Leo Tolstoy

Some of my first photos with my new camera. Thought I would share:

So far I am madly in love. I mean seriously, who needs marriage?

"Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does the better."
Andre Gide

Let's be honest here, what is more fun than a carnival wagon selling funnel cakes (and fried twinkies... and fried snickers... but I think that's just fun for southerners.)? Plus it doesn't hurt to have some awesome signs to up the hilarity:

As the sign in the window says "Don't be caught dead without Jesus." Haha. I love the South.

As much as I rat on Utah, it can be a really beautiful place. Especially southern Utah. This was taken on one of our many trips from Arkansas to Utah.

Anyway, I haven't really been up to much. It's great to be back in Arkansas, surrounded by greenery. And family. And good food. Just surrounded by goodness. 

I need to go take more photos of people. I know I have TONS of photos to share, but I feel like I've already used it all on here. Maybe I'll wrestle one of my siblings into letting me torture them with a camera....

"Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint on it you can."

Danny Kaye

So I've almost made it! I survived classes! I just need to get through finals week...

My last day of classes wasn't going to let me go so easily. Yesterday I had my final project due in my stats class. That alone is saying enough. But I will elaborate anyway.

 Everything was going great on this project of mine. I worked on it a bit in the morning and all I needed to do was rerun an analysis and then edit it and make sure everything sounded fine. After class, I go to the lab, open up the document... and realize it's the wrong one. Shoot. I run the analysis I need to and realize that there is no way I can finish my project unless I get the right document. It's now three o'clock, I'm on campus, my paper is at home, I haven't actually typed up the analysis, and the project is due at five.

Crap.

I think that was the fastest time I have ever walked-ran from the SWKT back to my apartment. I work on it until 4:20 rolls around and I decide to just print it off without going over it one last time. At about 4:30 I get that stinking project turned into the box and wipe my hands clean. Of an accumulation of sweat, anxiety, and terror. Man do I hate cutting it that close. But. I am finished now. Take that Wednesday, April 11th. I got my project turned in on time, I went to ALL my classes, and I win.

I started packing up last night. I swear packing is one of the most therapeutic activities. Maybe because I've done it a number of times (really what college student hasn't?), but I love it. It's starting over fresh. Every three to six months. What am I going to do when I'm a grown up and have to live somewhere for longer than a year? 

We'll jump that hurdle when we get there... hopefully it'll be a we... and not just a me... living all alone... by myself. That's such a depressing thought.

God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest.

J. G. Holland

“You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.”

-Benjamin Mee in We Bought a Zoo

If I have lost confidence in myself, I have the universe against me.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

There is a website that I frequent, called the Quotations Page. My favorite section of the website is under the "Motivational" tab. Lately there have been a lot of quotes about confidence on there and I think someone is trying to tell me something. I've been struggling with this lately (who doesn't struggle with confidence, really?), so think it's time I worked on it a little harder.

"Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here!"
JK Rowling

"If you don't have a plan for yourself, you'll be part of someone else's."

- American Proverb