Happy Friday! Here's to the weekend. And here's to all the pretty things on pinterest.

1// Because why shouldn't you?

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2// Finish the race in victory.

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3// Oh, how perfect they are.

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4// Pretty.

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5// My two favorite Emmas.

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On this Good Friday.

Today, let us remember the sacrifice and amazing love of our Lord. 

It is finished. 

Happy, free, confused, + lonely at the same time.

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I believe happiness is an abstract concept. It means so many different things to different people, and people make themselves happy in all kinds of ways. When you're in a season of sadness, making yourself happy seems kind of impossible.

But I've realized something. It's only impossible if I make it that way. Sure, I can't magically be all smiles and rainbows 24/7, but surrounding yourself with positivity can most definitely help. And lemme tell you something else.

You can make yourself happy by pretending you're happy. Fake it 'til ya make it, am I right? Personally, up until recently, that whole concept felt like I was lying to myself. But it's not really lying so much as taking the first steps toward your own version of happiness. A couple weeks ago, after another long day of trying and failing to not feel sorry for myself, to not let loneliness get to me, I had enough.

I came up with a new plan of sorts, and wrote it down.
No more of this woe is me business. No more being afraid to give my fears to God. (Kind of ironic, don't ya think?) It's time I create the life that I want, the happiness that I crave.

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Why should you settle? If you're unhappy, change it. Start doing more of the things that make you happy. For me, it's all about the simple things.

The first sip of coffee in the mornings.

Getting lost in a book.
The beauty in laying in bed with no sound but my record player.
Wearing lipstick + listening to Arctic Monkeys (It makes me feel like I can conquer the world)

The same kinds of things might make you feel good, or it could be completely different. It doesn't matter.
What matters is that you take your life and make it what you want it to be.

As for me? I'm pretty complicated, and that's okay.
So right now I think I want to be a little happy,
a little free,
a little confused,
and a little lonely.

At the same time.

High Five For Friday: Pinterest edition

Is it just me or have most of my H54Fs lately been pinterest editions?

I've decided I should allow myself one more week of pins though, since I am in the midst of recovering from a traumatic wisdom teeth removal and all. (Okay, so it wasn't actually traumatic. I'm just dramatic.)

The lil devotional up on my screen is P.S. He Loves You by the lovely Erin James. You should read it :)

This has been my view, and I'm actually not complaining. Recovery time means lotsa time to write + have some "me" time. It also, of course, means spending shameless time on pinterest. 

So.... here's some lovely pins I've been admiring.

1// This makes me crave summertime so bad. I cannot wait to be able to break out all my sundresses.

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2// Speaking of summertime, doesn't this Italian beach make you wanna run there and never look back?

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3// My love for this hair has yet to dwindle. At this point, I just can't see myself going back to long.

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4// Words really are a thing of beauty.

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5// The epitome of class and poise.

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Have a wonderful weekend, loves!

With you

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As I write this, I am currently confined to the recliner, with my pandora on shuffle and an ice pack on my face. I think I look worse than I actually am. I didn't get into some crazy accident, I just got my wisdom teeth out.

Ouch.

It actually wasn't as bad as I had feared it would be. In my little anxiety plagued mind, I was just sure something was going to go terribly wrong. And it felt like no matter how much I talked and prayed about it, the little tugging in the pit of my stomach wouldn't go away. Even though that feeling is nothing new to me, it frustrates me because I know I have no reason to worry.

In those moments I have to remind myself that I am human. We all worry.

It's how we deal with it that counts.

He is with us and keeps us wherever we go. I had to remember that as I sat in the chair getting ready for them to put the IV in. He was with me in there.

He is with me when I am alone driving in my car.

He is with me when I am surrounded by people.

He is with me when I am feeling anxious.

He is with me when all of the worries I have bottled up inside come tumbling out.

He is there, holding my hand. He keeps me close to His heart. 

So dear friend, know this one thing: 

"I am with you and will keep you wherever you go." -Genesis 28:15

32 things that make me happy

I fee like we sometimes focus way too much on the negative things that go on instead of focusing on the good + happy. And then I found this sweet new link up that does just that. Focuses on the good. Because it's the simple things that matter most and that can inspire you more than anything.

So, here's my list of 32 things that help get me through, in no particular order.

1// Country music

2// Watching old mystery shows with my mama

3// Coffee coffee coffee

4// Football + baseball season

5// Miss Taylor Swift

6// The sound of a record crackling

7// Gilmore Girls + FRIENDS

8// Pretty much any smell from Bath & Body Works

9// When my favorite stores have sales

10// Writing

11// Me + Jesus time

12// Sweet summertime

13// Lipstick

14// The feeling of getting into a really good book

15// Pretty nail polish

16// Yoga

17// Driving around in my Jeep soaking in the sunshine

18// Puppies. All the puppies.

19// Getting compliments on an outfit

20// A good eyebrow day (Am I right ladies?)

21// Justin Timberlake

22// Getting that pinterest inspired craft just right.

23// Snuggling into fresh clean sheets

24// Laughing with family

25// Antique stores

26// The lovely little device they call a Keurig

27// Watching Dick Van Dyke, one of my favorite old sitcoms.

28// Aimlessly wandering through Target, trying my hardest to not buy everything I see

29// Hearing little kids say my name (It's just the sweetest)

30// Finding childhood shows + movies on TV

31// Watching sports with my dad

32// Concerts


Be happy.

High Five For Friday

Hello peaches! It's finally Friday. You could say I'm a little happy about it.

What's been going on this week? Here's a glimpse......

1// Looks like spring in Texas is finally here to stay! All this week I got to actually turn on the a/c instead of the heat in the Jeep. So obviously, it's getting serious.

2// It's also officially baseball season! Yes. I missed the Rangers opening day because I was working and they lost anyway. Boo. But they made up for it with those walk-offs they've been throwin down. 

3// Record stores are always a gem.

4// I feel it's only appropriate to voice my weekly appreciation of my record player, coffee, and Gilmore Girls. So there it is.

5// A little late night blogging + journal writing is always good for the soul. 

Have a lovely weekend! 

And as always, I'm linking up with the fabulous Lauren Elizabeth.

A love that thaws

Last weekend, I saw Frozen.

I know, I know. I'm a tad late.

Oh well.

The sort of theme throughout the movie is the thought that love will thaw a frozen heart, and I love that. Because, love does thaw. It has the power to do so much, and I am reminded of the strength and power of Jesus' love. 

Oh, how He loves us.

He loves us in our sin, our brokenness, our weakness, our pain. The most broken of hearts can be healed with Him. 

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Trust in Him because He knows what is best. He knows the desires and sorrows of your heart. He knows your deepest fears. He knows everything, and He will heal your heart.

Tumblr Tuesday: a little bit of everything

Hi beautiful! Happy Tuesday.

Here's a little bit of inspiration from my tumblr to get you through the day.

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