The Countdown Begins...

I've been away from this blog for a long time. Some of the time spent was trying to figure out what this blog should be. I want it to be more than a list of events that I go to, so this year...that will change.

This summer has been good, not quite what I expected, but when is anything really?
I spend much of my time working as a cashier and on the replenishment team at the local Michael's and at my other job (which was an answer to my prayers--Thank you God for providing!) The rest of the time, I have been working on paintings and giving them away as gifts, baking yummy food like banana bread and cinnamon rolls, and making lists of goals etc.

I think this summer I've really connected with my creative side more than I have at once and this has been really exciting for me. I've been able to use painting as a form of expression (which I haven't given a chance at before). And I thank God that enjoying the task is all you need to carry on with something rather than having to be *amazing at it*. This is one of the greatest blessings that I see that have come out from my first retail job experience. Being so often surrounded by art supplies really encouraged me to venture out of writing and reading, letting the colors guide me across the sheets of paper and canvases. I hope to continue this when school starts, in my free time.

I painted this with only the image of the flower
in mind, and then the rest of it came about.
Now this lives on the writing desk in my dad's room.

I made this painting from an image I found on Google.
I was in the mood to draw something scenic with the ocean
and a sunset.

I never really liked countdowns when I was little, and maybe even up through now. To me, they signify the coming of something anticipated and then the counting stops when you get there. It should continue to seem like something exciting beyond the beginning :)

Less than 10 days from now, I will be airborne back to school and I have mixed feelings toward that fact. People have told me that the first summer back from college is going to be the weirdest, and honestly I don't completely disbelieve them. During Winter Break (my first time home), there were some moments that I was living in that made me feel deja vu about something about college, such as a song we sang at church. It felt like the memories were visually colliding in my mind. It was an awe-striking moment to realize that memories you make away from home are completely unknown to the people that are there, unless you choose to share with them. A year passes by so fast and I've found it difficult to wrap up a whole year's experience/events in a time any short of half an hour to maybe even a couple hours.

But today, I've been able to reflect on this summer and having the inability to gauge how "great" this summer has been. I was able to come up with a short list for you though:

A few things I love about being back:

1. Getting to hug the people I've loved the longest/most (i.e.getting home and hugging my dad) 
2. Getting to hear the adventures and achievements of my friends from home, while getting to celebrate with them, and growing together
3. Going back to my home church
4. Knowing where everything in town is

Adjectives to describe my time back:

1. productive- earning money for myself and being reminded how much work it takes to make it
2. well-fed- nothing compares to home cooked meals, and on top of that, making own treats/meals
3. Pinterest- I'm surprised myself with engaging so much with Pinterest this summer in search of recipes, summer activities, etc..and some of those have inspired me :)
4. loved- I've spent some time reconnecting with people and each of those times were nothing short of great!

So that's a little from me for now, but I'll be posting again soon.

Signing of now and off to enjoy the remains of this Monday -> ->