A little boy is here in the Athens Airport marveling over all the planes he sees here in the lobby. He notices pictures, points his little finger and shouts "Wow!" and as he notices model airplanes in display cases he excitedly gives them sound effects saying "SHHOOOM!". He can't be anymore than 1, maybe 2.

About 20 minutes ago, two pilots dressed in fancy, pressed, black pants/ white shirt pilot uniforms were saying farewell to their passengers, and are currently pausing for a quick lunch break. They will soon resume their duties as pilots and head to their next destination.

I hope that in 20-30 years, the little boy so in love with the aircrafts and the concept of flight, will be saying farewell to his passengers, grabbing lunch, and heading back to where he is station to meet another set of passengers. He may very well become an accountant, a high school English teacher, or the guy winning the hearts of college students on a street corner with some innovative homemade snack...but I've just got this hunch that he'll be in that pilot's uniform some day.

It's the little things like that that make me thank the Lord for life. For the little boy who is already finding his passions, and for the pilot's that provide the quickest and safest transportation allowing us to experience other parts of the country and the world in just hours.

Froyo Heaven

I haven't posted in forever, because I always feel I lack blogging talent and potential, however, I feel I need to discuss my love for frozen yogurt shops. Yes, frozen yogurt. I guess an example I am talking about would be Pinkberry. Pinkberry was the first shop like this that I had ever heard of, and I never really knew much of it. Then, after wishing I could try Pinkberry for so long, I came across a little individually owned yogurt shop in downtown Athens (where I live). After tasting and experiencing my first cup of froyo heaven, I was hooked, and quickly (oh, SO quickly...) filled a punch card to earn a free cup of said froyo heaven. This addiction to yogurt quickly flourished. We are now expecting a second yogurt shop (this one being of a chain called Yoforia) in Athens, and I'm really thinking that, unless I control myself, I am going to be consuming cups and cups and cups of this delicious phenomenon. Now, a few years past hearing about the typical froyo shop and environment, I'm seeing them everywhere. My most recent discovery was last night while taking my sister back to college in Columbus, GA. My Mom and Sister were at Wal Mart, and my Dad and I had intentions to have some good ol Ben and Jerrys, but they were closed. I noticed in a shopping center a cute little store called Chill. I figured it was clothes or accessories or something, but as my Dad drove me closer, I realized it was a yogurt shop. Not just any yogurt shop. We're talking 30 self serve yogurt flavors with a whole toppings bar of like 100 toppings that you can pile on to your hearts content as long as you plan on paying 45 cents per ounce. So deliciously amazing. Especially with being less calories than ice cream, I will easily choose these wonderful heavenly brightly colored yogurt shops over Ben and Jerrys or Brusters any day. If you don't believe me, take a look for yourself!





And if you ever happen to notice, wherever your travels take you, a Pinkberry, Yoforia, Chill, Yoguri, etc. I highly suggest you make a stop and try it out. :)

Traveler's Line

My traveler's line is drawn from New Orleans, Louisiana to Searcy, Arkansas, to Washington, D.C. , down to Orlando, Florida, and back to Louisiana and I have never crossed it. I've always wanted to travel further. I've always looked at and admired friends' pictures of their travels: Gorgeous European cities along with their collection of art, museums, monuments, and most importantly, their food. High contrast, perfect blue oceans off the coast of California. The awesome, amazing, brightly lit Times Square in New York. I have dreamt of seeing these places in person. In exactly 55 hours and 18 minutes (given my flight leaves on time) I will board a plane and head to Vienna, Austria. Most importantly, I will be headed there to do what I feel will be the happiest and most rewarding reason to travel so far--to teach and spread the love of Jesus. Just to be in the city and be teaching these people who have been through so much, and even just being in the same room with them and hearing their stories and watching them grow in His love is going fill my heart with so much joy. I am so blessed to have this opportunity, especially when in the seat next to me on the plane will be my best friend Heidi who is like a sister to me, who very generously invited me on this trip. I couldn't thank her more. Actually, I couldn't thank Heidi's aunt more for the work she does in that city. She and what she does is the entire reason we have this opportunity to go.

