first day in connecticut

i'm having a great time in connecticut. the flight was great, and i even got to take a little nap. here's our "we've been traveling and feel really icky right now" look:

after emery picked us up we came back to her apartment and ate some lunch. then we went to stew leonard's which is a grocery/dairy store that is big on organic food and free samples. this cow's name is clover, and moo's when you ring it's bell.

we picked up some goods, and made a stop at the pepperidge farm store on the way home to pick up some bread. this state is probably one of my favorites to drive through. the parkway is spectacular. the trees grow over the roadway and there are rolling hills. i think emily took some pictures:

we came back to the apartment, and decided to hold off shopping until tomorrow, but instead to stay in and be artsy! we all painted with acrylics on canvas. with some inspiring michael buble playing the in the background, we all turned into little picasso wanna-be's:

oh! and emery loved her new webcam and got to talk with her family for a while. we didn't take a picture of that though... :)

things i've learned today:

1. the only cookie better than a pepperidge farm milano mint cookie, is a pepperidge farm milano mint cookie dipped in chocolate

2. the paper bag packaging that pepperidge farm uses to hold goldfish and other cookies, is properly termed a "sig bag"

3. i can paint

4. connecticut is even more beautiful in the fall when the leaves change and fill the winding roads with rich colors

5. true friendships are the kind that, no matter how long it's been since you've seen eachother, pick up right where they left off, as if nothing has changed

alright, i'm off to bed. big shopping day tomorrow!!

something to make you smile :)

Q: How do we know Peter was a rich fisherman?
A: By his net income.

Q: What kind of lights were on the ark?
A: Floodlights.

Q: What animal could Noah not trust?
A: The Cheetah.

Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?
A. Honda…because the apostles were all in one Accord.

Q. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
A. Samson. He brought the house down.



i found those on a blog today while reading about Mission Year--an awesome ministry that invites young people to live in the inner city for a year, serve at social service agency, partner with a local church and live out their faith within their community--amazing. i just laughed out loud. really. without anyone around. that's when you know something is really funny. like if you're watching a tv show by yourself, and you find yourself belting out a hearty "haha!" or even a giggle, you know that you've just witness something pretty hilarious.

on a serious note: have you ever feared, or hesistated, (that's probably a better word for it) learning more about something because of what it may reveal to you?

example: learning more about what fast food is really made of. is that stuff really meant to be consumed? would knowing what's in your "burger" ruin your love for it indefinitely?

now this example is obviously not something that i hesistated for too long on. fast food isn't something that i put a ton of value in, therefore, if it came to be that it wasn't appealing anymore, i wouldn't be too disappointed. as for things i value more than fast food, they make me more hesitant to pursue. things like: what to do after i finish school? in what capacity can i be best used by God after i graduate? what will my ministry be?

i guess many of the things i'm hesitant about concern the future--something that i don't like thinking about, and today i think i may have discovered one of the reasons why...what if, in pursuing paths for my future, i feel called to change direction? or a new door is opened that i never knew was possible? will i be courageous enough to follow it, to pursue it more? or will i stick with what i already know i'll enjoy?

there are multiple ways i can glorify God with my life. i know that. the question is: what is the best way He wants me to glorify him? it may mean giving up other 'good' ways. am i going to let my fear of disappointment stand in the way of pursuing that best way?

it didn't take me too long to get passed the fact that double cheeseburgers are highly processed and not good nutritionally, it hasn't kept me from eating them. i think i'll eventually be able to say the same thing about my fear of pursuing future paths. although, i'm sure i'll love what ever God has for me a bajillion times more than double cheeseburgers, not to mention it won't wreak havoc on my arteries either.