stars in trees

I am so thankful that everyone doesn't think like I do. 

I am thankful that there are 

people who can hold on to facts and figures. 

people that are great with details - and remembering them.

people that are good with little known facts... like this one.

Did you know that there are STARS in trees?

A great friend of mine showed me this the other day.

She had no clue what this little stick would mean to me.

The thoughts that it would inspire.

It may seem elementary - but I love it.  

It is still in my purse. 

It's a reminder to look for little details in life. 

Special details. Also to take time to enjoy them.

Who knew that if you break off a cotton tree branch that you would find a star?

More importantly than that

who knew the exact location in the cotton branch 

that you have to break it to find the star?

 

{It makes me think of my life}

There are places that we I been broken. 

Sometimes it felt like it was the wrong place.

But now it has turned into something beautiful.

I think I'll keep this star.

I had no clue that there were stars in trees. 

What details can you enjoy more today?

My friend challenges me to do this {just by being herself} 

I just wanted to pass it along

so... I don't

        LOSE things. 

             I just MISPLACE them.

**{for extended periods of time}**

running etiquette

I am new to this {running} thing.

i can say {not proudly} in my 28 years of life i do not believe i have ever gone on a run by myself. 

Today was the day.  I decided to run. 

I woke up this morning... wanting to go for a run.

my {run} started off at 

2 mins of walking. 2 mins of running.

2 mins of walking. 2 mins of running. 

Here are my questions about running etiquette... 

There are bikers, walkers, roller bladers, dog walkers and runners on the path

1. do you have to say hello or smile everytime someone laps you 

{yes... I was lapped MANY times} 

only by the people who had wheels though - so I guess that's a good start.

2. if someone comments on what a beautiful day it is - do you have to {comment} back? 

or can you just agree and smile?

3. how about if an old man laughs and says, "so you took the short cut around?"  

what is the best way to respond?  

I don't know the short cut path or the long way around

I'm just running on the path in front of me... 

is what I wanted to say - but I just kept going.  {it didn't feel short to me}

so after a half an hour of running {walk/running} 

I've decided... I'm going again. 

It was exhilarating.  

and my legs are going to pay tomorrow.  

but in the long run I think I may even start to like it...?

not making any promises - we will see :0)

iLOVE surprises

{as long as I'm dressed for the occasion ... or there are clothes provided to be dressed for the occasion}

at the end of service yesterday I had a note past to me asking:

"Do you have plans today?"

{I don't anymore... I had a photo shoot reschedule}

"Would you like to go on a date with me?"

{I would LOVE to go on a date with you}

"Can I pick you up from your house after church?"

{Absolutely}

I had the HUGEST smile on my face. all day long.

Annie's 

Burgers and Malts

for lunch

It was SO NICE to sit out in the sun.  
Though the bees and birds didn't leave us alone 
dealing with them was worth the time in the sun!

then off to...

   the Sculpture Garden

time together. just relaxing.

have I mentioned how much iLOVE surprises?
it was an awesome sunny day.
with an amazing man.

Love you.

perspective

this was just sent to me in an email.  I googled it and got the full story if you'd like to read it by clicking the link at the end of this blog. 

 

Something to think about.

       

THE SITUATION
On a cold January morning in 2007 in a Washington, DC, Metro station, violinist played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.  During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.  After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing.  He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.

About 4 minutes later: 

 The violinist received his first dollar.  A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

 At 6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch, and started to walk again. 

At 10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly.  The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time.  This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced the children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while.  About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.  The man collected a total of $32.

 

After 1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over.  No one noticed and no one applauded.  There was no recognition at all.

 

No one knew it, but the violinist was Joshua Bell,

one of the greatest musicians in the world.  With a violin worth $3.5 million dollars he played one of the most intricate pieces ever written. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and people's priorities. 

This experiment raised several questions:

•      In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? 

•      If so, do we stop to appreciate it? 

•      Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: 

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . .

How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?

 

to read the full story click here.

...like a warm chocolate chip cookie straight from the oven...

this is the only description I can give about a few people that I've met recently. 

It has been so nice to meet people who are

a warm place

a place of comfort

a place of peace

a place of love

someone I want to linger with 

someone I want to share life with

someone who encourages me just by being themselves

I want to be like this. 

Meeting people who make me feel this way. 

Makes me look at myself and wonder what aftertaste I leave.

I love the aftertaste of chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven.

a confession

of a shopoholic.

I handed over my check card yesterday.
and.
It was one of the most freeing things I've done in a while!

While I've wanted to use it... MANY times since then.
It is SO NICE to not have it at my fingertips to use as a crutch!

I have got an amazing role model and friend in my life who is investing her time and energy into me.  Holding me accountable.  Going over my monthly budget... and previous month's spending.  It's good. and hard to look at sometimes.

It's not REALLY hard at this point {but then again it IS only the 2nd day}.  I'm so sick of where I've been. Buying things {really anything} has been an addiction.  I am an addict.  I see that now. I have to treat it just as I would alcohol or any other addiction. The first step for any addict is to acknowledge it... right?

This last month was a bit of a relapse month. It is hard to deal with that.  Thinking that you're doing "so well" and then one trip to the mall turns into 3 and one night eating out turns into 5 {in a week}.  The justifications for spending start flying...

I am proud to say I am now taking care of it - no more justifications.  I am seeing my debt for what it is.  and getting it out of my life.  I won't be controlled by it anymore!  I WILL think differently.  about myself. about what fills my life.

This is good. and hard.  But it will be AMAZING when I can say that I am DEBT FREE.  I remember saying out loud, "I'm going to be a pretty good catch, once I've got this all figured out..."

but.

A big part of "recovery" is realizing that it may not ever be "figured out"... we are a continual work.   It's when I think I'm good... and can handle things and don't protect myself and have accountability when the downward spiral starts.

Maybe reading this will help other people.  This is a hard blog to post... but I'm posting it for myself... for accountability of reading my own words - and for you.  If it opens one person's eyes and encourages someone to become debt free {or addiction free} - it's worth posting this.

Here's to the good times and hard times ahead.