Blogger guilt | The feels are real

The last month has been a blur. The best kind. I've been submersed in new conversations, lives, and experiences. I've been journaling every chance I get. I've been using up all the scotch tape trying to strap down tickets and memories onto pages. I've been adventuring through cities and villages of countries. I've meeting new faces and hearing incredible stories. My heart is full. 

The truth is, when I'm not outside, I'm sitting on a couch building a website. For any other person it's just another website to visit, but for me, it's what I've been dreaming of for years. The system I've chosen to use is complicated, but beautiful. It has taken weeks of tears, sweat (yes sweat), and many verbal processing conversations with friends and family. I haven't blogged because I've wanted to launch my new website and blog! Every chance I get I'm working on widgets, texts, photoshop collages, and uploading on slow European internet. I'm so excited! The tab for this website is constantly open and continually refreshed on my screen. I'm still not tired of it. I'm overwhelmed with the feedback I've already gotten and the help that has been given and offered. I wouldn't be as far along without my parents, Emily Gluntz, Jessica Lauren, Alice Holt, and premium spotify. 

Now the real update and reason for this post... my blogger guilt is real. Its eating me alive because I just want to share all the things I'm learning, processing, and experiencing. I know the time will come. I just have to be patient. 

By the time I step on Memphian soil, I plan to have this new website launched and live. I plan to be blogging and finally focusing my creative energy on other parts of my business, my beautiful (and patient) clients, and of course new (crazy) project ideas. 

Thank you to all for supporting me through this semester of craziness. I would never imagined myself traveling for weeks during senior year, nor building a professional website for my business, but that's how God works. He is faithful, and has plans that you couldn't even dream up.  Learning to trust His timing, His plans, and His love. 

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."    

 | Ephesians 3:20-21 |

Senior Year | Pisgah National Park | Part I

There aren't really words to explain the joy this trip brought me. I'm convinced waterfalls are a taste of God's glory. The way the sound is so calming, yet so loud. How in the midst of roaring, your heart can be completely at peace. It's a gift from God. I love feeling out of place, as the river rushes by me like it always has... Like I'm a visitor just popping by to gaze at the beauty. And that's what we are. Visitors.

Stephanie, my mentor and one of my best friends, planned it all. The place, the mountains, the cabin. I couldn't be more grateful for the time and love she put into this trip. We completely took over Pisgah National Forest! 

Oh Sara Beth, what would I do without you!!?! So thankful we got to live out our little wanderlust spirits together! I pray for more adventures in our future! We are gonna kill Europe. :P

One of my favorites shots I was able to capture from this entire trip. Being a whopping 5 foot 4 inches, I've never felt thaaat small.. but I have never felt tall. I suppose, usually I can't see over crowds and sometimes can't be heard depending on my company. 

Being up next to water falls like this though... its never felt so good to be small. We are all small at the foot of a majestic scene like this. Oh the Lord knows how to humble my heart. 

Long hike = nap time

More coming in Part II from the Pisgah National Forest. 
I cannot wait to tell little Benaiah about the adventures we had with him before we even got to meet him!

February 15 | Journal Entry: Aching |

Most days it doesn't really effect at an emotional level. But every once and a while, you wake up aching for it. It's like your body genuinely aches over what your mind is lingering over. Often I feel like I confuse the simplicity of childhood with believing how simple life was there. The question "are you glad you moved when you did?" has always been left slightly unanswered on my part only because I have no idea what highschool would have been like in Izmir. I don't know where my faith would have stood in the comfort of my little world. I think we all miss the days of waking up and getting our hands dirty, feet wet, and knees scraped. The days when having to get a band aid was the worst possible outcome of our choices. Because I will never experience living in Turkey as a young adult, I think it will remain in a state of too-good-to-be sort of a home. It hurts to ache for things you won't ever get back. It hurts to not visit what you miss. It hurts to just wake up and not have control over what your mind turns on and heart breaks over before you even eat breakfast. But I wouldn't change one thing of my story and timeline. If anything it shows his sovereignty and his hand over every single step. It's not wrong to miss and cherish memories and places, but it gets dangerous when you grow bitter and simply dwell on them. I'm thankful for things like our Turkish rugs that make it feel less like a dream. It's hurts, but how blessed I am to have something so good to miss.