Hope is the Thing with Feathers

We've probably all heard this poem by Emily Dickinson:

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chilliest land
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

This weekend, some of my family and close friends camped together. I had so many unspoken desires and prayers about this trip as I was planning it. Tonight, though, a friend shared with me a goal of his for this trip,  and it was exactly what had been on my heart. To know that God heard my pleas, and placed that on my friend's heart as well, moves me tremendously. To know that my friends care about me, and to see God actively working in an area of my life I've thought was hopeless, suddenly renews my spirit.

I'm on a high right now-- a high from an amazing trip away from cell phones, computers, homework-- a high from fresh air, shooting stars, and campfires-- a high from God's abounding love and faithfulness.

Hope is the thing with feathers and I've heard it in the chilliest land. Amen.
SDG

Last Week

Last week I went home. It had been over two months, which is a long time for me. While I spent a majority of my time working on assignments, it was so good seeing my family. It was also good being able to take my laptop on the patio and enjoy the outdoors while being productive. Here's my paper-writing buddy. He missed me. :)

While I was not writing papers, though, I got to do a little shopping. Granna was kind enough to buy me some amazingly cute clothes (one item being some red skinny jeans!) and my sister found the perfect item for me to purchase for my coming nephew!

It says "My Auntie is the Best," which I totally will be! I left Sunday right after my cousins' 8th birthday party. Just an fyi, it's very hard to find the motivation to leave your family and drive 4 hours when they are having fun and eating cake. Yea for cousins!

It's good to be back in Hattiesburg, but I already miss my family. It's sort of a catch-22, because when I was in Tupelo, I missed my Hattiesburg family. I guess I'm really lucky to have so many amazing people in my life who care about me. God has indeed blessed me beyond comprehension.
SDG

Good Morning/Afternoon

How I've woken up the past few weeks:

1. Heard alarm
2. Groaned
3. Turned off alarm
4. Imagine what it'd feel like to sleep a few hours more
5. Groaned again
6. Rolled out of bed

How I woke up today:

1. Woke up on my on
2. Smiled because I had nothing to get up for
3. Opened my eyes
4. Realized I was home
5. Smiled again
6. Went back to sleep

Yea, mornings with no obligations! Yea, Tupelo!
SDG

I Asked The Lord

I heard this hymn at my visit to RUF a few weeks back. I remember singing the words and realizing how true they were. I made a mental note to remember the hymn for future reference, but of course I forgot the title.

However, a friend recently retweeted this article on Reformation 21, and lo and behold! It was about that very hymn! Divine providence? I think so.

It's relevance to the Christian walk and prayer is astounding. John Newton's words really struck a chord with me. Too many times I've asked, "Lord why is this?" and He's replied, "Tis in this way." I thought I'd republish the lyrics here for your enjoyment. :)
SDG

I Asked The Lord

I asked the Lord that I might grow

In faith and love and every grace
Might more of His salvation know
And seek more earnestly His face

Twas He who taught me thus to pray
And He I trust has answered prayer
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair

I hoped that in some favored hour
At once He'd answer my request
And by His love's constraining power
Subdue my sins and give me rest

Instead of this He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry powers of Hell
Assault my soul in every part

Yea more with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Cast out my feelings, laid me low

Lord why is this, I trembling cried
Wilt Thou pursue thy worm to death?
"Tis in this way" The Lord replied
"I answer prayer for grace and faith"

"These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou mayest seek thy all in me,
That thou mayest seek thy all in me."

Change In Plans

Two things:

1. 14-year-old me picked a good band to be her all time favorite.
2. I think I shall drop out of grad school, quit work, and follow Coldplay around the world to work on my 14-year-old self's ambition: become Mrs. Chris Martin. :)

SDG

Weekend Adventure

I just heard a sports announcer say that this was the last Sunday of summer. It's a bittersweet concept, as I have lamented in an earlier post. While fall doesn't come to Hattiesburg until about December (a sad fact, I've had to come to terms with), one outdoor activity that will suffer is swimming. So Saturday morning, some friends and I decided we would go to Red Bluff to hike and swim in the river. This is the bluff:

We climbed down and began our trek, collecting purple clay along the way, making tribal-esq markings on each others' arms and faces. As we got near the end of the trail, we discovered that Tropical Storm Lee had flooded the river way up the trail, covering our entry point, a rocky beach. Without the beach, there was no resting place to keep us from getting caught in the river's current. We tried to find a way around it, but after being mauled by mosquitoes and slipping around in stinky mud, there was no other place we could get in, so we turned back around.

We didn't let this unexpected change of plans dishearten our spirits, though! We still had a great time enjoying the outdoors and each others' company. We even roped a nice couple into taking group pictures of us.

It was a very good day, and it ended with some delicious frozen yogurt and a movie at the apartment, not to mention a free fireworks show across the street.

SDG

Whatever Works

Drinking coffee out of a extra-large, smiley face cup: motivation for finishing the last 2 to 3 pages of a paper due in about 5 hours.
SDG