mayer's version (I do like Tom Petty's though too)

Blackbird- I can't choose between The Beatles and Sarah Mclauglin.

Don't Dream It's Over- Crowded House

Sweet Disposition- The Temper Trap

The Call- Regina Spektor

Eet- Regina Spektor

Flightless Bird, American Mouth- Iron and Wine

Your Song- Ewan McGregor more so than Elton John

She's like the Wind- Patrick Swayze

Send me on my Way- Rusted Root

The Lost Get Found- Britt Nicole

mmm, I would listen to this CD all the time!

I feel so free

bright lights; rushing waters

I really like soft colors and I really like antique/old looking colors but I also really like looking over Niagara Falls from the 23rd floor in the hotel I am in! It's amazing during daytime and at night they illuminate it with so many colors. Me and my mom got a lot of nice pictures this afternoon/evening, but sadly, the night view will just live in my memory because my camera isn't adequate. ... Although I do have a really nice camera... I should say my MOM has a really nice camera and she's been letting me use it from the start of the year. We stopped at a Goodwill. I got a skirt and that was all but it's funny how $6 at a Goodwill seems so expensive whereas if it were $6 at a Forever 21 I would think it's such a good deal! .. although I did have to remind myself that when in Canada, everything is more expensive.

This was the first time for me being outside the United States. Everything Canadian fascinated me today. "Oh my gosh, look at that cute Canadian house!" "Aw, look at that Canadian old couple." ... so exotic. :) ha. ...

I feel like my world is opening up so much and I can't wait for the rest of the memories I'll be making on this trip and for the remainder of my summer (which is over 100 days!!!!)

Day 1 & 2 of our road trip is done.. the first night sleeping in the van was a success and that is how the rest of the nights are going to be! It will be very, very interesting! Next stop: Boston, Massachusetts!

It's Summer!

It's the end of my freshman year of college and what I have learned is this: Don't try and be anything except for what God has called you to be.
And now that is what I am trying to do.
I spent the last two days of summer in Indy. The first day I went to my Aunt Jennifer's house where a lot of my family were and we danced in her living room and just talked. On Saturday my mom and my Aunt Judy ran the mini in Indianapolis and I stayed outside waiting in the very cold weather, but it was such an awesome atmosphere that half the time I didn't care how cold it was. I've decided to do it next year and I do hope for better weather! Training starts soon! I want to be able to run 13 miles straight so it will require a lot of hard work, but I also need to get into shape so it's a win/win.
Me and my mom are going to leave for our road trip tonight!! I'm so excited; the first stop is Niagara Falls and it is also the only place we're staying in a hotel. The other times we are going to be sleeping in our big van on the bed my mom put in there. Ha, yes there is a bed in there and yeah we'll probably be sleeping in Walmart parking lots or something. Also, yes we don't know how we will shower yet, but we're just planning on figuring it out when we get there. I really can't wait and all this makes it even better for me. I'm guessing a lot of baby powder will be used on this trip. We're roughing it BIG time! Pictures will be posted; more blogs will be written! Love this day; we are so blessed!

She & Him .. and Me & my Summer

She & Him, 06.07.10, Chicago, IL

There's a free show in Chicago and me and my best friend are going. This is just another reason why my summer is going to be so amazing!

Road trip to New England with my mom, She & Him concert and roaming around Chicago with Summer, Paraguay with my mom and brother, Italy with my cousin and grandparents, hanging out with friends that i really, really miss, and working maintenance at my park which I miss so much! Yes, I am truly blessed and I'm really excited for God to lead me in these amazing adventures to do his will... whatever that may be! :D

I love everybody today.

weekend in Indy

Last weekend was spent in Indianapolis with my family. I have this really awesome opportunity to make a video for one of my aunt's spiritual talk at this weekend thing (Lamplighter/ Great Banquet) and to do this I took pictures of our weekend. Her life is very fun and the people in her life are really awesome! 

