a colorful map

isn't this pretty? i'd love to have this hanging in my room.

"so jacob served seven years to get rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her."

genesis 29:20

p.s. like the new blog design? i would love to design your blog header if you need some sprucing up. just email me at mlockhart88@gmail.com. happy thursday!

dancing around the globe

i am in love with my classes this semester. in my international marketing class (which only meets once a week...ONCE A WEEK!), we watched this video today. this guy matt quit his job and danced his way around the entire world. how fun of a job is that??

"but let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you."

psalm 5:11

spring break on my mind

don't you wish money would just grow on trees so that you could have the freedom to visit all the cool places in the world?

spring break is coming up, so the talk of the town is everyone's plans for that blessed week. my dream vacation is currently cape town, south africa. it's b e a u t i f u l. take a look at these pics and just try to convince yourself that it isn't better than gulf shores!

(and really, i don't need lots of moolah for this trip. i'd be happy as a bee just sleeping under the stars in a hammock. i don't need no fancy pants hotel)

"keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."

jude 1:21

new blog obsession

when i get married, i want to have a forever-long trip just like this couple.

after their wedding day, mr. and mrs. globe trot (as they are dubbed in the blogging world) decided to take half a year off to travel the world. and since both of them are talented photographers, their pictures are phenomenal. i can't stop poring over their blog.

"but since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving."

2 corinthians 8:7

weekend plans

have a happy weekend.

i will be spending my nights under the stars doing this. and i'm gushing with excitement.

"aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. and the God of love and peace will be with you."

2 corinthians 13:11

p.s. photo by anna. found by nate and kate.

p.p.s. i hope your halloween night is fun and full of memories. this homemade costume might be the cutest thing i have ever seen.

human nest

speaking of my new little friend i got for my birthday, could you imagine staying a night in a human nest?

imagine sleeping under the stars at the treebones resort. then waking up to the serene waters at the big sur coast in california. who's with me in finding it?

"for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him."

psalm 103:11

weekend plans

i'm freakin out i'm so excited about tomorrow. could you guess what my plans were by the pictures earlier? yes, i am kayaking (with the baylor outdoors program, i must add) all day tomorrow.

"the LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. he will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

zephaniah 3:17

p.s. i hope i look as legit as the girl in this pic.

guessing game

want to take a guess at what my plans are for saturday?

"in your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. in your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling."

exodus 15:13

fly away

this has to be one of my favorite photos. as this summer is coming to a close, i wish so badly i could jump in this picture right now.

"i love those who love me, and those who seek me find me."

proverbs 8:17

houston business trip

my first official business trip was fun, except for the fact that i really do not like houston. the traffic there is horrendous, and oh the humidity does not do pretty things for my hair!

my brother is house sitting for a relative, so i was able to save him from his boredom for a few days, and also help out with the two boxer's he is taking care of. their house is magnificent. every room is filled with bright and unique art and millions of books. goodness i was inspired to become more of a reader!

some snaps from the trip

tomorrow is my last day of my internship. and as much as i complained about it in the beginning, i really am quite sentimental about its ending. i have learned so much about myself and what i need in a job through this whole process. farewell pointers, you have taught me lots!

"we continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 thessalonians 1:3

p.s. i got a special little package in the mail today - my sketchbook from the sketchbook project!! the possibilities of filling this little book are endless...

life plans

tonight i got back from my brief business excursion to houston (more to come on that later). but i met some people who have found their passions in life, and have found ways to incorporate the things they love into a career.

the company i am interning for this summer is helping ksbj, a christian radio station in houston, launch a new hd radio station targeted at youth. it was so inspiring to hear the ksbj staffers talk about their passion of reaching the world, and especially the next generation, with their radio programs. they realized they are placed on this earth for only a brief period of time, and that they should use every resource they have to glorify Jesus and reach those who need him.

i was also able to meet with a friend who is interning at a hospital in houston. she is basically serving as a counselor to the patients and sharing the love of Christ to those who are at their lowest points. again, it felt so uplifting to hear her say that she has found what God has put her on this earth to do.

