Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith By Anne Lamott

I just finished this book-honestly one of the best books I've ever read. She is so authentic and artistic in the arrangement of her words. She tells about her imperfections in her life, and how she found forgiveness from God. Her genuine words reached the depths of my heart, and I had tears to show for it multiple times. If you want a book that makes you think and helps you breathe in God's grace, and breathe out your inadequacies, pick up this book.

Me attempting to be Miley Cyrus!

The "Mock" Miley Cyrus.  This was my attempt at looking like the picture below.  It was really fun, and Courtney Rogers did my makeup!  I have only had my makeup done one other time or so, and Court did an amazing job!  Thanks Courtney:o)  Brynn's birthday was really fun, and everyone came in full contume.  We ended up going to Edgefield afterwards for a little more hang out time.  So fun, and so thankful for fun friends!

So I'm going to a Murder Mystery party this weekend and am going as Miley Cyrus.  Above are some pictures I'm trying to imitate, so we'll compare after the party!  Good times!  Courtney is going to do my makeup, so that will be fun!  We always talk about doing something like this, so we finally get to give it a shot!

I wrote this poem about 4 months after I broke off the engagement (5 years ago-crazy...). I have clearly come a long way since I wrote this poem, but it was interesting to go back 5 years later and read how I was feeling at the time.

Bride in waiting

A bride

A ring forgotten

What do these diamonds mean??

Are they forever?

Relationships don’t last

at least not from ill-fated experience

Why must they come?

Why must they go?

Why must they deceive?

Only does my God know

This rose, the beauty of a woman

A scent so powerful, as if gravity gives no choice

From afar the petals allure

With rose in hand, it steals thy blood

Love is signified by this velvet

The bride, her dress no longer with,

The bareness of her body exposed

Exposed to the world,

Vulnerable

The vale cannot mask the hurt indefinitely

She takes a step forward, moving towards the golden rays

Towards her God

Towards the only love she truly knows

I wrote Ode to My Blowdryer today, as an example to my students. It turned out kinda fun, so I thought I'd share it. The other poems were a part of a project from grad school to share what has shaped me-I chose to share a couple of them.

Ode to My Blowdryer By:Jennica Smith

my blowdryer
hangs
all day
on my wall

lonely
it stays
and droops
its chord

spread out
it falls asleep
and dreams
of luscious locks

it revisits
my shiny hair
from the
early morning

and wakes up
energized
enthusiastic
so hot

Adapted from: Ode to My shoes
By: Francisco X. Alarcon

Soccer Ball

Estampia!

German heritage

Spanish teacher

Amazing combination

Soccer coach

Senior Captain

Unlikely circumstances

End of the season

Not the end of my position…

Announcement spring term

The team came together

Heart attack

No coach

Abrupt, unexpected

No family?

Died of broken heart?

Questions remained

Captain stepped up

Memorial service

Speech

Beyond comfort zone

Heart of gold

He smiled,

His hat was crooked

We couldn’t help but to smile back

Soccer was life

Some had regrets of last words

Treat loved ones well

Do you know when you will see them again?

Youngberg

Friendship, uncontrolled laughter

Bread, cheese, and chardonnay of sweet perfection

From this hill, distance was no object

The spotted dog had no curfew

And time ceased to exist

Memories flying, futures pondered

The creaking of the swinging bench was a subconscious reminder of a friendship never fading

A hard stretch of road is always made easier by a good traveling companion