Baby, It's Cold Outside...

Oh the world wide web... You can find pretty much anything you want to know... or don't want to know for that matter by just the click of a button. Sometimes, help can be found. Other times, not so much. Recently, I've had a conversation with someone very close to my heart about happiness (in a round about way). What things make you happy? Do you ever just see something wonderful and get the breath knocked out of you? When you are using the gifts and talents that God has given you, does it give you this overwhelming feeling of joy? I realized during this conversation that I have become so focused on the here and now daily routine that I forget to focus on me. What things do I love to do that I have neglected? For instance, I've played piano ever since I can remember, and since I've been in college, I haven't played but maybe a handful of times... Also, I guess since I've "grown up" I forgot that I can find new adventures as well... Who knew? I can have new hobbies?!? What? It's true. So I googled "hobbies" (does googling count as a hobby? because I do it quite a bit) and found this website. I laughed. These are some of the possibilities of new hobbies headed my way...

Hot air ballooning, cloud watching, motorcycle riding, throwing boomerangs, shark fishing, smoking pipes, yo-yo, gadget collecting... etc.

Wow. I can handle cloud watching and possibly throwing around a couple of boomerangs, but all in all, this was not as helpful as I had hoped. So, I'm going to have to think of things that I would like to do? Kill me. This is what I came up with... for real.

Cooking... I need to learn sometime. And I'd like to be able to whip up some mean dishes.

Hiking. A couple of my friends and I are going to try and drive to Colorado this spring and hike a 14 mile. We want to make a weekend trip out of it. Should be interesting... hiking isn't normally something on my list of "I need adventure in my life" things to do... but then I thought to myself, "Why have I never thought of this before?"

Ah yes, this one reappears time after time... Running. I should really start... Who doesn't need to be in shape? Especially if they're planning on hiking 14 miles up a mountain!

Studying... You would think that wanting to go to medical school and make a difference in the world would make me eager to study. Not so much. I hate the library with a passion. And we have a nice one! This semester, I'm going to try and become friends with the library. Wish me luck!

Getting my guitar out more often. I still play quite a bit when the roomies aren't home... But I'd like it to be something I can pick up and really just go to work on those beautiful acoustic harmonies. **Thank you Mary Roy for this beautiful picture**

So, that is my list for now... there are, of course, many more to come... But this post is already super duper long! Next time, next time.

-Much Love-
Bethany

p.s. Please go listen to Jack Johnson's beautiful version of Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer. It will melt your heart.

Wrapping Paper is Everywhere...

Not be one of those bloggers... but I'd like to tell you how this morning has started off, detail by detail. Even though I've only been up for a single hour (christmas break=I'm allowed to sleep in), I feel the morning has already been great. First thing, I started brewing enough for a couple cups of that wonderful Maxwell House coffee. Yum! As that was filling the apartment with a delicious aroma, I put on a Christmas pandora station... purely wonderful. Next, I started... drumroll please.... WRAPPING CHRISTMAS PRESENTS! I'm so excited for Christmas. Can it just be here already? I maybe should have wrapped sooner, so our tree could look like Santa came early, but I'm wrapping today so I can enjoy our little Charlie Brown tree before I get to take all of the presents HOME! I'm so ready to see my family. Anyway. After I wrapped about half of the gifts, I started looking through some blogs I normally follow, like this one. Chelsea Rose's blog... If you don't know it, you should. She's great. Then, I figured I should probably blog my own weekend events! The coffee mug got topped off, and now here we are...

We got to go spend a couple of days with my room mate (and about nine others) at her family's ranch in the middle of nowhere! I loved it! We rode four-wheelers around and explored. Got nine people on the top of one hay bale (pictures later). Cut down a couple of trees (I watched) so that my new friend, Brian could make a chair. Brilliant. Ate some taco soup. Watched the sunset. Built a fire and made s'mores. And talked all through the night. I was sad to leave. 

Lauren, myself and Mary.

I believe that is the very hay that we all stood on? Possibly. It was beautiful.

More pictures to come soon, these are only the ones I could snap with my little camera. Mary and Colin both have a ton of pictures on their legit cameras. 'Til next time!

-Much Love-
Bethany

p.s. Back to wrapping! Make sure and do all of your last minute Christmas shopping! I know I will.

DIY Explosion...

Ok... I'll admit it... Maybe my living room does look like Hobby Lobby exploded. I enjoy crafting, what can I say? However, I do believe you can be on craft overload... For example, I have about a hundred ideas floating around in my little brain that I would like to actually create. Some of the potential crafts I have the elements to make, some I only have part of what I need to make, and some... well I have nothing at all. But what is my problem? I cannot seem to focus on just one at a time... or use the materials I have for that matter... I'm always interested in something new. What "somethings new" you may ask? Ok. I'll show you.

First of all, this amazing cupcake stand/jewelry holder (depending on what size of vintage plates you use). I already have my center pieces and one plate, now I just need two more that match!

I first found this idea here.

