the most wonderful time of the year

It's starting to be that time of the year. You know: CHRISTmas! We have successfully put up all our decor in the Whitlock household, and it is very merry & bright. And being an unemployed college graduate, I am still helping Miss Jodi Duncan when she needs me. Which has transitioned beautifully from weddings into decorating homes and businesses for the Christmas season. She is just as busy in this time of year as she is in the summer/fall with all her weddings. I am so thankful that she likes to have me around and that she likes to have my help. So even though I don't have a real job right this very moment, I do have a little bit of money available to me. 

Working on the balcony with Glo in Chandler, IN

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

welcome to Christmas-land at a home in Harrisburg

Christmas at Marion Mackies

Christmas wreath chandeliers at Marion Mackies

Christmas is also just one of my favorite times of the year in general. I love getting to spend time with my family. When the weather is cold, it's my favorite because I get to wear big bulky sweaters and chunky scarves. Speaking of sweaters & scarves, I would like to get some new ones soon. A shopping day is in my near future, probably after Christmas presents and Christmas are over. This will be my niece Hallee Jae's first Christmas which is super duper exciting. I can't wait to celebrate and do all kinds of fun stuff with her. I know she won't remember most of it, but that's beside the point. 

Hallee Jae waving to Aunt E

living with purpose

a couple of Sundays ago at church, my pastor talked God having a purpose for our lives. God created the heavens & the earth, and in that there was order and purpose. my pastor gave an overview of his life starting at birth, pretty much hitting the highest points. he encouraged us to do the same. because everything that has happened in our lives, has happened because God has a specific plan and purpose for our lives. nothing that happens goes without Him knowing. so here goes nothing.

the life & times of 

Evan Whitlock

I was born in 1990 in southwestern Indiana, but my family lived in southern Illinois. the town I was born in had the closest/nicest hospital to have a baby in when I was born. ever since then, I lived in the same old little bitty town with my parents and older brother.
we went to church about 7 miles from our house. we enjoyed going to church here, but all the kids went to a different school than me.
in 1995, I started kindergarten. school was my favorite. I was really good at it :)
January 1998, I accepted Christ as my Savior and I was baptized. I had grown up in a family of Christians, but I knew I had to make a decision for myself. even then, I wasn't quite sure what it meant.
fast forward to junior high, we had switched churches where I had more friends and the atmosphere was more of what we needed at the time. you could say I was athletic/outgoing: I was very involved in soccer, gymnastics & cheerleading with quite a large group of friends. within the two years of being in junior high, I lost four people very special to me: one close friend, two great-grandmas, and one young cousin. this was a very hard time in my life. at the time it seemed like the world was crashing down on me and God had abandoned me. God used that time to draw me closer to Him & to rely more Him.
then I went to high school, four years of soccer, studying, Christian friends, working hard to get into college.
I went to college in the same town I was born in with the intent to be a physical therapist, mostly because I knew they made a lot of money and because I was super skilled in science & math. but after two years of taking classes in my major, I realized that this career path was not meant for me. so after countless hours of prayer, I changed my major to graphic design, because art had always been one of my passions. while I was in college, I found some of the greatest friends ever through SCF (student christian fellowship). these people were incredible and I know God placed them in my life specifically to help me get along in school.
in the summer on 2011 between my junior and senior years, I went to Ukraine as a missions intern with CMF (christian missionary fellowship). here I learned about God's heart for other nations and how missionaries live and function. I felt like this was where I felt the most at touch with God.
this past spring, I graduated with my degree in Visual Communication Design basically graphic design. since then, I have been in a place of searching out God's will for my life.

I think God used everything in my life for a specific purpose and without every single thing that happened I wouldn't be where I am today. and even though some things weren't exactly pleasant and didn't go the way I would have planned, God had a plan and has yet to let me down. He is always there for me. I don't know where I'm going next, but God still has a plan and a purpose for me regardless.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

Jeremiah 29:11

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
1 Corinthians 14:33

ladies trip to the beach

Last week, I had the pleasure to take a ladies trip to the beach with some of my best friends. We left early on a Tuesday morning and arrived at Seagrove Beach, Florida early that evening. We stayed for a whole week and every moment was fantastic. It was nice to relax and hang out and lay out and be lazy. We stayed in a condo right near the ocean so we were able to walk to the beach every day. And even though it rained a few days, we were able to get some sun while we there. One day we ventured to Destin to do some shopping at the outlet mall, because we're a bunch of girls and of course we had to go shopping. On the last night, I had brought mom's camera & tripod, so I set it up on the beach and took some "family" pictures of us. We didn't match and we aren't really family, but that's just what you do on the beach. And we had a blast doing it. Overall, it was an awesome trip and we had a wonderful, relaxing time. Plus, Seagrove is one of my absolute favorite places in the world. 

our new friends: a dead lizard & a dead crab

picture night on the beach

Jackie & Brea

Evan & Angela

Jackie, Brea & Erin

the Trio

first day in the Gulf

Angela & Brea catching some waves

trying to catch some fish

Jackie & Evan

SEATTLE VACATION

as most people know, I went on vacation with my parents to Seattle a couple weeks ago.
it was probably one of the best vacations I have ever been on.
the weather was absolutely magnificent.
the city itself was incredible.
we went out to the mountains and it was beautiful.
we got to go see the Pacific Ocean, which was outstanding.
we happened to be out there on a Sunday and got to go to a wonderful church called Blue Sky Church.
which happens to be planted by the Vine from Carbondale, how cool.
overall, I loved it!
now, I want to move out there now.
I think my parents are okay with that too, haha.

