clickity click click

I am blogging to distract myself from my nerves.  The women's gymnastics team final AND men's swimming where Michael Phelps has the chance to break the record for most medals ever are airing right now on NBC Primetime.  I've been boycotting social media all day so I don't find out all of the results, but maybe I should just break down and check.  All of the anticipation is making me extremely antsy.  Anyway, I have been reading/seeing some interesting things lately and thought I'd share.  In no particular order:

Chris Bounds was the Bible study leader at Indian Springs this year, and the days I heard him speak he was absolutely incredible.  If you missed it, no worries.  Here's his printable, 22 page Christology guide that walks through the Apostles Creed in an informative, powerful way.

The recent Chick-fil-A controversy has generated a lot of drama in the already dramatic gay rights conversation.  And I have my personal opinion about the situation just like everyone does, but honestly, I am so over it.  I am so tired of the fighting.  Has no one noticed by now?  No matter how passionate you are about whichever side of the political and/or religious spectrum you are on, it isn't working.  So whether you choose to eat at Chick-fil-A tomorrow or never eat there again for the rest of your life, read this.  Please please please. 

I know, I know.  If you're anything like me, this song will be stuck in your head forever.  But in honor of the Olympics, watch this anyway.  I love these people, and I love that despite the fierce competition, they really are having fun this week!

I am coming to terms with the fact that I no longer have automatic meals to eat at school (aka DG house).  Come the start of law school, I will have to deal with really hard classes and finding food at the same time - food that is hopefully the tricky combination of cheap, healthy, and delicious.  Enter this cool tumblr site with some really cool lunchbox ideas.  Can't wait to try some of them!

Ok.  I'm off to focus on the Games.  Hopefully you are watching too.  And cheering.  Hard.  Consider it your patriotic duty.  :)  Hope you enjoy the links, and hope some of our athletes go get that gold!

the fun has arrived

Source: behance.net via Katie on Pinterest

5 hours + 33 minutes and counting...

Be prepared for a complete inundation of Olympics posts.  I am slightly obsessed, and after all of the waiting, it is finally time!  Party at the Smith house to watch the Opening Cerermonies, and every other day for that matter.  Something inside of me just loves international competition; I appreciate the nations and become extremely patriotic at the same time.  

Go World.  

But still.

#USA

la familia

Choosing Ole Miss was by far one of the best decisions I have made and will ever make in my life, but as far as family time is concerned, it had some disadvantages.  All of our family on Dad's side is in New Jersey, and Mom's family is in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Chicago, with random second cousins and great aunts on both sides scattered through Ohio.  It's hard for us to see each other as much as we would like, and with me spending the last 4 years in Oxford, I missed out on some family reunions here and there.  To be honest, it was getting a little out of control - I hadn't seen my cousins on Mom's side for YEARS.  But we made up for it this weekend when Aunt Laura, Uncle Eric, Kayla and Corbin all came to visit Wilmore.

Kayla just finished her freshman year at UNC Charlotte, and Corbin will be a high school sophomore this fall.  They are awesome, and we soaked up the time together with late night chats, spontaneous drives, storytelling, and YouTube video watching. 

No matter that I was at Ole Miss and Kayla's at UNCC.  Laura's at the Bury now and Corbin still has a couple years to decide.  Whether we are personally Asburians or not, we gotta pay tribute to the family heritage.

So thankful for time with these two.

The only problem with the quality bonding time is that now it will make me miss them even more than before!  But we're working on another reunion as quickly as possible - maybe at Passion this winter, or time in Maine, or a random meet-halfway-road-trip.  We'll figure it out somehow.  In the meantime, I am thankful for the time we had together to catch up, encourage each other spiritually, laugh hysterically, and simply be.

video clip of the day

Longer update on what's been going on in good old Wilmore, Kentucky later, but meantime, this is sure to make you smile.  Scott Avett singing, much to the dismay of his precious little girl:

One day she will realize how lucky she is to hear him serenade her in the living room whenever she likes.  But for now, to her, he is just like any other dad and she is just like any other daughter.  And that is enough.

Happy Tuesday to you, until next time.

summertime and the living is easy

The nice thing about summer Saturdays - at least for me, now that I'm back at home and my main job is to "rest" before law school starts - is that they are essentially a free for all.  The morning does have a bit of rhythm - wake up, hot tea, porch swing, Bible, rescue the kitten from a tree (true story, did that today), write letters to brothers and sisters, etc.  But then?  I am blessed and get to essentially do whatever for the rest of the day. 

So for this summer Saturday?  I spent the last hour or so making homemade strawberry jam.  Currently it is thickening; I'm crossing my fingers it turned out well, because there is a lot of it, and I would love it if this afternoon took care of my entire next year's worth of PB&Js.  If this worked out, next stop = blueberry jam.  Or peach maybe.  While I am not that into canning (I'm still too young for that, right?), I am determined to take advantage of this good summer fruit while I can.

And speaking of fruit...

via

Good call, Twain.  Just a bit of Saturday afternoon brain food for you.  Enjoy the weekend while you can, because it's summertime and the living is easy.