God has a sense of humor.

I firmly believe that God has a sense of humor.

For starters, I think everyone should think about the weirdest person they know - typically in this situation I think of myself (weird, I know) or someone in my family.  Think about all of their quirky habits.  Some of mine would include eating Oreo’s with peanut butter, wearing my hair in weird bun things like Princess Leia while Facetiming my boyfriend, and this obsession I have with wanting Michigan State to lose in basketball.

One of my sisters has shots of sugar packets when we go to restaurants, and my other sister sends the ugliest throwback pictures of our family in our GroupMe.  My cousins have a sick sense of humor that only worsens when they are in public.  My roommates like to stand on our furniture and play their ukuleles and recorders at 11 o’clock at night.

And God made all of these people. He has to just watch over all of his people some days and cry with laughter, knowing that he made no mistakes when making us, and he loves us all the same.

I love reading the Gospels because I can just imagine Jesus (who is obviously a funny guy as well since, ya know, God is his Father!), doing everything in his power to not laugh in people’s faces for some of the dumb things they say! 

Peter has potential to be one of my favorite people in the Bible.  Gosh, he’s just an idiot!  I think one of the reasons I like him, and that I call him an idiot, is because I see so much of myself in Peter.  For example, if you look at Matthew 16:13 – 20, Peter sounds like the coolest guy in the room.  He just realized that Jesus was the Messiah!!! If you continue reading though into verses 21 – 28, you will read that Jesus calls Peter Satan! 

I’m going to be completely honest, I laugh every time I read that! I just think it’s so funny how Peter goes from standing on top of a mountain to probably wanting to hide behind a rock.  I see this in my own life as one week I’m praying for focus, energy, and strength to remain Christ-centered, and then the next week I’m basically calling myself Superwoman as I accomplish everything on my to-do list.  I can just picture God rubbing his head and saying, “Yeah, maybe she’ll get it someday!”

Matthew 20:29 – 34 is one of my favorite stories.  Paraphrased by me, it goes something like this:

"So, Jesus is walking with this crowd of people (aka me and whoever else wants to admit their stupidity) behind him and he’s telling all these stories.  Now, these people are listening but not really listening because they have their whole lives put together.

And sitting on the side of the road are these two blind men and they hear Jesus, like really hear Jesus and they get it, so they start yelling for Jesus! People like me, though, need to uphold our good image, so naturally, we forget who we are hanging out with and we start yelling at these blind men to shut up – for crying out loud, I need to pretend I am listening to Jesus. But these two guys just keep yelling louder! 

Wouldn’t you know, Jesus turns around giving me this eye roll (imitating the one that I give to my roommates when they’re being weird) and he tells me to shut up. This is also the part where I just picture Jesus chuckling to himself as he deals with mere humans!  Then, he starts talking to these two guys, LOVING these two guys, and because of their faith, Jesus heals their beautiful eyes.  These guys are so incredibly thankful that they just get up and starting following Jesus around without a second thought."

All of this to say, 1) I’m so thankful God has a sense of humor and created humans with the ability to laugh as well, 2) I need to lighten up and remember to laugh more because God loves it when we are joyful, and 3) I’m working on being more consistent in my faith, but I’m thankful for the grace that God has on sinners like me.






-Courage, dear heart. C.S. Lewis
Lexi

The Internet has increased my awareness of ____________.

I remember when I was in elementary school and I used Internet Explorer.  Now, I'm twenty years old and in live in a world that makes jokes about using Internet Explorer - I now use other search engines like Google Chrome or Firefox.  I look back to my time as a middle school student and it was cool to have MySpace or Facebook.  My sisters are in high school now and they don't want Facebook - they have Twitter and Instagram.  The world I live in is growing smaller because of the Internet, and while I have advanced access to many resources, the Internet has only increased my awareness of myself.

It sounds conceited even as I type that out - I am the epitome of the "selfish generation."  I would like to explain myself though, because I mean that statement in the most humble way possible.

