Adulting. What?!

Since moving to Nashville, I've had to start adulting. Bills on bills on bills. When paying off these bills, I feel very poor, very fast. I'm thinking I may have to rethink my grocery list and go back to ramen noodles. Yay college diet! In addition to the "normal" bills of life, the evil college loans have been calling my name, reminding me multiple times each week of the gloomy cloud that is about to take a permanent residence over my head for the next ten years. I just had to go to school for five years... Ah well. 

Meanwhile, amidst my adulting, I've been shopping clearance racks like nobody's business. I've managed to leave so many things back in PA, that I need "replacements." If it says "sale," you can confidently assume if it's something I need and inexpensive, I'll buy it. Like the new booties I bought the other night. I had time to "waste" before dinner and Nordstrom was having a sale. Mind you, I did actually need these - the ones on my feet that day actually started falling apart. It's like Nordstrom knew. That or I'm just weak when it comes to cute shoes. I also bought a new pair tonight online at JustFab.... $10 booties?! Yeah, I'll take those, too. 

I'll be the first to admit, budgeting is hard. And so not fun. Determining ahead of time - I'm not always the greatest at planning ahead - how much I have to set aside for bills, loans, groceries, gas and then realizing how much I don't have is almost tear-inducing. I mean, I'm a girl. I see cute things, and I want them. Naturally. But, in order to keep my car, and phone, and room....I have to be a smart spender. Or don't be a spender at all. No matter how much pain it causes. So tonight, I've drawn up a tentative/working, monthly budget plan. Current mood: blah. 

In happier news, I received a parcel from Matt today - his first ever. Granted he had to ask his dad how to send one, but it arrived in one piece, so job well done. ;) Anyway, I received a letter, candy and Messiah Football t-shirt. Ladies, you know how you love the cologne your dude uses? Well, I am definitely a fan of Matt's - so, he used some on this shirt for me. I can't tell you how excited I was. So I bury my face in it. And what do I smell? Cardboard. As I'm writing this I don't have words to explain the look on my face when I wasn't "smelling Matt." It was kind of depressing. To his credit, however, he sent really great candy. So I've decided to look past it. 

Ending my night with a late dinner of breakfast - eggs, toast and coffee - accompanied by Sleeping Beauty and snuggles with Max. Always missing everyone back home - but, I'm home in 46 days. WHAT?! Forty. Six. Days. I can't wait. So until then, keep on, keepin' on. 

Chow Mein, 

Ellie

Finally Feeling Like Fall

Just wanted to give a little smidge of an update! Please forgive the lack of words.

I'm currently in Canada, and even though I'm a little tired, I'm drinking hot tea, listening to heart-wrenchingly beautiful cello music and loving life. Canada is actually experiencing Fall and I could not be happier. The crisp, Autumn air was refreshing to wake up to this morning. It is for this reason that I miss Pennsylvania. Well, family and friends as well, obviously. But the weather - I miss really good Fall weather. Hopefully Nashville will have caught up with the times when we return. 

Speaking of amazing Fall weather and even more amazing Fall things... I will not be visiting my Aunt and Uncle in New York this Fall, BUT! I will still get to see them in a few days at a concert which is rather exciting. I'm secretly hoping that my Aunt will make me a homemade apple pie... (Aunt Maryalice, if ever there was a post to read...it's this one. Just kidding. Kind of.) ;)

It's an odd thing, being away from home. I haven't even been gone for a whole month, and yet it feels as though I've lived in Nashville far longer than 29 days. I suppose enjoying everything I'm doing helps. I definitely miss everyone back home, but I am incredibly thankful for this opportunity. And it doesn't hurt that Nashville has amazing food. So... Ya know. I was super lucky to see Matt of the Fahnestocks last weekend. He was kind enough to drive ALL the way to VA (okay only 2 hours, but still). So not only was he able to go to the concert, we were able to see each other and spend a short bit of time together. Now we only have to wait 2 more months to see each other again. Thank goodness for FaceTime. 

Not much else to report here. Hoping to get some Tim Horton's coffee and TidBits while we're here AND some Smarties chocolate candies. We get home Monday and I am very excited to see my lovely roommate, Sarah. I think we're planning an "eat at the restaurants Guy Fieri goes to" adventure at some point. Research for this shall commence soon. 

