Pinterest Fail

If you are on Pinterest you have probably noticed the sudden surge of anything-fall. Jeans, flannels, pumpkin desserts, fall decor. You name it, it's there.

Well, I saw a brilliant idea for making caramel apples. I love the taste of caramel apples but I always have to cut them up into slices because they are so incredibly messy. Even cutting them up doesn't eliminate their mess-making attitude.

The idea I saw was absolutely brilliant:



Don't those guys look beautiful?
So, Andrew and I tried it. here's what we got:

 They look ugly don't they? I was very disappointed. However, as you can probably tell from the half eaten plate I photographed, they were still tasty. Just not quite as good as I was expecting. They look like they're dying in a pool of blood, or tomato soup, whichever your imagination prefers.

Moral of the story: As much as we want to believe it, Pinterest isn't always perfect.

Celebrating Fall

I am proud to actually have pictures to post with my text this week! I feel as if I have neglected my camera over the past few months. I know it's weird feeling sorry for inanimate objects but I feel sorry for my camera for not giving it the attention it deserves. Not only does is deserve my attention but I love spending time with it. I find it amazing how the wind can be howling around my camera and it will not affect the image it captures because it's just sound. I often feel like sounds and smells should also be captured in a single image but this way just leaves room for imagination. It always amazes me how a camera works to capture beauty that sometimes smacks us in the face and says "look at me" and sometimes you have to look at the overlooked and sometimes the ugly and draw the beauty out of it.  I am reminded that everything is beautiful in its own way. Sometimes it just takes a special eye to see it that way. 

This past weekend I went hiking on Tinker Cliffs in Roanoke, VA. Round trip it was 7.2 miles. While I was not as energetic going into the hike, it was a really good trail! There were fun bridges for creeks, ladders to climb over barbed wire fences, cow pastures to walk beside, and a variety of elevation grade. I wish it wasn't as cold and windy when we got to the summit so that we could have explored the amazing rocks more but it was a fair trade off for the autumnal coloring. There were a fair amount of people on the trail but from what we heard it was just a popular hiking day all around. Overall, it was a great hike and I would definitely recommend it.

Jitters

After much anticipation, I have finally started my Grad School application. I though that starting the application would feel overwhelming but it has had quite the opposite effect. I literally have the jitters about it because I am so excited! Yes, it is possible that this could be from the hot mug of coffee I just downed but it is more likely from the excitement of the application. I have 3 of the 4 parts completed but the 3 that remain are the hardest. 

The biggest curiosity I had before starting my application was what the questions for the personal statement would be and I must say that immediately after reading them I had answers and examples come to mind for each one of them!

I feel very encouraged that I am looking to go in the right field for me because all of the prompts are so personal to me. I can't wait to continue working on my application but I am going to have to exercise a bit of self-control and hold off for a while because I have a pretty busy week with a paper due and an exam approaching. I have been spoiled thus far this semester with my lax schedule.

I promised an update on Fall Retreat so I will provide one that is very brief: 
It was a very fun and meaningful weekend. Great memories and friendships were made, prayers answered, and lives were impacted forever. I would post pictures but I forgot to bring my camera along. 

Another fun weekend is approaching to serve as a hiatus from this busy week. My parents are coming to visit me over fall break. I am most looking forward to my mom finally seeing my apartment! I am hoping to somehow find time to finish some decorating touches before they arrive on Friday. 

In joy and excitement, 
Kenz

P.S. How can dying leaves be so beautiful?

Full Weekends

So, I went home this past weekend and came away feeling very inspired and encouraged! It partially felt too soon to be going home but I'm so glad I did.

Here's things I did while home:

• A lovely 7 mile bike ride to a playground
• lunch at a cute independent place called Dillweeds following the bike ride
• Home cooked meal and played games with the parents
• Lovely lunch with Andrew's family
• Celebrating my little cousins birthday, surprise style
• Saw another cousin who was very ill and is doing remarkably better now
• Watched The Hunger Games movie and marveled at how much was left out from the book.
• Got very inspired to go hunting. Awaiting Thanksgiving break for that
• Great time with my oldest brother and his beautiful expecting wife. Can't wait to be an aunt again!
• Church and lunch following with the family

Going home this past weekend was just such a blessing to be. By the time I got back to school, I was feeling very encouraged and rested. 

I love the hometown that God has blessed me with and can't wait to get more involved in the town community there. I often find myself wishing that Bel Air was more like Blacksburg and I am realizing the ways that they are similar.  Yes, Bel Air is populated by way to many successful career people and their preppy little families and it has become much more build up than I would like. 

Despite this, it is still the town I have grown up in and come to love. I am looking forward to discovering the similarities that it has to Blacksburg when I move back home. I want to try all the restaurants on Main Street, attend local music festivals and art shows, grocery shop at the farmer's market every Saturday morning and whatever other quaint happenings the town has to offer. 

Today is InterVarsity's Fall Retreat and I am super excited. Big things are going to happen and I know it's going to be super fun! I'm really looking forward to seeing what Giant Jenga is like. 

Hopefully more updates on this after the weekend.

Until then find rest and joy in the day-to-day.

Love,
Mackenzie