Nature.

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse"

~Romans 1:20

windows.

thesmells.thesights.thesounds.
These are all things that windows make possible.

I read a descriptive essay today involving a window and one of my most favorite places ever...the beach. The boy began his writing piece by stating that windows remind him of the third-story of the family beach house in LBI. Every summer, he and his family head down the shore for the summer. And the first place this little man heads for is that quiet, window-filled room overlooking the ocean. Everything about the view appeals to his senses: the blue-green shade of the ocean, the gentle breeze that easily makes its way through the window...the smell of salt, the sounds of seagulls squwaking(sp?) and waves crashing onto the sand.

sighh, how I am reminded of summer and the welcomed simplicity it brings. There is nothing like a cool blue sea to put me at ease. Be still, says the ocean, be still.

When I have a beach house to call my own, I will make certain it has a window with a view of the ocean...a serene, blue-green, salty body of water that renews the soul, calming the winds that too often stir up tiny storms inside us.

Toss your worries out to sea,
Don't let them take away calm "me".
Put them in a jar sealed tight,
and send them out into the watery night.

Happy Monday :)

Good things are on the brink of happening as well as not-so-good things. Like they say, gotta take the bad with the good. Encountering both on a daily basis cannot be avoided.

Wonderful. Eye-opening. Inspiring. Three words that well describe my experience at King of Kings Church in Basking Ridge yesterday. If you have never been to a Pentecost Church and feel that you've never experienced the Spirit at work, than may I suggest you try this one out! If your faith has bene wavering lately, or if you feel like it's comparable to that of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20), think about what YOU can do NOW to strengthen it. Test the waters.

As for the not-so-good things going on, prayers for friends and families are needed right now. Bad is outweighing the good. His love is needed even more right now.

Enjoy the week <3

June 3....my lucky number?

this year has been quite the rollercoaster...ups and downs, twists and turns, screams and shouts. The fun has ceased to end.

I recently finished a book that so perfectly, concisely expressed what I have been trying to say about my experience the past year or so..."Growing hurts". This line was said by a young boy who was experiencing physical growing pains. After waking up at midnight, he comes to his mother's bed and simply expresses how he feels at that moment.

CHildren have it down pat, don't they? As adults, we think that they are too young to understand, to vocalize how they feel in a mature sense. When it comes down to it though, we are all human with basic needs, wants and aches. Whho's to say that the wisdom of a child is immature and too simplistic? In fact, it is in many ways, opposite. There's no "beating around the bush" or complicating aches and pains with excuses or maybes.

The next time you feel like being complicated when someone asks, "How you doin'?" (and yes, feel free to insert the Joey from Friends voice), think about simplifying. Be honest, Be real, Be you.

Cause I got a couple dents in my fender, got a couple rips in my jeans...

Sooo it has been awhile. Michelle got another job, one that she was at first anxious abput but now is liking the addition to her life. Having a few different means of income makes for a more varied, interesting and social life :-) In addition to the extra cash, she is happier over all and enjoying things.

It's funny the things that make us happy, joyful. It's sometimes the stuff you LEAST expect to fulfill you...a job that you didn't expect, new people you meet, a sunny day. What new, unexpected things have made your day, or life, lately?

As I write this blog, I am listening to one of my new fav artist finds, francesca battistelli. Aside from having an awesome name, she's got some nice pipes and uplifting lyrics i think we can all relate to, especially when looking at our laundry list of falls, cuts, and bruises from the past. Here is one of her songs that really speaks to me that I'd like to share with you, Free to be Me. God Bless<3

Cause I got a couple dents in my fender, got a couple rips in my jeans
Tryin' to fit the pieces together but perfection is my enemy
And on my own I'm so clumsy but on your shoulders I can see
I'm free to be me

Quotable Quotes

To live in the past or future is easy. To live in the present is like threading a needle.

~Walker Percy

To stumble upon such wisdom, such truth...doesn't happen every day. When we reflect, it's the combination of both past and future experiences: take what you learned in the past to modify how you are in the future. You may think about this in the present moment, but why not enjoy the moment at that moment? Hmm...much easier said than done. And threading a needle doesn't sound like fun to me.

Read this in a book.

Thought it was worth thinking about.

What do you think? Thought-provoking?
How often do we think about how our past thoughts and future thoughts and let them distract us and determine our now?

Waitin' on a sunny Sunday...

...and finally it's here! How long have we been waiting for a gorgeous, sun-filled glorious Sunday, the day of rest, the lazy day. Thank goodness spring is upon us. This day is just what I needed. I sat outside today for wayyy to long and probably will look like a lobster by tonight. I was, of course, making up for the lack of serotonin NOT provided by mother nature this winter, mainly in Feb. After roasting, I went for am amazing 5-miler with iPOD in tow. The most perfect, appropriate song came on mid-run, Waitin' on a Sunny Day by Bruce. As I ran along to the familiar tune and took in my surroundings, I wished I could bottle that moment. Those are times that make life memorable and make me feel most alive. God Bless Today.

Waitin' on a Sunny Day (hope this works :)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAxm_GSM7L4

I like to begin each day with a quote...

I first spotted this one on a mug while venturing out to Barnes and Noble with a dear friend. I decided to forgo purchasing the mug and went for the less expensive periwinkle-colored magnet. Looking for inspiration when you are at the end of your rope? Read ME.

"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it turned into a butterfly"

~Anonymous

Just Keep Swimming...

n. Protection of oneself from harm or destruction. The instinct for individual preservation; the innate desire to stay.

Self-preservation. As I ponder its meaning, I am reminded of one of my favorite characters from Finding Nemo and her long-standing mantra: "Just Keep Swimming". In the midst of a long, laborious journey involving sharp-toothed sharks, totally radical turtles and a neurotic Papa Fish, Dory, voiced by Ellen, is the emblem of hope. Despite her perpetual forgetfulness and lack of "withitness" (a term coined by elementary-school teachers), she never gives up during both the good times AND the bad. She does her best to protect herself and possesses an "innate desire to stay". How beautiful. An INNATE DESIRE to STAY.

Whether you are walking, running, working, sleeping or swimming, recall your potential impact. You may not know why you want to stay or what for, but there is a reason. A purpose. A use for you. Maybe you are still struggling with figuring out what's next and want answers NOW. Who wouldn't want to know where they will be tomorrow, in a month, in a year? And more importantly who they will be. But isn't it also exciting to not know? The element of surprise is asked to get out the way when we are solely focused on planning, maintaining, preserving. Time for a change of perspective, my friends

So Why Not (SWN):

*Welcome surprise
*Practice patience
*Enjoy NOW

DIALOGUE THAT I LOVE <3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dory: Hey there, Mr. Grumpy Gills. When life gets you down do you wanna know what you've gotta do?
Marlin: No I don't wanna know.
Dory: [singing] Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.
Marlin: Dory, no singing.
Dory: [continuing] Ha, ha, ha, ha, ho. I love to swim. When you want to swim you want to swim.