Favorite Things

• Floral dresses
• Fabric covered classics
• Texting (finally) with friends
• Flat peaches
• Wearing leggings & cardigans in August
• Jane Austen 
• Letters
• Fun pictures with friends 
• Playing with Asher 
• Mum's scones

Have a lovely Friday!

Skypin'!

   Skype is one of the biggest blessings ever. I wish I could bake cookies for whoever invented it. Being able to see & talk with some of my friends has gotten me through this first month.

   Gracie & Rachel, the two of you were the first people I Skyped from England. I didn't think to get a screen shot, but our talk encouraged me so much & gave me lots of laughs!

This picture makes me so ridiculously happy. Courtney, you just radiate happiness, & it's contagious.

Emily, Skyping with you renews my soul. Every time.

Oh Joshua, seeing you every other day keeps me going! You're the bestest big brother ever.

Cara & India, you guys take crazy to another level. you make me laugh so hard I get wrinkles. =)

Kaitlyn, your godly words of wisdom always make me contemplate the great glory of our God!

Love you guys!

Twists & Tucks

   I've gotten in a rut with styling my hair. It's either curled & down (when I'm out) or clipped up in a big clip (at home). But I want to branch out and experiment with some dos! Messy buns & braids here I come!

   Today I saw this tutorial & it inspired me! It's super easy & I love the result. It's a great way to get your hair off your neck while still looking super cute! 

   It's still a work in progress, but practice makes improvement, right? =) 

Random Thoughts & Snaps...

   The last few days have been a lovely blend of relaxing, creating, relating, experimenting, & working. Here are some of my favorite shots.

We walked to The Orchard in Granchester on Saturday. It's a lovely two mile walk & the weather was perfect. They were out of scones (*sigh*), but we made due with cake.

We've had a few rainy days, but not many. I enjoy them when they come, but I know I'll be singing a different tune in a few weeks. I'm trying to soak up the sun before it disappears for the rest of our time here.

Mum made a chicken pot pie & had a little extra pie crust. I liked it, so I put a bunting on it. =)

A friend came over yesterday & we baked these amazingly delicious raspberry lemon muffins. I'm eating the last one now, & I'm definitely going to make them again. You can find the recipe here.

I bought some flowers at the market to put in my lemonade bottle. They look so happy.

   This week I've also started my senior year of high school! Say WHAT? It's going to be the best year ever! More on that soon.

   I still miss all of you dreadfully, but I do love it here. Is that how most of life is? A mix of joy & pain, of longing & contentment, of questions & thankfulness? 
   Even though all the emotions can be confusing, they are what makes us human. We are aware of our humanity when our hearts ache & our minds spin with tons of emotions. But we are also reminded of God's faithfulness & kindness because His Word tells us to:

Give all your worries & cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

(New Living Translation) 

   He wants us to let Him take on all our crazy emotions. He wants to walk with us, to comfort us, to teach us, & to turn the pain into something beautiful. So will you let Him?

Favorite Things

• Hearing the church bells chime each hour
• Walking alone to get bread from the baker
• Skype dates with friends
• Listening to epic music
• Apple blackberry pie from the market
• Pinterest
• Watching Downton Abbey
• Bright cheerful fabric
• Hearing a happy Asher run around in the garden 
• Getting lost in a good novel

Happy Friday everyone!