I think that's about it for now. Enjoy all the Fall things for me, dear Pennsylvanians. Throw some leaves into the air. Drink hot cider. Wear cute boots. Carve a couple pumpkins.

Up up and away,
Ellie

Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin'

I did it. I survived the first part of tour! Okay, so it was only four days, but it still counts. 

The bus was quite nice, so sleep wasn't actually impossible. I brought my new pillow and blanket which made a world of difference. Although I don't really know what it would have been like without those. Peaches, my monkey from Matt, also came along. The bunks each have individual lights, outlets, pocket on the wall, and even a little curtain to pull across which keeps light out. Since we traveled overnight, we typically were at our venue by the time we woke up. This was especially nice with entering different time zones. 

We keep most of our stuff under the bus so that there's more space up top. Well... I got ready the first day in OK, and found that my hairspray had exploded, so there were a few less outfits to wear. And a lot less hairspray to use.

[Mental note to self: make sure hairspray cans have a lid.]

The churches had great food - we even had Chic-fil-a, and it was wonderful. And the venues had great play areas for the kids, which was awesome when helping to watch four children, all under the age of 4. We played lots of hide-and-seek, "catch," and even had a bakery at one point - I'm pretty sure cars became cookies. 

Long as the days were, it's been incredibly rewarding. The kids are starting to warm up to me, which is encouraging, as I don't spend as much time with them when we're home. Tomorrow, though, I get to spend the day with the kids (not on a bus) to give the other nanny a day off. So today, as we just got home from OK (yes, we most definitely sang Oklahoma! songs while there, and John Denver songs while in CO), I am spending most of my day in bed relaxing and catching up on sleep. Although, I should probably (most definitely) shower at some point, obviously get coffee since I run on coffee AND it's National Coffee Day, and then also get dinner when that time comes. I've been snacking on iced animal crackers, mini-chocolate chip cookies and wheat thins. I'm thinking some veggies and fruit might be a good idea. Perhaps. Or, pizza. Yes, I think pizza.

I would like to proudly announce that driving myself home this morning, I did so without the help of any GPS. You could say I'm basically a native. Okay, false, but still. After being on a bus, and driving through a torrential rainstorm, I was pretty proud of myself. 

I miss everyone back home, but I truly am loving it down here in Nashville. I get to work with amazing people and even through the craziness, my job is really awesome. The next run is much longer than four days, so I have some time to prepare myself for that, rethink how to pack/what to bring. Hanging out with kids all day means bringing extra shirts. Lesson learned.

Pretty excited for the Fall weather to make its way down here to Nashville - I'm ready for sweaters and boots. Mostly because I love Fall, but also because that's mostly what I brought with me... I left my other clothes in Hershey. Oops. Oh well, soon I suppose. I hope.

Time to do something. Maybe. Stay warm up there - if you're cold. 

Happy trails to you all, 
Ellie

TennessEllie

It's been a while since I've written, but I've been a tad busy, what with moving to Nashville and everything. This one might be a bit of a doozy, so I apologize in advance. I would like to report that I have gotten down here to Nashville, and I am loving it. So much. 

My adventure began on Wednesday (9/16) and I officially arrived on Thursday (9/17). While the drive was fairly easy, with the occasional lack of love for truck drivers, it was all pretty smooth. I split the trip into two days, mostly because I had never been to Nashville prior to this move. Wednesday was a longer day, and I was insanely happy when I saw the sign for my hotel exit. After 7 or so hours on the road, by myself, all I wanted was my hotel room. Long, painful and emotional story short, I almost didn't have a room. But everything worked out thankfully, God provided, and I had a room, TWO beds (I'm just that cool), pizza delivered to my room with just enough cash, a hot shower and complimentary chocolate cookies which were probably some of the best cookies I've ever had. 

While I wasn't looking forward to driving again on Thursday, my excitement to get to Nashville took over. I made one stop, to get gas, for $1.95. WHAT?! Yet another awesome-sauce reason to live in the South. 

Side note before the story continues: I had originally planned on living in an Extended Stay Hotel when not on the road, but less than a week before I moved, one of my coworkers contacted me about a friend who had an open room in a HOUSE! So I am now living with this beautiful woman of God, Sarah, and loving life. 

