Sometimes a person is lucky enough to have a person in their life that they can count on no matter what. Sometimes a person is lucky enough to have THREE of those people. I am one of those lucky people, because I have you three!
Ally, it was a pleasure to ring in this new decade with you. I can't wait to see how the Lord uses you and grows our friendship over the next ten years!
One of my favorite places to visit is Sunset Rock on Lookout Mountain, GA. It is truly my happiest of happy places. Yesterday Paul and I went there after mass. While the time of day was not great for photographs, I still think some of the pictures look O.K. It's funny because the one picture of me where I am facing outward, two seconds after that picture was taken a man who was rock climbing poked his head over the rock we were standing on lol. It was kind of creepy and funny.
If anyone wants to join me, this is the book I will be reading for May!
"Not all are called to be artists in the specific sense of the term. Yet, as Genesis has it, all men and women are entrusted with the task of crafting their own life: in a certain sense, they are to make of it a work of art, a masterpiece."
~Pope John Paul II, Letter to Artists
I take this quote very seriously. I believe in making ordinary life extraordinary in small ways. For example, I like to light candles during the week, place flowers on my table (even if they are weeds;) and play all sorts of music on my record player during dinner. Must we wait for a special occasion to light candles or make a beautiful nourishing meal?
I would consider my home simple but filled with lovely items that bring me joy. For me beauty brings me life and its a part of who I am. God wants us to make masterpieces of our lives! I don't know about you but I think that's so awesome.
"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Zucchini and Corn Side:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 zucchinis, diced
1 cup corn kernels, frozen, canned or roasted
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Flying always helps me to gain a new perspective. It also helps me to simplify my life for a brief time, making me appreciate the possessions I have brought with me. When I fly I always feel closer to God. Flying teaches me to trust God while facing my fears. Finally, it brings me a sense of freedom and joy.
When I fly I only pack certain items in order to lighten my load and make traveling easier. I become more like a gypsy, living with only the essentials. I can only pack one book instead of 5 (which is rather difficult for me). My one book becomes a special comforting companion on my short journey. Packing light makes me appreciate what I have in my bag and eliminates any unnecessary items I usually let complicate my life.
Flying also teaches me to trust God while facing my fears and helps me to see with new eyes. I used to love flying up until recently. It's probably just the place in life I'm in. Paul and I were supposed to drive up together last Wednesday. Last minute plans changed and I had to fly up on Thursday by myself. I was really nervous about flying alone and braced myself for the worst. The cool thing was I prayed and asked God to help me face my fears and within minutes His grace and peace came over me. I had the most beautiful flight to Atlanta, GA. As soon as we got into the air, the sun started to rise. There were beautiful amethyst clouds underneath the the peach colored rising sun. I could see the coral colored reflection of the sun in the rivers and ponds from above. It was absolutely breathtaking. The sun shone through one side of the plane, reflecting the row of windows and people's silhouette onto the luggage compartments. I'm obsessed with light and shadows, so I really enjoyed that part. It was then I realized that God wanted to simply be with me. He knew exactly what brought me joy. He's not this angry God always ready to condemn me. He loves me and wants me to be free from fear no matter how imperfect I am. Facing my fears allowed me to feel more joyful and free. I couldn't have done it without him. It was such a pleasant surprise.
I hope this quick little lesson will remind you all that God always loves us and wants to be with us. He is seriously all we need in this life.
This Josh Garrels song came on my iPod when I was flying and it was absolutely perfect. The words just spoke to my soul.
"The older we become We must become more like a child Believing there’s a land that lies beyond All the things that we’ve seen Make my mind free from fears You know I can’t do it on my own The way is high but we could fly over When you heal our wings."
~Josh Garrels
The beautiful sunrise I saw on my way to Atlanta, GA.
I had such a wonderful time with my twin. I forget how much I love being around her. I always feel like a piece of me is missing when she's not around lol. I know that sounds weird....but we are twins;)
My friend Eve told me about this awesome shot that's supposed to taste like a honey nut cheerio. I think it tastes more like The Gingerbread Boy. All you need is:
Jack Daniels Honey Whiskey
Rum Chata
You want to put more Rum Chata in your shot glass and a little bit of honey whiskey. It's so yummy. I think y'all would love it.
It's amazing when I hang out with you girls I feel like a better person. You guys are the best. I had so much fun at the shower!
Dixie missed me while I was gone. She let me snuggle her and pet her for hours when I got home lol. Paul missed me too. He said I make his life better (which is always nice to hear:) It was good for us all to be apart because it makes us really appreciate each other more.
Dixie stayed like this the whole night. Basically this means, "love me" in bunny language.
When spring comes I always want to redecorate my house. Of course I can't go spending tons of money on new things, so I use what I have in my house instead. Here are some easy cheap decorating ideas for ya'll....
Hang your favorite hats on the wall.
Use crates as for bookshelves.
Use flags to give a headboard appearance or to add some color to your room.
Use old chairs for bed stands and old milk jars or mason jars for extra change.
Today I went into my closet and saw the jar Ally gave me filled with inspiration. The little quote I pulled out was exactly what I needed to hear.
"Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough,
powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in
our lives. Stress says that the things we are involved in are important
enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our
tight grip of control."
- Francis Chan, Crazy Love
Life is so short. I spend so much of my time worrying about the future and all of the little things I must accomplish during the day. So after reading this quote I decided to go sit near my bunny and listen to Ellie Holcomb. This song spoke to my heart...
We are supposed to struggle in this world. But remember that God is always there waiting for us to turn to him and surrender our fears and anxieties. I literally have to do that about every minute of the day and I often fail. Miss you guys.
Also if you like this song there is a free download of some of her music on noisetrade.com.
I am guilty of eating sweets and carbs especially in the winter. They are so comforting. I always forget to eat fruits and veggies. I actually enjoy drinking them because eating them seems so tedious. I decided to start juicing some fruits and veggies. My mom got us this awesome juicer for Christmas. You don't need a juicer though, a blender works just fine. Today I made a blueberry, spinach and banana smoothie. All you need for one smoothie drink is:
"Now is the time to remember that all you do is sacred."
Simplicity makes me more pure of heart. As I become more childlike, I am able to see the beauty in the small things.This is something I'm beginning to truly understand during this Lenten season.
Each day is filled with what seems like rather mundane tasks. Cleaning the house, doing laundry, cleaning my bunny's cage and going to the grocery store. Each of these tasks are necessary for the well being of Paul, Dixie and myself. While it's easy to grow weary and find these tasks boring, I've been trying to focus on the sacredness of each of them. Each task I complete with a grateful heart is an act of love. When I complete each task with love, it is like a prayer.
"Let him regard all utensils of the monastery and its whole property as if they were sacred vessels of the altar."
~Rule of Saint Benedict
When we become more aware of the sacredness of each daily task, I feel it is also easier to regard all that I have with sacredness as well. Suddenly the cup I drink out of in the morning becomes a lovely work of art that holds the drink which quenches my thirst. All that I use, all that I have been given serves a unique purpose. I've noticed that when I realize the sacredness of both the tasks I complete and the utensils I use to complete them or even the things that bring me pleasure (books, music, my film cameras) I am overcome with feelings of joy and gratefulness. I finally feel content.
Life is beautiful all that we have been given is beautiful. I hope that this blog post inspires ya'll to look at the world with an artistic eye and to appreciate the small things that God has intrusted us with. I hope it inspires you to realize that no task is unimportant. I'm going to continue to try to live each day with reverence for all I have been blessed with no matter how insignificant it might seem.
