lovely things.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." philippians 4:8

things i think are lovely:
*my students - i love the 16 kids i spend my days with. today i was serenaded, had 3 pictures drawn for me and got about a 1,000 hugs. i also love when pieces start coming together and the kids get excited that they have learned how to read, write, spell, add, subtract, tell time! the twinkle in their eyes, the laughter, the smiles, i love them! i do.

*my friends - they are amazing, they share dinners with me. they share their kids with me. they share their birthdays, their time, their energy, their laughs, their joy, their wisdom, their prayers, their families, and lots and lots of love. i have felt surrounded by completely and totally wonderful, loving people and i love love love them! i love that they make my life better than it should be.

*my roommate(s) - i refuse to acknowledge the fact that just because megan lives on another continent that she also doesn't live in our home. i love that it still feels like she's such a part of our lives, and we still share so much of life together. praises for skype and email. i love, love, love sarah! she's amazing. she puts up with me and listens to me and laughs at me and with me. she prays with me and for me. she encourages me. she loves me and i love her. she's amazing.

*the salvation army! - i really have no words. i love, love, love going to the salvation army. whether it's at women and family or harbor light. i'm sure everyone in my life wishes i would shut up about how amazing salvation army is, but i'm sorry. i can't. i can't get enough. i love the directors, the employees, the clients, the choir, everyone! i love it.

*my family - if there were any possible way to rearrange the state of texas and make my parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great aunts, great uncles, etc. would just be close enough to see regularly. january was amazing in the sense that i got to connect and spend time with so many of them. i loved it! i loved getting to know them, laugh with them, hear stories. i loved getting to hang out and eat dinner with my mom. i loved seeing my niece and hug her and play with her. i loved it. i want to be close to them, but i also don't want to leave my friends, city, students, life in houston.

*houston - houston is full of amazing people, experiences, fun! i can not wait to go sit at a park and journal once the weather gets a bit warmer and watch the amazing families playing in the spray fountains, see kids rolling down the hill at Hermann Park, and go to see free shows/concerts/operas at Miller and Discovery Green. not to mention the amazing food and how i can hang out with people all over the city.