our saturday

Saturdays so far this semester have been so great.  Maybe it's because I haven't really had any work to do yet. Or maybe because I only have classes on Tuesday and Thursday and have Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays off (my suite mates get so sick of hearing that) so I'm not stressed.  Whatever the reason, Saturdays have been work-free and stress-free which I'm not complaining about.  Sundays have been just as great too.  I've really trying to make Sundays my day of rest and I'm finally realizing why God intended us to keep the Sabbath!  It makes so much sense and I'm so glad he told us to do it.  Sundays are usually spent going to church, eating brunch, watching TV and taking a nap, doing laundry, cleaning my room, and preparing for the week ahead.  I love it.  


Yesterday Julie, Kayla, Laura, and I enjoyed our coffee, cereal, and omelets at D-hall in the morning and then Julie and I headed downtown to explore.  We shopped some and just walked around.  If you know Harrisonburg, then you know that downtown does not consist of too much.  We discovered a new favorite store, The Lady Jane (pics below), and the owner even lived in the Maid House (the house we'll be living in next year)!   Later that night Laura, Sarah, Kayla, Kelsey, and I all went to Dave's Taverna and enjoyed some delicious Greek food.  We topped the night off by going to a party at a Young Life girl's house called Narnia which was great fun.  It was my kind of Saturday...

I left my battery for my camera at home so the pics of downtown are thanks to Jules!

Newly discovered fabric store... I will be taking advantage of this! 

The Lady Jane shop I am now obsessed with.  

Loved the Poms

We ran into my teammate, Amy, and friend, Lacey.  I got to capture this great pic of Amy

It was a beautiful day, but very windy!

yup, that's my roommate.

Sarah and Laura!

Kayla and Laura at Dave's!

Kelsey and me

my friends are beautiful!!

Tomorrow Mama and Papa Duvall are coming to the burg...Can't wait to see them! Hope your Sunday was restful and relaxing.  
xoxo,
erin with a p and a double r

a little getaway

These past 2 weeks have probably been some of my favorite weeks ever at JMU.  I've never felt so restful and not totally insane while being at school.  That was my fear coming into this semester.  I was worried that I would get wrapped up in going through the motions and the schedule that's so easy to do here, that I wouldn't take time to enjoy the moment.  I always seem to keep looking forward to and planning the next thing coming and not taking the time to just enjoy where I'm at.  

Friday night my small group here at JMU had a little getaway to a house in Bridgewater.  It was just what we needed.  We carefully drove through the snow and when we got there immediately started doing what we do best...eating.  You've probably never seen a group of girls eat as much as we do.  We can do some serious damage.  The night was spent learning swing dancing and salsa dancing, snacking on junk food, playing a great game of fishbowl, and falling asleep to Aladdin.  We woke up to the smell of crepes and coffee (thanks Jules!) and enjoyed our breakfast together.  There was no rush of having to be somewhere or do something which is so rare when our group meets every week.  I'm so excited because we are going through the book of Esther this semester and I can't wait to see what the Lord is going to teach us.  We had a time to share what was going on in our lives lately and had the chance to just be so real and vulnerable with each other.  It was so great.  These girls are so dear to me and I am so thankful for the privilege to grow alongside of them...  

lots of swing dancing and salsa dancing!

it says "I kiss better than I cook."

Happy Sunday! 

 xoxo,

erin with a p and a double r

goodbye break...hello spring semester

I always know a break is over when I'm running around doing laundry and trying to see people to say goodbye to.  I woke up this morning thinking, "Today is the last day of break. What do I want to before I leave?"  This is the first break I've been mostly sad to leave home.  I usually love the excitement of going back to school, seeing everyone, and getting in the groove of routine again.  Not this time. This break I've really enjoyed home.  There's no schedule and no work.  


Since coming home from our Christmas trips I was able to work a lot, ring in the new year with my family and friends, see Sherlock Holmes 2 with my dad, have a movie and craft night with Lauren, get totally addicted to White Collar (a tv show- I'm not addicted to doing crime), hang out with the O'Donnell fam, cook a little, and just relax.  It's been so great. 


To get me excited for tomorrow I keep thinking about all there is to look forward to this semester.  I know once I'm up in Harrisonburg with everyone I'm going to love it.  This semester I'll get to see the snow and the beautiful days on the quad, go to Richmond for Young Life Committee/Leader weekend and see friends, hang out with Montevideo girls, grow relationships with friends at school, learn lots in classes (had to put that in there for the parentals to see), go to Rockbridge for prayer overnight, be an Apple Blossom princess, and grow in my walk with the Lord.  I know it's going to be a great semester. So here we go.  


I'm off to finish lots of loads of laundry, go see We Bought a Zoo, celebrate Trey's 4th birthday (crazy!!), and run some errands.  
xoxo,
erin with a p and a double r

Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  I hope your Christmas was spent with loved ones celebrating the birth of our dear Savior.  Through all the gift giving, getting caught up in traditions, and all the excitement the season of Christmas brings, it's hard for me to remember sometimes the real reason we celebrate Christmas.  One day before Christmas break I listened to a sermon by JR Rushik of Storehouse Church (check them out-good stuff) titled "Getting this Christmas Right: The Why's of Christmas."  He gave very practical ways we can be reminded throughout the Christmas season of why we are celebrating. Here are a few:

• every time you use a credit card to buy something remember the moral debt that I owed that He took away and paid.
• when you drive by nativity scenes remember that that really happened- Jesus was really born in a manger with livestock around and 3 kings really came and brought him gifts. It's a real story.
• read the story of the birth of Jesus everyday or couple of days each week so the message of Jesus' birth is washed over you
• every time you receive a Christmas card remember that God chose to have you on His friendship list and rejoice in that.
• every time you receive a gift remember that Jesus Christ is our Christmas gift with my name written on it.
• when you hear Christmas music, remember the song the angel's sang (Luke 2:14) 

Really thinking about these things was a sweet reminder to me during this season and hopefully will be all throughout the year too.  

Our Christmas was busy as usual.  I told someone yesterday I could write out a minute-by-minute script of Dec. 24-Dec.27 and it would be right on from year to year with maybe a few changes.  But I love it like that.  Tradition is my thing.  We went to Clover where my great aunt, CC, lives for Christmas Eve and Christmas day with my mom's side of the family and the day after Christmas we went to Winchester to celebrate my grandma's 75th birthday and did Christmas there with my dad's side of the family.  We had a blast and I was given way more than I deserved.  Here's a little video recap of our Christmas: 

Happy New Year's Eve!!  

xoxo,

erin with a p and a double r