the happiest of all the mondays!

Yesterday one of my all-time bestest of best friends got to visit me at school and it made my heart smile so big I think it may have actually burst.  Melyssa goes to school on the opposite side of the country and I hadn't been able to see her since October!! It's been pretty hard going so long without seeing her (we criss-crossed this past summer on who was in the country and when, so I didn't even get a whole summer with her! And we did the exact same thing over winter break! We have GOT to get it together for next year!), but it made today oh so much sweeter! 

Melyssa is someone I know will be in my life for the whole length of it.  The spiritual relationship we have and the goofiness we bring out in one another is so rare and so special to me.  I love the conversations that we have, the adventures we somehow always find ourselves in (THIS! seriously, read that story), and the silliness of our personalities combined.  She is always ready to drop whatever it is she is doing to help me, and her intentionality with our friendship is so meaningful.  She stretches me in my faith, and encourages me when life gets tough.  

It was hard saying good-bye to her (and her right-hand man) today after only a few short hours with her, because in those hours I realized just HOW much I had been aching for some Melyssa-time.  But only 62 more days until she is home for the summer, and then I get her all to myself until I leave for Africa!

^new favorite photo, for suuuuuure. 

My confession: Melyssa (and Louis), I am SO glad that you got to visit campus today and that I got to introduce you to my life here.  You have no idea how good it was to see you and hug you and laugh with you.  I always look forward to the adventures we get ourselves into and the many laughs we share! I love you, Mel! 

support system

Growing up is tough stuff, let me tell you.  These past few weeks have been pretty downers for me.  What with the tragic shooting at our school, this past weekend's symposium on human trafficking, and then other hot-topic issues I've been wrestling with.  

I don't know why it feels like it has all hit me at once these past few weeks, but I sure have felt like I've been carrying some pretty heavy bricks around trying to sort through my thoughts and opinions and beliefs.  

I'm the type of person who learns from not just reading other people's opinions and stances, but then also being able to question other's opinions (even if I agree with them) and hear their justifications and reasonings behind their stance.  These past issues I've been wrestling with have been pretty big.  And there is no way I could have sorted through them without my parents or friends.

I trust my parents and their opinions.  And while sometimes when I sort through my own reasonings for my opinions I end up with the same views as them, I think it's important to be able to understand why I believe what I believe for myself, and not because my parents taught me it was the "right" thing to believe in.  Both my parents have been so patient with me as I continue to ask them the "hard" questions and as I question the way society is going.  

And then if talking with my parents wasn't enough, I have been so incredibly blessed with friends up here at school who are just as patient and wise.  I have one friend who took my call really late one night while she was out with friends.  It meant so so so much to me that she listened to where I was and gave me advice despite her being busy at that moment.  Seriously, she rocks.  And then other friends who have allowed me to question them and be vulnerable with my raw thoughts and questions.  Seriously. My support system here at school outshines any expectations I could have imagined I would have in college. And as if those friends on campus weren't enough, my friends studying abroad have been there for me, too, around the clock (literally).  God knew I needed these people in my life and He put them there so perfectly. 

This may sound like such a cheese-fest, but I am seriously so blessed and thankful for the people I have in my life right now.  I'm still wrestling with some things, but having my family/friends by my side as I do so has made such a huge impact on this tough journey of mine.  They have reminded me to turn to God with all these thoughts, as He is the only one with the answers.  And though He may not give me those answers, He, too, is a soundboard to bounce questions and confusions at.  And isn't that something incredible? 

Pittsburgh, I love you!

color run

I had an inkling that today's 5k color run was going to be fun, but I had no idea it was going to be THAT much fun!  I have friends who have done the run and loved it, but I didn't think I was going to have as much as they had (it involved running, people, running!).  But I am here today to tell you that if you have never ran in a color run, you need to sign up for one!

My friends Sydney and Carolynn and I signed up saying that we were going to run the 5k, and run we did.  It really wasn't even that long/terrible/exhausting!  I surprised myself by running the entire thing without walking.  I think what motivated me to not stop was that I know how athletic my family is and I wanted to be able to tell them I ran through with no walking (thanks for the unintentional motivation, fam!).   Not to mention having colors thrown at you at each kilometer was also motivating, as well as fun.  

We had so much fun and the weather was absolutely beautiful.  I am so glad I signed up to do the run with all my friends, and I cannot wait to do it again next year!

my running partners, before

My confession: I surprised myself by running a 5k all the way through, and I couldn't be more proud of myself! 

photos curtsey of Carolynn and Sydney.

Thank you, friends!