Back to the start

Another reason to love Chipotle.

This is awesome.

Keeping ALL eyes on the mailbox.

"Emily,
I see online that your mission assignment was determined today!  Keep an eye on the mailbox.

Please let me know where your assignment is.

Best,
Pres Layton"

I had flutteries in my stomach for like an hour and I almost cried happy tears about three times.
Seriously, there is no better feeling than knowing that there is a special place and that there are special people already picked out for me to love, serve, and teach.

Upon the palms of His hands

Heavenly Father loves His children.

I know He does.

Sometimes that is the truth that gives me the most hope.  The hope and knowledge that He is watching over all of His children.  Those who surround me.  Those who are thousands of miles away.  Those who live violence, poverty, and misery.  Those children who hold the hands of other dying children.  Those who walk miles and miles for safety, shelter, and food.  Those whose only hope and dream is to go to school.  To become a teacher.  To become a president.

He is watching over us.  He knows what every single soul on this earth is going through.  And He knows why.

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Isaiah 49:15-16

Alright, well, keep me posted

School Portrait (2011) from Michael Berliner on Vimeo.

All my broken parts

I won't say that I can't wait, because to tell you the truth, I can.

If waiting means one day meeting you, you who will treasure me, lift me, humor me, ease my fears, and fix my broken parts, then yes, I will wait.  I'll wait for you.



(But that doesn't mean I don't want you to hurry.)



(Ingrid Michaelson and Greg Laswell - The Light In Me)

Mucho take it easy!

I had a conversation with a friend over the weekend that has been in the back of my mind for the past few days.

We realized how much students lose themselves in their work and in the demands of school life.  More often than not, we are making ourselves unhappy.  UNHAPPY.  The way I think about it, my college transcript will not define my college years.  I will define these years by the people I met, by the teachers I loved, by the friends I made, by the experiences I've gone through, by the essential skills and knowledge I will need in the years to come, by every success, and by some mistakes.  Those mistakes may or may not include a C on a test or a poorly written paper, but they will most definitely include anything that has made me work past my weaknesses and come up strong where I once fell short.

In five years, will that one bad test matter?  It's not likely.
In five years, a lot of the little things that seem huge now won't matter.
Think of things in the grand scheme of things.  If it isn't worth it, don't stress about it.

Being happy, seriously, is pretty awesome.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And some videos for this fine Monday evening:

My Life As A Turkey - A New Mother video (You all, this is TENDER)



(Bambi Jumping)  (I laugh every single time.  And this reminds me of Senegal, and I love being reminded of Senegal, that wonderful place where the baby goats and lambs roamed free in Saint Louis.)



(Michelle Blades - Have Hope In Love, Not Convenience!)
(Love her.)

Will you still know me in a year?

(Admiral Fallow - Squealing Pigs)

Cue awesome clarinet solo.