3 DAYS AND 179 MILES

is all thats standing in the way of this happy reunion. bings i'm coming for ya!

TATTED UP

lets be real, i not-so-secretly have always wanted a tattoo. however, my parents have made it explicitly clear that if i ever made that want a reality, my college tuition would no longer be covered. yikes-a-bee. but behold, the next best thing.. these temporary tattoos by tattly. how neat are they?! top right = fav. if ever i were to own a gumball machine, i would totally replace the gumballs with these. who wouldn't drop a few quarters for one of these guys?!

JESUS REALLY LOVES JUSTICE AND SO DO THESE PEOPLE

Last weekend Common Grounds hosted a Justice Rally put on by Unbound, a new anti-trafficking initiative based out of Antioch Community Church. There are currently over 27 million people enslaved all over the world, thats more than ever in the course of human history. It is an industry that is growing at a terrifying rate but the good news is.. Jesus loves justice and so do his people! This rally was put on by a few college students who believed that the little they had to offer could make a big difference. And make a difference they did. 

Asking for donations at the door, the event took place over the course of a few hours. In that time, multiple artists came and played (pictured below are musical geniuses, jeff james and the wonder twins) and there were also multiple booths set up with different information and opportunities for people to get involved with the anti-trafficking movement. The booths featured were IJM, jesus said love, A21, Unbound, and for the silent.* All incredible organizations that are taking action against the injustice going on all over the world and even in our own cities. One thing I loved about this event was how hands on it was. While raising awareness plays a huge part in seeing justice become reality, the goal for this event was not to just hand out a bunch of pamphlets and hope that people would choose to take action. There were squares of cardboard with different prayer requests written on them for people to take and commit to praying for. A table full of laptops waiting for people to sign a letter/petition to the Texas senator advocating for legislature to be passed. Krafts for Katies, a craft business owned by a college freshmen, was there selling t-shirt scarves and hair/scarf pins to fundraise. And there was a place to drop off lightly worn/new clothes that would go to girls who have recently been rescued from the trafficking industry. Oh AND I am so sad I missed this but later that night there was a showing of the documentary, Nefarious, which is an incredibly well made documentary that exposes the reality of modern slavery. More than anything, I love that people left the rally not with a heavy heart as the reality of injustice sank in, but rejoicing in the promise that the Lord is bigger and he is moving and that he loves to use the weak things to shame the strong.

I am so thankful for and proud of everyone who played a part in making this afternoon happen. You are playing a part in something eternal my friends!

*to learn more about sex trafficking both globally and locally, i HIGHLY suggest you check out these websites 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADDISON! AND MERRY CINCO DE MAY WORLD!

happy 13th sweet addy baddy!

this picture was taken exactly one year ago at addison's twelfth birthday party. my how the time flies. addy i am so sad i cant be home to celebrate today with you but i'll be home soon and very soon and celebrating will just have to happen all over again!

fun facts about addison:

• she has the greatest hair on the planet. i once attempted to copy it. twas a bit of a fail
• she rocks at doing hair and make-up..on herself. brooke and i daily mourn the fact that we dont get to benefit from this skill.
• she lets me linger. she understands the linger.
• she loves this song. its our song actually
• she cant sleep with her door closed
• she loves mustaches
• shes got a mean model walk. antm marathons have served her well
• she's really great at acting
• she's feisty on the basketball court. you'll never have to remind her to b-e aggresive 
• she's a cute lil cheerleader. go wylie go! 

i love you addy! see you soon (:

SENIOR | CHELSEA

this is chelsea, but you can call her chel.

i have had the privilege of living with this beautiful and talented one for the past year and what a time we've had! she just finished her last semester in waco and in less than two weeks will be bound for europe to study abroad for the summer. the courses she takes this summer will finish off her degree and then she'll be heading home to lovely chicago. i will miss this lady dearly but am so excited for the adventures ahead of her!

things that will always remind me of chel:

hummus, musicals, becoming jane, vintage scarves, clinique chubby sticks, pianos, clean kitchens, the truth that feelings are worth talking about, whole foods, americanos, my bangs*

i love you to the moon and back chel. come visit me all the time next year! i promise to take your picture and buy you jasons, common grounds, and froyo (i'm not above bribes) every time.

*she graciously cuts them for free. i may look like cousin it next year without her