I took a class this past call called Communication, Technology, and Society.  One of our first assignments was to search through our own social media sides (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) and "judge" our own selves based on our first impressions.

If someone didn't know me, they probably would think I am an incredibly classy, popular, girly girl.  My most recent photos are on a dinner date I went to with some girl friends, several different weddings I attended, and then some cute pictures of adventures I went on with my boyfriend.

Those who really know me would say that I am known to wear basketball shorts, half-calf socks with my Birkenstock sandals, and a tank top that I cute myself with my curly hair thrown into a bun on top of my head.  I have been a student-athlete my entire life - volleyball, basketball, track, and cross country.  The only reason I own makeup is because my cosmetologist cousin bought it for me - this happened three years ago and I haven't bought any new products since!

I'm a Journalism/Media Communications major and due to the pressure I felt to become a good writer, and my own somewhat desperation to have other people hear my voice, I started a blog this past summer.  I won't brag about my numerous followers because its still mainly family who reads what I have to say, but nonetheless, I'm writing where the whole world can see if they really want.

Now, how does this show that the Internet has made me more aware of myself?  First, the Internet has made me aware that, in a weird way, I live a very fake life - as do many other people in this world!  Unless they live with me, no one sees my morning bed head or that I wore the same pair of shorts three days in a row.  I strive to be authentic towards the people around me, but instead my followers see the finished ceramics products that I'm showing off on Instagram, but never get a glimpse of the hundreds of flopped bowls I produced before that.

Second, the Internet has made me aware that my words are here to stay.  Anything I post on the Internet - pictures, statuses, and tweets - all of that will forever be on the Internet and there's no going back.  I can delete items, yes, but the Internet has this disturbing way, that I don't know how to intelligently explain, of resurfacing things you hope will disappear forever.

Lastly, the Internet is making me aware of the power I do have - in a good way!  The Internet has given me the opportunity to share my voice.  I have the opportunity to post on my blog, use Pinterest to discover new projects I want to tackle this summer, and of course do more important endeavors like research for my current exegetical paper.  I believe, just like I believe this about most things in life, that there is a good and bad side to the Internet - the trick is to find balance!

In realizing this, the Internet has made me more aware of myself; for better and for worse, I am learning who I am, who I don't want to be, and who I want to strive to be more like.








-Courage, dear heart. C.S. Lewis
Lexi

Caribou vs. Starbucks

The lifelong debate I've been having amongst myself has come to an end - the debate over which coffee shop is better, Caribou or Starbucks.

To finally come to a conclusion, I obviously had to go to both coffee shops this past week.

First, I went to Starbucks - my go to drink: either a Chocolate Smoothie or an Iced Caramel-Macchiato. I would definitely recommend either of those options. The worst part though, is that a lot of Starbucks don't offer the Chocolate Smoothie option!  They have a Strawberry Smoothie and an Orange Mango Smoothie, but I just haven't had the heart to try either of them - I am such a sucker for the combination of chocolate and bananas!

*Side note: Whenever I go to another great place called The Tea Garden I always get a Chocolate Banana Shake with coffee jellies! ... I know, it's weird!

Guilty as charged, here's my Iced Caramel-Macchiato.

 

To be honest, I never thought I would be a Caribou Coffee girl.  I went from growing up in Iowa, where Starbucks is the way to go, then moving to Minnesota, where I can't get away from Caribou!  Nonetheless, I think I would admit now that I would in fact choose Caribou over Starbucks.  My go to drink would be a Berry White Mocha Cooler.  Even more than I love chocolate and bananas ... I LOVE chocolate and raspberries!!!! If you're not into that, I would also recommend the Campfire mocha (hot, iced, or cooler are all delicious!).  This last time, I ordered a Dirty Chai Tea Latte (aka Chai Tea Latte with Espresso), while it kept me awake on little sleep, I don't know if I would drink it just for fun - I think I still would order a regular Chai Tea Latte before a Dirty Chai!

