Pretty living space...

So, I am moved today, in addition to Curbside Treasure collages, by some posts at Design*Sponge. She discusses people who post photos of their homes, as well as gives us a peek into her own work-in-progress place. Having such a creative space- not just to create, but that looks creative- is something I really want! I already drive Casey crazy with my compulsive organization, pretty boxes, and what he calls clutter, but really I'm just trying to express myself and I would LOVE to have such pretty spaces as some other people have and share! My apartment is small... and we are only renting... but I still think I could do some really great things to help motivate me to be creative more often. I've tried already to make changes that will inspire me, but I just haven't hit that spot quite yet. I'm doing some creative stuff, but not to the extent that I'd like to be. I guess that's another project idea to add to my list- spiffing up my apartment so that it inspires me to be creative and make, as well as surround myself with, beautiful things!

Below is a picture of my bedroom back home. My Mom fixed it up for me like this before my last trip up there. She has the benefit of working for a luxury linen company, so that is helpful! But her creative touches are what make this area so great- such as the simple idea of putting scrapbook paper in a frame to use as art. I love this idea, actually, and have a piece of scrapbook paper I don't really want to use for a scrapbook, but think is very beautiful, that I could use in this way. The best part about this space is that it is simple. It is not fussy or frilly, it is just simple and beautiful. These are some characteristics I like and will take into account when I work on my apartment. I'll post some photos of my apartment soon with changes I've made, or things I already have, but I wanted to include some sort of photo in this post and this one fits the concept.

Calm Before The Storm.

A storm is making itself known in the area of my apartment right now. It's raining a little and thunder can be heard. Casey and I have been sitting on the balcony trying to sight some lightning, but we seem to be facing the wrong direction in relation to the storm. We've seen a few amazing streaks, but mostly it's just flickers of light behind the clouds. The wind carries the essense of the storm and the air feels the way it always feels when there is potential for lightning and thunder and rain. When a storm comes around lately, I am reminded of a particular experience. It happened last time I was home in Vermont- in early July of this year. Tana and I were at Treasure Island (a little beach on a lake) and we were about to go down in the water, us and the two kids she was babysitting, when the lifeguards announced everyone had to get out of the water because a storm was moving in. Sure enough, when we turned around and looked over the trees, there were dark clouds hovering quickly towards the sky above us. As we prepared the kids to get them to the car, there was this sudden stillness. It was a powerful stillness. We both looked up from what we were doing and said almost at the same time "Did you feel that?" It was the calm. The calm that takes hold of the air and the trees and everything just before a storm hits. I had never experienced it so bluntly before and it was amazing, a serious experience of God's power through nature. This is one of those crazy natural occurences that gets transferred to life experiences. You may go through a calm period, where everything is peaceful and right, and suddenly your world falls apart around you. Although this is a hard thing to go through, I am glad to know that the rain always ends- often taking away hurtful and bad things that you didn't even know where there, cleansing you- and lots of times this cleansing causes another of God's great creations- a rainbow, a colorful symbol of forgiveness, of purification. They say there is gold at the end of the rainbow, but maybe the rainbow is the gold.

Bliss at the Beach

What an amazing weekend! Casey and I got up very early Saturday morning and made our way to Virginia Beach for a weekend of sunshine. We hit traffic on the way, of course, but we made it down there in plenty of time to make a full day of beach fun. After parking, we headed to the beach and set up our spot. After relaxing in the sun for a bit, we decided it was time to get in the water. BRRRRR! It's so cold when you first get in, but soon we were feeling grand as the cool water enveloped us and shooed away the hot, sticky thickness of the air on the shore. We spent some time floating on the waves, relaxed and at ease with the powerfulness of the ocean. Soon we decided to go and check into our room, which looked out on the ocean and even had a jacuzzi (surprise from Casey)! After settling in our things, we headed back to the beach, where we spent some more time lounging in the sun and floating on the waves. Eventually the tide changed so that it was right for boogie boarding, which Casey and I took full advantage of. This activity is something that just over a year ago I never would have dreamed of doing! I used to be very fearful of the water, but last summer Casey helped me overcome my fear by coaxing me into the water, holding my hand so to speak, until I was brave enough to go out to the sandbar with him. He let me try out his board, and soon I was rushing out of the water to go and buy my own! I am grateful that he helped me overcome my fear and now I have an excellent activity to look forward to doing with him when we visit the beach. Sometimes I get in the water even faster than him now! :) Saturday night we had a nice dinner on the beach and enjoyed some fun at the arcade. Sunday brought another sunny day, as well as one of my favorite experiences the beach can bring- dolphins. I looked out off the balcony and thought I saw a dolphin right off shore, and sure enough, there was a school of fish fluttering around the top of the water and the dolphins were having some breakfast. I was very excited to see the dolphins so close to the shore line! I watched for a few minutes until Casey dragged me away so we could load up the car and head down to the beach. Fortunately the dolphins were still going back and forth along the beach by the time I got there. It's definitely one of my favorite things to watch in the whole world! Sunday we spent most of our time just lounging on the beach under our newly purchased umbrella. We spent a little time in the water, but mostly we just relaxed on shore... Casey even took a nap! It was wonderful to just sit there and listen to and feel the sounds of the beach- the waves crashing, children shrieking in delight as the water splashes them, the ocean breeze, a barely audible radio, sand between my toes. It is such a peaceful feeling the beach brings to me. I think that my love of the beach has been passed down to me through my Mom, who used to spend a lot of time at the beach in her childhood. It certainly is one of my favorite places and I am so grateful to be able to share it with someone I love, who loves it as much as I do!

