thank you!

to everyone who made this room possible...from funding to building to donating to the cause. thank you, thank you, thank you!

366...

366 days ago (because 2008 was a leap year) i rolled into new orleans, ready to start life in a new place. what a crazy year it has been...full of changes, laughs, tears, growth, and adventure. i moved here last january to be part of something bigger than myself...the rebuilding of a city and her people. in the last year, i've gone from substitute teacher to starbucks barista, to nanny. i experienced my first carnival season, what you all would know as mardi gras, turned 20 years old, watched my sister graduate from college and get married, went back to school part time to get a degree in fine arts, moved a block down the street, evacuated for a hurricane, came back to minimal damage, hosted a few friends (thanks for coming!), learned to cook for large crowds, helped build my new room, moved into my new room, and have learned more about myself than i ever thought possible. truly, what an amazing year it has been. my hope for 2009...and for all my years to come is this...to listen for God, and to simply follow where he leads.

James 4:15 ...if it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that...

art.

i've never been that kid that really enjoys going to school. sure, there were parts of school i absolutely loved. reading, music, and of course, recess. but as we all know, recess gets the boot when you get to middle school, reading becomes forced, and music gets considered an extra-curricular. welcome to real life, right?

well...in august i signed up for a couple classes at the local community college to finish some sort of degree. in what, i had no idea. so i landed in a drawing class. and something clicked. art. finally, i was excited...really excited, to go to school.

here's a few of my assignments from last semester.

stippling of starry night

crosshatch of starry night

ink wash of starry night

final project...colored pencil, ink, and charcoal
inspiration: augustana & a sweet tattoo i saw once

next week i start a painting class. so...more to come later :)

retreat to the beach...

last weekend i retreated to a beach in mississippi. i love how beaches lack people when it's cold out. it was a gorgeous sunny day, and the alone time served me well. i came home to my newly finished room (pictures to come soon...i promise!) feeling much refreshed. honestly, i think beaches are one of God's most wonderful creations. for sure.