Friday we went to a Chinese restaurant, then to her friends really old house. --- by the way... really old, vintage, anything like that is a real compliment when I say it! I love anything that looks old or dated or was really representative of a different time. --- Then on a whim we just decided to go to Goodwill! The day was awesome! Goodwill, with the intention of going is awesome, but I do have to say that an impulsive trip to Goodwill might be even better. I ended up getting this jacket that has a unicorn on it with a rainbow in the background and then a bigger picture of that on the back, as well as Dorthy- like patterned shorts (but only pink..and with a heart button) I deemed it a successful trip.  

On Saturday we got up at 6 (ish) to go work out at the War Memorial. Oh. My. Gosh. I was hurting soooo bad the next 2 days! Haha but it was totally worth it to see the sunrise and know that we still had the WHOLE day ahead of us.... oh AND watching my aunts basically dying from more recreational activity than they had in a while was very funny! Of course I would have been right in their position if I hadn't started working out a month or so earlier. That started season of working out though and I have to say good luck to them for the rest!  After that Me and my Aunt Stefanie went to a house of the woman she's counseling and we had this awesome Beth Moore lesson. I also got to talk to her mom who is a Serious bird collector/lover and it was really awesome hearing her passion for them and more about them in general. I love birds, but I love what they represent more.  Keeping them as a pet and putting them in a cage would go against everything I love about them, so I choose to admire from afar. After leaving, we then went to Goodwill because.... they were having 50% off of EVERYTHING! I just love when I'm in Indy for those days! I got this really cute shirt and yellow overalls! The last big event that took place was going to an improv comedy show her friends from church were a part of (the group) and putting on. It took place at this really great coffee house where all proceeds go to some sort of cause and all the workers there are volunteers! How awesome is that!? Well it was really funny, especially meeting this son and father (who sat at the table with us)... they were completely born without any sort of idea about what embarrassment is! :) soo funny! I also got to go to the animal shelter which was just across the street for a while and take really cute pictures of cute little puppies and birds ( I wanted to set them all free). The end of the night was very relaxing watching Tv with my aunt and (24 ..yeah!!) 

Sunday was church, nap,  spent maybe 10 minutes in Broadripple and looked at this wonderful vintage store while my aunt picked up my cousin, Aravinds, pottery (piggy bank), spending time with some of my other family members, went back to Aunt Stefs and did a little homework and whined till I had to leave, and then left. It was a great weekend and now it's Thursday and I'm looking forward to going home and working with my mom in the store. This week has been a little stressful but the comfort of home always takes that away.   

in the sun.

60 degree weather and very sunny in March.... that is how my day was yesterday. It was incredible! Today was really nice too and I hear it is supposed to be even nicer tomorrow. It really does seem like weather like this brings people together. For one, the vitamin D everyone is getting takes the sass and rush out of their step and allows them to enjoy their walk and  surroundings and see everyone else doing the same thing. Of course everyone is smiling now because smiles are contagious and simplicity is refreshing. I think it is a perfect way to unwind from a stressful class or day. Just go outside. Sit in the sun and have a picnic then read a nice book or even write. It's so simple and I love them for that. 

I think I'm just now starting to feel like I should in college... and i guess just life in general. I don't feel so trapped anymore and I'm seeing tons more possibilities. It's weird how i hold myself back and how stupid I feel that things were ever hard for me in the first place. When I just don't worry about what people think of me, life is so much more enjoyable.  ...... I don't mind if no one ever reads this and I don't think I'd mind if only one person read it and completely hated it. I'm just happy because it's mine and I am not trying to change it for anyone.  

Sometimes I wonder if I'm where I'm supposed to be. Well actually all the time I wonder that along with what I'm supposed to do. You know what? I think I could be happy with going through life not knowing and just being lead to wherever I'm supposed to be at that time. I think I could if I listened when I say, "I give my life to you, Lord." ... I just said that in my mind and then asked " So where am I supposed to be?" ... shoot. It's going to take a bit of time.  So I will live. I will REALLY live.  

- I feel weird signing my name here... so i think i'll put the first thing that comes to mind right.......now!             Yellow.  (--> the sun--> vitamin D-->another awesome day in store for tomorrow hopefully!) 