on my ride home from houston i made a little stop in the woodlands and was able to get together with another friend of mine. we did a little shopping and met a girl who works for lululemon, a place that sells yoga wear. we ended up talking with her for about thirty minutes, and she shared a mini version of her life story. she went to college in colorado, followed a boy to texas, ended up breaking up with him, and now works for a yoga store. but she absolutely loves it. she works for a company that encourages the employees to pursue their goals, live healthy lives and serve the community. cool, huh?

so while i still haven't figured out my life plans, i want to have the same passion as the people above. i want to wake up every morning and feel as though i am making a difference in this world by going to work. that is something i know for sure.

"the Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, o Lord, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands."

psalms 138:8

p.s. love this picture

wishful thinking

weekend has a whole new meaning for me.

why? because ever since i have become a working woman, i have no time for anything else.

my hair is 6 inches too long,

my eyebrows are going back to their rectangular form,

my car window is permanently rolled down,

i am turning into snow white,

and as of today, i no longer have any more clean laundry.

man oh man how i wish i could just pick a spot and go.

(map out your vacation here)

"keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."

jude 1:21

carmel vacation

ooooh my goodness i LOVE california! like i have been planning out how i can make this dream of living there a reality. someone want to donate me a lot of money?? ha!

the vacation started out with a bang (4 LA cops arrested 2 middle-eastern men who sat RIGHT BEHIND ME in the airplane) and continued to be one crazy lockhart family trip. let's just say i'm sure the californians are very glad to get rid of the lockharts. i have very loud and opinionated brothers (one in particular) who like to voice their opinions and wreak havoc on those in california. a phrase i heard way too much this past week was "this place is chock full of liberals!!"

but as i said before, i loved it! the place is full of natural, artsy, eclectic, hippy, organic-eating people. not to mention that it is so lush and the weather is perfect! why do we live in 100 degrees texas weather again?

hope you enjoy a few photographic highlights from the trip!

"and i pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, 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."

ephesians 3:17-19

p.s. thanks to the guest bloggers! loved reading your posts!

A MARFAlous Life

Well hello to all of Meredith's lovely readers! How fun that I get to make a guest appearance on one of my favorite friend's blogs! This is Abby reporting straight from Marfa, Texas. In case you haven't gotten the memo, Marfa is the newest "thing" in Hollywood, NYC, and many parts of Europe. Nowadays, you can't say you have truly experienced the Lone Star State without having trekked out to the little town of Marfa which has been taken by storm.

I guess it is only fitting for me to tell a bit about this great place in the middle of the Davis Mountains. People are swarming out here to experience this new culture, to see the art left behind by famous artist Donald Judd, spot the Marfa Mystery Lights, and to stay in the hotel where the cast of Giant (1954) stayed during production. If you feel a need to get away and really experience a unique culture, to see the beauty of West Texas, or maybe to just get out of the humidity, well...come visit us in Marfa! The Hotel Paisano is the place to stay. Don't even bother checking out other places :) There is a peace in this town that, mixed with the variety of people and conversations you will encounter, rejuvenates and rests the soul.

When I find myself running amok or just overly stressed from school, my "oversensitive" personality (I would beg to differ on that adjective...), or needing a pick me up, I pack my little red car (please, call her Lola) and head on out. My fingers and toes get giddy, my heart beats a little faster, and my eyes are on the very attentive lookout for that first stretch of mountains after so much flat land (I live in the great plains of Texas...you can see for miles!). Just knowing that my little town is waiting in the distance for my anticapated arrival gets me pumped and ready to conquer all that stands in the way.

Now that I have given my sales pitch, I hope you plan to join Marfa. And, no, I do not say all this to increase our tourism levels, sell more hotel rooms at the Hotel Paisano, or to force my own passion on you. I do, however, think that everyone must give this area of Texas a chance. I have yet to meet someone who was not entranced and in awe of the mountainous terrain, the wide open and starry skies, the extreme amount of culture and vivacity for such a small town, or the peace that just slowing down can bring to life.

Follow my own MARFAlous life for a first-hand experience of life in this little town!