So anyway, I had told Sarah that I would be arriving at whatever time in the afternoon, but I forgot about the time zone change. Yes, we are CT and an hour behind all my friends on the East Coast. This made me even more excited when I realized I wouldn't be in the car for a million hours. When I pulled into the development, I had to make sure I wasn't speeding because I was that excited to meet Sarah, and also I just really wanted to get out of the car. At first I didn't get out, because I was over an hour early. Oops. But I went to the door, and this big smile came across her face, hugged me and I instantly knew this was going to be an awesome place to live, and that Sarah was even more awesome. 

After a quick tour of the house, and an introduction to my own little part of the house, we started unloading the car. And then I started moving in - of course, I looked like I packed the kitchen sink along, but I've already realized that I've forgotten stuff back in Hershey. C'est la vie. Sarah had to teach piano lessons - she's a boss musician and is in a group called High Road Music which y'all should check out because they're great - so I had an evening to just chill. I wasn't fully dead, just mostly dead. I finished moving everything in and then found the couch. I know, I should've gone and explored. Sorry, but no; I was so tired. I realized after a while, that I was incredibly hungry. I happened to have a gift card to Chili's and there's a Chili's five minutes from my house. So I ordered it online, picked it up and came back to the house to eat. Sarah got home, we chatted for a little, and then I got everything ready for Friday, my first day at Getty Music. AHH! Outfit chosen and approved by my awesome-sauce boyfriend, I went to bed "early" so I was ready for the next day. 

Sarah woke up to wish me good luck on my first day and I was off. She and I are kindred spirits, especially due to our love for Starbucks coffee. And there happens to be one also five minutes from home. Did I stop and get a PSL?! Yes, I most certainly did. The drive to work was great and then I was there, at the Getty office. If anyone saw me walking in, I probably looked like I had taken 10 espresso shots. I was that excited. I made my way to the floor, found one of my bosses, and instantly knew this is where I'm supposed to be. I met people in the office, got a tour of everything and settled in. A bunch of us went to Ted's Montana Grill which is in Nashville, and I ate the best burger of life. Seriously, it was so good. I had to use the Guy Fieri hunch to eat it. Check out Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives if you have absolutely NO idea what I'm talking about. After lunch, we worked the rest of the afternoon and then I left around 5:00pm. 

Sarah and I decided to have a dinner date, so we traveled to Franklin, and ate at Puckett's, which is a fanTAStic BBQ place. We walked around this cute little town (seriously, it reminded me of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls). There's a chocolate and candy shop there, which has all on-site, homemade candy - every dentist's nightmare. Sarah and I each got a truffle and it was perhaps one of the most heavenly things I have ever eaten. And that's saying a lot, because all of the food I've had since moving here has been AMAZING! Unfortunately, Sarah had to be up at 4am on Saturday to leave for a gig, so it was basically straight to bed when we got home. Except for backing a van with a trailer attached into her driveway. No idea if the neighbors were watching, but if they were, I'm sure it was quite entertaining. 

Saturday, I ran some errands, hit up Starbucks again (I have a feeling they're going to know me preeeeetty well, preeeeetty soon). Some coworkers were having a cookout, so I went there for a while, met some new people (yay, I'm making friends) and ate SO MUCH FOOD! PA, prepare yourself for me to come home very large and somewhat in charge. I stopped over at my friends Andrew & Megan's house and saw some people from back in the day. I'm falling in love with this place more and more. 

Since it's just me this weekend, I decided to attend Bedside Baptist (I just stayed home). I'm still figuring out the lay of the land and learning where everything is down here. Today should be fairly relaxed; I might venture out for lunch. We'll see. Then again, food here is rockin' so it will probably actually happen. 

Missing y'all back home, but absolutely loving life down here. I may just become a Southern girl after all. ;) Also, shoutout to Matt for my title. It's a thing. 

My time is up and I thank you for yours, 

Ellie

A Curious Case of the Suspicious Mole

So today was...a day. 

It started out nice. My friend Laura and I got our craft on and made shirts for Sunday's USWNT game in Pittsburgh. To say that we are excited would be quite the understatement. Unfortunately, our time was cut short. 

And what followed was not so nice. 