waterfall at Mt. Rainier

mom & dad at Mt. Rainier

sunset from the Space Needle

Lenin Statue in Fremont

Bainbridge Island

sunset overlooking Pacific Ocean on 4th of July

loved this sign :)

northwesternmost point of the continguous US

mom & dad by the Seattle Aquarium 

Fremont Troll from "10 Things I Hate About You"

Lake Crescent

Space Needle

first Starbucks

this is the Air Force One that JFK used!!! [ I was kind of excited :) ]

Pike Place Market

Chihuly Garden & Glass

proud aunt!!

I've clearly been on a blog hiatus for unknown reasons.
but I'm back and with a collection of pictures of my sweet Jelly Bean.
Dane, Jean & Hallee Jae came over for lunch today after church.
we had a good time eating & spending time together.
of course, we had to take some pictures of our sweet girl.
so here are a few of them.

you could say that I'm one proud aunt :)

life as a college graduate

graduation.
yes, as you may have heard, I am now officially a college graduate.
as of May 5th, I have my Bachelor of Science in Visual Communications Design from the University of Evansville.
it's so crazy, but exciting all at the same time.
and I know your next question... "So, what are you going to do now?"
well, I don't have any plans at this very moment.
I am enjoying my time off from school and real responsibility.
I plan on putting applications in at lots of places in lots of cities.
and I'm putting the rest in God's hands.
only He knows what's going to happen.

my favorite college professor, Larmann [he taught me everything I know about painting]

getting my diploma from President Kazee

delicious cupcakes for the mustache bash

my awesome mustached friends

4 out of 5 roomies

UE graduate

graduation was wonderful.
so many of my awesome family and friends were able to be there to celebrate this milestone in my life.
it felt so good knowing I have so many people who will always support me no matter what.
we had a "mustache bash"/shrimp boil at my campus house afterwards.
it was delicious and so much fun.


22.
since graduation, I've celebrated my 22nd birthday.
I had a wonderful lunch with my momma.
got to go out for dinner and a movie with my awesome friends.
and then I went out the next night for dinner at Red Lobster with my parents.
overall, nothing too special.


my momma.
lastly, I know I've almost missed the boat, but I want to mention my momma.
I know Mother's Day was yesterday and I should have done this then, but I didn't, so I'm doing it now.
everyone likes to say that they have the best mom, but I'm pretty sure they are all wrong.
my mom is the best.
she's always been there for me, no matter what.
even when we don't see eye to eye, she's always there supporting me through it all.
she loves me unconditionally.
I have been blessed with Christian parents who have set a Godly example for how I should live my life.
there are so many people who don't have that, including some of my best friends.
I'm so glad I have parents who are able to step up and be parents to those who don't have an example at home.
I've also been lucky enough to have lots of "mommas" in my life who have had a positive impact on my life.
Mama Mel, Aunt Marsha, Grandma Freda, Grandma Linda, Gigi, Mrs. Small, Aunt Denise, April, Leslie, BO.
the list really could go on and on.
I'm so thankful for the people God has placed in my life, especially my family.

my momma, the new 'grammy'

17 days

there are 17 days left until graduation.
wow, I can hardly believe how fast this semester has flown by.
it feels like just yesterday it was starting.
my classes are going well, but it's getting to that point in the semester when things are piling up and I have a million and one things to do.
today, I spent the day in Louisville, KY on a field trip for class.
we went to Power Creative, a graphic design firm.
it was so awesome.
they are on a huge campus with so many designers.
my favorite part was the huge in-house photography studio.
plus a giant prop room full of awesomeness.
I think I would pick that to do if anything.
however, I don't think I'm qualified to work there.
their main photography guy used to work for National Geographic.
and their photography intern is from SCAD (really awesome art school).
so I don't think I stand a chance.
but I would like to be taking pictures all day every day.

also, new in my life, I'M AN AUNT!
my brother and his wife had their baby girl yesterday morning at 12:19AM.
her name is Hallee Jae Whitlock.
she weighed 9lbs 2oz, and was 22in long.
there were a few issues right after birth, so she's been in the NICU.
but things are looking better.
she has already won me over and stolen my heart.
I already know that she will be super spoiled, especially by me.
now that I know her name, I can start buying her things with her name on it.

life filled with art

"beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

my newest painting is an expressive painting.
I took a self-portrait and made it into an expressive work.
I worked quickly and without much thinking.
everything from the first layer is gone, except my eyes.
in my opinion, my eyes are my most distinguishing feature.
so I wanted them to stand out.
I used some very thick strokes & strong colors.
a few reactions:
"creepy"
"dark"
"disturbing"
"interesting"
it is now hanging in the painting house with a great black frame.

last night was the opening of the student art show at UE.
I had two pieces that got in.
one giant painting, which is like Jackson Pollock's action paintings.
one digital photograph, which is of a sewing machine in Ukraine.
my parents came over to be at the reception.
it was nice to see them.
many of my friends came over to see my stuff.