Food | Tiramisu

So one time, we were super brave and attempted to make Tiramisu. And to our amazement it turned out really good! I failed at taking pictures of the final result, but I found that Tiramisu doesn't actually look that impressive when it is finished, which stinks when you got an arm workout out of making it...

I'm thinking about putting more cooking/food related posts on the blog.  Let me know what you think dear readers!

Lynchburg Life | Percival's Island | Part 2

Okay, I know I just posted a blog from this exact place last week.  But this is my new favorite adventure and hammocking spot for sure.  Bradleigh and I needed a catch-up time and we were both craving to be outside since we had worked all week.  We hammocked right beside the river and the weather couldn't have been more perfect.  Pumpkin chai tea, granola, and the excitement that we will soon be working together made this time great.  I cannot wait to start my new job and to be working alongside this encouraging, uplifting friend.  I pretty much jumped up and down and screamed with my roommate for five minutes after I was offered the job.  But anyway, I am amazed at this lady and her complete trust in the Lord in this completely new season in her life.  Married life suites her.  I am immensely thankful for her friendship

Lynchburg Life | Percival's Island

A few of you may know of Destiny from one of my Instagram rants about how amazing she is.

Well I had the joy of spending some much needed time with her this past Friday night.  We ventured through parts of a familiar trail that we had not been on before and finished the night off with apple cider.

I love this lady dearly.  It was so great to have a friend that fully supports, encourages, challenges, and uplifts me in everything I say and do.  

I'm so excited for her and what the Lord is teaching her.

I can't wait to see where she will go next.

Lynchburg Life | Alpine Trail

Who better to go on a photo adventure with then this sweet friend?  I'm so thankful for her and being able to hear about how the Lord is continuing to grow, teach, and bless her.  Her passion and love for life are contagious and shows in everything that she does.  Check out her blog post from the day here!

Senior Pictures | Brother

Can I tell you how great my brother is?  Because he is seriously the greatest.  He likes to go on adventures with me, will sit on my floor and talk for hours, and gives me great fashion advice.  I think he is more of a girl then I am...

So I took some "senior" pictures for him at the beginning of the summer.  It was the first time I had done a real shoot and he was up to do whatever crazy thing I asked him to do to get the shot.  We climbed many things, almost fell into the river, and probably trespassed accidentally somewhere along the way.  Seems like the older I get the more I treasure time spent with him.  Whether we are talking about theology, relationships, or joking I value the conversations I get to have with my brother.  They are edifying.  I thought that I would never have the healthy friendship with my brother that I always desired growing up.  My prayers were answered through the Lord continuing to grow and teach us both more, but mostly from a lot of humbling on my part. 

Friendship

I apologize for the constant reflective posts lately, but lately my days have been filled with more pondering then adventuring.  I've lately become incredibly thankful for some friends of mine that never cease to put a smile on my face, make me feel loved, and aren't afraid to talk about the important, deep issues.  Some I see multiple times a week, others maybe once a month, and still others I've never even met in person.

I've been learning what it means to cultivate friendships and the different kinds of friendships that there are.  Transitioning from living in a dorm to living the "grown-up" life off campus has proved to grow some friendships while hindering others.

The problem?  I have to realize that there is not one.  I had this idea in my head (a super prideful one) that I would move away on my own, have things all together, and be able to encourage and minister to my friends that are still on campus and in school.  Oh, how quickly the Lord dashed my pride on that one.

I talked about this in more details with two of my closest friends and their response was as always encouraging and truthful.  That is what I want my relationships to be filled with.  I want my friendships to be filled with encouragement that flows from the grace and love of Christ and to be honest, truthful, and confrontational.  The friends that have proved to stick by my side through the good and bad have proved to have those attributes.  I am still praying and learning how to be able to reciprocate that to them, as I feel I so often fall incredibly short.

I'm not really sure what the point of this post is, but I guess just to say that I am thankful for the people the Lord has placed around me at this point in my life.

As I get older, I have learned what friendship is supposed to be according to a biblical standard.  I am thankful to say that I believe that those friendship that are being cultivated right now and I don't see waning away anytime soon are built on and around the Lord.  I love to have coffee, icecream, and go on adventures with friends.  But all in all, I don't want to be there just for my own selfish gain to be filled up, but I want to give just a bit of the encouragement and love that has been poured onto me so graciously.  I want these types of friendships to continue throughout my life, no matter where I live or go.  I know that may be hard, traveling, and living in another country one day.  But for now, I'll just enjoy the friendships I've been blessed with.