spring break adventures.

okay, i'll be honest. a week ago at the start of spring break i was being a big debby downer about the upcoming week. all of my friends were out of town on their cool vacations, while i was home. however, as the week progressed, i learned a few things...

1. making money feels better than spending money at the end of the day. yep, i said it. i babysat for 9 hours three days this past week, and quite honestly up until now i have forgotten what it feels like to have more than $5 in your pocket. don't get me wrong, money is definitely not everything, but it is nice to be able to buy a full tank of gas and a smoothie just for kicks and grins every once in a while without feeling like you will break the bank. can anyone relate?

2. i live in a pretty cool state. yes-- pretty and cool. i have the best of both worlds over here in Arkansas. i did lots of outdoorsy things and hiked a bit this past week, which allowed me to really go out and just see the beauty God has for us. even through the bare trees (come on spring, i know you can come a little faster), it has become so evident to me how small we are compared to the Lord. Just another reminder of "He must increase, but i must decrease" (John 3:30).

3. i can be the one... to be bold, to start a conversation, to take the first step, to say the first word, or to create something new, and to overall-- lead. sometimes out of fear of awkward situations, i tend to back down and in a way "quit". whether that means not go to something i really should go to and benefit from, or being the girl who has a mindset of "oh, someone else will do it/say that"-- i am learning to get over those lies. i mean , come one, life has so much to offer, yet we don't live in full out of fear? that is overrated, and honestly not a fun way to live. 

living in the presence of God is the most freeing thing one can do. the joy i feel from the simple truth that Jesus loves us more in this moment than anyone can in a lifetime, is unreal. 

so, here are a few photos from some adventures i took. (no worries, i may seem like i am a really outdoorsy gal, but let's be real-- i still do spend 70% of my time watching The Office and on Pinterest.)

[ little bitty people, huge rocks, and rushing water. ]

[ this bridge was the half way marker. fun on the way there, yet not so fun running back on during a storm. ]

[ pictured: the bros. ]

[ pictured: jackson and myself. ]

[ chop, chop. ]

[ the attempt to get a decent photo of my brothers and i. and quite honestly, i don't even know what was so funny in that moment. ]

[ the whole gang. ]

[ pictured: jackson (my older brother), my mother, and graham (younger bro). ]

[ a beautiful outdoor chapel overlooking the heart of Arkansas. can i get married here, someday? ]

[ the waterfall! ]

[ pictured: jackson taking a photo, and graham doing whatever graham does. ]

^^^ adventure uno... hiking to a waterfall in the pouring rain with my family. ^^^

[ pictured: elliot, myself, abigail. ]

[ pictured: alex, elliot, abigail. ]

[ just trying to be hip, and failing miserably. ]

[ pictured: elliot and alex. ]

^^^ adventure two...exploring a not-so-trail trail with my pals. ^^^

i would say my spring break was a success, though i did not think so at first. funny how as time goes on, everything is put into perspective. funny and always needed, especially for someone like myself. hopefully, more adventures to come. and spring too, that would be nice.