Rain :)

It really is those little things, those simple pleasures that can turn your whole day, week, month or year around. 
Let me tell you a little about my night/morning:

11pm: Alright, I'm going to bed nice and early!
1am: Nope. Still not asleep.
3am: "Ugghh I'm not gonna get any sleep...bleeehhhh"
Randomly after that: "Nope, don't look at the clock just fall back asleep."
5:45 (alarm goes off) : "NOOO!"
5:50am : *notices it's raining*
5:51am: *leaps out of bed, makes a quick breakfast, throws on a hoodie and goes out to the porch to watch the thunderstorm*

The beautiful thing for me (especially having been in a dry prayer slump for awhile now...) was that as soon as I noticed the rain my heart was stirred to prayer. I was just so happy and so thankful the words couldn't help but tumble out of my mouth. He really is in the whisper...

I simply remember my favorite things...

...and then I don't feel so bad.

Thank You for...

thunderstorms. coffee. healthy eating & exercise kicks. wonderful wonderful people. beauty. love. patience. forgiveness. ability. possibility. wonder. passion. depth. the intellect. and will. music. words. metroparks. nature. sunflowers. baking. biscotti and espresso. tote bags. old books. candles. beautiful photography. art. pretty clothes. this font. notebooks & pens. trees - i like trees. You. Mamma Mary. different perspectives. variety. tea. kittens. fireplaces. hope. so much hope. Latin Masses. Tradition. tradition. dandelions. marriage. rain. sunshine. autumn. snow. freedom. popes. poetry. Shakespeare. singing. cuteness. typewriters. bookends. cozy rugs. fireplaces. aaaalll the saints. angles. writers. painters. laptop decals. da interwebz. adoration. the Eucharist. quiet. calm. peace. silence...

the cause

This morning I woke up on time, got ready quickly, ate breakfast and still had time to spare. My first reaction was "Yes! I have time to chill with my iced coffee, read some blogs, listen to music..." but I felt a pull to spend that time in the chapel instead. 
While I am one who greatly enjoys the little joys like my iced-coffee-internet-surfing-time I know they are meant to supplement, add to my joy, not be the basis. So I chose to spend time with the cause of all joy, peace and happiness and the whole rest of the day fell into place.

Summer Weather

Beautiful weather,

 iced coffee,

poetry,

 and writing it down.

What a nice break from stress and papers :)

God bless!

4 Little Things

1.) Blog post writing!
I was on Tumblr and decided to take my frustration out by writing a post on it. What comes to me when I write helps me so much.
2.) Running! and stairs!
I went outside for a run for the first time this semester. It was hard, man! Junk food and laziness really makes a difference -- but getting back in to healthy habits helps my mood immensely. 
3.) Paper Getting-Done-ing!
I had a rough draft due Friday which I didn't get done because I stress and worried and deemed the paper impossible. I finally sat down in the library,wrote and then ran to his office to turn it in. Whheeeww. It feels good to get that off my shoulders.
4.) Signatures Gotten!
I've been stressing over the summer classes I'm going to take... I needed the 3 chairs of the departments of the classes I'm going to take and have transfer and then my academic advisor sign. I finally got all the signatures and am going to turn in the form first thing in the morning. Form gets faxed and I can register for classes.

He always provides. Everything gets done in the end. He's taking care of us. Look at the birds of the air....[Matthew 6:26]

Mary Mug

You know when somebody gives you a gift that fits you perfectly? Yea, that happened today.

I'm always stressed, I love tea, coffee and mugs and so...

perfection.

Our Lady Queen of Peace...

 As if tea and coffee wasn't calming enough =P

Love&Prayers,

Liz

Nature, God & Spring Break

My spring break has consisted of a road trip down to Florida for a softball tournament. I wasn't too excited but actually was a bit was annoyed I wasn't getting a relaxing break but the beauty I've found here is so refreshing. 
On the drive down, we went through hilly West Virginia and Virginia. I don't see alot of mountains where I'm from and I was just stunned by the beauty of an open plain of mountain peek behind mountain peek, stretching as far as the eye could see. I tried to capture it via camera but nothing did it justice. 

We stopped overnight in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The first thing we did after dropping our bags at the hotel was to run over to the beach. Now, I'm not usually a beach person but this was gorgeous. The sun was setting, waves crashing, beautiful clean sand -- my heart, guys, my heart. I was taking pictures left and right, trying to capture this beauty. 

 

 

 

As I write this post I'm sitting on a patio watching the rain fall causing the pool to ripple and move, the trees to wave in the breeze and just allow a refreshing break from the sunny Florida weather. I love rain so much. I am so thankful :)

I've always felt close to God through nature. Peter J. Kreeft once wrote: "It is beautiful. 'The beauty of creation explains the infinite beauty of the Creator.' (CCC 341) The doctrine of creation explains why we find nature so beautiful and satisfying, why it moves us so and makes us happy." I do however think there can be a misunderstanding about Catholics and their nature lovin'. Often when I think of those who really love nature my mind jumps to hippies: "be free, hate society and be one with nature, man. Ooh, and there's no God. Mamma Earth is in charge." 