A few weeks back, my dad noticed a "suspicious mole" on my arm. Having a doctor for a father is usually pretty awesome. But combine the word suspicious and mole AND have it come from my dad was unsettling to say the least. Anyway, he was concerned, so he said I needed to have it excised. Because saying cut or lanced wasn't scary enough, he said I had to have it EXCISED. (Cue scary organ music here). And because he was concerned, whatever they cut out was sent to pathology. Yet another word I don't like very much. 

So today was unfortunately here. I made my mom come - wasn't sure if I'd be able to drive myself home. And my teddy bear, affectionately known as, Bear. I really don't care if anyone thinks it's dumb that a 23 year old brought a stuffed animal with her...he's been to every surgery with me. So there. 

Since my dad usually says "put a band-aid on it," I decided against having him perform the surgical procedure. Just kidding, Dad, I love you! But really. So I had someone else do it, and he happens to be very close with us. As a result, I made one thing very clear: I did not want to feel ANYTHING!! This meant spraying my arm with that numbing cold stuff before even getting injected with the lidocaine. This coming from the girl with her nose pierced and a tattoo on her foot. Oh well. When I could still feel him poking my arm, we went with another injection of lidocaine. Two injections was just what I needed. The last thing I saw was a rather large mound of the heavenly numbing stuff on my forearm. 

And then I laid back. And cried. Before anything happened. I cried. And I cried into my ears. It was gross. So I kept my eyes closed, turned up my music and squeezed both my mom and Bear. I opened my eyes to see my doctor smiling; the worst of it was over. Next part: stitches. I still couldn't feel anything, but I was crying uncontrollably. Not like a crazy person, but I just couldn't help it. But then it was over. My dad had a few minutes, so we stopped in his office and he gave me a lollipop. Yes, a lollipop. 

My next reward was Dunkin' Donuts, complete with a box of Munchkins. I was happy. 

There is no more numbness in my arm, so I'm in pain. And it probably doesn't help that in my lack of coordination, I walked into my door frame, hitting my arm, and then smashed it into my bed. You could say it's been a good night. 

What was a trying day will lead into a relaxful and peaceful weekend for our family reuncation (reunion/vacation). My dad's side of the family (all basically 50 of us) will head up to the mountains for a few days of welcomed relaxation. Being up in the mountains, there's little to no cell reception...it's wonderful. I'm looking forward to reading books, catching up with family, maybe playing in the annual softball game (depending on the status of my arm) and soaking up the peace and quiet. 

So while I have a lot on my mind - job prospects, will the mole be nothing or something - I have been reminded by a friend to "not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." If you know me, I'm not always good at patience and not worrying. But I'm going to try. Especially because I'll be in the perfect place with the best people. 

If you don't hear from me, you can blame the mountains. I won't though. I'll be loving every minute of my detachment from civilization. 

See ya round like a donut, 
Ellie

Crepes On Crepes On...Sunburn

And just like that, two weeks of bliss have ended. 

Apart from my sunburn (which I happened to get the last two days), this may have been one of the best beach trips ever. And I've been coming for quite some time; 23 years to be exact. 

In the past few days, I've continued to learn so much about myself. For example: even after 2 weeks, one can still get burnt; I'm still incredibly paranoid when in the ocean - never know when a shark might make a surprise appearance; I can't sleep as late as I could when I was a child, and much more. And throughout all of this, I've learned that God knows exactly what He's doing in my life. 

On Thursday, we went to perhaps the BEST breakfast place ever created: Bayside Skillet, in Ocean City, MD. It's hard-to-miss hot pink exterior might confuse and scare away passersby, but I'm here to tell you that if you're ever in OCMD, YOU HAVE TO GO!!! Discovered years ago, it's been tradition to go on our vacation ever since. Known for their omelets and crepes, one plate of food and you won't need to eat for hours. I myself couldn't even finish my breakfast. Three crepes (stuffed with 3 kinds of fresh fruit and Chantilly lace cream) and four cups of coffee later, I wasn't sure I'd be able to leave the table. My only solace: knowing I could finish it for a late lunch. And finish it I did. 

