Hey dude.

So I have a friend and she's pretty cool.  We watch ridiculous movies featuring predictable cheerleaders, board game characters, and ax murderers.  We go grocery shopping and eat lots of Doritos.  We make cupcakes and swim and talk and have photoshoots and play the ukulele.  I steal her clothes and take pictures of myself.  We go to youth group, explore abandoned houses and talk about boys. 

So yeah.  Friendship is a cool thing.  love you dude.  

l.

Falafelafalel

Some delicious pita bread.  Homemade falafel that honestly was not very delicious.  Homemade fries that were delicious.

oh, and music.  

l.

We listen only for the stars

Blue lips

This girl has some beautiful eyes.  And nearly no body fat, thus the blue lips long after swim lessons.♥

l.

Some nice light and a summer night

She had just gotten back home after a long day at ballet, and then swim lessons, and mom was making dinner, and there was a camera just waiting for me.  She is so pretty.  Ack, I've thought she was ten for several years now, but she really does keep growing up. 

On another note, the other night my littlest sister came into my room to say goodnight and as she hugged me, she looked a little sad and told me that I was growing up so fast.  These girls.  I love them. 

l.

Happily lonesome

{Outfit Post Details: Top-Marshals, Shorts- Thrift, Belt- Thrift, Shoes-Marshals, Necklace- f21}

So.  I thought maybe today I would write some thoughts on things.   This feels kind of stupid, but whatever.  I am an introvert.  You might not realize it when you hang out with me, and it's not really something I focus on a lot, I just am, but it's true.  I love people, and I'm usually pretty outgoing and quite talkative.  I sing in public and dance and tease people incessantly, sometimes too much.  I am not shy, but I need my "alone" time, or at least down time with people who don't care if I smile or not.  

SO FOR THOSE DAYS YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO SMILE:

1.  Music.  I don't know about you, but when I plug in my music, I feel happily invisible, and usually people ignore me because they think I can't hear them.  And sometimes, I just plug in my headphones without even listening to music.  Is that weird?  I feel like I'm in my own little world then, it's nice.  ;)

2.  Reading, baking, drawing.  Something that keeps you busy: you're doing something, not just lazing around.

3.  Journaling.  Whether you need to write out your feelings, or just write, or maybe more creatively you want to cut out pictures and words and assemble with care, just do something. 

4.  Make sure the people around you know that sometimes you just want to be left alone(or whichever).  Sometimes I don't communicate so well, and now we have this little joke around my house.  I will sometimes just not smile.  If I'm tired or in a bad mood or just don't feel like spending energy- basically any time that a smile wouldn't be genuine- I just don't waste my facial muscles, and I kind of have a frowney face.  But if someone asked me what was wrong and I didn't feel like telling them, then I would just say "this is my normal face" i.e. nothing's wrong.  So my family makes fun of me sometimes, they tease me when I frown, and if someone asks if something's wrong my siblings will answer for me- "oh, that's just her normal face." 

5. Go do something.  No matter how small, get out and do something, even if it just takes a few minutes, and no one even notices you're gone, feeling accomplished is nice.  If that means walking around outside for a couple minutes with your camera, or swinging on a swing, or maybe even doing some random task you've been meaning to do, just do it.  Dissapearing for a few minutes can fix my mood. 

6.  Go "do" something #2.  I'm kind of a lame person, and I regretably waited waay too long to get my permit, and so I still do not have my license.  As a result, I cannot run my own errands, but I can accompany my mother.  I'll just sit in the car and doodle sometimes but still, it's nice to just be pretending to do something. 

7.  Be friends with your family.  You may be able to avoid other people, but you cannot avoid your family.  They're probably the people who know you best and love you best.  Cherish them.

So.  Yeah.  Have a happy thursday.  

l.

Looking forward to each new smile

Life.  it's not always perfect, but I like to focus on the happy things.  the things that make me smile when I remember them.  the little things.  the memories.  time with people I love.  silly things.  good times.  full joy.  

Colorful socks. the consumption of massive amounts of grapes.  playing baseball in the park.  my brother's soccer games. fizzy candy.  moments of quiet.  ballet.  new inspiration for my walls.  summertimes.  board games with people I like.  graduation parties and classy people.  reading poetry aloud to my sisters.  planning summertime.  feeling accomplished at the end of taking the SAT.  music listening.  watching the office.  ha.  the bubbly joyfulness of some moments.  free time.  being happy.  

"This is my commandment that you love one another, that your joy may be full." (a vbs song from when I was really little.  I love it.)

I want to look back on my life and remember all the times I spent smiling, and I want to spend the present consistently looking forward to each new smile.  I want to love people and live joyfully.  I want to be fully Christ's, and do His bidding, being known as having 'a soul that was wildly beautiful', different for the joy I have in Him. 

l.

Full Joy

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{Here's some inspirational things from the internets and my own messing around in photoshop.  Happy summer days, folks.}

l.