New Fave

I have a new favorite blog. I really love Angela Hardison's vintage/modern design sense. I found out about her blog, SeeSaw Designs, from an article in the Arizona Republic "Your Home" section. She also has an etsy shop, which I love! Here are some of my favorite Vintage pieces from her shop:

Fondue potFloral Mugs
Red Polka-Dot Blouse

I love that her "vintage treasures" are priced somewhat affordably (and that's saying a lot, coming from a college student). For now, I am just looking, but I would love to buy something from her shop in the future.

Summertime :)

It is officially summertime in my book, because today was my last day of classes for the semester! :) I'm sad that I'll no longer have a reason to see this particular group of friends every day, but at the same time I feel incredibly relieved and accomplished. Aside from one online final and one online project to finish, I have completed every single one of the academic tasks that once seemed so insurmountable at the beginning of the semester.

And I have completed 4 of my 7 semesters at ASU. In other words, I am halfway through my junior year of college at only 20 years of age...

How did that happen?

Oh yeah, AP credits ;)

Overall, I am just so overjoyed and excited to be done. And I am so excited to move into Las Casas in a week or two. I want to buy some pots and pans so I can get cooking right away! All of the recipes on ourbestbites.com are making me drool! I have so many lovely recipes that I want to try! I think it is so important to cook the majority of your food rather than eating out or buying pre-packaged meals. It makes for a healthier you and a healthier planet!

And that's all for now...
<3Linds

So close...

To being finished with this semester.

Only 1 field experience meeting, 2 research papers, 1 final technology project, 1 in-class Thematic Unit and 3 final exams to go.

And I have 3 prayer requests:

1)Please pray that I do not procrastinate and that I am able to get everything done in a timely, efficient manner.

2) Also, I am moving to the West Campus in about 2 weeks. Please pray for my future roommate, and that we will get along at least as well as Michelle and I have this year. I have had bad roommate situations in the past and I don't want a repeat of that!

3) Please pray that I will find a job soon, and that my interview on Monday to be a success coach goes smoothly! :)

Love,
Linds

P.S. Here's a bible verse that I find helpful when I'm anxious about what the future holds: "So we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?'" - Hebrews 13:6

Lars' internship

I have an exciting update! :)

As some of you may already know, my boyfriend, Lars, has accepted a pastoral internship with a church in Peoria, AZ called New Life Community Church. He will be there for at least the next 2 years, helping to lead the junior high youth group, "Revolve". He truly has a heart for ministry and such a passion for Jesus. I am so proud of him! Since I am staying here for the summer, I will also be heavily involved with the youth group, and hopefully helping to lead a junior high girls' bible study, which I am so excited for.

To pay for living expenses, as well as to cover to cost of the many youth trips and conferences that he will be going on, Lars has been raising support for his internship. He already has 80% of it raised, but as some of you who have done fundraising know, that last 20% is always the hardest to get. I thought I would help him out a little and post the link to his paypal account:

Any donations, no matter how big or small, would be appreciated more than you know!

Also, here is the link to his blog.
Feel free to check out his blog and leave some comments, well wishes, or just to let him know you're praying for him!

Paper Flowers + the weekend.

I just made these:
Using this tutorial. They are the perfect use for all the leftover scrapbooking paper in my crafting/stationary drawer!

This weekend I'm tasting:

These, I hope!

touching:
stella the chihuahua's soft fur.

listening to:
the quietness of the lazy weekend.

seeing:

Disney's Oceans

and smelling:
spring

Blessings despite pain

There is a guy walking on the sidewalk past my window right now, playing the bagpipes. No particular reason. I guess he just feels like today is a "Braveheart" kind of day! :)

This week was not a great one. I was overloaded with homework. I also had my last day with the kindergarteners (it was sad to know that I probably won't ever see them again) and taught my first classroom lesson, but it didn't get very high remarks from my mentor teacher. In fact, it was sort of a disaster. I couldn't get the classroom under control and she said that my lesson was confusing. And yesterday I had a job interview for a job that I really wanted, and it was sort of a disaster also (I couldn't relax and I was blushing out-of-control), and I found out this morning that I didn't get the job, even though I really need one right now. This is all on top of on-going family issues.

But I have so many blessings that I continue to count, even when I feel like a complete failure. A roof over my head, food to eat, wonderful friends that care about me and are rooting for me, and a boyfriend who is the biggest source of encouragement in my life and always points my gaze back to where it should be: on God and the fact that he'll always provide for me and love me.
This week was a perfect time to remember one of my favorite quotes:

"For those that don't belong to God, this world is as close to heaven as they're ever going to get. But for those who do, this world is as close to hell as they're ever going to get."

Amen.

I am leaning towards...

the necklace with the Thai bead (Eastern Holiday). Right now it's tied with Koko, so some more votes would be appreciated!

It's finally starting to feel like summer. I am applying for ASU summer jobs so that maybe I'll be able to stay here in Phoenix over the summer instead of going to Seattle. It's a hard choice, though. I love Seattle and all of it's beautiful scenery (forests, mountains, water), great urban culture, pike's place market, rocky beaches. Basically, all the stuff of my childhood. But I'm a grown-up now, I've got lots more responsibilities to worry about, such as...money. I can't really afford another jobless, carefree summer.
Yesterday, Lars and I went on a spontaneous walk through downtown phoenix and found lots of wonderful places to take pictures. There are tons of murals and graffiti art around Roosevelt street. We discovered that his phone has higher megapixel resolution than my digital camera (5.0 vs. 4.0)...now that's just sad. My camera is now officially obsolete. Anyway, here are some of the lovely pictures we took:

Downtown PHX. You can see our dorm in the distance (the farthest building to the right).

Our two-person shots didn't turn out as well, but this one's cute :)

The bird wall."Street cred"

So handsome :)