In the days since, a few trips into town were made to purchase shirts and other keepsakes, but mostly ice cream. My mom and I were fortunate enough to steal a few hours away on a rainy afternoon. As per tradition, we made sure it happened this year since I don't know what my life will be like next summer. It's funny how time changes things; in high school, we weren't each other's fondest people in the world. But now, especially since college, it's the complete opposite. So it was nice hanging out and doing our usual thing together. It's one of my favorite parts of this vacation. 

My aunt and uncle came down for our last day from NY to spend some time before their family arrived. We stayed on the beach until at least 7:00pm, just hanging out and soaking up every last second we could. The neighbors had three golden retrievers that gave us quite a show, running into the waves to rescue their precious tennis balls. Overall, it was a great last day. Fantastic weather and good company made for a great time. 

I took Mac (our Yorkie) for a walk before bed and for whatever reason, he kept tugging me to go up the boardwalk. 11:40 at night, in my pjs, and my dog wants to head up towards the beach. Well, I figured why not, it's my last night anyway. Almost a full moon, the bright light shone on the ocean so beautifully, I contemplated spending the night on the beach. It was so peaceful and pretty that I didn't do much but stare. Of course at that moment, a million and one thoughts flooded my mind: do I really have to go; wow, it's really nice out here; what if this is my last year; I don't want to go home. I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath and the thoughts left, allowing me a peaceful few minutes to simply enjoy and marvel. 

I have no idea what God has planned for me, but after tonight, I've come to realize that I don't need to worry about it. Obviously it's good not to sit around - I won't get a job that way, or other things for that matter. But God is clearly going to set before me which direction my life will take. I just need to trust that everything is under control. 

"Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him." Psalm 62:5

So after two weeks, I'm really not ready to come home. But, knowing that everything will eventually come to fruition, I'm okay with coming back to reality. Plus, I still have a pool, so there's that. Catch y'all on the flip side. Meaning Pennsylvania.

And that's the way the cookie crumbles, 
Ellie

Not The Fittest Woman In America

One week down. One week to go. One crew out. Another crew in. This week should prove to be a little more ridiculous... Three of Ethan's friends are coming and I may just die. Plus, the beach has become crowded and we are surrounded by some patience-testing neighbors. Thank goodness for ear buds. 

I haven't heard anything from the interview I had last week. BUT. I got some more exciting news with another amazing possibility. Two words: Getty Music. I was fortunate enough to work with them a year ago at Messiah College and I might possibly be even closer to having the opportunity to work for their team. I'm sure a lot of people would say I'm counting my eggs before they hatch. But I can't even begin to explain how excited I am just for the opportunity to talk to their management team and Keith. Prayers would be greatly appreciated as I start the conversation process this week. 

Not surprisingly, we (all 11 of us) are watching the end of the CrossFit Games. I gotta say...these people are incredible. I mean, half the time I'm just trying to figure out how they're doing any of it. But they are seriously so amazing. There's no way I can possibly CrossFit, but I have started a plan for when I'm home from vacation. Here's hoping I actually stick with it. Otherwise it's back to donuts. 

Apart from very minor sunburn, things are pretty great. It's crazy how after the less than awesome events of last week, so many doors have opened for other opportunities. This might sound obvious, but life gets so much better when you trust in God with everything. I've just stopped worrying about the little things...and the big things...and am giving it all to Him.

So this week I'm going to soak up every last minute of sun, cross my fingers for my conversation with #TeamGetty and enjoy my time with family and friends. 

Wishing you all a good week and a happy Monday...if that even exists.

Made in America, 
Ellie

Donuts and Dumbells

Today was a fantastic day. I woke up to find my dad coming back with donuts from the Fractured Prune. Krispy Kreme is typically my favorite, but there's nothing like a hot donut covered in all sorts of goodness. My favorite: morning buzz. Mocha glaze and chocolate cookie crumbs. It's quite literally heaven. Now most of my family, including my brother's beautiful girlfriend all CrossFit. I'm poor so I don't. For those of you who keep up with CrossFit, it is currently the 2015 CrossFit Games. If there's a competition, it's on the TV. So, it seemed quite natural to stuff my face with fattening donuts while watching some of the strongest people on earth. I figure at this point I'll never be as in shape as those people, so I'll just eat their donuts for them. 

