13 happy things.

1. Whirly pop

2. mints from the European Market

3. Vintage earrings from my Grandma's basement

4. an old key

5. oreo

6. My favorite Converse necklace from Rosie

7. Kodachrome film

8. a flash cube

9. bow tie

10. envelope sealing wax

11. music and bokeh-ish washi tape

12. mockingjay pin

13. chicken feather earrings

What are some of your happy things?

4. Check.

16 before 16 number four [chocolate soufflé]: Check.

Made with: Em!

Eaten with: homemade whipped cream

Eaten by: the both of us (and her mom and brother)

Worked off by: a walk down the country roads (and laughter)

Love and a hug,

Lou

{p.s. i just learned how to play dutch blitz, which is basically the same thing as nerts. It's very frustrating if you're slow, but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty fun!}

Here we are at the end, here we are at the beginning.

2011 is in our rearview mirror, fading into the distance, and 2012 has sauntered joyfully in. I'm slightly sad to see the year go because it was one of the very best years yet. I also have a plenty of mistakes and regrets, but I don't think I'd take many back because I have learned so incredibly much from each one. And now I am ready to welcome in the new year, fresh, with no mistakes in it... yet. I know I will leave this year with plenty of them, but I hope I will also leave with memories, things made beautiful, hearts encouraged, knowledge gained, faith strengthened, and more patience and love for everyone I may meet.

I love new beginnings, clean slates, and a chance to change. This year, especially. I can't wait to change the way I do things slightly. To stop wasting my time, and do things that will improve me as a person in stead. To use my imagination, spend time with kids, and go on adventures I'll never forget rather than wasting time on Facebook that, in 50 years, I will only regret wasting. That is something I wish more teens these days would understand-- these are the most free days of our lives, and we can do so much with them, if only we get off the computers, phones, TVs, and get creative with our entertainment. I hope this year will be wonderful for you, full of things you will never forget! 

A blessed new year to you!!

Love, hugs, and great waves of inspiration,

Lou

[entirely random picture of bread from our saturday morning outing]

new year's goals and other such ramblings

this year i have quite a few of them!

1. drink more water, drink less soda. Eat more veggies and run more.

2. build up the courage and run track again.

3. read more.

4. become a better blogger and get to 100 followers!

5. work on core/abs strength. 

6. be a better secret-keeper. (i know this sounds terrible, but sometimes a secret gets

leaked to even just one person, and i want people to know that if they trust me with a 

secret, it will remain as if no one was ever told.)

and for my biggest project of the year:

7. i'm going to start a project called "365: a sketch a day" where i try to sketch

every day possible. (but really it will probably be about 340 because of two missions

trips in the summer). i just figure that since i'm planning on majoring in art, 

i should be a little better at drawing. so hopefully i'll do periodic posts about my better sketches.

of course, with all of these, i will be trying to grow in my faith, love for the Lord, patience and biblical love. and i pray that all of you will too! 

... now comes the part where i brag about my christmas presents. ;)

from adelle, now hanging by my bed to keep me dreaming for years to come. love it. love her more. 

some totally  a d o r a b l e  chicken feather earrings from Em! how cool is that?! i absolutely love them. and her! :)

the hunger games mockingjay pin. oh. yes. (i didn't actually get the book, i just figured it was more interesting than my hand)

my yearly calendar in audrey form once again! :)

my tiffin!!!

i am in love. but i still need an adventure to take it on. or at least somewhere to go to eat lunch.

from anthropologie!! we found it on super crazy reduced clearance and i fell in love.

I also got an awesome artist beret hat from lib that makes me feel like i'm in france. and cam gave me one of the coolest presents ever, but i didn't take a picture, so i may tell you about that later.

what did you get for Christmas?

----------------------------------------------------------------


did i ever tell you that i like the hunger games? well i do. i couldn't remember if i mentioned it or not. ;)
anywho, there's a song from the movie that's out and i just adore it. it's kind of sad, but i keep listening to it over and over again. you can listen to it here.

Have a wonderful evening, and read a book by candlelight for me, would ya?
I think i will.


Sending love and hugs,

Lou

sixteen before sixteen!

I concluded that it would be best to fulfill my promise right away so I don't break it, so here we go!

(I have five months as of yesterday to complete this list)

{Sixteen before sixteen}

 1. get my learner's permit for driving 

 2. read to the Bible all the way through from where I am now (2 Kings) 

 3. write my 200th post

4. make chocolate soufflé 

5. get my middle splits and perfect my left and right ones 

 6. go iceskating with Rosie (who has never been before!!) 

7. buy something from Anthropologie 

8. go to the midnight premier of The Hunger Games with my friends! 