So, in 55 hours, and 8 minutes, I will be redrawing my traveler's line (which I always draw in pencil). In 2 or 3 weeks I will have my own pictures. Pictures of the beautiful city of Vienna, of beautiful people learning the Name of Jesus and what that Name means to our lives and to our hearts, pictures of the work we'll do to help Heidi's aunt run her youth center as efficiently as possible, and of course, but not most importantly, pictures of gelato and schnitzel-eating, best friend posing, and grins from ear to ear. Obviously, because we're in Vienna doing mission-work in a beautiful city. Far, far from where I have ever traveled. It is a true blessing! See y'all in June!

I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of my sister!

Her Version of "The Way I Am" by Ingrid Michaelson

Reasons to love and ways to enjoy Spring...

Noticing that the once barren and lifeless trees and flowers and plants are now back and beaming with bold, bright, beautiful color.
The smell of your house after leaving the windows open
That wonderful not-too-hot, not-too-cold feeling outside.
Slapping on your favorite pair of sunglasses and rocking your first pair of flip flops for the year (whichever pair you chose for the day, because you of course own a pair in every color and shade), and getting used to the way they feel again.
Picnics in the park, and some frisbee and a walk to burn the calories.
The way that sitting in the grass on a blanket outside and enjoying the sunshine makes school work a -little- bit better.
Driving in the gorgeous weather, sunroof open/top down, with your favorite Spring weather cd playing.
Playing outside with the dog.
A new Spring wardrobe??
Not even going to lie, SPRING CLEANING. Please tell me you don't feel happy putting on your favorite music and opening the windows and getting things clean and organized? I think that's one of my life's natural highs.
The perfect weather for Ice cream/frozen yogurt trips (a MUST!!)
Not only for ice cream trips but also road trips! (need I remind you: sunroof open/top down, favorite music, favorite pair of sunglasses!!)

Most of all, how the world is in a naturally wonderful and happy mood on the perfect spring day! The Lord's creation is gorgeous. :)


Today is one of those days. Enjoy it!!!!


And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You
And how You make me new
With every season’s change
And so it will be
As You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring
-Nichole Nordeman

Blog savvy, not so blog savvy?

CONFESSION: I am SO self conscious about my blogging! I always feel like my blog posts are uninteresting and/or don't flow very well. Then I feel self conscious about being self conscious because I know no one enjoys hearing someones complaints about how uninteresting they are. It's a never ending cycle. I am, however, open to the possibility that i am not alone in this dilemma. I just hope if anyone is actually keeping up with this, that they are enjoying the random tidbits of life that I share every now and then. :)

I leave you on this half sunny and beautiful half cloudy and rainy Saturday with a little sample of mine and Marcus' text message conversation that makes me blush. Be warned, cuteness will ensue.


Me: "And I am boooored and want to enjoy sunshine
Me: with you might I add
Marcus: It's cloudy over here. Probably bc you're at work :aint no sunshine when ur gone, ain't no sunshine when ur away, aint no sunshine when ur gone & ur always away too long anytime u go away:

I am quite privileged to have a sweet best friend and love that breaks into song. :)

Short, but sweet. :)

This is going to be a quick update, but an update none the less! :) It has been an excellent day. I always feel like I have no food at my apartment. It always seems to just be snack food. However, this morning I realized that I had an unused avacado, an unused red onion, some eggs, and a fruit cup. I somehow managed to turn that into an incredible and healthy breakfast! I cracked the 4 eggs that I had left in my carton of 6. After that I decided, why not, I'll just get rid of the yolks and make it an egg white omelet. So I sauteed some diced red onion and added the eggwhites and thanks to my roommate Amanda's perfect sized pan I successfully (for the first time, it always breaks or doesn't flip all the way and folds under itself) made a perfectly cooked omelet. I sliced up some avacado and put it on top. Then, I took the Del Monte Fruit Naturals cup that I found in the fridge, drained it, and poured the fruit in a bowl. It was probably one of the yummiest and healthiest breakfasts I've had in a long time. Delicious! I followed that with some quiet time with the Lord and reading the book of Psalm which I love. Then, I took a shower and spent some time straightening up my room which has been pretty messy, and then I was off to work! It was a gorgeous day here at the airport and EVERYONE I have spoken with has had a smile today. I guess it's just one of those days where happiness is just floating around and infecting everyone! I know this post is very food-oriented, but I must share that I get to finish it off with a trip to my favorite Athens frozen yogurt shop once I get off work. Only 30 calories a serving! and I get to share it with a man that is super precious to me. :) I'm definitely thanking God for this beautiful day!

Oh, and check out my new toy!!