The beach was nice, not too hot, but a little windy-er than desired. But we made do. We played a game of Greedy. A game purely the luck of the dice. I lost. By at least 5,000 points, but Grammy won, so all was well. There are more people showing up in the neighborhood, mostly families with a million kids. And they have no fear. At all. Sitting on rafts right where the waves break, not caring if the wave crashes on them. Like I said, today was a great day. But I got to thinking. What if we did things more like kids? What if we didn't care when the waves crash on us? Obviously there's no way we can apply this to every situation, but I think I would be a lot happier if I stopped overthinking everything. 

We're coming to a close on our first week at the beach, and I'm already not looking forward to the next week. It's going to be over in the blink of an eye. Anybody want to stay another week with me?! I'm very lucky to be able to take this trip every year with my family. Of course, it's been different ever since my Pappy passed, but that's where friends came in to the picture. This year has been a bit of a struggle though, as my Grammy's memory has been getting worse. I've been trying not to focus on my issues and cherish the moments I have with her. She's one of the greatest people I know, and I want to soak up every second I can. 

I'm only 23, but I'm starting to see things through a different lens. Spending time with family is so important; even when they test every last thread of patience. There's already been a few times this past week when I've wanted to just throw things or bury my head in my pillow. But it's just not worth it. If you know me, I'm probably one of the sassiest people you know. That being said, it's not surprising that I get overwhelmed and struggle with letting things go right away. Not one of my greatest qualities, but I'm fairly certain I'm not the only person to struggle with this. 

At the end of the day, it's about being with family and enjoying the time you have with them. So now that we've stuffed ourselves on crab dip AND buffalo dip, I'm going to continue marveling at the CrossFit athletes. And probably have a cookie. Or a donut. Or both.

Peace, love and popsicles, 
Ellie

People (And Fish) Are Friends! Not Food!

Today was a scorcher. I mean, it was ridiculously hot. So hot that the "breeze" was just a bunch of hot air blowing around and the biting flies were out. This of course meant that I had no choice than to get in the water. Now, normally, I love being in the water. But after all this shark nonsense, I haven't been too keen on getting in. Today was a different story. I'll admit, the water was refreshing, and I was glad to have gotten in...until something hit my foot. It was probably just a giant rock, but I was outta there. No. Thank. You. (Insert crossing arm emoji).

So there I was, lying out in the sun. Trying to get my tan on. I don't know about any of you, but sand is perhaps one of the most uncomfortable places to lay down - I was practically sculpting the sand so I was comfortable. Sleep did not come easily though, as my brother was "singing" the Star Wars score, among other movie scores. So I was left with my thoughts - millions of them. 

I'm going to admit: I'm not happy 100% of the time. I know it's hard to believe, but alas, it's true. And today happened to be one of those days. I had just received some news and quickly hid my face to conceal the tears that were rolling down my cheeks. It's not always easy to say, "it's okay, I'm going to be okay." Because right now, I don't feel okay. Right now, I want to be snuggled in my bed, surrounded by macarons and Netflix, free to feel however I want. The Netflix will probably come later. Macarons are just so darn expensive. 

While I was getting ready to go out, a song came on my phone by The Brilliance. I met the members of the group a year ago when I was at the Calvin Symposium and have fallen in love with their music. The Sun Will Rise came on (which is one of my favorites) and I felt more at peace about everything. 

"The sun will rise, the sun will rise bringing life to the earth as it springs from the ground. The sun will rise, the sun will rise; won't you dry all your tears, lay your burden down?" 

It's a simple message, but ever so powerful. The sun will still rise, even in seasons of sadness. So dry your tears, give your burdens to your Father and keep on keeping on. There are going to be times when God has a different plan for you - that's okay. Trust in Him and remember He has everything planned out. And it's gonna be great. 

So now I'm going to eat some chili on this not so chilly day, and go hang out in OCM. I think they have fried food, so that will probably happen. 

Remember that you are loved. God has a door that He will open for you, probably when you least expect it. Be patient. Enjoy every moment in front of you. 

Let the good times roll, 
Ellie

Seagulls, Starfish and Sand Crabs

Did you know that you shouldn't really be calling star fish star fish?! In order for a creature to be a fish, it needs both gills and fins. Star fish don't have either, so really, we're supposed to call them sea stars. Or at least that's what the author wrote in the book I've been reading. 

