Sixteen.

So maybe the title has nothing to do with this post. I just thought of the first thing that could be a title and it was the number sixteen. Go read Psalm 16, it's really good. Haha. No really though... it is!!! :) "Keep me safe my God, for in You i take refuge." That's the beginning. So maybe now the title has a little bit to do with this post.

I have finally arrived back to Greensboro for the first time in a couple of days... I went to Gastonia on Christmas morning and came back Saturday but as soon as I got home I turned around and headed to Southern Pines to visit some wonderful people. Ended up seeing some cuties (heather, morgan, kelly, and kristen). Heather ended up getting a ukulele for Christmas so I got to play it a little bit and we made a little song. It was just nice to soak in some time with friends and sturrrf.

Christmas was great. Although as my cousin Chandler (who is 15) wisely said "Christmas came and went so fast I don't know if I was spiritually ready for the holiday" and I totally agree with him. Christmas came and went so fast... and I had wanted to really just take the whole story in and just meditate on the Gift God gave the world. Jesus Christ. SAVIOR. Love. Lion AND Lamb. Beautiful... but I felt like I didn't thank God enough. And the ironic thing was it wasn't like I wanted presents or anything, in fact my mom literally had to squeeze present ideas out of me, it just came and went.

Christmas is a day chosen out of a year to celebrate Christ's life... but as I grow closer and closer to Jesus and learn more and more I almost feel like Christmas is everyday because I mean really the best gift we will ever ever ever ever get was born, and it's like a present everyday. And I just really pray that I look at my relationship with Him in that way, so beautiful, so so so beautiful.

This break I have learned some things... I realized I was being ugly to some people that are dear to my heart (my brother)... I wasn't reflecting Jesus at all in my attitude or actions... and when God pointed this out to me, I became ashamed at how I had been acting... but as this moment is healing I'm praying more and more that I will learn to look at things through Jesus' eyes... pure love for EVERYONE no matter what happens. This hit me hard because I have always wanted to love in the way Jesus does and I try so hard everday but I didn't even realize that I hadn't been loving, and this freaked me out. I thank the Lord for pointing this out because I don't ever want to be ugly like I had been acting. My Father and Creator is a forviging One and i have been forgiven and i'm so THANKFUL for this, and i can move on and learn from these mistakes... it has been a test for me but it's getting better and better day by day.

I'm sorry God for turning my back on You and not loving.
I'm Thankful that You forgive me for all that I do and have done wrong.
It's a beautiful thing.

Your Love is unfailing.
Cheers :)

Haha, Why?

So last night after having an interesting day I went to sleep in part of my Bleeker (from Juno) costume. And then I woke up this morning and felt like putting on the headband that goes with it... so now I am sitting in my house contemplating watching Juno just because I feel like I'm in the mood haha to watch it...

I'm actually feeling quite artsy today so I'll probs work on some illustrations slash hopefully bundle up to go out and bike to get some exercise in... it's super dooper cold these days for Greensboro weather... or it seems that way...

And perhaps I'll make my way to Army/Navy because I kind of feel like going there... I don't even know why... haha


Cheers to the Lord :), well for... everything.

Smiles and Love,
Carra.this.is.not.a.letter.why.am.i.signing.it.

God Knew I Would Like These:

Huskys a so cute!!! Cheers God for making them!!! :)

Finding Good in This Rush.

So today I decided to venture out to do a little Christmas shopping... I'm going to state that this is not one of my favourite things to do, just because it's crazy busy and people are not in the best of moods...

Well at first, today, I was one of those grumpy grumpersons. I'm not sure what came over me, well I am but it shouldn't have happened. I drove to Friendly to perhaps get something for my mum, thinking it was a weekday... I get there and look for a space for about 15 mins... in my head I'm just wondering why I didn't just bike to Friendly or walk or something that doesn't require parking... I'm becoming impatient and kind of annoyed... and I listen to my thoughts, and I don't approve of these thoughts... but they just keep happening. So I call my mom and vent it out about how busy it is at Friendly and how I'm not going to ever return there today... haha a little over dramatic I do have to say... So I leave and decide to drive to Target...

