joy in simplicity.

Taken April 2009 on a local beach.

I've had this little spot on the internet for over four years. I've been trying to figure out what I really want to convey here for a long time now. I've tried a little bit of this, a little bit of that, but it always seems as though I can never stick with it. I've questioned whether I should even have a blog over and over again, and have come *this* close to deleting it all together, but there's something in the back of my mind that always tells me to stick it out. 

Well, I think I've finally figured how what I want this little blog to be. It's been long enough, right?

I had my "Aha!" moment a few days ago as I was browsing around the internet. I kind of kicked myself after I had it, because what I want this blog to be about has been right in front of my face all this time. It's in the name. joy in simplicity.  

What I want for this blog to portray is exactly what the blog name is already saying. Finding joy in the simple and small things during each day. Taking a moment to find beauty in the flowers on the side of the road, the birds chirping, the bright blue skies, the breezes, the afternoon rain showers, the rainbows, the smiles and laughter from the dear ones in life, sweet words of loving kindness. Blessings. And sharing those blessings with others around me and enriching their lives.  

Life can really get you down. I tend to let life get me down more often than I'd like admit. It can be difficult sometimes to find beauty in the every day when there are so many depressing things surrounding us. It's a beautiful challenge to find the things in life that make us happy and seek them out with all of our heart, mind and soul. 

My biggest prayer for my blog has always been that God would use my words or my stories to encourage someone who needed it at that moment in time. The internet is huge, anyone can find this place and read my little stories. It is their choice what they take away from what I write. I pray they leave encouraged and that it somehow trickles down to the people around them. 

This is my prayer. Lord, hear it. Use it. Amen.

goals for the new year.

Resolutions are for the birds.

Seriously...who keeps those things?
I find that goals are better. I like goals a lot.
They are tangible and they give you something to reach for.

Since we're here talking about goals, I figured I'd share mine with you. Getting things out in the open makes me feel like people are keeping me accountable. Even if you don't tell me you are, I still like to think you are. Right? Right. So..let's get crackin' on these here goals for 2012.

Run: I announced on facebook that I'm looking into running a 5K, maybe more, this year. I'm a novice runner. Novice like...I run when I feel ambitious. I haven't felt ambitious since September. It's not just that I want to be in shape and use the body that God has given me to its full potential, it's that I was inspired by a good friend earlier in 2011. I saw her run her very first marathon. And finish it. It was truly inspiring, and it put inside me the desire to actually enter into some sort of organized run before I turn 80. I've had a very-rarely-ever-spoken-of goal of running a marathon for a few years now. If I don't do it now, then I WILL be 80 before I ever do it.

Plan: I want to plan another concert. I've been tossing the idea around for months now, have had a number of conversations with different people, and plans are finally taking shape. Music is my passion, and the last time I did this I was totally and completely in my element. It fueled my passion for the music business even more. Plus, I think it will be a good thing to keep my eyes set on what I'm going to school for. Why I spend hours upon hours in class and doing homework. Sometimes refocusing is good. Actually...refocusing is awesome. All the time.

Intentions: I want to be more intentional with my time. Last year I wrote a couple of posts about just that and it worked for a while, but after I came back from camp in August I forgot. Even though I still have that very same list hanging on my bulletin board. Not only do I not want to procrastinate, but I just want to waste less time. I'm so tired of being distracted by facebook and other fruitless things on the internet when I could be spending my time otherwise. Like blogging. And just pouring my energy into things that could help people. I'm way too selfish with my time, and I want to change that.

Refocus: My relationship with God was severely lacking the last half of 2011. There...I said it. I was in a funk that I'm still trying to get out of. I was being challenged in many different and difficult ways. It felt as though I was being pushed in every direction except the one that I needed to be going in. I want to refocus and get my eyes back on God and where He is leading me. If anything, I need His guidance now more than ever before. 2012 is going to be a big year of decisions and I need a lot of guidance and grace from the Lord. It's going to be a year of rigorous school work (I'll be taking classes straight through the summer on into the Fall), and deciding where I'll be transferring next Spring. I'm excited, scared, nervous. So...refocusing my eyes on God is the biggest one on this list. Once refocusing takes place, everything else will take shape.

On New Years Eve I couldn't help but feel nervous for the new year. I had this feeling of dread come over me, because I was very aware of the amount of classes I would be taking, the books I would be reading, the studying I would be doing. I'm still nervous and scared, but not as dreadful as I was 4 days ago. Maybe because I took some time to look ahead and make goals for myself and for this new year. I may have a heavy load of classes that all starts tomorrow morning at eight 'o clock in the morning, but that doesn't mean I can't do other things outside of studying. I need to bring glory to God and serve Him. I need to use my time and talents that He has given me to expand His kingdom.

So here's to goals. And a new year!

What are YOUR goals? Please share in the comments.

new start to start.

The sun set on 2011.
Another year...done.
Closed.
Reflection begins.

2011 was definitely a year for the books.
It brought many great trials, many joys, many memories, many changes, many learning and growing experiences.
Gratitude is the one emotion that is sitting with me today as I reflect.
For the place I started out, and the place I'm standing today.
For the lessons I learned along the way.
For God's sovereignty through the really really hard things.
For the people I met along the way.
For the adventures that took place and locked their memories inside my heart.

Thank you, 2011, for teaching me more about myself then I thought possible to learn in one year.
Thank you, Lord, for constantly standing by me when my knees were shaking and when I didn't know which direction to turn. Thank you for being my one and only rock to cling to.

Thank you, dear friends, for walking in this life with me. You are each so near and dear to my heart. Here's to many more together!

Happy New Year!

starting fresh.

I have to admit, i've become quite the slacker at my blogging.
I came across this brilliant blogger, Summer, her blog immediately provided me with what I had been missing from my blogging.
I am back and hopefully you just won't want to get rid of me!
The thing I had been missing was personality for my blog.
It never really said me all over it. There was no motivation.
The motivation is here and i'll write about anything.
The small things. The details.
Who cares about details? I do! Details are my favorite.
Every story needs those juicy details about whatever happened.
Even if it was about how I walked my dog around the block.
It's a part of who I am, and it's a beautiful thing.
So, here's to a fresh start to my dear and faithful blog.
I hope you will stop by and read, comment, share with your friends.
Do whatever you do. Work your magic.