It's amazing how much can change so quickly. One minute you have one expectation, and the next, it can be completely different. Sometimes good, others not so much. In this season of change in my own life, I'm learning to just roll with it. I'm in no way perfect at the rolling, but I'm certainly trying. 

My sister will soon go off to her first year of college, and my brother returning for his last year of undergrad. For the first time in forever (you're welcome Frozen fans), I'll be the only "kid" living at home. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this. I mean, don't get me wrong; being able to live at home for free is a life saver. I'm not exactly Miss Moneybags over here. It will, without a doubt, be a new experience, one that I am both excited for and leery of encountering. Although, I suppose after my room being used as extra closet space while I was in college, I can return the favor to both of my siblings when they leave. 

I was watching the sand crabs on the beach today and actually marveled at how quickly they can move. Two were attacking each other, one was desperately searching for food, and the other two were simply watching it all take place. A seagull came out of nowhere, and I kid you not, the crabs camouflaged into the sand so fast I wondered if they had actually been there before. And then I started thinking that those sand crabs have to make a split-second decisions and go for it. They risk being eaten or washed away by the waves. Now I know that crabs don't have nearly the same brain function as humans, but they must have enough to know when to hide and when to go back into their tunnels. 

So while sand crabs may not seem the most likely of wisdom gurus, I've decided to just go for it. Of course not every decision can be made this way, but some can. If we don't muster up the strength and courage to ask that burning question inside, make a move on that crush of ours or even apologize for something in the past - if we just sit around not making any kind of decision, that seagull is going to eat us. And then what?!

I guess what I want to say is this: there are going to be good times, and there are going to be hard times. There's also going to be a lot of times when you have absolutely no idea what's happening. Guess what - it's okay. Take each day as it comes, trusting in the One who loved you before you were born. You're on a journey specific to you, so take it all one day at a time, and enjoy it. Reach for the "impossibles," take a chance, and have fun. 

Only you can prevent forest fires, 
Ellie 

Initial Musings

It would seem that most people jot their thoughts down in journals or even diaries. Are diaries still a thing?! But arthritis-ridden me can't hold writing utensils well, so I've opted to try out this blog thing. Believe it or not, I'm not as hip as you might think. (Shocker, I know). I don't know that I'm trying to accomplish anything specific with this blog, but I hope I can shed light on dreary days, bring smiles to otherwise smile-less faces and perhaps even encouragement for those days when you "just can't." 

Well, it will soon be three months since graduating from college. Five years of college that is. And I think the most productive thing I've done since moving back home was getting rid of items hidden in my room from middle school. It's amazing what kids are capable of hiding and losing when cleaning their room is the last thing they want to do. I'm here to tell you that was me; I usually tossed things in any opening I could find. Of course, I lost plenty of things over the years, but at the time it seemed so much easier. It's also crazy what I thought was worthy of keeping; I found notes from my middle school crushes that made me blush more now than I probably did when I was younger. Funny how I was so much smoother in that department as a kid. 

I'm currently on vacation with my family and then some in Bethany Beach. We've been coming to Bethany since I was a kid - actually since my mom was a kid. Not that I was here then. Two weeks at the beach may seem like way too much time, but by the end, I wish I had weeks more. These two weeks are typically a time when I can just escape. This year is a bit of a different story though. I don't have a job yet - life was so much easier in college - BUT I had an interview with my dream job. For those of you who know me and where that is, you know how big this is for me. So even though I'm "friendless" at the beach these next two weeks, getting an interview was pretty awesome. 

Recently I've had my own mixture of ups and downs. Right when I think I've caught a break my world gets flipped upside-down. Sometimes I feel like I'm literally upside-down. It totally sucks. Yeah. It sucks. I'm learning however, that with every passing storm, something positive and beautiful isn't too far behind. Like how I went from not having a job all summer to getting an interview at the place of my dreams. I don't know what's going to happen from one day to the next, but my best friend told me this today: "giving it up to God is usually when He drops the right one in your lap." So for now, I'm going to stop worrying about every little thing and give it to God instead. 

It's like C.S. Lewis said: "When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place."

So for now, I'm going to let God take control and focus on the good things I have in life. Like family, friends (even if they aren't at the beach), and death by chocolate cupcakes baking away. 

Over the river and through the woods,

Ellie