I get there and I'm looking for a spot, somewhat I've calmed down, I think b/c I started listening to K-Love and some song I knew came on and I was able to relax...

I find a spot pretty far away, which doesn't bother me b/c I'm thankful for a spot in the parking lot... I get to target and I'm walking around... I just start to feel this urge to smile at people and be me, the hyper-friendly Carra who talks to everyone and anyone.

I ran into this cute old lady and turned and rubbed her arm and said "I'm sorry" and smiled at her... she returned me with the CUTEST smile ever and thanked me for appologizing... WOOSH... the negative part of my day was suddenly "wooshed" out of me... I couldn't stop smiling at people, probably creeping them out, but it's all good... I kept seeing beautiful babies and kids and just wanting to love on them so so so much. I ended up getting some presents for people as well as stuff for the Annual Kiser/Grimsley/Now We are in College Christmas party... we've been doing it for over 6 years... it's crazy.

So I left Target in good spirits and just started thinking about finding as much good out of the Christmas shopping season as I could as I was leaving. People were knodding and smiling at each other as well as letting people go by in their cars with a simple knod or smile so that we could take turns getting out of the parking lot... I'm going to work towards trying to find the good in situations. God blesses us with gifts every second, millisecond, minute, okay so He rules time so we can't really put a time to how often God gives us gifts but it's constant... His love is a gift to us... this love is one, the only one, that is EVERPRESENT, EVERLASTING, continues even when we are butts to Him, the world, and other times...

THE GIFT OF LOVE.

Jesus. Jesus was born. THANK YOU! man what what what a beautiful LIFE.

"Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!"
Psalm 105:4

Cucumber Water...

This isn't my photograph... but I heard today that cucumbers in water make a great combination for anti-oxidents and just a refreshing taste!

So I'm drinking some right now... as well as just being in my house alone after a belly full of Harris Teeter sushi and the Christmas tree is on as well as "Scrubs."

I went to Goodwill today with my friend Lo. I chewed some gum. We laughed. Learned some stuff, and then I was super dooper tired.

"When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him."
Isaiah 59:19

Hey Love.

Father, give me the strength. I can't do it on my own.

I want to love in Your image. A blameless, selfless, pure, genuine type of love. (a whole lot more is how You love, I just can't write it in words)

I love You.
I pray I give you my all.
EVERYTHING.

Cheers,
Carra

To Write (100TH Blogger POST!) on Her Arms.

Haha, what a milestone.

So how are you supposed to open up your 100th blogger post? I have no idea! But I do know I haven't written in a while!!!

Today is Thursday and I'm in my dining room with my computer on a chair while a bend down to write this blog while wearing a very country outfit... I'm wearing a brown v-neck some jeans and brown cowgirl boots. And we can't forget the huge curly fro I'm sporting.

Tonight I get to go to Triad Stage, which is my favourite play venue. I get to see the play "Beautiful Star" which was written by locals and is getting national attention!!! It's exciting!!!

I bought a candle that smells like cinnamon apples and I light it whenever I play guitar in my room because it gives me a nice atmosphere. I'm excited b/c I'm starting to get down just playing whole songs, and this is just exciting!!! "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, Holy holy is He..." that's one of my favourite ones to play b/c it's such a beautiful sounding song!!!

Today I'm also going out to lunch with my friend Corinne!!! She is so cute! I'm going to bike and meet here at a local eating spot here in town. I haven't been able to ride Cleo in two whole days and this makes me sad, so I am determined to bike there today, haha. I talked to Mel last night and she said that she was going to bike around Gloucester today... wait? I didn't know her bike could fit in her car... weird.... I forgot to ask about that!!! haha

Perhaps I could have saved the 100th post for a 100 word post or 100 things I enjoy or 100 letters in random order... but since I haven't written in a while I just thought a normal blog would do... and I think it does b/c knowing me I probably will use another post do write 100 random things or something along those lines. A side note: I'm surprised I haven't run into more people at Harris Teeter, a few people in particular that I always see there when I come home for breaks... but those I'll keep anonymous.

It's good to be in North Carolina, although I am missing RVA a ton! It excites me that I have people that I miss there, little secret places that I miss, a room to miss... but then makes me miss them more by mentioning them so I'm going to stop hahaha.

