It's Been Two Years...

In one of those stars

I shall be living.

In one of them I shall 

be laughing. And so it

will be as if all the stars were laughing,

when you look at the sky at night.

And when your sorrow is comforted

 (time soothes all sorrows),

you will be content that you have known me.

You will always be my friend...

I shall not leave you.

Antoine De Saint-Exupery 

The Little Prince

It's hard to believe it's been two years. It's still fresh, still bittersweet. We miss you Dustin DeFord.

Great Shot!

Remember the 19 Hotshots today, and pray for the families. 

Goodbye Autumn, I'll Miss You

     Snow! This is what greeted me at 7am on my way to work today! Yesterday had been another blissful, autumn day, that I had taken lazily, for granted. Autumn, like it's predecessor season, is cruelly short-lived in Wisconsinland. Too readily, Wisconsin defaults to the extremism of the long, bitter, northern winter: a rather sadistic state wouldn't you say?! I love the breathtaking bursts of colour-as creation takes on her most lavish garb-the slight chill in the air, wooly socks, and cozy cardigans, all washed down with a generous mug of pumpkin spiced latte: and all this is gone in a matter of weeks. Wisconsinland is not kind to my favourite season.

     Today was a blustery, icebox, interrupted periodically by shy, snow flurries. This is only the beginning my friend, WINTER IS COMING! And she is not kind. Still, even in the death of the world around me, there is an eerie beauty in the bare tree branches, and the silver grey sky. Best of all, the close of Autumn and the commencement of Winter brings me one day closer to being back on Irish soil once more. More on that later. In the meantime, let's send Autumn out with the dignity she deserves.          

"Hello, hello, hello, hello,

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye,goodbye,

That's all there is.

And the leaves that are green turn to brown." 

My Sister Is a College Graduate!

   

     Friday was my baby sister's college graduation! My sister Abby graduated the University of Limerick with a degree in Voice & Dance. Did I mention my sister is a dancer? A pretty dang good one too. I of course couldn't attend, what with my being in Wisconsinland, but a big sister couldn't be more proud. I thought I'd post pictures of my hautie family on the big day. Forgive me if I crow too loud but hey, these are my favourite humans in the whole world!

Yay!

Yeah these hauties are related to me :)

The fellow spawn

Abby's graduation dress was absolutely stunning! She's always been a babe! I'm so proud of her smarts, talent, and beauty (inside and out). Congratulations sis! Wish I could have been there to celebrate with you. Just so you know, I drove my co-workers crazy singing your praises all day Friday!

Better Together: Weddings and Adventuring!

     Sorry for the short absence. I have been adventuring...and summer classing (huzzah I made a new verb!). Two weeks ago I attended the wedding of two old school friends from Cornerstone and between work, and trying to stay above water in regards to my summer class, and maintaining what resembles a social life, blogging was once again at the bottom of my list. But I'm back to tell you of my wonderful adventure in South Dakota.

     For those of you who don't know, I spent two years in a Bible Institute in Hot Springs, South Dakota when I was 19 and 20. These two years were some of the best and worst of my life, but what made them was the people. Cornerstone contained an average of 40 some students when I was there and what developed was an odd, familial-like sub-culture. For the most part, weddings have been a huge part of this sub-culture post graduation, and I have missed almost every single wedding/reunion. So, when the opportunity came to attend Mat and Liz's wedding two weeks ago, I was so there. Matt and Liz were in the same class (a year above me) and while they were always good friends, their relationship deepened into something more after they graduated. And when there's a wedding, there will be "Stoners"!

     I flew from Chicago on a Tuesday, but didn't arrive in Rapid City, SD until Wednesday morning, due to the fact that we didn't leave on time (for no actual reason) from Chicago, and thus missed my connection in Denver. I've dealt with delays plenty of times before and even ones that required an overnight stay, but never alone! However, a comfortable night in a hotel, courtesy of United airlines, with free breakfast and shuttle went all without a glitch (despite being approached by creepy, individual with a white van whom I cunningly evaded). Adult points to me!!!

     I was picked up by Liz and other Cornerstoner Melinda and despite "car trouble" we drove onto Hot Springs in perfect we-are-girls-who-have-no-idea-how-to-car style. After calling Matt for help "we" fixed the problem (which turned out to be a case of rogue pipe stabbing the muffler), and drove off to have fun! Over the next few days we moved our Bride out of her apartment and literally next door to her new one, made DIY decorations for the wedding, had a blast of a bachelorette party, rehearsal dinnered, and REUNIONED (I am full of self made verbs today!!).

