lark in my heartbeat.

i got my hair cut today.  i went to Target to buy a new straightener. also bought one of those Ipod radio transmitter things for my car (finallllyyy).  bought my sweet momma a Mother's Day card, although she really deserves much much much more than that.  however, the last purchases i made were at Goodwill.  now, i'm not one of those people that has an aversion to used things.  of course, you'll never catch me buying certain used things.  but jewelry and house goods? no problem.

lately, i've been in an artsy, folk-y, earthy phase.  my music tastes have been changing.  my fashion sense feels like it is too.  i also have intense urges to spend most of my free time this summer running, practicing my violin for lessons this fall, and art-ing.  in addition to two awesome big bangles from Goodwill, i bought an old jewelry box.  Its a really deep, dark wood with a gold design on top which makes it look rather cheap.  my first art project this summer is sanding it down, cleaning it out, and repainting it.

i'm not sure what this new phase is.  i just know that this summer, i'm all about making sure i'm living the real me.  my past year was literally a roller coaster.  when i think on the end of spring semester 2009 and the summer i was heading in to, i realize how much i've changed and how much i'm still changing.  France and this past semester, while amazing for very different reasons, also brought me a lot of challenges and a lot of pain.

in my heart, though, i know this summer will be different.  God has literally thrown open the doors for me.  i have an amazing internship where i'm going to be challenged to grow mentally, socially, and spiritually.  i have the one last glorious summer at home.  i have literally almost all of my best friends in Winston, or at least in North Carolina (thanks Mary and MK for heading to Europe).  i have a list of books to read, or re-read: Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, East of Eden by Steinbeck, Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis, The Sound and the Fury by Faulkner, at the very least.

but what makes this summer really different is me.  who i am now.  what i've learned and what i now know i want out of life.  sure, i don't have it one hundred percent figured out.  and it'll probably change again.  but this summer:

i know that God is the center.
love is my purpose.
and happiness is here to stay.