Blessings upon blessings

If I were to sit here and type out all the ways that I have been obviously and blatantly blessed by God, I would sit here for quite some time. So maybe I'll just stick with the more recent blessings?

Blessing #1: My internship. This was a cause of concern for mine for quite some time. I contacted image consultant after image consultant. Of the 15 or so people I contacted, I think I heard back from...3? And two of those responses were negative. The one and only image consultant I heard back from was more than willing and ready to take me on as an intern. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but they LOVED me, which was super encouraging. I have a lot of anticipation for this summer. I'm looking forward to the work I'll be doing for the internship. I'm also looking foward to (insert drumroll here)...living in Bentonville? Yep. I like to think Arkansas is a pretty awesome state, and I'm hoping to ditch those pantyhose on the weekends and trade them in for hiking boots (or, in my case, tennis shoes).

Blessing #2: While I had high hopes for living in Bentonville, I did have one concern: I didn't know anybody there but the 2 women I'd be working with. Here's where my concern comes in-- last time I was put in a place for an extended period of time where I didn't know anyone, I ended up leaving said place with some habits, one in particular, that I probably would not have picked up had I been in my comfortable bubble. After kicking said habit, I'm nervous to see how well I do on my own this time around. Here's where the blessing comes in. The other night, I go to Heroe's Coffee (which I never go to) with my friend Lauren (who I never hang out with), and she just so happens to run into a friend who is just so also doing an internship in Bentonville and she just so happens to not know anyone there, either. Instant friends! And the funny thing is...we know TONS of the same people. So I'm not sure why we've never met before?

Blessing #3: To put it shortly, Laura Pearson. That girls blesses my heart so much, and I know for a fact that it is not intentional. I love watching her anytime that girl sings her little heart out to her loving Father with arms raised high. Gives me goosebumps. Every. Time. Not only that, but she is so strong. Recent events in her life have not deterred her from knowing God's goodness, and love, and joy. And that is such an encouragement to me.

Ugh. I did it. I created a blog.

I've done this whole blogging thing before. Can I be honest about past blogs ? It totally blew up in my face. Stupid high school drama.

BUT. I'm going to try again. I have a few friends, one of whom is currently living on the lovely-but-tiny Reunion Island in the vast Indian Ocean, the other of whom is blogging about her year of singleness/celibacy. They have both inspired me to pick up this whole blogging thing once again--unfortunately I am not studying abroad or giving myself a year long goal to blog about. Instead, I am currently living in Springfield, Missouri, and am not single by choice. But Beth says I don't have to have a specific topic. Good to know.

I also figured this whole blogging thing would be good practice for this summer. I'm doing an internship with Image Matters, Inc down in Bentonville, Arkansas this summer, and part of my internship is a bi-weekly blog. I'm not gonna lie..I was pretty stinkin excited when I found out about that part. For whatever reason, I fairly enjoy writing, so this will be interesting! I already know my first topic for that blog. Pantyhose. Yep.