My life lately {In a nutshell}

This post brought to you by Natalie's non-contemplative side.

I've just spent an hour or so too much time going through my blogs from the past. It's always fun to go back to the beginning of this blog {which was the summer after I finished high school} and think of all that I have experienced since then. It's kind of a mind trip.
Anyway, I've noticed that recently I've been so contemplative on my blog that I haven't been very real. And, I think that years down the road I'll want to remember the blog-worthy events of my life too! Not just the blog worthy {or so I think} thoughts.

So here are some random bullet points from my life in the last couple months:

• I have 21 units this semester.
• 3 of which are an internship through the City and the Housing Authority.
• I live VERY simply because I only make enough money each week to fill my gas tank.
• I enjoy taking back roads and side streets through Chico so I can sing a little longer before I reach my destination.
• I'm learning the art of cuponing. {I'm not even close to those crazy TLC people though.}
• I spend gazillions of hours reading for classes. Sometimes I feel like my brain will explode.
• My 6:30am Bible study started back up again. LOVE IT.
• I discovered I don't like doing quantitative research. {yuck.}
• I actually like protein shakes now, as long as they're chocolate flavored.
• For fun, I've taken to hanging out at a secluded park with my Tommy Bahama beach chair, coffee, and a book of my choosing.
• I've discovered that Wilkie Collins is a fascinating and gripping storyteller.
• I find painting my nails to be a fun and brainless way to take a quick study break.

I really meant it when I said that this list would be random.

Bodega Bay over Labor Day

Last weekend my Aunt and Uncle rented a house in Bodega Bay and invited Adria and me along. We spent the weekend eating delicious sea-inspired meals, drinking coffee, reading, playing pool, assembling puzzles, and walking on the beach.
The weather was cool, overcast, and misty: a nice change for us!

From Bodega Bay

Dramatically jumping out of the wave's path :-)

Holding Out-

Recently I’ve had quite a few discussions about dating/marriage/ family and the like. Of course, I think about these types of things often. I just don’t typically blog about them. But I’m breaking out of my meek-little-blog mode and telling it like it is:

I have never dated.

I guess I hadn’t really realized how out of the ordinary that is until recently. (I don’t know if that’s a good type of naivety or bad.) Anyway, before you go painting a holier-than-thou picture in your head about me, I must confess, it’s not that I haven’t wanted to date. No, my perpetual state of singleness has been primarily because I haven’t had the opportunity to date.

While this truth was certainly a source of vexation for me in the past, I have learned to truly appreciate the fact I don’t have a scarred heart. I’m 20, I’m single, and I like it. Is that wrong!? Of course I go through little bouts of discontentedness (who doesn’t?), but in general I enjoy the knowledge that God knows the desires of my heart and I don’t have to bend over backwards to find myself a man!

If there is a man involved in God’s plan for my future, great! I’ll completely embrace it when it comes, but in the meantime I doubt you’ll find me pining-away. Nope! I’ll be out living my life!