weekend phone dump

Today I tried to snap a photo on my phone and I received that all-too-frequent alert "Can't take photo. No room in camera roll." Oops. My picture taking obsession wins again. It's been a busy couple of months. Take a look:

1. Exploring Cincinnati, mini-van style.

2. Some intense arcade playing on the road.

3. Oreo cake balls make our staff team crazy!

4. Campus shenanigans with the four oldest Elmores.

5. My favorite two-year old.

6. Roadtrip home from Kentucky...a little loopy after no sleep!

7. Putting the finishing touches on some wedding invitations.

8. An afternoon at home.

9 "Do not push the button." Quickest way to get me to push a button.

10. Our beastly staff men moving one of the largest La-Z-Boys I have ever seen.

11. Discovered a new favorite restaurant, Newdle Bar.

12. Spotted: Sydney's tiny pink bow peeking out from behind her computer.

13. One of my favorite parts of Cleveland.

14. Marlena (of Milo Greene)'s super-rad jacket.

15. Mirror pics. No shame. 

16. A little leprechaun baking me some cupcakes. 

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These next couple months will be just as full, if not more so. I am excited to be leaving Thursday to spend 10 days with my grandma in San Francisco, one of my favorite cities in the world. The weekend after I return is our regional staff retreat followed by a few weeks of wrapping things up on campus and another road trip to Oxford. Then it's off to Colorado Springs for my third EDGE summit. Where the heck is time going???

But for today, I am resting at home with my family. My dad cooked us a traditional Irish dinner and my seven-year-old brother taught me how to play "silly basketball." Which is basically the same as regular basketball, except you are allowed to hit each other in the face. And most importantly, it is now time for Shamrock Shakes...Happy St. Patrick's Day!

weekend phone dump

It's true, I have a small photo-taking obsession. Here are nine reasons I got out my phone this week:

1. Awesome W Market St houses. On the way home from a friend's house in Akron this week, I pulled off into a neighborhood and walked along the brick streets taking pictures of homes I wouldn't mind living in. Until I started to feel creepy and got back in my car

2. Molly's  Christmas coupon from her younger brother. It reads: "This coupon gives you one free day with Sam Mckee. He will have to do whatever you want and he can't say no. Unless he has to work."

3. Angel Falls Coffee never fails to look like a movie set. Met a student for dinner at Aladdin's a few buildings down. Seriously hard to pass up the cake.

4. I got to babysit this angel out of the blue. First of all, one year olds are awesome. Second of all, look how much joy is in that little baby. Total blessing getting to hang out with her and her big brother.

5. Sister time and (real) camera time. Bliss.

6. Dat sky. I'm going to be a total hipster here and say "no filter."

7. Mini freak out in the mug section of Target. I may be biased (due to my serious love for mugs) but honestly these were so cute I thought I might pass out. Also, $4.99 seems like such a good deal until you multiply it by 20. Now accepting donations.

8. My family has a new kitten who is legitimately insane. The fact that she likes to be carried around like this is only one of the examples. 

9. Gabe being a sneak at staff meeting. I haven't trusted him since he tried to bite my toe off.

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Should I be worried that two of these involved cats? Nah. 

a break in photos

This was the 18th Christmas break of my life. If I've learned one thing, it's that Christmas break never gets old. While this break wasn't quite as carefree as breaks in the past (no students means more time for fundraising, organizing, etc.), it was still a wonderful time of refreshment for me; a perfect mixture of rest and adventure. 

My favorite way to tell a story is through pictures, so here's a snapshot of moments of joy in the past three weeks:

Colorado; exploring new coffee shops with friends; yearly Donzell's trip with the family; little brothers who get legos for Christmas (and let you play with them); sister time; snow; new friends who feel like family; giant breakfasts; new little ones; good books & fresh perspectives; best friends getting engaged; clean workspaces & handwritten notes; giant hairbows & ringlet curls; people you can share anything with; silly notes; tiny belated gifts. 

And some moments are so full of life you forget to get out your camera. Like witnessing your teammate  and friend marry the love of his life or playing Just Dance with your roommates so much that you start to memorize the routines.

I am so thankful for these three weeks and the rest that I have found in them, but I am also incredibly excited to be back on campus with the students. This semester is brimming with potential, and I cannot wait to see how God grows and stretches each one of them. 

To all my Kent and Akron friends: enjoy your last day of freedom and good luck next semester. Although you don't really need luck if you study... ;)

Peace.