R is Really for Rest.....

Rest. What is rest? Do we ever truly know what rest is? I think I've experienced it before but I don't remember what it's like. Can someone remind me what it means to rest? This time of year is really busy for me and I've been super busy trying to get my final projects done for school, stuffed toys made for an art sale at school, lesson plans written out, and a plethora of other things that I think I have to do. While I enjoy this time of year immensely with all of it's family gatherings and festivities I have to admit that it's not even December yet and I'm feeling a little bit in need of a rest. Hopefully once classes finish (not this Tuesday but the next), I'll be ready for the Holiday.

As for other R's...

- I try to reflect on what I am doing daily and see what I should be thankful for and how I could have done things differently that day (you know learn from your mistakes instead of making them over and over again). This is especially important with regard to working with kids, and so many of them at that, because you want to remember how each one tics and how best you can work with them.

- Since the year is almost over I've already begun thinking of resolutions. The thing is that I never make New Year's Resolutions. I think they're silly. If there's something in my life that I need to or want to change for the better I should make that proactive choice to change it as soon as possible not waiting until an appointed time by society to make that change. I guess the end of the year just gets me re-evaluating all the changes that have happened in my life in the past year and whether or not they've been for better or worse.

- It's nice to know that I have "roots" where I live. I've gotten to know a lot of people and I can go to a parade and run into people that I know and catch up with them.

- Rising early in the morning is something that I've always wanted to be able to do consistently and I'm finally able to do that with my job. I've always needed at least 8hrs of sleep or I get grumpy, stressed, and irritable. I know 8hrs seems like a lot to all of you sleep deprived crazies out there but I know that I am a better person when I get enough sleep. I'm much more likely to be a person that I'm not ashamed of when sleep well, and that's huge. Especially since I want my life to be one that strives to be like Christ.

R is for Review (movie review that is).......

First of all scroll to the bottom of this page and pause the music so you can hear the preview below.

Okay so my family and I went to see August Rush tonight and I have to say that it was a wonderful movie. Somewhat korny at times (but who doesn't love that), a bit of a fairy tale (but you're warned about that to begin with), but completely inspiring. There's nothing in it that would make you want to look away, a very clean movie all around (a huge plus in my book, I really dislike when there's just one part in a movie that you could totally have done without and really didn't add to the story at all). Hearing the music in the theatre is the only way to hear it I think (unless you've got some really nice surround sound system at home). I think I'll be seeing this one again (something I never do).

Day of Gratitude

Are you thankful? Or do you just assume that you're thankful and not fully appreciate all of the little things that we are given or blessed with? Too often I take for granted that I'm thankful for the little things. I wish it wasn't once a year that I forced myself to think about all the things that I truly am thankful for. This should be a daily thing, to count my blessings! I am so very thankful for so many things. I know last year I wanted to write one thing down that I'm thankful for each night. I never actually did this but how inspiring would it be to go back and read this thankfulness journal and see all of the amazing things that I have to be thankful for over the past year. I really do want to do this and if you're reading this and you know me ask me about it sometime as a way to keep me accountable (I might seem disapointed in myself if I haven't followed through like I hoped, but I'll be thankful that you brought it up so I can get back on track)! Anyways looking back this past year here are some things that I am thankful for:

- a place to stay after moving back from school

- being back home where I'm closer to those I love

- a new addition to the family who makes my world turn!

- relationships with my sister that have grown so much since our more pugnacious years

- being able to know people where I live and having a history with them

- cows that follow me to the mailbox

- friends that will stay up to the not so wee hours of the morning with me playing games and talking

- friends who let me play with their horses and hang out with them

- people who care about our earth and it's preservation

- to be able to release my thoughts out into the world and have friends hear them and understand

- the use of my hands and my ability to work with them

- children and the many joys and lessons that they teach us in life

- adults who are willing to share their stories and wisdom with others

- all those in-betweeners who are desperately trying to figure out who they are in the context of our world

- music that touches the innermost part of you and you don't know why

- laughter in all its various voices (especially giggles adults and kids alike!)

- deer that silhouettes against a moonlit sky

- and most importantly a God who provides me with every thing that I could possibly need (Thanks!)

Q is for Quiltmaker

Yes, I'm only 23yrs. old and a quiltmaker. There's no rule that you have to be an old empty nester to be a quilter (or an old maid for that matter). When I was 12 yrs. old my Grandmother taught me how to make my first quilt. I haven't been able to stop since. There's something about the ability to maneuver the colors of fabric around to make something beautiful and warm that someone will wrap themselves in. Now I haven't made many quilts but I've dreamt of them. I've planned for them, even bought fabric for them. It is my goal this coming year to complete many of my unfinished quilts that are waiting around to be finished. Let's see if I will follow through.

Here I am enjoying a quilt by the fire with friends this past year. The quilt was made by my mother and the qulited pillow made by me.

Some other Q things about me:

I'm not very quiet most of the time. I really try to be but when I get excited or find something funny it's hard to hold back.

Oh this is a big one. I am a walking question. I'm constantly asking questions. I know my family gets tiresome of it because that's the reason for my one and only time of being grounded. I was asking a lot of questions in the car when I was four and my momma was pregnant with Symphony. The questions were just too much for her nerves so she begged daddy to do something about it so he grounded me from asking any more questions. I'm not exactly sure how long I was supposed to be grounded for but I'm quite positive it didn't last very long.

P is for all the Pretty Colors!

My Grandmother and I have an ongoing joke about how I love the color orange just a little bit too much. Don't get me wrong I don't have favorites or anything, but this time of year how can you not appreciate and just absolutely fall in love with the color orange!!! Here's some pictures that I took at the city park yesterday that are decent enough to put on here.

