This evening I took my first ballet class I have taken since my junior year in high school. The rec at A&M offers an advanced ballet class every Sunday, so I thought it might be a way to enjoy kill myself. And yes, this does mean getting into a leotard (or reotard, as Emily used to say) and tights. If only I was still in the shape as I was dancing thirty hours a week. Le sigh. I would be lying to you if I said I didn't miss ballet, because I do tremendously. Here is a collection of personal pictures and pictures from our Nutcracker photographer for many years. Nutcracker season started Saturday, so what better way to honor the best time of year than a look back at my life from age seven to seventeen. Unfortunately, the last two years of my career are not documented via photographs. 

Rehearsal for my first Nutcracker. Of course, I am being true to form--- working hard and sticking my tongue out. I am on the left in the pink skirt. Look closely and you might see other people you recognize.

My first Nutcracker performance in "Mother Ginger." I was the second smallest girl, meaning I was one away from getting to pop out of Mother Ginger's skirt. I've known no greater disappointment. 

The infamous Mouse role. I died at least three times per performance. And my dad was almost the Mouse King. Also, here commences my love of mice. Scarred? Most definitely.

One of my first performances on pointe. This picture makes me cringe. Terrible, terrible technique. Gotta start somewhere, right?

Dancefest is comprised of two shows: a classical ballet pre-intermission, and a contemporary show post-intermission, as shown here. I'm in the awkzores position on the right.

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My very favorite part in Nutcracker- Marzipan. This year I was in purple, although it's not different. To this day I can still perform this choreography flawlessly. Oh, and now you know why I have steaks for calf muscles. Cool.

Front and (right wing?) for Swan Lake at Dancefest. I feel like I should be playing the part of "Dead Swan". Oh, those feathers.

So that's that. Enough embarrassing pictures to last a lifetime.

Last night (yes, on a Sunday) was my first A&M game as an Aggie. It's absolutely crazy being in the stadium with 89,000 other people, especially when the entire stadium is yelling in unison. One reason I was excited to come to A&M was all the tradition--- yell leaders, midnight yell, 12th man, ring day, etc. I feel like there wasn't a lot of tradition that carried on throughout the years at OU, so coming here kind of made me feel like I was part of something bigger than myself (cheesy, I know). I didn't take many pictures last night but here are a few I managed to snap.

Brothers before the game. A lot of people bring gallons of water to the game to drink because it's so stinkin' hot.

Gig 'em roomzores and besties.

Kyle Field, all three decks. Ay ay ay ay ay!

Two of my favorite people for suresies!

The game's MVP: Most Valuable Potato!

My sister always posts on her blog when she find objects that are shaped like hearts. I found this little leaf right by my front door this morning. Isn't it just the most perfect shape? I love finding wonderful little details like this. It's so easy to miss details like this when we are running 200 miles per hour every second of the day. I think finding these are a little reminder to slow down and relish in all of God's incredible details. So now I vow to document my little treasures as well.

Sunday post, pt. II.

If you read the blog on Google Reader, pop out and look at the new design. Starting fresh with a new design this year!

Sweet Summertime

With classes starting tomorrow, I figure there is no better time for a recap on all the things that went on in my life this summer.

In June my parents and I took a trip to Minnesota for a family reunion. My dad is a Chippewa Indian, and his parents live on the reservation there. It borders Lake Superior and is beautiful. There are waterfalls all along the border of MN and Canada which was such an incredible this to witness. The falls were HUGE.

I officially became an Aggie just a few days before July. It was quite an ordeal. I found out I was denied admission one day, and then literally the very next day, I was accepted. Crazy, crazy stuff. God was definitely present and working in my life those hours. My mom and I made this sign to surprise my dad when he arrived home from work. And Gus is DEFINITELY an Aggie!

After Hayden was done with his Pine Cove term, we spent many a nights hanging out in our hammock. I cannot wait until cooler weather so Hayden and I can continue our hammock swinging. Methinks there isn't anything better.

In July, my family+Hayden took a trip to Destin. We had not been since my dad turned 50 a few years ago so it was great to be by the sea again. We had such an amazing time with eachother. It makes me wish we were all closer together to enjoy eachother's silliness!

And finally, something INCREDIBLE INCREDIBLE INCREDIBLE. My beautiful sister, pictured above, is expecting! I've already been dubbed Uncle Bean (I don't even know) and cannot wait to meet this little bob. It feels like yesterday we were playing swaddling clothes and holding our cats over washing machines. And now, I am about to be an aunt. CRAY. If you want to see the coolest baby announcement video EVER, follow [this] link to Em's blog. Not only is it one of my favorite songs, but one of Em and my favorite games as little girls. This lil' guy/girl is the luckiest thing ever.

