i have been avoiding writing here like the plague. i'm not completely sure why, just haven't felt very wordy lately, i guess.
the weird part is, i'm working through a bunch of things, and at the same time i'm learning a lot of things, and normally those are things that spur me to spill forth the verbal diarrhea.
probably, the main reason i've not been posting is that i am throwing a silent tantrum because i REALLY miss having a working camera. there have been soooooo many instances in the past month or so that i have had such great opportunities for some really good photo memories. i feel kind of like i'm missing an appendage. :(
hopefully soon, i will be able to either have my camera looked at and fixed, or possibly replaced.

i am really, REALLY loving 2 Peter right now. and holy moly, i am so glad for my church & pastors. they are GREAT teachers. just saying.

this is what makes me happy:
love.

it's pretty rare to experience a perfect star gazing night in january. normally it's much too cold to attempt it. i'm thankful that i accidentally left my cell phone in my jeep this afternoon, otherwise, i would have missed out on one of the clearest, mildest nights we've had in quite some time. sirius is so bright, as usual, but holy moly,  i could even see each star in the seven sisters with just my glasses. i almost want to go back out there & lay in the back of the truck with my sleeping bag for a couple of hours. buuuut, alas, i must get up earlier than usual tomorrow. ah the pains of being a responsible adult.

"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion's belt? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God's dominion over the earth?"
Job 38:31-33 (the LORD speaking to Job)


"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place...what is mankind that You are mindful of them, human beings that You care for them?" Ps.8:3&4

this is what makes me not smile:
my camera being crapped up. i'm getting pretty tired of not taking pictures. :/

...later...so i couldn't stand it. it's 54Freaking degrees. in january. so i got han out of bed, grabbed some sleeping bags & we went out and star gazed for a while. :) she is such a chatterbox ♥
it was really a special little fun time & i hope its something she remembers fondly.
bonus: she saw her first shooting star!

today:

• i got to wake up without an alarm.
• hannah made me a delicious pancake.
• the sun was shining all day long.
• and it was 59F when i woke up at 9am! (so weird for winter in PA!)
• i watched an eagle soar over the lake for about 5 minutes before it finally dove down & presumably caught some lunch.
• vitamin D synthesis happened...capri's and a t-shirt in January hasn't happened since i lived in North Carolina! yaaay for naturally chasing away those winter time blues. heheh
• my dad let me borrow his truck so i didn't have to wrestle with my bike rack...
• hannah & i rode the rail trail past the howard tunnel for the first time-with only one wipe out and a minimal amount of "can we turn around NOW?"
• my mom folded my laundry.
• the laundry dried on the clothesline. outside. in january. without freezing.
• i decided that soaprocks are pretty cool...
• my mom made me chocolate pudding delight. :)
• i made some delicious crab cakes. two thumbs up.
• houston beat cincinnati. which means baltimore will play houston at home next week. and not pittsburgh. i am hoping tebow can pull out another miracle and dump the steelers before they can move on. most raven's players & fans would like to see another match up with pittsburgh this year...just so we can put the thing to rest, but not me. those games give me ulcers.
• charles barkley is hosting SNL...which means it could be hilarious or ridiculous. or both. hopefully both.
• oh yeah, it was my birthday. :)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise-think about these things. Philippians 4:8

this is what makes me smile:

giant tricycles.

starting the year off with a traditional irish blessing sounds like a good idea to me!

May the new year bring
the warmth of hearth and home to you.
The cheer and goodwill of friends to you,
the hope of a childlike heart to you.
The joy of a thousand angels to you,
the love of the Son and God's peace to you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
2012 is a year of victory & change!


"..'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the LORD. 'They are plans for good, and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'" Jeremiah 29:11

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11

"Yet those who wait upon the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40:31

this is what makes me smile:
knowing that God always keeps His promises.

also:
birthday cake.