above all else

Trippy photo, right?

Above all else, guard your heart,
                          for everything you do flows from it. 

       Proverbs 4:23

Had a short but sweet McConnell's ice cream date at the Santa Barbara Mission rose gardens today with my middle sister, Emme. 
I don't think she realized it then, but she has shown and taught me all sorts of things about the above verse just by the way she lives her life.
I used to always pray, "Lord, please guard my heart because I don't know how to."

Looking back, I think that was a bit of a cop-out on my part. 

But God still followed through on his end of the deal. He tends to do that.

I'll be 26 next week, and I still don't quite have the whole "guarding your heart" thing figured out. 

Also, my sista introduced me to this song. Have a listen—
If you're viewing in Google Reader, click here:

 
"My flesh may fail...but my God, You never will."

a recap AND a new autumn header

1. I'm home (Seattle)! And missing old home (Santa Barbara).
2. It's Autumn. And so I have a new header. Check it.
3. I'm waiting for these Lucky boots to arrive in the mail (thanks, Mom)!
4. Whenever I tip a cab driver, it's usually more of a "thanks for not abducting me" tip, than a "good driving" tip.
5. When I stepped onto my old high school campus last week for the first time in years, insecurity immediately washed over me. What is with that?
6. Sisters are great (see above photo).
7. I just spent a week on two college campuses repping LCC International University.
8. I do not miss college.
9. I actually kind of miss college. I just don't miss the

• food
• poor Internet connections
• late nights
• heartbreaks
• 'trying to be in a million places at once' feeling
• homework

Last night I had a great catch-up Skype visit with my self-appointed younger brother (I'd say little brother, except he's probably a foot taller than me). He's studying in Mexico this semester. We ended up talking about how important it is to simply be loving toward those we care deeply about. Showing love differs from culture to culture and relationship to relationship...but it's, in a sense, all we have to go by. 

Cut out the fear, insecurity, and inhibitions, and go show love to those in your life who mean the most, yet perhaps often go overlooked.

the other two

Really missing the sisters right now. 

I mean just look at them, all J. Crew status in the back of a pick-up.

ALSO, Santa Barbara Blueberries (aka the location of these photos) opened for U-Pick this weekend! Sad I can't go to the family ranch any time soon, but if you're in the Santa Barbara are, GO!

somebody's turning 18 today...

 

Rebecca

aka Sister #3 

aka third time's a charm, right Mom and Dad? :)

To a girl I wish I saw more, 

hugged more, 

talked to more, 

got calls from more 

(real calls, not ones where you accidentally call me b/c your you have a friend at school named Maddie too),

texted with more,

but honestly...could not love more.  

 

Little cutie! 

"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..."

Ephesians 3:17-20

 A very merry 18th birthday to you today.

You are the sweetest, Becks. 

xoxo,

Mads

happy 22nd!

 

...to my sister Emme!

She's the real deal.

And I'm so blessed to have her in my life.

1...2...3

Wishing we could all three be together on this day!