It's the 'too' that matters.

We all have pet peeves. One of my roommates can't stand when the sink is so full that she can't fill up the Brita pitcher. Another friend hates when her socks get wet from someone spilling water on the floor. My dear friend can't stand it when people smack when they eat. (And I tend to agree. That noise is terrible.) I personally can't handle it when someone enters a room and changes everything-the temperature, the music, the general atmosphere.
But I've recently discovered that I have the complete opposite of pet peeves. I guess you could call them my favorite things, but they aren't really fitting into the raindrops on roses category. They are deeper than girls is white dresses with blue satin sashes or apple strudel. These things are the ones that make my heart sing and make my eyes twinkle. They can turn the late nights of loneliness into nights where I snuggle into my nest and sigh out of happiness. What are these things? There are too many to name...but I'll give you the one of the moment.
Favorite thing of the Moment: Getting to say "I love you too."
I know it sounds simple, but that 'too' means the world to me. When I get to say that, it means that the other person thought of the love first. It means that they think I'm worthy of hearing it. It means that someone sees me and loves me.
When I was a little girl, I used to pray that my parents would say "I love you" first, only because I wanted to say the 'too.' It's the 'too' that matters. It sounds like a silly prayer, but the days that the Lord answered that prayer are ones that I still remember, fifteen years later.
I have this one dear friend who is really good at giving me this joy. Anytime we are parting ways, she takes the time to pause, look me in the eye, and say "I love you." Do I deserve this? Oh definitely not. But is it something I adore about her? Yes. Does the song in my heart get louder every single time? Yes.
It truly is the little things. The moments that other people don't see as important are the ones that bring me the most joy. She probably doesn't think much of that moment of looking me in the eye and loving me, but that is what screams friendship to me. And it's that moment of joy that causes me to realize how blessed I am...to know her, to be here, to have friends who love me.
Even in the times where I feel like I'm a complete mess, I'm loved by this one and others...and that's where the joy is.

All Because of an Egg.

Last night at about 11:15 PM, my phone began to ring. I checked the Caller ID, only to see that my dear friend, Anna Marie, was calling. I prepared myself to hear the sounds of voices around her, as I am used to being butt-dialed from her back pocket.
However, I was in for a special treat.
"Hello?"
"Hi. Okay. Think about your baking skills."
What? "I'm thinking about them..."
"So...what can I substitute for an egg?"
"Um...applesauce usually works in cakes or brownies. But other than that..."
"Good. We're making brownies. (At this point, I didn't know that I was included in this "we.") Crap. No applesauce."
"Oh Anma, that's okay! I'll bring one over to you."
"See, I'm at my house. My real one. Where my parents live."
"Oh. Well...I don't know what to tell you."
"I'll just come back to campus and bake them. Meet me at my room in five?"
"Sure."
"Loveyoubye."
"Loveyoubye."
Click.
Find egg. Find shoes. Find sweatshirt. Explain to girls where I am going.
I felt like Domestic Superwoman.
I got to Anna Marie's room, and find her frantically looking for vegetable oil. Of course, no one is awake now...but luckily, I find butter and quickly melt it.
We begin adding things to the bowl of butter.
Brownie mix.
Water.
Now for the eggs. I turn my back to check that the oven is on and...
"Oh no!"
Anna Marie had cracked the egg...into the sink and down the drain.
Good.
Find another egg in the fridge. Add to mixture.
Abigail gives us encouragement and frilly aprons.
We tie them on and buckle down.
Anna Marie furiously stirs the batter while I grease the pan.
Suddenly, she freezes.
"Oh dear. I think...No, I definitely left the oven on at home."
We switch into high gear. Pour the batter in the pan. Tell Abigail to listen for the smoke alarm.
We dash out of the apartment, still in our aprons, determined to turn off the oven before the house burns down.
As we walk in, Anma says, "It's not going to be on. It's not going to be on..."
But it is. After shutting that fire hazard down, we raid the fridge for yogurt and I receive a quick tour of the home.
We race back to school, aprons flying everywhere and laugh at sidewalk couples as we approach her building.
Up the stairs, and into the apartment, we smell the brownies and I feel like I can finally breathe now that I know they aren't burnt.
We find Abigail, still awake and giddy.
General girl talk ensues, mostly stories about awkward encounters in the Lex and at flag football games.
Typical Union.
But what follows is not typical of all, but it is typical of these girls.
We talk about devotions and Elisabeth Elliot and what we are reading and learning.
We slip from girl talk to Gospel in about 2.5 seconds.
And I breathe it in.
The smell of brownies.
The scent of friendship.
And the sweet aroma of the Lord's pleasure in blessing us.
Not only with His grace, but with each other.
And I hug Anna Marie.
And we whisper of our gratefulness for each other and how sweet the Lord is.
And I am reminded that I'm loved.

But the silly thing is...it's all just because she needed an egg.
Oh the joys of spontaneity and friendship.

i have an obsession....

...with all things pretty. i love to read wedding blogs and i love to see the beautiful things that people come up with for their homes. i just adore it all. i thought i'd just share a few of the things that make me smile right now.
first, i love small things. also, if you have been in my bedroom, you'll know that i like mismatched classy. well, i've always dreamed of having a little chandelier in my bedroom. dreams come true. :)

i found these little ones at kikkerland.

i also really really love paper lanterns. maybe for my wedding, maybe just for every room ever. :) this picture is a from a random wedding, but i love the contrast of the sky and the crisp white paper.

my favorite movie is mary poppins, for many many reasons. i've been watching it a lot over the break and i cannot get over the broadway sets and posters. this poster is the typical one and i adore it tremendously.


i spent this past weekend in jackson which was lovely. natalie and i spent quite a bit of time talking marriage and weddings, which is pretty typical of me and not so much of her. :) we looked through a magazine, The Knot, giving thumbs up and thumbs down on each and every wedding dress. seeing as we were in Books A Million, i'm sure we were quite entertaining. :) gotta love time with best friends.

okay. i'm just rambling. maybe i should put up my favorite things more often. it's fun.