once a strange place, now a home

working at jumpstart this weekend has made me think about how different my view of rochester is now compared with when i was a freshman. i was miserable here my first semester, homesick every waking moment. i felt like such an outsider in a community of people who all seemed to be connected. i wanted to be a part of that, but it didn't seem possible. well, i ended up proving myself wrong. i am now connected, i am a part of this community of believers. i would gladly endure that semester of homesickness again if i had to, because it is nothing compared to the way i feel about rochester now. this campus has become my home and a place of self-discovery. i feel like this is where i belong and where i need to be at this time in my life. sure, i still get homesick every now and again. but then i see the family that has made this place a home for me. i am so thankful for every opportunity and person that God has placed in my life since i stepped foot on this campus three years ago. i pray that each of these freshmen that are just starting their journey here at rochester will find the same thing that i have found. 

somehow i'm a senior

it hit me today- my senior year starts in a week. it seems so crazy that i've already spent three years here at rochester. i have two left though, so it still doesn't really feel like i'm a senior. so, reminiscing about my last three years here has made me think about my favorite memories..so, without further ado, here they are:


freshmen year: getting my cartilage pierced with the girls is easily my favorite memory from this year. it really wasn't getting my ear pierced that makes this a fond memory. it's more so because that was the moment that i became friends with three women who have come to be irreplaceable friends. and since those girls were all friends with emily, i actually got four irreplaceable friends out of it! they are an encouragement, accountability, understanding, a ton of fun, and so much more. they are there through it all, whenever i need them. 

sophomore year: going to europe first semester is the obvious choice for my favorite memory from this year. but, to narrow it down, i would have to say canyon jumping in the swiss alps tops the list. 

junior year: i am going to have to be mushy and say that meeting brenden was the best part of last year. i am so glad to have met him. being pursued by him was like living a fairy tale. the whole experience of getting to know him was beyond blissful. this photo is from the first day that we spent time together. i called it a non-date, even though it really was a date. 

shoes, clothes, and a fabulous closet

so, i don't know about you, but i've always loved shoes. for one thing, my shoe size never changes, so they are never depressing to shop for. and who can resist a glamorous pair of red pumps or a pair of cute pink sneakers? not this girl.
and clothes..well i've always had far too many. i counted my dresses today when i was organizing my closet, and i have 25. but anyways..the point of this post, is that my dorm room this year has this fabulous closet and a perfect place for my shoe racks! i love how everything fit, so i thought i'd share...here it is!

pillow perfection

you know how it is when you have something in mind, but no matter how hard you shop, or how many times you type it into google, you just can't find exactly what you are looking for? well, that's how i felt when i wanted throw pillows for my couch. so i thought, why not make them! there is such a satisfaction that you get out of making something; just knowing that no one else has them, and that you were able to design them exactly how you wanted is gratifying.
so i took this pillow...

and recovered it, so it now looks like this:

i'm so happy with how they turned out! thanks to my nana for her help, letting me use her sewing machine, and the old pillows! 

my warrior

when i was thinking about blissful things to blog about today, i couldn't help but think about brenden. he cares for me in a capacity beyond belief--from giving me back rubs after long days, to calling me in a panic if i send him a text that makes him think somethings wrong, even opening my car door for me whenever he's with me. he does it all...and without me having to ask. he has been so understanding of everything and is always willing to help me with whatever i need help with. i love to share in all parts of life with him. i am inspired by his christian walk; growing closer to him has strengthened my relationship with Christ. he knows how to make me laugh and how to comfort me when i cry. he has become my other half and my best friend very quickly. i don't know what i would do without him. when he's around, i can breathe a sigh of bliss.

summer of love

this summer, four of my lovely friends have become married women. each of their weddings were unique and absolutely beautiful. i was a bridesmaid in two of these weddings; it was so much fun to be apart of the whole process of showers, dress shopping, bachelorette parties, lingerie parties, rehearsal dinners, and of course the big day! i must share a little bit about each of these lovely women's weddings:


sara and kevin: there were so many little things that i loved about this wedding- the way the couple faced the church during the ceremony, the fact that sara had her purity ring made into kevin's wedding band, the  large cake and punch reception and then the smaller dinner reception, and sara's veil. 


claire and justin: claire made this day so much fun. she was so carefree and just determined to enjoy her day. she looked absolutely beautiful. i particularly loved her earrings (maybe they can be my something borrowed someday *hint*hint*) the whole experience of being in their wedding was enjoyable. 


cami and grant: they had a 1940's themed wedding that was so much fun! it was very unique and so fitting of cami's personality. the whole wedding party looked like they walked out of the 40's. cami looked gorgeous in her custom-made red dress.  


erin and jaron: i loved a lot of things about their day, but my favorite detail was that they took communion and prayed together during their ceremony. it was such an intimate, special moment between the couple. the day was a lot of fun too- from getting ready at the salon to riding in the golf carts at the reception, it definitely was a blast to be a part of their wedding party. 


even with all of the fun of those events and all of the excitement about the details of the days, the best part has been getting to see four great examples of love. each of these women have found men that complete them and uplift them. just by the way these couples looked at each other during their wedding vows, it's obvious that they cannot get enough of each other. i have enjoyed seeing how different love can look, as it does in each of these new marriages, yet how they all have a common denominator- Christ is at their center.

bittersweet

thanks to my wonderful, newlywed friend, erin bentley, i have fell in love with the work of shauna niequist. she is a christian writer who has two books: cold tangerines and bittersweet. both of the books are full of short stories. cold tangerines' stories are all focused on celebrating life. bittersweet's stories are, well you guessed it, about finding the bitter and the sweet in all areas of life. i have read and re-read cold tangerines. bittersweet just came out a few weeks ago and i am in the process of reading it. it's tempting to just read it all at once, but i am trying to ration it so that i can enjoy it for a while. these books are beautifully written and sometimes when i am reading them i feel like she has found the words that i am never able to find; it's like someone has listened to the circling thoughts in my head and the emotions of my heart and put them on paper. here is an excerpt from bittersweet that i particularly loved: 

‎"Now is your time. Become, believe, try. Walk closely with people you love. Don't spend time with people who make you feel like less than you are. Don't get stuck in the past, and don't try to fast-forward into a future you haven't earned yet. Give today all the love and intensity and courage you can, and keep traveling honestly along life's path."

...and the blog was born

this world is full of bad news. it's full of the constant desire for what we don't have. it's full of discontent. i, like everyone else, easily get caught up in that. so, i am determined to do something to combat that. this blog is going to be about all things blissful. all the things that bring me great joy and happiness. the little things that often go unnoticed. i am going to find bliss and blog about it.