This summer: I really REALL REALLY want to do an internship with To Write Love on Her Arms because I really feel like God has put it into my life for a reason. We'll all see where this goes!!!

I Like Cute.

So here's the deal. I'm sitting here on my carpet in my home that I grew up in and my sister Melissa is cracking up about something I can't write about here on "tha bloggah." My sister Michelle is sitting on a "Cara" chair... that's what they are called, not even spelled like my name, I know it's crazy, right?! And she doesn't even know! Haha... wishing Jonsi could have made it, but it's all good in the hood. Really, I'm actually wearing a hoodie... that just so happens to have a hood!

I really enjoy the fact that we can all just sit in each others presence... which reminds me of another relationship that I have... hmm... God. Like just acknowledging that He is just chilling and knowing that He is there when you are in a room... just makes things comfortable... like for example we are just here and know that we are all in the room so we don't feel lonely right? So by knowing that God is in the room chilling with you when you feel lonely can totally take away that lonliness and I find that extra special... another special thing that God does, which He does way too much to even begin to breathe a blog about him even think a blog about Him... yes anyways I like what Lane had said about the small things being some of God's greatest gifts... it's soooooooooo true!!! I love when He points out things through my day that make me giggle or make my heart smile or just any thought that is clean and nice. yes... sigh. a good one, a good sigh...

Yesterday Laneyard came and so graciously fixed Cleo, my bike... she had a flat... it was rather sad!!! But it's all good b/c Lane has a way with bikes, he just knows them... or makes me think he knows them haha. Anyways bike shop in the future... :)

My brother... about Drew. I haven't really had the chance to see him even though I've been back since Thursday night. I'm waiting for some great Bro/Sis bonding time.

Today. Today was def. a God shining bright like the sun kind of day... well at least the first part!!! Mel took me and Michelle to the Grimsley parking lot to learn how do drive a stick shift, which apparently I'm pretty decent at, surpised by this, I totally am! We had such a great time just taking photographs, in fact, they were pretty cool!!! Some of the photographs were jumping ones, which are always super dooper cool... it was like we were being lifted up... we all need to be lifted up. Life brings us down sometimes but it's so comforting to know that no matter what God "pick(s) us up and turn us around and He PLACES OUR FEET ON SOLID GROUND," and solid ground sound like a great thing... a lot went on today. More than I can write. I'm learning more and more about playing guitar and learning to sing and stuff... I really feel an urge to just play play play and praise praise praise. I'm being encouraged, but I still hear the negative voices in the back of my head... I know these aren't mine so I try try try to take those away and think positively and just remind myself it's for the Lord, and yes.

As the day winds down, I got super tired and my mind couldn't focus on anything... it was really weird. I was asked what I was thinking about and I couldn't even figure that out! Oh well, I think this week is going to be brillers. I can't wait to take a day to ride my bike by myself and just take the time to soak some stuff in... This is really really really long... sorry. well I'm not b/c it's nice to write it out...

my mom is super cute b/c she got us gifts... this really reflected God b/c it's just like WHOA, there are presents on the couch... why are those there? That's a super surprise!!! He gives us stuff at the most unexpected times... it's like He always has a surprise party planned for us, but the surprise is never ruined!!! :)

that makes me smile. I like the winter time. I like the cold weather that just makes people nostalgic and want to warm each other up... it's cute. And I like cute things.

Oh, Hey Tiny Tree.

This is the tree my friend Hannah made me today at campus prayer. :)

"HAPPY CHRISTMAS 'ARRY."
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS RON."


HAPPY CHRISTMAS SEASON!

(we were liking the little trees at Capital Ale House so we had to get our own) :)

He Grace(s) us with Children.

(this is how i felt after this past week)

(i love moments like this)

(and moments like this)

(and this!!!)
(and this too!)

