Tuesday, February 28, 2017

done with my graceless heart

What I'm listening to right now: 

Oh haiiii, friends. 

Posts about Em's wedding and Sam's visit coming up soon, I promise. 

Also, I finalllllly heard back from all of the schools I applied to for History PhD programs! I have a few options and you know that I will agonize/am already agonizing about the decision, haha. But I am happy to have four really good options to choose from.* (And I will let my adoring fans know where I end up choosing, don't you fret.) 

But in the meantime, just enjoy this pretty picture: 

/via/

*I realize that people will want to know what schools I'm choosing from. They are the University of Missouri, Boston University, the University of Maryland, and Princeton. I'll be doing campus visits next month. Exciting times. :) 

Monday, February 13, 2017

When a thing is wick, it will grow

Winter's on the wing.

Reasons why:

--It's been an average of about 53 degrees the past couple of weeks.

--The snow has melted in the valley, although it's still beautiful and white on the mountains.



[Mount Olympus is strikingly beautiful. I seriously cannot get over it.]


--The lack of snow and the absence of cold has meant that I can run outside again . . .

--Which means that I accidentally tripped and bruised my entire shin. Oops. But it's on the mend.

[Oops. But like I said, it's on the mend. And now I have this beautiful bruise on my shin. It's very impressive.]

--It is just "well with my soul" right now. Just this contented happy core. Despite uncertainty and trying to figure out life plans (or even summer plans), I am grateful for this peace. 

--I saw The Secret Garden this weekend with Em. The Secret Garden is one of my favorite stories, and one of my favorite musicals, as the music is hauntingly beautiful and hopeful. (Although it's hard to choose favorites, I'd have to say that "Wick" and "Hold On" are definitely up there.) It also reminds me of Ukraine--of the need to hold on and the promise that spring will come. And, perhaps it goes without saying, but it reminds me of England (which I am so homesick for this week). In any event, it was wonderful to watch one of my favorite musicals, with Em, one of my favorite people.

[Hanging out with Em means shake dates. Has to happen.]

[Selfie time our turn. With bad high school auditorium lighting. Whatevs. Also, can we just talk about how weird it was being back at my high school? Sooooo weird.]

[Typical.]

[Just love this woman so dang much.]

There is spring in the air; change in the air. There is a hope that comes with children's tales, reconciliation, and second chances, of renewed friendships and remembered miracles. Spring always comes. Sometimes all we have to do is hold on. And I'm grateful for people that remind me of that, in the good times and the bad times. 

Friday, February 10, 2017

Daisies are the friendliest flower

Em's upcoming wedding calls for celebration. Many celebrations, in fact. 

So Em's friend Lauren and I decided to put on a friend bridal shower for her. (And to be completely fair, Laurs was the one who did the most in this production--I just provided the apartment and some of the food. And daisies.) 


[It was You've Got Mail themed, which is one of Em's favorite chick flicks. And mine, too.]

[Em with Laurs and Marina. The woman in the middle is the one who really made this whole thing come together.]

[Can we talk about how cute those cookies are?]

[Em and Amberlea! Hurray for mission companions--I served with both of them and they served with each other.]

[Twinkle lights, carnations, and then Billy the Goat looking on in the background.]

[Selfie time our turn]

[Love these women oh-so-much.]

Thanks for letting us spoil you, Em. And for being worth spoiling.