Other P things about me....

I don't like posing for pictures (I feel so fake when I do), however, I love watching other people getting their picture taken. Go somewhere famous and people watch to see how ridiculous some people look when they're getting their pictures taken.

Peanut butter and bananas are yummy (as well as peanut butter and honey sandwiches).

Poppies are probably one of my favorite flowers, especially icelandic poppies (they're best in the garden though, I've tried to make a bouquet of them and they don't last more than a day).

Peonies are another fun one and they do look good in bouquets!

I would love to paint more but it's just too messy for my life right now (watch me start painting tomorrow now!)

I'm the pickiest non-picky person you'll ever meet (ask my cousin Jeremy about that).

Have a "Pleasant Day"!

O is for Obedient

A friend of mine told me that his niece has discovered the words "I don't want to," and will say it to any suggestion before it's even said. It may actually be something that she wants to do but she won't change her answer (most of the time), because she's already said no. She may be missing out on something that she would enjoy just because she has to stick to her silly rebellious attitude.

How often do you say no to someone just because it's them asking you to do something you don't want to do, whatever it is that they are suggesting or asking or even telling you to do (be it boss, parent, sister, friend)? I'm like this more than I'd like to admit (rebel at heart). For instance, all my sister has to say to me is "you should...." and immediately I shut down to whatever it is that she thinks I "should" do. It may a great idea, something I agree with but because SHE told me I should do it I really don't want to agree.

I've been wondering a lot lately if I have this same attitude with anyone else. Do I have this same sort of rebellious attitude even with what God wants me to do with my life? Don't get me wrong I want mine to be a life that is God honoring and following the path of His will, but do I sometimes dismiss what he tells me because I really don't want to do it? I'm not sure if this is making any sense but I have just been wondering how mature I am with my ability to listen and obey to what God has in store for my life. If my childishly rebellious attitude with my sister telling me what I "should" do is like this, how am I with my attitude in other areas of my life.

Lord help me to never be blind to the areas in my life that need work and help me (with Your help) to overcome them. Help me to grow up to be Your child, open and obedient to Your will.

N is for National Adoption Month....

Did you know that November was National Adoption Month? I found this out while I was trying to find out fun days in November for my kids at work. I also found out that the 13th is the World Kindness Day, the 16th is Button Day, the Slinky was invented on the 26th in 1943, and on the 30th it's Stay at Home Because You're Well Day (I definitley remember taking a few of those days growing up:).

At work for our bible lesson we talked about November being National Adoption Month and I found out that quite a lot of the kids at our before and after school program were indeed adopted. It was so neat to hear this and then talk about Moses in the Bible who was miraculously adopted by the very people who were trying to kill him. God works in truly amazing ways. I am really looking forward to hearing about the kids own stories of adoption and just their stories in general. Kids are amazing story tellers if you will just listen to them (true and false alike).

I've been blessed to know a family of amazing proportions from my church who have adopted 12 children and have just been aproved to adopt 5 more (not to mention they have five biological children and a grandbaby - not all living with them of course)! I can't think of another family whom God has used to bless these amazing children. I'm so grateful to know them and be able to be a part of their lives. Right now I am teaching the school age children Art once a week and really enjoying coming up with the lesson plans as well as working with a small enough group of kids that it's not so overwhelming (like at work sometimes).

It's amazing how big the family of God can be if only we let it.

M is for MINE!

I went with my sisters yesterday to check out two new stores in hagerstown Fivebelow and Best Buy. Well, while we were in Best Buy I found the camera for me. My heart fluttered when I read it's information. This camera was there and I was completely amazed at how close to being perfect for me it was. If you read its information you'll see that it's water-freeze-shock-and crush-proof! The only down side was that it had digital image stabilization instead of optical image stabilization (and it was a tad too expensive for me). This camera is perfect for my accident prone lifestyle. I've already been too rough with two digital cameras in my life. The first one I lost to the ocean (St. Petersburg, FL where we were kayaking and the bag I placed it in was faulty), and the other to hard use (I think it got dust/dirt in it causing the lense to not open properly). I still need to take my camera to a repair shop to find out if there's any hope in repairing it.

My title makes it sound like I'm one of those totally spoiled little kids that think they can get anything they want if they play their cards right. While this does not accurately portray my temperment I have to admit that I do feel that way sometimes. Most often when it comes to my life and how I life it. I am constantly having to remind myself that this life is not my own but God's and everything in it belongs to Him.

Another L post!

I was thinking up this post for quite a while and when I finally came to write it I realized that I had already written up an L post but hadn't posted it yet due to lack of pictures. Well it ties in really well with my idea of L is for Lost.....

I feel completely lost sometimes without my camera. I keep coming up with ideas for posts and then not following through because I haven't had the access to a camera for photos. It truly is amazing how visually dependent I (and I think a lot of other people out there too) have become. It's like something is not worth giving your interest if it is not visually appealing (which is definitley not true by the way). I'm trying to save up to either repair my current camera or get a new one and if I have to continue on without photos or using old photos than so be it. I enjoy this medium of expressing myself (blogging that is) and something as silly as not having new photos isn't going to stop me.

I lost myself in my thoughts yesterday hiking up a familiar trail. The colors of fall are all around right now and I have been feeling drawn to go enjoy them all week. Work and rain made that impossible though so I'm so glad that I was able to get out yesterday and be surrounded by it all. The feeling of my heart beating as I was hiking up the mountain was just the reminder of living life that I needed.