My Favorite Things from 2011

I know..it's been forever. But I figured I'd close the year with a blog and a few of my favorite things from 2011. Happy New Year!

1. My iPad
It's the hype and more. Right after we left Walmart, I slightly panicked and began to experience buyers remorse. You have to understand...I don't buy things more than 100 dollars...like...ever. So when I walked out realizing that I'd just spent MULTIPLES of $100 I slightly panicked. 30 minutes later I was good...and realized soon after, it was the best purchase I made this year. I will always own one.


2. Gungor
I still don't understand how people do NOT know about this band. I discovered their debut "Beautiful Things" pretty late and ran that album on repeat for a good 2 months straight. When they followed it with "Ghosts Upon The Earth" I was FLOORED. Their writing is incredible. The musicianship is impeccable. And the message is spot on without being preachy. It's the business. Their music is the BUSINESS, and if you don't know who they are, I'm dang near begging for you to learn who Gungor is.

Here's an acoustic version of one of my favorite songs "When Death Dies". I just about flipped a brick when I first watched this.

Good music. I mean...seriously...what else can I say.


3. Since we're on the topic of music. Check these kats out too:

I mean really...When has Bieber music EVER sounded this fly?! They groove the MESS out that first verse. GOT. DAWG!!!

4. The Bible

I read the Bible cover to cover this year. First time I've ACCOMPLISHED this. I've set out to do this, countless...I'm talking, COUNTLESS times. I made it through and it was pretty amazing. I've read the New Testament several times, but this is the first time I've made it through the Old and I have to say I received an even deeper revelation of how gracious and merciful God is. The "God of the Old Testament" is often perceived as being the "harsh God" but I have to say I was quite amazed by how gracious He is. After I finished Isaiah, I went to my roommate Kristi and was like "Really? How many times is Israel going to turn from God and how many times is He going to forgive them?!" It's the same cycle over and over and over again. God blesses Israel, Israel sins against God, God disciplines them, Israel repents, God restores and blesses them, Israel serves God for a little then turns away and sins against God, God disciplines, them, Israel repents, God restores and blesses them, then Israel forgets and sins again....OVER AND OVER. How patient and merciful is our God. How relentless is His pursuit of us? I'm amazed. Y'all lucky I ain't God. Folks woulda been DEAD long before Deuteronomy!


5. My last name...
I get married in 42 days (CHEEEEHOOOOOO!!!!!!!) so I've been savoring my last few months as a "Nurse." I've even laughed at a few jokes like I've never heard them before, simply because I know come Feb 12th, it will NEVER happen again. For instance:
Guy at grocery store check out: "Nurse? Nurse is really your last name? Like 'helloooooo NURSE!!!' Good thing you didn't end up in the medical profession, huh?"
Me: "BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! LOLOL!!!! TEEHEEHEEHEE!"
Guy at grocery store check out: "Wow...never heard that one before huh?"
Me: "....no....I have."
Guy at grocery store check out: "....::blank stare::...::confusion::....okay, have a good day Ms. Nurse."


6. The epic 'stash Kaleb came home from Europe with...

need I say more...


7. The KENT House...
I'm REALLY going to miss this house. We all move out next month. So many memories were created here. So much GROWING was done here. *sniff* I'm so grateful for the friendships that were cultivated in this house. God knew was he was doing when he placed 4 completely different women in this place. I'm going to cherish the moments spent here for the rest of my life.

That's it for now...Till next year people. Happy New Year!
E