Thank you God for these days you give us. 

A Diary of Sorts

So why rainbows? Well I don't know, but isn't it a nice idea? I feel like in a list, it would be with carnivals, drive-ins, making animals out of clouds, flying kites, music, picnics, etc. ...simple, quaint, wonderful joys.

I sort of feel like now that I have a blog I have to use correct grammar. No more facebook, myspace, or texting talk. ... well hopefully. Ha, I have a feeling the ....'s are not going to go. Actually, maybe none of it will... it is basically my diary for all intents and purposes. I never use correct grammar in my diaries. Well I guess we'll see. :)

Don't soundtracks sum up our life at that time we made it? I think so. I just recently made a summer soundtrack for 2010! I'm so excited about it. I know it's early but summer is just so exciting. Oh!.. summer should be on that list too! Well anyways, I listened to it on my way back to college from home (I just had spring break). Now back to 8 weeks of school, uhgg! At least these last 8 weeks are going to be filled with more sunny days and warm weather! I can't wait to be driving my car (alone or with friends) with the windows down and listening to my CD. That's all I pictured. I also pictured the weather as looking more like the 1960's color effect you find on picnik. It would be nice to see the world like that a day or two. Maybe sunglasses have been made to do it! ... Or maybe I could invent them. I think those would be the ultimate sunglasses. I DO love God's natural creation above all though. There was this one time(last day of our junior year...or maybe after) I was driving with my best friend, Summer, and there was a big thunderstorm..except this was the BEST thunderstorm I have EVER experienced! I swear there had to be 3 rainbows, it was raining a little bit, the grass was so green, and the sun mixed with a little glaze gave the look that we were living in Candyland. I know how this sounds, but if you were there, I swear this would be one of the ways you would choose to describe it. No colors of our aesthetic nature looked like they naturally do and somehow there were 1000 more colors. It was beautiful taken to a daydream beauty. If you've ever read the book "Perks of Being a Wallflower," first of all you should, second, I truly felt infinite. Looking back and thinking about it, I still do.

My summer 2010 soundtrack:

1. Wild at Heart- Gloriana

2. Small Town- John Mellencamp

3. Come On Come Out- A Fine Frenzy

4. The Lost Get Found- Britt Nicole

5. Send Me On My Way- Rusted Root

6. There is s Light That Never Goes Out- The Smiths

7. Don't Dream It's Over- Crowded House

8. Bird of the Summer- A Fine Frenzy

9. I'm Only Me When I'm With You- Taylor Swift

10. Who Says- John Mayer

11. Us- Regina Spektor

12. Here In Your Arms- Hellogoodbye

13. Free Fallin- John Mayer

14. Blackbird- Sarah Mclachlan

15. Why Georgia- John Mayer

16. Don't Stop Believing- Journey

17. Bigger than my Body- John Mayer

18. Fast Car- Tracy Chapman

19. Dancing In The Moonlight- Toploader

20. Sweet Disposition- The Temper Trap

.... i don't think these are in correct order though i tried to remember it. Making a soundtrack takes a lot of meticulous work... it has to flow just perfectly. :)

This whole CD represents freedom... or at least the idea of freedom. What I really want is to just feel infinite and free. I've put so many fences up and laid boundaries in my life that shouldn't be there but I'm really starting to remember what this feels like and that is what this soundtrack represents. I'm in a new relationship with God and I credit all of this to that and I look forward to the day when I can look back on this and say, " You had no idea." I really am happier but I know my purpose has yet to be discovered and my comfort comes and goes depending on the people I'm around. I guess on top of wanting to feel infinite and free I really want to be able to be who I am (and really know who I am) around everyone(not just select few) and be okay with that person. I want this so bad and I take back how I said that "I just want to feel infinite and free" because I know I must love and truly know who I am before this.

I know God has something great in store for my life and though it may be a struggle sometimes, I love being in a relationship with him. There are times when I feel completely wrecked in my faith but it leads to me learning so much more. All of it is love. God loves me and he loves you!

- Me

This is a diary of sorts