transition.

Transitions. Let's be honest. They are inescapable. They are everywhere, you can't hide from them you can't not use them.

First they impose in writing. Then they become imposters in our life whether we want them or not. That's the things with transitions, there are always two kinds to a story. There is the seamless, perfect transition that just makes sense. Then there is abrupt shift in change that begs the question, WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON WITH THE WORLD.

Transitions.

For the last 12 months, I have been in transition. Looking back on it and looking forward on it. When is there not going to be a transition. Life is a constant changing state. I can also say with honesty that this year has not been my best with everyone encouraging me there is a reason for everything. Actually, not in the cheesy way, but with utmost concern and with actual hope that this stage in life is just the beginning to something bigger. But what makes this year different than last.

Last year, I would proudly tell you what state of life I was in. With a smirk on my face, I would boldy say, Well, I am embracing the mystery of life. 

Somewhere a shift happened.  Is it my age? Last, I checked I've only grown a year old than the year before. Thus, this thorn in my foot, this transition has to do with me.  And it seemed to be almost seamless--this is scary.

I hope to once again be able to say, smugly, I might add,  I am embracing the mystery of life.

Without transition, the world is in a scary place.  Life would be in a boring place. The transitions are what take us to our intended purpose. A purpose that doesn't always look as planned or look like it should in the conventional sense.

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All of this came into play within the last 24 hours. A very grownup revelation. Last night as I was nannying a girl I really enjoy spending time with. She and her cousins asked me if I had kid. I laughed. "No, I don't have kids. I mean, I could but no, I don't need one." 

This seemed like a preposterous that. Mainly, because I get the question regularly "Oh, what are you studying in school?" Et cetera. Then a little bit later I was talking to the girls aunt and was asked the same thing. "Do you have kids?" It's funny. I hate being considered still in school yet I hate being considered that I could be a mom.  Somewhere there is a middle ground, yeah? 

But it made me realize that I am getting older. In the last year, I have had a handful of friends embark in marriage.  I have had a handful of friends make the decision to bring new life to this world. (A good, 6 or 7 of them are having/have had their babies within the last month or 2) A few friends becoming aunts and uncles. I have had friends move across the country and across the world.

In fact, one of those transitions are happening as we speak. At 5:45 this morning, I received the call and rushed over to their house, watching them walk out the front door to go to the hospital. Then waiting for the boys to wake up to tell them the good news. 

How cool is that? 

All of these are transitions. All of them are beautiful. There are the sticky transitions in the middle that add to overlooking and the taking for granted of the good. 

some of my favorite words

Source: Uploaded by user via Samantha on Pinterest

I use to stalk my boyfriend.

is that creepy?

Introduction: Ashley Wells

all the things I meant to say 

Dedicated to the girl who deserves the world and more. 


She is one of those people. 


Yes, those people. Life changing people that leave marks wherever they go. Great and small. With her great smile and always giggling personality. This is someone you feel privileged to have in your life, feeling so blessed every time she makes an appearance.  


Who is She you may ask? Her name is Ashley Wells. 


I have been able to call this girl friend since I was 18 years old. It's been over 6 years. Crazy. 


I have learned so much from her and her servant heart. She gives herself away at the drop at the hat. She is an old soul, lover of art and the written word. Tea obsessed, the English way. She dares to try new thing and everything seems natural to her but I know she works hard. 


This is the kind of girl who makes a pot of coffee and brings you a lovely cup the minute you wake up without even second guessing. 


Ashley inspires. Encourages. Believes in people and their capacity to be great. She is a God-loving woman who has had her world rocked a time or two embracing it every time. 


She has adventure. 


I recently heard people call her brave. As I was contemplating this, I realized it is true. It seems as if she has no fear. She takes things as they come and continues to live. Relocating for passion. Always moving to bigger and better things. 


This next stage of her life. Marriage.  April 14, 2012. 


Her and James Pierce, a man who I am pretty sure she has loved since the first time she spent time with him. A man who couldn't be more perfect for her. Their long  distance relationship was spent writing letters back and forth and exchanging poetry. She made the big leap when she decided to move to Texas to be near him. Then some time later she said "Yes."


Here we are now, December 2011. Friday her darling sister through her shower and the first thing Ashley Wells was introduce all the girls attending and explaining how she knew everyone. All of us from different times of life, highschool, Vanguard, El Salvador, Oxford, family and future family. To her, all stories are important and need to be told. 


Over the next few hours we spent hours talking about our favorite times and best time and how excited we were. 


This is where I spoke for a while saying absolutely nothing of importance. 


After a couple of hours, we spent some time praying over this lovely lady and her new adventure of life. 


 My dearest Ashley Wells, soon-to-be Ashley Pierce, I couldn't be more excited for you. 


Even though we live so far apart and only get to spend a couple of hours here and there, thank you so much for sharing life with me. 


I feel so blessed. 

Sam or Ryan: Who wore it best?

That awkward moments where you show up to a party wearing the same thing. 

Here's the skinny. 

The other night I went to one of the 31 bits annual christmas parties. You know those super fun ones with food trucks, booze [and coffee] and a photobooth-- to show that you were there and also to be really silly. Yeah, those ones. 

To my surprise, and/or excitement, Ryan Longneck from Equals D Photography and fellow Give Prints*  photographer was running the photobooth with his trusty partner. Almost jokingly Ryan says to me "You sportin the Give Prints shirt?"

Then I give him a look. The "you've got to be kidding me kind."

I look down. I have a jacket on. I look at him. He does too. 

Here it is, moment of truth. 

"Yeah, actually," I say. 

I show him mine. 

Then. 

He shows me his. 

So, what next? 

He was running the photobooth. 

The only thing that makes sense next is to document this "Great minds thinks alike" moment. 

Here we go.

>>>> Who wore it best ? 

*Give Prints: Everyone go to the page and like it and check back for fun things happening. 

the girl in the green scarf

I like my things. I really do. I go through these random complexes of thinking I have too much stuff but then I just kind of brush it off.

I like my things, I really do. But if you eliminated anything from my closet or even my mustard yellow desk, I would be completely fine.

For the most part none of this stuff defines me. I don't have an emotional attachment to any of it. 

Except one thing. People that know me would agree. I have one accessory that I wear almost every single day. The green scarf. One of those Indian Pashmina scarves. I got it in South Africa at this random music/culture festival called in Innibos. I spent maybe $10 on the thing and had no idea what I was getting into. For the next 2 1/2 years I would wear this scarf like it was my best friend. It's been on so many adventures with me from the grand canyon, oklahoma, oregon, indiana, germany, scotland, london, south africa, zimbabwe, mozambique, the list goes on. It keeps me warm. It goes with everything. I get more compliments on it that anything I've ever worn. It has been with me through every range of emotions.

I wear it everyday until now. 

The other day, Eli and I were going on one of our adventures before we picked up Ryan from school. I remember having the scarf. Then all of a sudden I didn't. Just gone. I called anywhere I could think. I've checked the school lost and found 2 times now. Nothing. 

It is gone. 

I feel like a part of me is gone.

It's silly to think that a piece of material could have this impact but there was something about it. This is probably the only thing in my closet that I've considered crying over. It was one of those pieces that I pictured me handing down to my "future" daughter and telling her stories of the girl in the green scarf.