Shoes

Yesterday I went down to Georgetown to meet my mom and some very good family friends to celebrate a friend's graduation. I went down after my class, dragging my microbiology with me into a Starbucks to do my homework as I waited for everyone. Over the time I spent in there, some studying and most not, I discovered that I was sitting by this perfect window. It reminded me of being in Java City in tdu, which is this perfect people watching window at my school!

My people-watching window

While I was taking "study breaks" I began to people watch through this picture perfect window, and Georgetown has to be one of the best places to take in the general splendor of the city! There are the assortment of tourists wandering around with their backpacks and maps, there are the upperclass woman walking around in five inch heels, there are children trying to keep up with long legged-parents, and all of the business men and women rushing to get home.

You can tell a lot about people by just watching them. The way they walk, the way they interact with other people, and by their shoes! In D.C. your footwear can tell the most about you. Didn't know your shoes said that much did you? Tennis shoes usually alert everyone that there is a tourist. I say usually because you also get the runners and the business people who walk home and change into sneakers with their suits to walk home. I saw a lot of sandals since its finally warm now, these people are more casual and are usually just enjoying the day. Then there are the women who where five inch heels and are going out for a night on the town with their friends. There were also people going out to dine before prom and a group heading back after a gala at the Swedish Embassy,with very classy shoes on.

These are my favorite shoes that I saw last night,
but how do you walk in them?!

What do your shoes say about you? These are my favorite pair of shoes, my cowboy boots. I don't know what they say about me, but I like the sound they make when I walk!

*Joy of the day: Catching up with a wonderful friend and celebrating her birthday!

The Candy Cane

I finally unpacked! Well at least a few things because my class starts soon and I need my backpack, a notebook, and the other basic school needs. I began to  unpack my backpack, gleefully throwing out old papers that I no longer needed, when I came across a candy cane. I began to feel all warm inside, and a little teary.

Now if you didn't think I was crazy before, now I'm crying over a candy cane. But this isn't any old candy cane, this one is special and it's been through a lot! I got it during Christmas times and didn't want it, so I offered it to my suitemate Kelly who didn't want it either. Naturally I decided to hide it so I wouldn't have to deal with it! It started off in a pretty obvious spot, attached to the whiteboard on Kelly's door. Kelly retaliated by hiding it in my room, and it became a game!

The candy cane was hidden in a variety of places! Some creative, some silly, and some ridiculous. In the fridge, a box of tea, under her pillow, in my laptop case (it fell out during class making me look like a nut!), backpack, wallet, shoes, make-up bag, hanging on a hanger with clothes, and many others. We got creative. It was fun to know that I had a little surprise to find, and it was always a little victory when I stumbled upon it.

Kelly and I are now states apart, and we won't be living together next year but I got one last little surprise from her. A candy cane, that seemed so silly and insignificant at the time but now reminds me of what a sweet friend I will always have! Who knew all that could come from a candy cane?

*Joy of the day: Finally getting to hang up my pictures, making my room feel a little more like home!

Escape

      Last Tuesday my mom called me from work and asked if I wanted to get away for the weekend. How could I turn that down? A weekend get away to the beach before my summer class started sounded absolutely lovely. Come Thursday I picked my mom up from work and we were off!

     We traveled up to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, which was prepared for our arrival. It was in the upper 70s and sunny all weekend, and rather empty! It was perfect. It was a resting and relaxing break from the unpacked boxes that were crowding my room and the new syllabus that was beginning to haunt me before I had even had a chance to thrown the old ones out.

     We spent our days sunning on the beach, reading (for fun- when was the last time that was allowed?) and enjoying the general splendor! I convinced my mom to indulge on photography adventures with me; sunset one night, 5:30am the next day for sunrise, and a hike out to a park to see a lighthouse! It was absolutely beautiful, God certainly knew what he was doing when he created all of this!

     When I was looking at the sunrise I had to stop and just soak in all of the beauty. And "beauty" isn't even the word to describe it! As I was watching the day begin and taking pictures, the part in Genesis came to my mind where God created the earth from a dark and lifeless form into this stunning creation. It takes my breath away to see this; the sun peaking out over the crest of the ocean, dolphin poking their heads out for breakfast, and the general peacefulness as the rest of the world slept! In Genesis after God creates something it is described as "good" and watching this I can see why! But as I was sitting there God put on my heart that I describe his sunrise one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, and yet God only calls it "good." What he sees as "very good" is me! (Genesis 1:31)

     Know that what ever you see in this world as beautiful, a sunrise, a flower, the mountains, God sees you as beautiful beyond compare to those things! That made me stand still. No sunrise can ever compare with his greatest creation- us! We are capable of so much, we're complex (I took anatomy and physiology, trust me we are), and we are drop dead stunning!
     On our spontaneous beach get away I caught up on some sleep, finished a book and a half, got a little sun kissed, saw some gorgeous places and moments, and left knowing that I am a beautiful creation! I would deem that a successful first adventure of the summer.

*Joy of the day: Getting to curl up under a cozy yellow blanket to fall asleep to the sound of rain after five days of joy!

I don't think I'm at school anymore...

     The school year officially ended on Friday, and I am still not unpacked. Instead I just go through the boxes and grab what I need when I need it, then it usually ends up on my floor. I don't know why I haven't unpacked! It would make life a lot easier, it would make my room a lot safer, and it really won't take that long. But here I am, watching a marathon of "Top Chef" and staring at the boxes.

My car after it was all packed!

     Maybe unpacking means acknowledging that the school year is over. Don't mistake me, I'm excited to be home for summer and to be with my family and friends here, but I enjoyed this school year so immensely that I am not ready to see it end. I met so many wonderful people who influenced me in big ways, I got to grow much closer to friends and see them continue to mature, I got to experience some of my first real nursing classes, and I got a glimpse at what my future may hold! Why would I want to admit any of that is done for now?
     I am not accustomed to living in a house instead of a dorm. I've done some ridiculous things out of habit because that's how I did it at "home" for eight months! Our dorm was eco-friendly so the lights were automatic, the other night I went downstairs to grab something and got really confused when the lights didn't turn on when I walked by. So I walked back by, then realized I actually had to turn them on. Disappointed, I found what I needed in the dark and when back upstairs. The next day I went and rummaged around in my unpacked mess for my shower shoes, only to remember that I don't need those here. I also walked across the hallway to tell my suitemate something funny, only to remember that she is in another state. And if these things weren't enough I was very confused when I could not figure out why my student ID card wouldn't open my front door. Who knew that coming home would take more getting use to than going to college?

     I've also found myself doing some things outside of my norm. I've been listening to different music, and it has been a pretty big variety of music. I've been watching television shows that I've always deemed as trashy, and while I still think they're trashy there's some sort of comfort in them. I find myself staying up late for no reason, and yet almost waiting for something. Then it clicked, I got so accustomed to living with my suitemates that I don't know what to do without them! I'm doing things that they would do or watching things that they would like because that's how I am use to living. I miss hearing their laughs, waiting to hear their footsteps come down the hall, snuggling with them on the couch, or our last night dance party.

Miss them!

     Despite all of these things I am looking forward to this summer! There are a lot of things I have to do, and a lot of things I have been blessed with. Stay tuned for more on what my summer holds! ~Philippians 4:11-13

*Joy of the week: A sweet friend took my pictures off my wall and packed up my bed in my dorm so I didn't have to face that I was leaving!