Letting Go

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.

Here is the link:
http://www.noisetrade.com/ellieholcomb/ellie-holcomb-collection

Here's another good album with Both Ellie Holcomb and her Husband, Drew Holcomb:
http://www.noisetrade.com/moonriverfestival/moon-river-music-festival-mixtape


This group sounds good too. Seeds of Saints:

http://noisetrade.com/seedsofsaints/wood-floors-ep

Blueberry, Banana and Spinach Smoothie

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:

• 1 cup of Blueberries
• 1 banana
• 1 cup of spinach

 

Look how delicious and beautiful this looks!

Simplicity

"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.

Rainy Day Playlist

Tea and old music make great companions on rainy days. I've made a playlist for you all. Enjoy...
 

Easy Photo Album Idea

Here is an easy, cheap and creative way to make a photo album. Recently I found some old playbooks for $1 at a secondhand bookstore. I picked some with titles like, "The Rabbit Hole and Daytrips"  Each playbooks title create a theme for the album. So for example I will make a Dixie album with the Rabbit Hole playbook and an album of all of our adventures using the Daytrips book.  Here are the supplies you'll need.

Supplies

1. Play books or music books

2. Fun tape

3. Photos

Spring Feelings

I'm not sure about you, but I'm ready for spring! Its about 65 degrees today and rainy. It's easy to feel melancholy on a rainy day. That's why I've decided to wear pink lipstick with gingham plaid and overalls. It's amazing how dressing cute really helps you feel better;)

 

  

 

(Plaid Shirt: Thrifted, Overalls: F21, Lipstick: Revlon Velvet Matte, Boots: Minnetonka)

Camera Obscura

Today I turned by bedroom into a camera obscura (pinhole camera). Camera obscura means "darkened room."It was the first camera.  The camera obscura has been around for thousands of years. In the 17th and 18th centuries, artist like Vermeer and Jan van Eyck used them to create drawings. It was until the 1800's that an actual photograph was taken with these kinds of cameras.

If you're interested in turning a room into a camera obscura, here is what you'll need:

1. Aluminum foil

2. Tape

4. Scissors

All you have to do is tape over your windows with aluminum foil. Then cut a small hole towards the top. Then turn off your lights and see the image outside reflected upside down on your walls.