It took everything in me to not buy this entire sale table at Caribou.  

I actually have a coffee addiction.

Caribou also has a cute chalk board and everyone can share - I love stuff like this!

And of course, I had to answer the question for myself!!!

The reading nooks are so much more cozy than in Starbucks.

I'm just clearly having more fun with friends when I am at Caribou.

I hope many people are able to sleep better tonight knowing that I now prefer Caribou over Starbucks!  Sweet dreams, friends!!!

-Courage, dear heart. C.S. Lewis
Lexi

The Imitation Game

I watched the movie called The Imitation Game last night.  Based on a true story, the movie is about the decrypting of the Germans code Enigma.  Not going to lie, much of the math, codes, and war history was over my head BUT what caught my attention was the end of the movie.

As the war ended, the four men and one women were instructed to destroy all that they had created.  It could never be known that they had broken Enigma.  They had to move on with their lives and act as if they never knew one another and like they had never even been involved with the war.  Their new lives were a lie wrapped around another lie.

It it struck me today at 12:17 AM when the movie finished that Jesus Christ died for the imitation game that I play every single day - where I am not vulnerable about burdens in my life when I should be; where I am not completely honest about the hurtful words people say; where I put on a mask some mornings, hiding my struggles and stress level before heading off to class.

Jesus died for the imitation game - by his grace alone, I am healed from all that I pretend to be.

"You know the Room of Grace was never just about getting healed, right?  The goal has always been to free your release into your particular destiny.  I have a feeling that's what you're waking up to.  It happens to all of us.  What you're experiencing tonight, it's real.  It's God telling you, 'I didn't forget.  I made you for this - for the unique influence you have on others.'  You, my wandering friend, are right on time."     - The Cure

I'm learning to be thankful for death on the cross, the grace of God, and the chance to be redeemed and healed, not just on Easter Sunday, but every day of my life.  These daily reminders point me towards the God-given desires that have been burned on my heart since I was created.  Because of the conquered death, I have a great destiny waiting to be discovered beyond the painful mistakes I have made.  Destiny is the ordained intention God has sacredly prepared with your name on it (The Cure).

Happy Easter Sunday!

-Courage, dear heart. C.S. Lewis

Lexi

chocolate, tea, and the finer things in life

I've been learning a lot this year, but I keep consistently going back to the quote that inspired me to start a one year bucket list and this blog; the quote that is inspiring me to do the finer things in life that are good for my soul!

"Enjoy the little things for one day you will look back and realize they were the big things."

I love eating chocolate, and it may sound ridiculous but I haven't done enough of that lately.  This past weekend, I ate a delicious "Chocoholic" cupcake (check out Scratch Cupcakery) and a half bag of Brookside chocolate covered raspberries (potentially one of my favorite things on the planet!)

I'm becoming more of a tea drinker.  I can't give up my morning coffee, but I've started to drink a daily cup of tea as well.  Now, all I need are some beautiful pastries and the Queen of England to join me!

When people told me that I wouldn't have time to read for fun when I came to college, I thought it was a joke.  Unfortunately, it's kind of true, but I've learned to make time for reading books and the newspaper because it makes me happy and I learn a lot through reading.  I was also told this year that the more you read, the better writer you become so I'm hoping that's true!!!

I love creative projects - I am taking a ceramics class and I LOVE putting in the extra work and going to work on new pots, vases, pitchers, whatever with my roommate or a lot of times by myself! I've also taken up painting again this year and it's become a new thing of mine to catch up on my favorite TV shows or watch movies and paint!

I've started to go on long runs a lot more this year, especially since January.  The cold never bothered me anyway, so I ran outside a lot even in the slush, wind, and snow!  It's been a good way to get fresh air outside, clear my head, and obviously, exercise!

And with that, I want to encourage you to start today and take on the small things in life that bring you joy!

-Courage, dear heart. C.S. Lewis

Lexi