Also, my amazing friend Amanda (who is an art major) makes me so jealous of her life. She is amazing. Her home is so cozy and cute! One of the most adorable things I've ever seen is in her house. She has vintage doors everywhere... Actually only in a couple of places and they are amazing. On one of them, she either punched out the glass, or it didn't come with glass... I'm not sure... And then she nailed plywood painted with chalkboard paint to the back... I don't know how well you are picturing it, but I'm sure it's not as cute as hers really is. I can't wait to try it out!

And here we are :)

-Much Love-

Bethany

Love Sweet Love...

Am I avoiding studying for finals? Yes I am. Do I love every second of it? Yes I do. First off, I ordered my "usual" white chocolate mocha in a cozy little mug... Which is peculiar because my "usual" has become only an every once in a while thing... I'm poor, what can I say? Secondly, I decided to put off studying in order to do my quiet time... a worthy excuse I think. I've been reading through the book Captivating by Stasi and John Eldridge... which you might recall was on my Christmas list... thank you Mary Roy for checking that one off for me... Anyway... How much does God love us? A lot. It's a lot. Please read this excerpt from the book...

"He [God] wants you to move beyond the childlike 'Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.' He wants to heal us through his love to become mature women who actually know him. He wants us to experience verses like, 'Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her' (Hos. 2:14). And 'You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride' (Song 4:9). Our hearts are desperate for this. What would it be like to experience for yourself that the truest thing about his heart toward yours is not disappointment or disapproval but deep, fiery, passionate love? This is, after all, what a woman was made for."

"Faithful obedience to God is vital, but it is not all God draws us to It is not sufficient for our healing, no more than doing the laundry is sufficient for a marriage. And it will not be enough in the long run to carry us through. The persecuted Church is vast today. More Christians are being martyred in our lifetime than in any other time in church history. It is not obedience that is carrying our brothers and sisters--unwavering, steadfast, eyes ablaze-- to their deaths. It is holy, fierce passion. Hearts afire. For the root of all holiness is Romance."
-

These pictures are just a few of the things that God put in my life to romance me. There are many more that I don't have pictures of yet (I will one day!), but all I can say is thank goodness that we have a God that loves us!

-Much Love-

Bethany

The Lengths College Students Will Go To....

Here I am at Aspen coffee.... trying to study for my micro lab practical that is in a mere 3 hours... I've been here since 10:30 and do I feel any more prepared for this test? No. I know what you are thinking (mom)... Why are you blogging then? Well, I had a very wise friend tell me that if you study for 50 minutes at a time and then take a 10 minute break doing something that makes you laugh or something that makes you happy, then your studying won't be so bad. I like this theory. So mostly, I've been listening to my Iron and Wine pandora station and talking with my friend Caramie. Since studying for my final, I have learned some important things... a quiet time before studying always helps, gingerbread soy lattes are delicious, and this song will change your life... Enjoy.



-Much Love-
Bethany

The Smell of BBQ in the Morning...

Odd title? I think so. It has been an odd morning. First of all, I had to work the morning shift at work. I never do that. And I'm glad. The smell of BBQ first thing in the morning is not something I'm too fond of. That's pretty much the only thing that has been awkward about today, but nevertheless, I had a few minutes to blog before my lab this afternoon, so I decided to go for it. So many things have been going through my mind lately. School, resolutions for the new year, finals, Jesus (reading through the book Captivating has been one of the greatest decisions ever made), BBQ, and also Christmas lights. If people would leave their Christmas lights up all year around, I think I would look at them all year around. I. Love. Christmas. Lights. Other than that, I really have nothing to blog about... it's a random day. Still, this is the day that the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it! In the spirit of randomness, here's a picture that I found on google images (gotta love that...) that made my heart happy. Enjoy.

-Much Love-

B.

Christmas List...

With Christmas being just right around the corner, I'm so excited I can't hardly stand it! I love Christmas time so much... Jesus, christmas lights, peppermint hot chocolate, Elf, snow, ice skating, the list goes on and on! Lately, I've been hectic getting together a list of gifts that I need to make/buy for everyone. That is also one of my favorites... surprises. I love surprising my family and friends with gifts. Well apparently, people have been hectic trying to figure out what to get me... I'm really pretty content. This list was harder to put together than I thought it would be. Nevertheless, mom and pops wanted a list, so a list they shall get!

Captivating... I really want a copy of my own. I fight the urge to 

underline and highlight in Mary's copy. 

To-go coffee mug(s)... A college essential.

Mom... You know what this is... 

A stinking cute pair of new glasses.

My old ones are falling off of my face slightly. 

These are pretty :)

One can never have too much musica!

Melt my heart tv show... Season 1 of Parenthood. 

Highly unlikely, but I really like this Patagonia pullover. 

Mom... don't laugh... I really want to start a cook book.

I need some recipes though!

Maybe I'll actually start cooking?

This one's for you dad. This one is perfect...

And a small or medium... in case you were wondering.

Love you.

*sigh* Burt's Bees Lip Stash Pack...

I'm not that specific, but lip balm is always

wonderful.

Why yes, I am in love with this beanie. I just love Patagonia.

There are a few ideas for ya. Not saying that I NEED any of this stuff, but I wouldn't be too terribly upset if any one of these items ended up in my stocking or underneath the Christmas tree... I think I should require you to do the same (mom...)! 

-Much Love-

Bethany