To Nap and Play Like Kitties

"Pets live so contentedly in the present moment."~BanBreathnach

Every day I am humored by my kitties and their crazy antics. But I'm also given a sense of peace when watching them sleep. I guess it is like having children in that sense. No matter how my little ones make me feel, and I can tell you that sometimes they drive me up the wall, I am often envious of their ability to be content no matter what they are up to. Now, I don't want to contradict myself because I believe that if we are unhappy in our lives we should not try to force ourselves to be content- we should take steps to do better- but I also think that when living in the present moment and doing the best we can to live our most fulfilling lives, we need to take time to look at ourselves and say "Okay, life is good, I'm content with this." Most people will never have everything they want, but as long as we are striving for a purpose greater than our own needs, I think that we can feel pretty good about ourselves.

"The greatest use of life is doing something that will outlast it."
~ William James

While striving to serve a purpose beyond ourselves, it is also important to play, to be merry, and to have fun. My cats play with a vivacity that makes me laugh uncontrollably at times. They run around my apartment as if they had a never-ending reserve of youth and energy. Although we often become so exhausted and stressed that it is hard to be pleasant, it's important to remember that each minute we stay grumpy we lose out on precious time we could be spending doing other things- like playing, loving, and making memorable moments. So, next time you are feeling down and need a pick-me-up, look at all the good things in your life and be content with those things- love your family and let them love you back, watch your pets play, rest and rejuvenate yourself, take a nap, curl up with a book-- liive in the moment and smile!

(This post expresses some of my feelings, but it is mostly a great excuse to post pictures of my little sweethearts! Aren't they cute?!)

Over the Mountains

There are times in life when you gotta crawl,
Lose your grip, trip and fall,
When you can't lean on no one else,
That's when you find yourself,
I've been around and I've noticed that,
Walkin's easy when the road is flat,
Them dang'd old hills will get you every time,
Yeah, the good Lord gave us mountains,
So we can learn how to climb. ~Lonestar

So, I've got this plan in my mind. A plan to become a better me. A plan to serve a purpose, the purpose God created for me, whether I know what that plan is or not. Unfortunately, I sometimes go astray from this plan- an example being the first three days of this week. I feel like the time has just dragged me along through the boring work days... almost like torture... and I'm exhausted from it. Well, last night I was reading- which I do every night before I go to bed- and one of the things I read discussed the idea of feeling good and being positive and how doing so can make other positive things happen in your life. I had been trying to tell myself before reading this that I just need to change my attitude and try to be more upbeat, no matter how exhausted I am. The reading really confirmed my thoughts and gave me ideas on how to help keep myself from getting down. On the way home from work today the song "Mountains" by Lonestar came on the radio (chorus above), and while I listened to it I was confirmed even further that I need to stop being so negative, to look at all the struggles I've gone through and realize they've made me stronger, and that I need to stop being such a grump and take advantage of all the opportunties life gives me- big or small. Although it's really hard sometimes for me to be positive, I'm just naturally against myself it seems, I am glad that I am beginning to learn how to shove away those feelings and try to be positive and excited about my life. Because if you can't be excited about your life, if you can't climb the mountains as they come, then what's the point in waking up each morning to a brand new day? Nothing. So, to you and to myself I say "Be happy! Start each day with a smile and say to yourself: 'what greatness will I accomplish today? How can I make the world better and in turn myself better? Let's see what's on the other side of the mountains!'"


On the top, a negative perspective of what's over the mountain (or hills), and on the bottom a positive perspective. Which one will you choose- the sunshine or the gloom?