>.< A'ight. 

People often go to nature as a God replacement, which in a way makes sense. He created all this beauty, they long for Him but won't admit it, and so go to creation but won't admit the Creator. They think they're winning and avoiding the "God problem" but they are really missing out. As Catholics and adoring the Creator Himself, we can fully embrace His beauty through creation. 

God is a friggin' genius ( to say the least ). Look at all the millions of different animals He made with all their little quirks and funny habits. Look all the variety in the earth: mountains, lakes, rivers, trees, oceans, rain, snow, sunsets and sunrises... and each is as beautiful as the next. Anybody who thinks God is boring clearly hasn't accepted Him as the source of all this crazy beautiful awesomeness.

Iced Mocha, 

a blueberry scone & 

time with my guy 

on a sunny March afternoon =)

Thank You for the little things!

Just a lazy day...

drinking coffee,

 watching Frasier,

"Morning has broken... Coffee can fix it."

and just chilling.

Love&Prayers,

Liz

Thanks!

I haven't done this for awhile and I think I really need to so here's a little list of things for which I'm particularly grateful for:

1.) NUNS:
I love creeping on nuns. I seriously just watch them. They are just so happy, joyful and truly at peace. Ahhhh nuns... what bosses.

2.) Awesome people:
I've been hanging out with and talking to alot more people that I usually do and it's teaching me the value of just opening up and conversing with others.

3.) Scones & Coffee:
Need I explain? Didn't think so.
:P

4.) Softball:
I was dreading it at first but being forced to exercise 1 1/2 -2hrs 5 days a week really helps my mood, stress levels and body image. It's fun :]

5.) This guy:

He makes me so happy. We both tend to be high-stress people but God has given us each other to goof off and find Joy again.

6.) My Icon:
I lost my old icon but my friend Joe bought me a new one as a Christmas present. I love it. I set it out on my desk during class or when I need to do homework. It's a reminder of Who I'm doing this for and how much support I have.

7.) Poetry, Literature and Discussions of the Two:
After loads of tedious homework, you look at your planner and see all your have left to do is... read poetry. Gah! I love me some poetry. One of my classes this semester is 'Studies in Poetry' -- I love it so much. I adore writing. I can't wait to see how much I've improved after I finish my degree here.

8.) Snow:
Let me clarify: I love snow when it's falling and I'm inside, safely watching. *wimp status!* =D

9.) Adoration:
Just chillin'. Not saying anything. Just being with the Lord of all.

Those are just a few for now... God bless!
=)

Snow & Studies

Yesterday I spent about 5 hours curled up in a chair getting alot of homework done. 

Yay for productivity!

 Coffee & scone break!!

nom nom nom

God Bless =)

Coffee, Confession, Mass, Tea & Poems

11am - wake up & bake cookies!
2pm - Get to Phoenix Coffee (now 'Coffee Phix') and sit down with a Devil's Brew (coffee with espresso) and a chocolate chip scone. Nom nom nom :) and start copying poems into my journal.
3pm - Head over to St.Greg's for confession, adoration & Mass.
5:30pm - Back to Phoenix where I finish copying some poems into my poetry journal while sipping some yummy Chamomile tea in the travel mug I bought there.

"Morning has broken...

coffee can fix it."

Come back home, make some baked potatoes and watch Lord of the Rings 3, Return of the King.

Pretty chill day =) God bless!

Anberlin Live!

Friday :
WOW.
I went to my first Anberlin concert Friday night-- wow. The opening bands were really talented, we were up near the front and I was really enjoying myself. Then Anberlin came on... dang! They give an awesome show. There was also this incredible feeling in singing along to some of your favorite songs with the lead singer just feet away from you! I was singing as loud as I could, jumping, head banging...ya know :P I don't know how to describe the feel of it; all I can say is that I'm so glad I went. I've never experienced anything like it.
After the concert we went to iHop and now (at 2am) I am finally back at my dorm. 
What a wonderful night after a really stressful week. God always provides :]

Oh! The lead singer of Anberlin has a blog -- check it out!

Sunday:
My friend Jonathan drove Ben, Joe and I to CVS, treated us to Coldstone, drove us around (blasting Toby Mac), ran a few red lights, freaked out & then pulled over at a church where we stood around a statue of Mary prayed, sung the Salve Regina, got back into the car & almost ran into a road block. It was awesome =]

The statue of Mary we stopped at tonight.

God Bless :)

Tired Tuesday

My friend Joe bought me G.K. Chesterton's book on St. Thomas Aquinas (for 1 dollar :P ) I started reading it today since I was too stressed to face homework and --gosh-- it was wonderful to just relax and read a book that hasn't been assigned for class.