     It was great to see people I have't seen in 3-5 years, and even more great to see how our lives have progressed. When you're just you living your life, it's hard to see how you've changed or developed; but when you see yourself in perspective to people you knew and loved a long time ago and see that they've changed, you come to realize you have too. I loved hearing their stories, holding their children (so many children!), learning what they're doing, and where they're working. We've changed so much, and it's great! Sometimes my nostalgia takes over and I have a hard time moving forward with things. It was wonderful to celebrate change for a change (see what I did there?!).

     The wedding itself, was beautiful. I loved being involved in the business of the morning: decorating, assisting photographers, and serving food. Liz made a gorgeous bride and seeing both bride and groom commit to each other before, and in the name of their Saviour was so special. The representation of the gospel, as pictured by the imagery of marriage, was so clear in both their lives. I may or may not have cried!

     I finished off the week fellowshipping with my old church family at Calvary Baptist Church. I cannot even begin to describe how much I missed these people, and Pastor Matt's preaching (and fondness for circle time). Thank you Lord for giving me this opportunity to reconnect, even for a few, special days, with old friends and family.

Congratulations to Liz and Matt!!!

PS: If you want to check out Liz's blog click here

PPS: Clara Williams who is also a Cornerstoner, and who is married to a Cornerstoner, and who is my very dear, dear friend took the photos at the wedding. She is supper, super talented and you should check out her work on this wedding others here. I used two of her photos in this post.

Oh I searched the world...

"I just don't belong and there's no place on earth that will feel like my home"

"Oh I searched the world for that feeling of peace, but I've got no solution, I feel no release"

"Someday I know I'll taste the death that is sweet, for Your own on the cross took out all of the sting" 

"Maybe the point is I'm not on my own and to try by myself is to claim this as home"

"

That's when it hit me, that I'm not yet home, Oh Lord I am ready let Your Kingdom come" 

"If I find in myself desires which nothing in this can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that i was made for another world" C.S. Lewis

Kept awake last night by random feelings of homesickness (they strike when least expected). I am so excited to one day stop my wanderings and truly be Home.

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ" Philippians 3:20

Pictures from Pinterest, lyrics by Sarah Sparks

Stranger Side

       

A funny little heart in a funny little box, never take it out cos it might get dropped...

....bottle up and hide, tell a little lie if you must.

See the crooked man trying to walk a crooked mile, see the crooked lady with her crooked little smile...

...they see us as we pass and they don't know what to make of us...

...cos you and I, we see a stranger side of things...

...you and I

...we dream a stranger kind dream

...we walk a weirder side of the street.

          Happy Valentines Day! Yep that dreaded/loved/tolerated day of love/misery/pink has come and gone again, and I'm kind of sad to see it go! I was going to post today as a Bit Of Ridiculous #2 but I feel like I've said all I need to say about valentines in other posts so I decided just to be semi-happy about valentines, because it is just another day, and I like most days!

         This valentines, I got many sweet gifts from sweet friends, went to the Northland vrs Maranatha game (which we won!), was blessed by a wonderful, happy, splendidly, ridiculously fun, surprise visit from my bestie Heather Jerome, and can't get Gabrielle Aplin song lyrics out of my head!

        How was your valentines? Ridiculous or ridiculous? 

Music Mondays: Stubborn Love and Other Stories

           Phew! This semester is beginning to get busy. Two weeks of blissful leisure, thinking it would last forever and then in one week life is like "Bahahaha! Psyche your mind!" It's ok though because I'm still full of new year energy ready to save the world and get my assignments in on time while I'm at it! I even worked out this evening! That's right, be proud. I will accomplish all things (at least until my resolve to not watch Once Upon a Time on a school night wears off...which may run out in about 15 minutes!)

