STILL?

I didn't really like the idea of going through an existential crisis over Christmas.  Questioning relationships (and the meaning of life) is hard at any time, but even harder when everything is "supposed" to be holly and jolly and mistletoe is supposed to be hanging from every door.  But there I was.  And I cried in the mall one afternoon.  And it was good, because it drove me to look to God and ask Him why I was going through this.
  

I began to realize that my relationships, my near-future plans, and my life weren't moving in any common direction.  I had no vision beyond going back to school in the next few months, and a vague idea that I wanted to visit Chicago in the next year or two.  Having no goal in sight left me floundering, being tossed by whatever happened each day.  

I set out to set goals.  

Goal #1: have goals.  

I was recently introduced to the idea using a single word to lend cohesion to the year, instead of rigid New Years resolutions.  I chose the word "still" for 2015.  

Still is cool, because it has two significant meanings.  Psalm 46:10 says "   “Be still, and know that I am God." This meaning is pretty obvious: Sit still. Shut up. Listen. Watch. Hope.  But then there's the other kind, the kind when you're waiting for something, and God tells you to wait more, and you ask, "Still?"  And God tells you he's still there.  And the question becomes, will I wait, still, peaceful, still?
  

I'm realizing that it's actually good for me that I am asking myself who I am, what my relationships are about, and where I'm going now.  Because this had to shake out someday, and that day was today. And God is good, still.  And I can wait, still, for his hand to lift me up.  

So yeah, I will be making decisions to follow coherent goals towards a common vision.  I plan to learn to cook some decent meals, choose a college, get a killer job, create some great (and some really, really bad) art, and dance more.  But I will remember to do all things still. Peacefully, patiently, consistently. I won't be afraid to reach out and ask God if he's still there, because I know he will always answer, "Yes."

 And I still want to visit Chicago.  

FREE JANUARY CALENDAR

Hey!  January is coming!  Print this calendar as my gift to you for the New Year. 

LAST MINUTE GIFT GUIDE

If you've saved your gift shopping for the last two days before Christmas, and you're starting to panic, I've got you.  Here's my list of gifts for every type of people, all of which can be purchased at local stores like Walmart or Target, and (unlike most gift lists) are reasonably priced.  I personally own and love every one of these items, and I'm sure anyone on your list will, too.

FOR THE ARTIST:

Target's Chunky, Metallic Scarf.  It's a little known (and probably true) fact that artists love their accessories, and nothing shows off that artistic eye for detail like this beautiful scarf with a subtle sparkle to it. This one was given to me as an early Christmas gift by a dear friend, and I wear it...too much. *PSST! It's on sale right now!

Vance Joy's "Dream Your Life Away" Album.  Just mainstream   enough to be easily found at Walmart, and just edgy enough to appeal to the hipster music lover artist type.

FOR THE ADVENTURER:

Aladdin Tea Infuser Mug (over at Walmart).  This is the coolest
travel mug invented.  The basket in the screw-on lid drops down, allowing fearless travelers and adventurers to steep and re-steep their favorite loose leaf or bagged tea on the go.  

Colony House's "When I Was Younger" Album.  This album has been my soundtrack for exploring Portland, Oregon. Either through headphones or speakers, these boys have been in my ears for every adventure this year.











     FOR THE ENTERTAINER:

Kinfolk Table (over at Barnes and Noble).  This book is more than a recipe book. It is an inspiration book intended to change the face of hosting.  Intimate (in a not-weird, food sort of way), subtle, and sweet.

Spotify Gift Card (available almost everywhere). This is probably the first time in my life I've recommended giving a gift card for Christmas. But seriously, dinner time playlists?  Check.







FOR THE STUDENT:

Twinings English Breakfast Tea (Walmart, and pretty much everywhere else).  This tea, a mug, and a microwave, got me through the last academic quarter.  It's decent enough to satisfy even a picky tea drinker, and has enough caffeine to give them a steady boost throughout the day. Plus, it's sold almost everywhere.

Vampire Weekend's "CONTRA" Album.  Emotional, energetic, and fascinating, this album is great for getting pumped up right before a long day in the library.  It also is a pretty good album to wind down with after a long day at the library...








Remember. It's not last minute until 11:59 PM on Christmas Eve. You got this.

THE SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS

        Today is the last Sunday before Christmas, and the official intermission between holiday shopping madness and holiday celebration madness.  It's a great day to remember that while our senses are overloaded with the cinnamon, music, laughter, cookies, twinkly lights, and smooshy sweaters, out greatest sense should be gratitude for Christ's coming to earth to "become, Himself, an object for the senses," as Athanasius said in On the Incarnation.  It's also a beautiful day to rest and enjoy the calm before the tape and turkey and tinsel storm!  How did you spend it?

WHEN PRINT CRIES

SKY GRADIENT PROJECT {2014}

It's the end of 2014! Here's one of my favorite completed projects of this year.

THE PICTURE THAT COST ME MY KNEE

I ran out to take this picture on Sunday, slipped on ice, caught my knee on a nail, and have spent the rest of the week gimping around with a Band-aid the size of Texas on my knee.  But I think it was worth it.