Today...

I visited my high school where I got to hang out with my old classmates and attend a high mass (gorgeous). After school I got a scone and iced coffee from my favorite coffee shop, went birthday shopping for my dad with my mom am now relaxing in my room. *sigh* O fall break, how I love thee.

Also, I am loving  obsessed with Flyleaf's new album New Horizons. Check it out! You won't be sorry :)

October Awesomeness

- Sitting across from my guy, listening to awesome music by Flyleaf and Anberlin, and feeling like I may be able to write a devotional after all.

- My Saturday holy hour (and just adoration in general).

- A latte on a cold fall day.

- Walking and running through beautiful leaves.

- Developing a craving for salads :P

- Just, ya know, having the God of the universe available to talk to whenever. And being able to consume the King of kings and the Love of my life in daily Mass... ya know... nbd ;) 

- Also, having the best friend in the whole wide world to patiently listen to you cry,whine and stress and then comfort me.

- Getting a package from home with my mom's traditional pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. They taste like...home :)

- Getting a belated birthday present from Matthew -- he gave me a pair of really gorgeous earrings.

- Taking a hot shower after freezing outside for 10hours.'Twas heavenly. Then changing into warm sweatpants and a hoodie -- Bum Status!

- Getting alot of new music for free (thank you, flash drives.)

- My weird friend! Last night Ben stole my hat and had it in his holy hour. Joe (who is in his holy hour) sees Ben with my hat and as he leaves, steals Ben's pipe. Joe then calls me, laughing hysterically, that he put Ben's pipe under Jesus' arm in our nativity scene. "He's surrounded by flowers and there's now a pipe next to him!"

O, people :)

Have a wonderful day & God bless!!

From the Colors of Fall...Indescribable.

This gorgeous fall afternoon, Molly and I went on a walk with our friends Ben and Jonathan and took some photos -- I thought I'd share them (it also doubles as an outfit post! *cha ching*!)

Isn't she so beautiful?!

I love the way she dresses; so simple, classic, modest -- just like her :)

She really knows how to dress for her body and what flatters her.

She's gorgeous.

Shirt - Forever 21

(absolutely gorgeous) Scarf - Avenue

Molly&Me

Boots - Avenue

Jeans - Gap

She's so gorgeous & I'm a weirdo :P

My Lord and my God, thank You the gift of beauty! 

Thank You for gorgeous weather and faithful, awesome friends.

Scarf - ModCloth.com

Shoes - Nordstrom Rack

Have a wonderful day&God Bless :)

Simple Joys!

1.) This gorgeous fall weather :) leaves everywhere, an occasional brisk wind, a brilliant blue sky and tights and boots everywhere! 

2.) Megan Dougherty & Hank Gettinger's wedding!
It was the first really Catholic wedding I've been to. The prayer before communion has especially stuck in my mind but the whole wedding was focused on God and it was so beautiful. There was so much joy and love... it was awesome :)

so beautiful & happy!

4.) This new laptop decal:

5.) Decorating (ninja style) Molly's room for her birthday.. and seeing her reaction!

We also cooked her dinner :)

6.) Anberlin's new album Vital. SO GOOD!!

7.) Getting good feedback from one of my literature teachers. It was perfect timing since I had been feeling like I was hopeless as a writer and failing that class.

"Liz, you start out good, but then lose your Thesis. Still, good prose."

This really smart, awesome, knowledgeable literature professor referred to my writing as "good prose"? I knew I didn't fully understand the thesis of the essay I was summarizing, but it's comforting to know I may have a skill with which to work... once my brain decides to catch up :P

God bless & have a wonderful day!

Simple Sunday.

Matthew Mayfield , C.S. Lewis and beautiful autumnal weather...Perfect :)

Photo credit: Sean Dougherty

Also, rediscovering Sean's Facebook album from last fall filled with gorgeous photos. 

Fall is the best season. No debate necessary.

Have a wonderful day! God Bless!

That Awesome Moment When...

- ...the weather is gorgeous, fall like and makes me want to curl up with a book and a cup of coffee :)
- ...I really really enjoy book I'm assigned for English. It's C.S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces -- I love it!
- ...I actually do my homework o.0 It's just an awesome feeling to be on top of things.
- ...MY 11AM CLASS GETS CANCELED! yay! I had been falling asleep in my first class today and so wasn't looking forward to my long philosophy class; but then, as I was trudging up the stairs, a girl in my class called out to me and told me class was canceled. oohh yea :P
- ...there's Latin Mass today.
- ...people are nice to me and let me crash in their room because there may be a snake loose in my room. duh duh duuuuuhhhhh.
- ...there is no longer a snake in my dorm room! ( I think...)

Have a great day :) God Bless.