           This week I've experienced cold weather that rivals my South Dakota days. Now I love snow, it's basically the miracle of winter in my opinion, and playing in it will bring out my inner child like nothing else, but when it's below freezing, and the wind makes me want to curl up in my sock drawer and die, then it's a different story. Still, I can't deny that God's creation is beautiful in our very own real Narnia-Wisconsin land. Sometimes (everyday) I wish I lived in Chicago or Paris, with a Starbucks just around the corner, and surrounded by people I don't know but want to. Then God brings me right back with the almost inaudible sound of soft snow falling, or the sun peeking out between the evergreen trees, almost groaning under the weight of a weeks worth of snow. It is stunning to walk into a white world every morning. God has been so good protecting us during the trips to and from church every Sunday. Yesterday we were drifting all over the place during our 50 minutes journey back to campus, and all I could do was shut my eyes and pray.

         On Thursday my Impact Group (everyone on campus has one, and we study a section of Galatians every week together) met at out leader Mrs Olsen's house so that Sally (real name Tiaotiao Ma) could teach us how to make real Chinese Jiao Zi. If you've never had legit Chinese food then I suggest you find somewhere to get the good stuff because seriously, the slop they serve us picky Westerners is criminal in comparison (and I will be talking about this more on Friday!) This was my absolute favourite of all Chinese dishes and it was exciting to see how to make my own in future. Not to mention that these lovely ladies are so encouraging and make splendid company!

Now it is Music Monday, and so I owe you some music! I'm sure most of you have heard about The Lumineers, (if you haven't you should fix that!) and their new music video just came out this week. The Lumineers were pretty much my go to discovery of 2012 along with Imagine Dragons, Of Monsters and Men and Ben Howard. I remember when I first heard all of the above on the radio and I was like "What in the fat world?! They're playing actual good music and not Keisha or Katie Perry!" No offense to anyone's taste or anything but seriously, that stuff's total crap!! Hehehe I joke, I joke...or do I?

The Lumineers - Stubborn Love - Music Video from Kevin on Vimeo.

A Year in the Life of a Leah

           Well my poor, neglected blog, you're probably wondering where I've been or if I was ever coming back. I promise you have never been forgotten, but always in the back of mind, but low on my priorities after school, traveling, studying, hanging out with friends, and wasting time (emphasis on the latter). Unfortunately your owner is a notorious procrastinator, and when she did have time to blog, she would often find herself on facebook, or pinterest, or youtube, or spotify....or pinterest....Anyways, I'm back! And I have a strategy in mind in order to juggle life, procrastination and blogging more effectively. More on that later though, right now I want to give you a little insight into my year (with and assortment of random pictures of things you missed). This year I:

1. Managed to get a challenging but completely fun summer job at Shepherds Ministries

1. Got plugged in with a whole new wonderful group of brothers and sisters I never knew I had

3.  Embarked on the hardest and best trip of my life, by God's grace

4. Began a whole new semester at Northlands International University

5. Became a room leader and gained two new wonderful roommates

6. Tried and failed Greek 101

7. Learned running the race doesn't guarantee the course will run smoothly 

8. Was totally blessed and challenged by the Body of Christ

9. Discovered that my dependance on caffeine has gotten out of control (maybe)

10. Found self sufficiency is a poor man's walk (eventually you let yourself down; God never will)

11. Discovered and listened to wonderful new music

12. Said goodbye to good friends and hello to new ones

13. Experienced God's amazing provision through His people

14. Found I love my family in new ways and for new reasons

15. Went to new places and met new people

15. Learned that trusting God is better than running my own life  

         So that's pretty much been my year. God has taught me much, I have grown inches (always figuratively!), fallen often, experienced more, loved better, and hated worse, but I am not who I was before and that is always good! The Christian walk is often a frustrating but wonderful paradox, one that brings me closer to Him and to His character.

          Now back to my blogging plans for this year. I am making it a priority to give my blog some much needed attention. It's something I love to do, and I love making connections with people everywhere in day to day interactions and online! That's what we're here for right? So this is my proposal; I will post at least 3 times a week. Music Mondays will be exactly that; a sharing of all my music favs (especially since I don't have a playlist anymore). I love finding new music and I'm assuming that my followers are the same. Wednesdays will be a sharing of the various things that I find ridiculous (still one of my favourite words), both funny and serious (you know those things that you can either laugh or cry over so you may as well laugh!), and Fridays I want to give a little insight into my summer trip (and yes I will reveal where I went!). In between these three days will be days in which I consider myself free to post whatever tickles my fancy or not at all. This way I don't have to think of something to post, and then just decide to go on pinterest instead when I can't think of anything! So I hope you approve of this, and here's to a year of more consistent blogging!!   

          Thanks for being faithful even when I'm not!