December 31

2016 has been quite the year...

According to the internet, this has been a terrible year for pretty much everyone...and while it's very easy to dwell in the negative and the change, that's not why I keep this 365.

So here's to a year filled with people who I really really love,

new adventures "living" in the city,

finding a comfort zone at Lee,

and lots of time with family.

This year I struggled with the question, "Where are you from?" a whole lot more than a 20 year old should, but this is not something that I should be ashamed of. No, this is what makes my story my own. I'm thankful for the adventures that moving has provided and all the people that I have been lucky to have in my life because of it. 

This year I got (slightly) better at speaking in front of a class and taking responsibility for the wide variety of classes I have taken on at school. I learned that it's okay to not know everything and that plans aren't really THAT important to find success in every situation.

Thanks 2016 for the laughs. It's the little moments that make life so exciting :)

December 30

Thankful for family game night to aid in the procrastination of repacking for our next road adventure

December 29

When in New York, one must exit the subway station in Grand Central Station.

It's like we're in our own personal movie :)

December 28

Thankful for a full day of touristing around New York City and the spontaneous decision to see the Rockettes Christmas Show :)

That dream to one day be a Rockette is actually still alive and thriving...

December 27

Goodnight City Lights

New York is kind of overwhelming, but the night lights really are beautiful.

December 26

Thankful for Christmas traditions that keep on going after so many years and random spurts of time apart!! I love getting to see the Kiersteads for Christmas!!

December 25

Merry Christmas!!

December 24

Christmas Eve in the village is nothing short of magical :)

December 23

Not exactly how I imagined today going,

but I'm thankful to be home where people can take care of my sick self.

December 22

So happy to all be together sitting in the cozy living room doing Christmas-y things!!

December 21

Walking to get afternoon coffee with Mom and Bess is definitely a perk of living in the village :)

December 20

Two days of travel and we're finally home :)
Christmas break can finally begin!!

December 19

Let the Christmas road tripping begin :)

December 18

All of 201 in the same picture!

It's a Christmas miracle!!

Seriously, these six all shine so beautifully :)

Babs and the Newbies going two years strong

December 17

LOOKOUT!!

We found our Christmas angel and she shines SO beautifully on stage!!
I absolutely love seeing her grace the stage with Jesus' light :)

December 16

Mom got tickets for the two of us to go the the Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and Jordan Smith concert in Atlanta. Turns out Debbie Cain had the same idea to take Jansen and Tammy tonight too.

So we all surprised Jansen by showing up in her area of the world and then we all had dinner together at the most crowded Carrabba's ever, wearing crazy Santa hats.

It was a magical even full of 90's nostalgia and Lee University pride :)

Also, Jordan Smith is still freaking amazing and brought the area to their feet in the middle of the concert.

Pure Christmas Magic.

December 15

Lasater's and Christmas shopping with my super cute Momma make for a fantastic afternoon in Cleveland :)

December 14

I walked into Rawli's house this afternoon and she was making ginger cookies,

if that doesn't scream Christmas magic then I don't know what does :)

December 13

Celebrating finishing our third semester with warm food and Christmas attire :)

December 12

Melon has done a fantastic job taking care of Elfie this season in 302 :)

December 11

Sunday night cramming once again...

It's almost over!!

December 10

I love the Cain ladies so stinkin much!!!

December 9

Christmas cheer to get us through day two of finals :)

December 8

I'm thankful for Melon :)

Thanks for being my guinea pig for pictures today!

December 7

Fueling up with milkshakes to get us through a long night of studying for our first exam bright and early at 8 am tomorrow morning 

December 6

Big huge business presentation is finally behind me AND a box full of Holiday Joy arrived so everything is Christmas-y and beautiful today :)

December 5

Slowly and steadily checking things off my list as finals week has arrived.

One presentation down and one to go before final exams begin

December 4

We held Nate hostage and did homework all day in Athens by ourselves.

Despite the crazy amount of work that needed to get done before tomorrow, it was incredibly relaxing to stay tucked inside all afternoon :)

December 3

Christmas colors and a warm house on this crazy cold and rainy night

December 2

Thanks for going to the freezing cold, super crowded, and incredibly awkward tree lighting ceremony with me Jansen!

December 1

Sometimes one must indulge in grocery store sushi just because :)

November 30

This semester Tennessee has experienced the worst drought in over ten years,

yesterday there were massive forrest fires in Gatlinburg, 

people have been praying for rain for months...

Last night there was a massive thunderstorm that was accompanied with tornados (I was kept up most of the night laying on the floor on the first floor with a bunch of people I don't know from my building because of the tornado warnings...but that's a different story).

We have had flash flood warnings all day today.

In the midst of all this craziness it's time to start preparing for all the projects and exams that are crammed the week before finals...

So that's where we stand right now...but it'll all be okay

AND Christmas is coming!!

November 29

November colors are my favorite :)

November 28

Christmas has arrived in 302!!!

November 27

Goodbyes stink, but squeezing in some extra playtime this morning was the sweetest :)

November 26

This picture is very grainy because it's an iPhone picture in a fancy theater...BUT

It was SO fun to get to see Bess shine on the stage with both companies performing their new Christmas production, Light Has Come!!

I miss you Bess!!

November 25

Dad woke us up this morning with coffee so we could start binge watching the Gilmore Girls revival and if that isn't the best way to wake up, I don't know what is!

November 24

Happy Thanksgiving :)

There's lots to be thankful for, and these girls make finding the positives so much easier!!

November 23

Holy smokes.

Thankful for cold sunrises and road trips with my Dad :)

November 22

Thankful for an afternoon with Rawli in Chattanooga :)

November 21

Afternoon coffee with Mom, Dad, and Jansen,

I could get used to this :)

November 20

Thankful for my mom and dad and time spent with them at the farm :)

Thanks for coming early for thanksgiving!!

November 19

What a cool experience to help set up the Christmas trees in front of the Humanities Center this morning! I nearly froze on the roof, but the view was worth it :)

Christmas is coming!!

November 18

Thankful for a night of laughing and celebrating 20 with Georgetown Cupcakes!

November 17

Tres and Jansen

November 16

So thankful for a fun evening laughing and chasing these fun cousins around Gram and Grantch's house! A much needed mid-week escape :)

November 15

I have truly felt so loved by so many people today,

I am so thankful for beautiful friends and family who have truly made the start to my 20th year so memorable :)

November 14

Thankful for spontaneous pizza nights :)

November 13

Thankful for a night of worship with the Chapel Band

and a beautiful reminder that the resurrected king has resurrected us.