Shabd

Shabd, a photo by mixed alternative on Flickr.

New summer pack...I'm in love with this thing. I did get a bit of dirt on it today at Lums Pond (grad party times two, today! We brought Abu, it was an interesting first-time experience for both him and us), but I think I'll live. It's adorable and just the perfect size and I was so hesitant about the color (this [-] close to getting my default color, grey, but decided to stray a little) but it has turned out to be absolutely perfect. Wheee!

Amber

Amber, a photo by mixed alternative on Flickr.

Accidental shot from my beach trip :)

cheese & spinach

Yesterday's food adventure! It's not actually all that exciting since I didn't make it from scratch, but this marks my first official time cooking ("cooking") this summer. Cheese and spinach ravioli, one of my favorite quick-fix dinners. I believe it's from Costco, though I could be mistaken?

Sorry for the iPhone photos--I was going to fetch my DSLR, but was too hungry to make the trip. Excuses, excuses...hopefully I can get better at this! It's so odd, treading in this unknown area of blogging.

dee oh en ee

See that? It's a 77. WHICH IS WHAT I GOT ON MY PHYSICS FINAL!!! You may be thinking--wow, how pathetic! She's so excited about getting a D. BUT LET ME TELL YOU A STORY. IT'S FOURTH MARKING PERIOD SENIOR YEAR >>> WAIT, SENIOR YEAR IS NOW OFFICIALLY OVER...BUT ANYWAY, with a full-blown case of Senioritis and with a calculated, necessary target score of 75, I HAVE BOTH MET AND EXCEEDED MY GOAL!

Who has a B for the year?! Who absolutely CANNOT get rescinded from Cal?!! (Okay I don't want to speak too fast, but this definitely means I am beyond the safe zone! :)) WHO IS SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW?!

Me :).

Bye bye, high school...it was nice knowing you, and I'm sure I'll miss you, but in this moment, I swear I'm infinite. PoBaW reference. You know it.

gold

Peach/yogurt color + Del Sol sparkles = gold?!

The Del Sol nail polish is actually supposed to apply as silver, but I guess since I haven't used it in so long and it's been two years since I bought it, the original sheen has since faded. It's actually a strange greenish color, but when dried, turns pretty :).

Probably going to take today or tomorrow's 365 focused on my nails, hehe.

last official day...

My shoes for graduation finally arrived! The Alexa by MMK :) super psyched, except that they're a tad bit big so I have to stop by Nordstrom when bringing the other pair back (I bought my dress and shoes in twos to ensure correct sizing...as long as returns aren't a hassle, doing this has given me more peace of mind than ever before, yay) and see if they possibly have the next size down.

Ready. I can't believe I'm a graduating high school seniors. It's been four years. I'm done.

I'm done. :)

nine days later

It's spring break! And really, ridiculously warm outside. So much so that I have a headache from staying in my room...thus instead of an insightful piece of my mind, here's a photo I just uploaded from my trip to California:

(from Flickr)

Aren't its feet just darling? :)

snip

before the storm, after the storm

And there will come a time, you'll see

With no more tears; and love will not break your heart

But dismiss your fears; get over your hill and see

What you find there; with grace in your heart & flowers in your hair.

gravity

infinity

(flickr)

Relax

And take your time

To trust in me

And you will find

Infinity

aftermath

(via hillsong digital booklet)

disalignment

(flickr)

lazy mile

(via Flickr)

Went running for the first time in ages. Felt incredible. This is the result :)

light

I want to live in lighting like this.

day thirty (!!!)

A photo of yourself today + three good things that have happened in the past 30 days

My 365 for today; click photo to be redirected to my Flickr :)

1. I got an iPhone...and a case for it (today!), along with discovering many new and intriguing applications. Pocket frog, you are my favorite.
2. I ate more avocados than I have in probably the past year. Having another for lunch tomorrow!
3. I learned to appreciate gym class for what it is--basic physical education. Although this is completely hypocritical since I'm dreading tomorrow's speed ball game...I am neither a punter nor a dunker nor a good passer, and this game mixes my lack of talent in three completely different sports (football, soccer, basketball). I preferred our floor hockey unit :(.

And the 30-day challenge (#2!) is complete! I'm excited, should I start another? Hmmm :)

day twenty-seven

A picture of you last year and now and how you've changed since then?

2010 Winter Retreat (photo courtesy the Lins)

2011 Winter Retreat (photo again courtesy the Lins)

I'm still playing the piano. I'm still in a small group. I'm still active in the church. I'm still a scarf person. I still French braid my hair as a default. I still have that awkward, forced camera smile. I still have that heart ring on. I still use the same keyboard. I still love retreats.

I'm not playing the piano against my will anymore. I'm not just in a small group for retreats; I'm leading a small group. I'm more active in church than I originally planned to be, all glory to God. I don't buy scarfs anymore, I'm gifted them...I am slowly switching to a messy, amateur fishtail braid. I am actually genuinely happy before a camera, awkward smile or not. That heart ring has welded into a part of me, not just as an accessory. I don't need the transpose button anymore, though I may chose to use it in tight spots and last-second key changes. I will likely not be attending another WCEC+WCCEC winter retreat again, ever.

I was sixteen, I am seventeen. I was set on one college, I am open to God's options for me. I thought I understood sacrifice, I am learning to give some more each day. I was using a Dell, I am using a Mac. I had a Versa that I guarded with my life, I have an iPhone 4 that I guard with my life. I overpacked and wore my bat-wing sweater way too much, I still wear my bat-wing sweater but pack more conservatively. I slept late by choice, I sleep late by force. I did my homework on a bed, I do my homework on a dining table. And on, and on, and on. But:

I was a Christian, I am a Christian.

Some things never change.

day twenty-six

A photo of somewhere you've been

Haiti. One of the most beautiful, broken places on earth.

--

(I'm back from winter retreat!)

day twenty-four

A photo of something that means a lot to you

I could not get lamer, but I don't have any other photos on hand :(.

SAY HELLO TO MY IPHONE 4...something that apparently means a lot to me! Well, yeah. It does. Not exactly what I want to represent my priorities and values, but will do.

day nineteen

Another picture of yourself