So yesterday was really really nice :). I got to go to church with Michelle and actually I've been able to see tha goober more and more these past few days, even if it doesn't seem like much time I think it's pretty cool... we drove to Harvest and parked and giggled on the way at a few things... as well as the night before there was a Tacky Christmas party at her house where more than a few times I got tickle attacked... which we all thought I was the one doing it the most but as these days approach I think people are poking my armpits more than I ever have! hahahah

Well then at church Mel came with the kids she was babysitting which let me tell you they are precious SO PRESH. I just want to pick them up and love them just keep loving them like crazy!

gahhhhh they are cute. I'm blessed b/c I got to spend some time with them which makes me so excited for when God blesses me with kids. But that time is not near hahah, I will be patient!!! I got to go see a cute movie, which I cried in b/c it was so cute!!!

This is a scattered blog but I'm just writing whateverrrrr...

Um I ate a burger, which it has been TWO YEARS since I've had one... my stomach seemed to handle it well!!! And it was pretty tastey! Yums.

Had breakfast for din dins, anddddd then went to prayer where we pulled up Melissa via skype chat... which was super cool b/c God blessed us with her guitar playing... perhaps one day I will be able to fill in when Mel can't make it to prayer... I pray that He blesses me with music playing so I can just keep praising Him in the music form... I feel a little bit of a calling for that but it's one of those things that I just have to keep praying for boldness because when we aren't naturally good at something it's easy to just stop and go for something we are naturally good at... all my friends here that play instruments inspire me... I loiyke (british accent) to watch michelle play the djembe (spelling?) and Melwren play guitar with passion and Joni is so great at teaching me chords and and and Johnny's voice, I really enjoy it... and Hannah G's voice during worship and and Alana, the way she sings for Him is encouraging and makes me just want to sing sing sing sing and Jennifer her voice is so cute, and anddddd Alicia I want to hear her play her violin anddd I want to hear more of Sara's voice, b/c God has placed her in the Music department now and Bible, I love when she plays the keyboard and man just everyone in fact I'm just going to go ahead and say EVERYONE here inspires me to want to play guitar more and more and practicing singing and worship!

PS: ahhhhh HOW COULD I FORGET PATRICK?! I love when he sings when Mel is playing guitar!!!! cheers mel for pointing that out!

man i love being blessed with living in RVA.

cheers God.
xoxo Carra

Become Clean Again.

So... this week consisted of lack of sleep and a surplus of staying up to do work... but it also consisted of a lot of encouragement from the Holy Spirit.

And I'm leaving it at that with some photographs to just be this bloggage... and I want to thank the Lord for His EVERLASTING LOVE FOR US!

(Holy Spirit bring joy to N.K.) Cheers.

Busy Busy.

I'm busy but I don't feel rushed. I've got two major projects due tomorrow and I'm only half-way done with both... but I feel like it's okay and I'll get them done. Thanks God for keeping me calm!!! :) Today I got to share my block city project with the class... there were only 6 out of 54 chosen to show what we had... I explained how I see things as patterns rather than exactly what they actually are and my prof actually really enjoyed my project... he said it had a sense of optimism, which I really want to be a part of the characteristics of my art. I love being optimistic because I know that God will provide all so why not be positive? Right on Jesus!

Last night I stayed up til 3 finishing up my city sketches that I needed to get done for Methods and Processes... thanks be to Him that I have a wonderful sister that came over and spent the night which helped me stay up and finish my work... people are so cute when they fall asleep. So peaceful and at rest, chillen with God in a field of grass, beautiful. Man, I'm super blessed to be surrounded by beautiful souls here... God has cleaned us and made us pure, and we have become beautiful because He makes us that way!!! So brillers :)

Right now I'm sitting in Temple waiting for my history class to start... it starts at 3:30... I'm hoping it will be enjoyable today. I lost my helmet for a good 15 mins in the library... I looked down when I was in student commons and realized that I was missing something, then I pushed my brain to remember where I left it... right by all the magazines in the brary! what a goober, that I am. I feel calm... although my eye is constantly twitching. I want to see twilight again... I'm making a trip to short pump soon to switch out my charger and perhaps get a winter coat... I'm still rocking my favourite hoodie, "Rescue," my To Write Love on Her Arms hoodie that is really thin and not warm at all! haha.

Thanks to my mom I have some Pumpkin Spice Coffee that I drank with Melwren last night after a beautiful night at Chi Alpha worship at the commonwealth chapel, it was pretty dank :) in a good way if you know what I mean, jellybean, teen, queen. ENOUGH! Love :)