Oh love

It is so plain and so simple to me.

My life is better with him in it.

No question. 

He's inside of my heart. 

It's miraculous. 

I love him. 

Things you ought to try...soon!

- Drinking out of a jar (things taste better)

- Eating Trader Joe's Belgian chocolate pudding
- Painting something with NOTHING in mind - Just letting your thoughts and wishes flow out onto canvas

- Forgiving someone you don't like and loving them instead

"Live in each season as it passes: 

breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit."

–  Henry David Thoreau

soul cleanse

Earlier this evening, someone that I care for deeply, told me that I should keep being myself.  He said I should just be me because he likes that person.  I feel like that is the best advice.  Just be yourself.  No gimmicks, no saying "yes" because you feel like you're expected to do something, no folding under when your opinion is being shot down.  Ask questions you're scared to know the answers to, and always pet every kitten and hug every puppy in sight (if you like animals).  Life is too short to waste your time doing, saying or being someone that you don't truly love.  

Life should be filled with days on end where you smile at yourself every time you look in a mirror and you skip down the sidewalk on your last stretch home from a jog.  You should hang a pretty picture on a wall, and then move it ten times if you want to...until it is in your perfect, visually-stimulating, happy place.  Sometimes I rinse out my glass instead of washing it, pretty sure that my finger pads and water do enough of a scrubbing job.  I like to come home at night, and, after looking in the fridge for a healthy snack, opt-out and dip a big spoon in the sticky nutella jar (the stuff of dreams).  Stick up for yourself against all odds, even when you are your biggest critic.  Laugh at yourself, but try to always make yourself happy.  Don't cry because you feel fat, just eat a carrot instead of nutella tomorrow night.  P.S. you're probably not fat and I love you.  Also, remember to do things that cleanse your soul and bring light to your life.  I'm going to list a few of mine to look back on later :) 

Soul cleansers:

- stepping out on my cool pavement back porch in the morning with warm tea in hand

- spoonfuls of nutella without a guilty conscience

- jogging

- ohm-ing in yoga class

- laughing with the ones I love

- riding my bike with no hands (when I get the right balance)

- ujjayi breaths

- painting

- playing the piano

- dancing in my pajamas in my room

- drinking iced tea in summer

- sitting on a dock with my toes dipped in a lake

- sinking down to the bottom of a pool and then jumping off the bottom..ready for air

- a really good quote, thought, or bible verse that just fits

- hugs...good ones

- eye contact 

- swinging on a swing

- smelling a rose

- licking the whipped cream off of the whisk 

- meaningful conversations 

love starts

 

love starts,
and then can continue
when
an individual
remembers to love
who they are.

realizing worth
in oneself
throws open the 
secure door 
of the soul.

to picture my life, boy
you need a higher resolution

-B.o.B. 


I  love this.  A good reminder to: look at the big picture and see the colors, blessings and beauty in every moment of life

ripple

everything that has been
everything that is
and 
everything that will be:
all-consuming,
all-inclusive,
entire,
in one place.

the center of everything
entirely contained within a heart?

vibrations of the past, present, future:
moving,
breathing,
quivering with life.

it is beautifully overwhelming:
a reason to feel blessed

being part of it
trying to move with purpose
trying to notice
looking for meaning
striving for some end?

but that's just it:
it doesn't end.
love ripples outward
surely, you and i are in this place
the past, present and future are within us
we are not stagnant, though

ever-growing and ever-learning.

 











 

Magnificent palm trees

I long to be more like the palms -

 

Gazing toward the bluest sky

Full of life, standing 

Arms stretched up and out 

have a little faith

worrying, stressed, questioning, wondering, asking too much, not trusting, falsely accusing, not giving a chance, losing hope, staying frustrated, freaking out, over-analyzing, putting words in their mouth, letting words flow too freely...

yikes! why do i do this? where is my self-control.

God is the one who can cleanse me and set me free of these nonsensical worries.
after all,
if He provides for all the tiny sparrows, hummingbirds and even the crows
then He shall surely provide for me, His child
i'm lucky :)

i don't like all of this negativity and i want to cleanse my mind.
to be free in these next moments and for tonight
of all of that.

it's nonsense and selfish and...doesn't it require less muscles to smile than to frown?
i remember hearing that in grade school.

i want to think about only good things
to rest my weary head on the sweet pillow of positivity.

dear Lord,
please help me to listen to Your words and dwell on the
truth,
happiness,
real-life,
the "what is in front of me",
and to learn to trust in the ones i love -
to not over analyze
and to just relax
in the glory of "having a little faith"

:) ahhhh feels good. good night.

pico de gallo with friends

jenny, eric, hillary, jacob, and olivia

cool tomatoes, spicy jalapeños, crisp onions
tangy lime and cilantro leaf delights

the taste of summer

we had such a fun night tonight with friends and family
i hope we won't forget how nice it is
to sit around the table and share
summer taste treats

forgiven

regret. 

wishing i hadn't done something.

sometimes i feel that way.  sometimes i say it.

sometimes i ask for forgiveness.

why can't i have more control over my tongue, temper

and feelings?

i get in the moment and let the emotions flow

without

really thinking. 

forgiven?

asking for forgiveness is key.  and i have come to really value

the forgiveness.

those times that i got so upset and cried and walked away

and hurt someone because i wouldn't let them explain...

i regret those times. 

someone reminded me that you don't have to say

"it's okay"...because maybe what they did...or what you did

isn't okay.

but you can always forgive. 

forgiveness is saying it's over

no longer on record

a clean slate

you're free of that word, action or choice

i'm thankful for forgiveness in all of those situations.  

and yet, i still sometimes bite my nails

in the moment between asking forgiveness

the short pause

and then either a "yes, of course" or an "i don't know"

now, God's forgiveness....is another story

perfect

no hesitation

no memory of the wrong

He wipes everything away

a no-streak-no-dust-windex-clear window of your soul

a perfect soul

forgiven

and ready to live, choose and breathe another moment.

ahhhhhhh :) thank you Father! 

Of late