So there is my summer recap. I am so excited for this year to unfold. I am already having a blast in College Station and can't even imagine how crazy fun football season will be. Until next time.

No. I have not died. Yes, I have been without the interwebs for more that a week, so at times it did feel like I had. Hopefully my blog posts will become more regular and less sporatic as I gear up for classes to start. I have lots to fill you in on, so let's get the ball rolling!

Here is my daily morning prayer. This is such a great call to surrender, acknowledging that on my own I am worthless and weak. It's the way I try and start out my day--- realizing my shortcomings, but having faith that the Lord will provide. I wrote it down on a sticky note and keep it in my Moleskine so that I reflect on it each morning. Won't you do the same?

Lord, I am insufficient in everything I will encounter today. I have insufficient wisdom to make the decisions I will be required to make. I have insufficient strength to resist the temptations I will face. I have insufficient resources to minister to the people I will encounter. I am entirely dependent on You, and Lord, I trust You are able.


Don't you think our Lord loves to hear that we put our full trust in Him?

Here's a sneak peak at a project I started two days ago. Hopefully it will be finished this evening. Can't wait for the finished project, especially after seeing each piece of the puzzle fit together perfectly! Stay tuned for the end result, and I promise the pictures will be better-than-iPhone quality!

Lists, planning, dates, organizing. All things I love.

With the new school year lurking in a month's distance, I am getting particularly antsy with planning out everything for this year. For me, it feels like I am beginning college all over again for the first time. A new place brings new excitement, wonders, and occasionally a little snippet of anxiety. But if I am the most excited about one thing, it would be decorating my house with my roommates!

I am living just blocks away from campus and Kyle field (quite a luxury in CStat, I hear) in a house with one of my best Tyler friends, Katie, and a new friend that I get the joy of meeting and living with, Katherine. Katie and I have been planning and figuring out all the details of our new house. My most favorite aspects of the house we are about to call home? A flagpole we will hopefully put in the front, flowers I will plant in the front yard, and strange enough picking out the curtains that will serve as the "door" to our little laundry nook. Speaking of that, if anyone has any suggestions for a place to find cheap, cute curtains (other than Target or Bed, Bath and Beyond) I would love to hear them! We are still on the hunt for our perfect print.

Anyway, I am getting my pre-school jitter bugs and am actually ready for school to get started. Although give me a week into classes and that will probably change. I remember waiting by the mailbox every summer afternoon to find out who my next elementary school teacher would be, so this anticipation of the new school year is nothing new to me!

I may or may not have spent my morning looking for my 15 year old gameboy. Look at these games though? Still no luck, but praying that it didn't wander into a Goodwill box over the past 5 years...! Beach trip, here we come!

• Continue running or biking six times a week. No excuses. I can't say I did this enough. Usually around 4 times a week, but I slacked here and there. But I am back into my routine, despite it being hot, hot, hot! 
• Cut back on snacking (darn you Flavor Blasted Goldfish!) in order to make the above worthwhile. Of all the things on my list, this is what I probably did best on! Dessert reduction, not so much.
• Finish reading Crazy Love, The Irresistible Revolution, and one or two stories out of my C.S. Lewis Complete Works. (This should be incredibly attainable!) Finished the first two (both incredibly good!) but didn't get a chance to start the third. Maybe a beach book?
• Continue reading a gospel and Psalm every day, as well as journaling. Did OK, definitely need to spend more time with this, especially for the past week. Always going to be on my list!
• Become less anxious about situations I cannot control, bah. I don't think I can really cross this off, but the main thing that I was anxious about has been solved after much prayer, so for now, it's over!
• Complete (3) craft projects I have pinned on Pinterest. This is a terrible, terrible failure. I did one ten minute craft project this month, that's ALL. I (hopefully) will be in full craft gear this month.
• In addition to the above, continue learning how to work with my sewing machine. See above.
• Learn more about my camera and how to use it, possibly buy the 50mm before we head for Destin. Played around in the garden, but decided to wait to buy the nifty fifty. Em and Aaron have on that they will bring to the beach, so I will wait to buy one for myself, methinks.
• Write better and sillier letters to Hayden each week. My letters are probably going to get boring! I suppose only Hayden can answer this, but I did have some good news in my letters, some silly drawings, and a few ideas for summer adventures.
• Continue praying about next summer and the possibility of {this}. I have been praying about my direction for the next summer, as well as this upcoming year. This won't be done until I know what I am doing, but continual prayers are definitely in order.

So there is my monthly goal update. I didn't do too well this month, but hopefully my next monthly goal list will be more complete. Tune in tomorrow and I will have my goal list for July. I hope everyone had a fun Fourth of July!