hope and a future

(no comment on the fact that these events happened over a month ago...)

When the graduation season hit this year it hit HARD! I began my rounds early May and didn't stop until June was nearly half over! Whew!

#1: JMU Graduation- May 7th

It's funny, as I drove through Harrisonburg on graduation day (2011), I got this huge lump in my throat and felt tears start to sting my eyes. I had not missed that town one single time in the whole year that I'd been gone, but in that moment something in me yearned for the life I had lived for 4 years in that place. It is strange how certain places {or smells, or songs, or just the way a day feels} can hit you out of nowhere and transport you to another time in an instant. The definition of bittersweet: pleasant but tinged with sadness. I think that is a pretty accurate way to describe these brief, yet poignant moments.

{It was so fun to watch good friends celebrate their big day- Nichole and Kate}

#2: Waynesboro High School Baccalaureate (the graduation ceremony where they actually allow you to acknowledge that God is the one who has blessed us with the lives we lead, not us. And that there's more to it than just doing whatever it takes to realize success or whatever else the graduation speaker might choose to say during his/her 15 minutes of fame... okay, I'll hop down off my soap box now.)

{me and my sweet friend Jessie- she didn't graduate, but came to support her friends who did}

#3: Waynesboro High School Graduation

{these are 4 of my favorite people in the whole world... I love them and their beautiful hearts}

{Isn't she lovely??}

#4: Cave Spring High School Graduation

I couldn't help but get a little misty eyed as 'Pomp and Circumstance' launched Rachel's graduation ceremony- the last one of the family to walk across that high school stage in red and black. I couldn't believe it had been 5 years since I heard my own name called to come receive my diploma. Time flies!

{Now that is one good looking family right there!}

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord,

'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

Jeremiah 29:11

Love,

B

Better Than This

Is this what you meant? Is this what you dreamed of

When you were making your plans, shaking the dirt off?

Do you feel like you and I belong? Oh

Just keep your eyes on the road and nothing can go wrong

You can do so much better than this

You can do so much better than this

I've been checking my sums, oh where did the time go?

Holding my photograph up to the window

Through the paper and refracted sun, oh

I can see all the things I wish that I'd done

You can hang your hopes on the medicine

You can put your faith in the phone-in

You can tell yourself, you're doing your best

You can do so much better than this

Get a grip on yourself, get a grip on yourself

Could have been something but you're too late

And you weren't invited anyway

Just a photograph show the wrong man

'Cause there is no soap star holding your hand

You don't see yourself in the freeze frame

Must be someone else using your name

And everyone will be the same

And everyone will glow

And everywhere you'll see your name

In every shop window

It's better than this

You can do so much better than this

You can do so much better than this

You can do so much better than this

-"Better Than This," Keane

Something to think about...

B

summertime.

One of my favorite things about the summer is that there are so many tasty things to eat right off the vine (or bush or branch). My number one {unattained} goal is to pick corn. The other day when Taylor and I were in the car I felt compelled to apologize. "Um... sorry, I'm having trouble focusing on the road because I'm too busy looking for berry bushes." Ridiculous.

I have recently found that I have no green thumb whatsoever. And when I say none, I mean I have killed two very live plants since living in this apartment (and one lasted less than a week- sad). So thankfully, Taylor's family lives right down the street and they have a wonderful little garden in the back yard full of yummy (very alive) things for me to pick and eat to my heart's content.

Cucumbers.

Peas.

Tomatoes.

Strawberries.

Blueberries.

"Then God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth

and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food... And it was so."

Genesis 1:29, 30b

Yum.

B