6 things I have been absolutely fascinated with lately...

1. Mumford and Sons (Sigh No More)
They are f a n t a s t i c. Their lyrics will carry you into a maze of ideas and emotions. Emotions that you personally wish to share, but can never find the correct words to phrase them. With strong biblical references, I believe this an album of the battle between man and God. I know what you're thinking, "but they say the 'F' word!!!! They can't be christian!" Oh puhhh-lease. That is what I love about them. They are real and raw. Our relationship with God isn't going to be pretty and clean. We are dirty sinners and battle with sin daily, it's messy stuff. This is music. Sorry, Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga, you aren't that cool.

2. Prayer Walks
Going on walks at night with just my raw emotions, thoughts, desires, dreams, cries, struggles, and a God who listens and cares. When Jesus said we should go into our inner room and shut the door, that meant He wanted to be intimate with us! God providing each day is an invitation to intimacy. If you haven't been much of a prayer, I beg you to be alone with God and have a real conversation with Him. It's so hard to just be alone in todays world, but FIND A WAY. Prayer is SO powerful! I want to share with everyone how God has answered prayers in ways I still to this day can't comprehend how or why. Passionate prayers not only change the world, they have a way of transforming the people who pray them. Ah, prayer is so good.

3. Running at sunset

Running is my stress reliever. I crave mile long runs to clear my head and let frustrations out otherwise I will get moody and go crazy. I'm talking at least, 5 miles long runs. I usually run in the morning, however last semester I started running right before sunset and it's one of my favorite things to do. I get to watch and experience being part of something greater than I. No matter how horrible the day went, I am humbled at God's beauty that is displayed all over the sky when the sun is setting. All of a sudden my problems and frustrations don't seem important, because I am consumed and in awe of God's beauty. There's no room in my brain to be ungrateful when I see a sunset. Go outside around 8pm and just soak it in. Experience God's love. A love gift, utterly unasked for by a sky. (taken with my iphone)

4. Snail Mail
Receiving a real note or letter > Receiving an email, or worse, a facebook message. I encourage you to find a pen pal. I currently have 3 faithful pen pals and it has made my relationship with those certain people sooooo much more meaningful. The last package I got was from a dear friend who gave me a mixed cd with songs that were so relevant to me life, coloring pens for my journaling and pictures we had taken. It touched my heart. I guess it's the fact that someone took the time to think of me and wrote me a letter that leaves me a giddy girl. It's rare to find people who do that these days. Let me know if you want to be pen pals :)

5. 500 Days of Summer

The first time I watched this was January 2011 and it gave me the goosebumps. I honestly related so well to Summer Finn it was scary weird. She loves pancakes, bike riding, reading, has roof top parties, is confusing as heck, sucks at opening up...I mean her name is SUMMER! If you have seen it, you make think she is a mean girl, but I think the movie does an excellent job explaining how complicated and hard relationships are. Plus, the soundtrack to the movie is the best, it's funny, it's sad, Zooey Deschanel is one of my favorites, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt is easy on the eyes. I've watched it wayyyy too many times, my roommates threatened to hide it from me:'(

6. Mangos
I am Obsessed. The smell. The unique flavor. The texture.
I love mangos.