9. do an official photo shoot for a friend. (any volunteers? :)

10. have an indoor picnic

11. have a sunrise picnic on the roof

12. read my entire book of The World's Best Fairy Tales

13. Make a scrapbook of my summer and the school year so far

14. wear mustaches and go on an all-town scavenger hung

15. make a messenger bag/purse

16. write a song on the piano

There ya go, folks! If you haven't made yours yet, I'd love to see it!

Happy Wednesday!

The World's Best Fairy Tales


Love and a hug,
Lindsey Nicole

{p.s. new year's resolutions coming soon!}

Lately Lovely {Christmas Edition}

Dear friends,

I hope your Christmas was as wonderful and filled with Christ's love as mine was! 

Two days before, On Christmas Eve Eve, we all piled into our van and hit the road to see our extended family. I was planning to finish Libby's striped socks in the total of 7 hours of driving, there and back, but I was distracted and didn't remember half of the yarn needed, so she didn't get anything from me on Christmas morning. 

In stead of knitting, I listened to music and stared out of my window, dreaming, thinking, and processing everything that was on my mind for three and a half hours. I can let my mind wander for great lengths of time without being bored.

The night we arrived, we headed to a steakhouse for dinner to celebrate my Grandpa's retirement. He has been working for Ameren for 39 years and is finally retiring-- I'm so proud of him! Being such a hard worker, and a cattle farmer on the side, I know he won't get bored.

On Christmas Eve morning we had a big breakfast and opened presents. I got to see my adorable cousins, too!

Later on, we went on an outing with my Grandma and Aunt, then picked up the town's famous pizza for dinner. And we exchanged gifts and had a great time before we hit the road again.

On Christmas Eve, for once I curled my hair and we hurried to get ready before a fancy dinner and Christmas Eve Service. My favorite part of the service is when we sing "Silent Night" at the end and light candles, then raise them on the last verse. I was so enchanted by the sight of all the candles raised and the soft sound of everyone singing. 

When Christmas morning came, we went to church, then came home and opened presents. We all felt like we were very content this year and didn't really want much, so I loved everything I got (I'll tell you about it later).

Christmas afternoon held games, friends, and LOTS of laughter! So much that my stomach hurt.

Since then, I've been hit with something strange that makes me pick up my stuff, read more, be very productive, not eat junk, and go on frequent runs. Strange, but nice. :)

g

the beginning of my mama's cranberry sorbet

candy canes. <3

a self-portrait from Christmas Eve
(I don't really take many self-portraits because the make me feel vain. It's kind of weird, I know.)

when we visited my grandma (my dad's mom),  we went to a mennonite market with her and my aunt that had lots of bulk foods and candies... and I got this!! I've always wanted one of these lollipops, but it's really more because I want to look at it than eat it. :)

... and then I loved it so much that I drew it.

I titled it "eye candy"

a bad picture of something I found on my walk. It was peeking out of the weathered, lifeless grass, couldn't help but remind me of Peeta. How lovely is that in the end of December?


And now I'm going to make you a promise: I will post my sixteen before sixteen list BEFORE the end of the year! That is, unless the computers break down, or Jesus comes back. I would really be happy about the latter. Happy isn't a strong enough word. Ecstatic X infinity would be more like it. :)

Sending love and hugs,

Lindsey Nicole

Psalm 103

Praise the Lord, O my soul; 

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not al his benefits--

who forgives all your sins 

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit 

and crowns you with love and compassion, 

who satisfies your desires with good thins

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The Lord works righteousness

and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his was to Moses,

his deeds to the people of Israel:

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse, 

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities,

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he know how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass,

he flourishes like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone, 

and its place remembers it no mer.

But from everlasting to everlasting

the Lord's love is with those who fear him

and his righteousness with their children's children--

with those who keep his covenant 

and remember to obey his precepts. 

The Lord has established his throne in heaven, 

and his kingdom rules over all.

Praise the Lord, you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his bidding, 

who obey his word.

Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,

you his servants who do his will.

Praise the Lord, all his works

everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, O my soul.

There you go, food for the soul. Honestly, I was only going to write the first few verses, but I read on and realized that it's so good that you can't stop there. I hope that you are having a great week and are not getting too stressed about Christmas presents, but are focusing on why we even give Christmas presents. I must say that I've had a bit of trouble with that this year (I'm knitting my sister socks and I don't know if I'll get them done in time). To all of you who have finals, I hope they go well! 

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go hang out with my bestfriend. Have a lovely evening!!

Much Love,

Lindsey Nicole

{p.s. I'm getting so excited to wear my dress for christmas eve! What are YOU wearing? I'd love to hear!}