till the season

"May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,
The gladness of Christmas give you hope,
The warmth of Christmas grant you love."

who doesn't love the holidays? whats not to love ABOUT the holidays?...great shopping deals, yummy food, mariah careys 'all i want for christmas' song, christmas decor, those classic christmas movies on repeat on tv, the high hopes for the new year/new you/new start. Even if  Christmas can sometimes be a headache and become a chore, be expensive and cause a mess - Christmas is a time of joy and love, meaning and tradition...Christmas isn't under the tree, it's in the heart. Last Christmas, I assumed the role of the Grinch, I stole Christmas from myself and from my family, regretfully leaving a sour memory of what should of been a wonderful white Christmas in Michigan. This Christmas will be different. I need to remind myself that Christmas is much more than just wanting a new Michael Kors watch and decorating a tree in our living room, it is the anniversary of the day that baby Jesus was born, probably the most significant event in all of history. So i am going to try to honor Christmas this year, the real meaning of Christmas, in my heart and try to keep it all year long! Christmas is more of a state of mind, than just a day or a date - it is being patient, being kind, being charitable, being joyous, being hospitable, being child-like, being thankful, being peaceful, being cheerful- it is being filled with the spirit of Jesus, quite frankly. I think its imperative to remember this during the holidays so that we do not get lead astray from the REAL meaning of Christmas when we get frustrated looking for parking spots at the mall or in traffic,or when we get a little greedy on our Christmas wish list to Santa. "Christmas is not as much about opening our gifts, as it is about opening our hearts" 
My mom doesn't have plans to deck the halls for another two weeks but I'm hoping I can convince her to do it sooner - we traditionally get a large, REAL Christmas tree, put candles in the windows and wreathes on the door, the whole shebang! I love that warm ambiance and cozy atmosphere that a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, poinsettias, Christmas lights, candles, a lit fireplace, "A Christmas Story" playing on tv, and something delicious being baked in the oven, creates!  I am anticipating this Christmas to be a memorable and lovely one...  I plan to deck the halls, jingle some bells, rock around the Christmas tree, have myself a merry little Christmas, hope for a white Christmas so i can make a frosty the snowman, and look out for Rudolph the red nosed reindeer because Santa Claus is comin to town!! 

wise words

"Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine. Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.
Sing.
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.
Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.
Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.
Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.
Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.
Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen. "

thank you

This weekend I attended a USO show at a local church in Monroe. The show was in honor of our veterans, of those who are serving and have served for our country. You cant help but be aware of the war and conscience of the fact that people have died in honor of our country; but I think we can become some what immune to the real tragedy of war, unless of course you are experiencing it first hand as a soldier or a loved one of a soldier. Fortunately I have never had anyone close to me have to go to war, so I think that may be why when I was in room full of war veterans, listening to live music honoring our veterans and viewing slide show images of tributes memorializing our soldiers - I found myself extremely emotional. I have the utmost respect and admiration for everyone who has served and sacrificed for our country, and my heart breaks for their families. I dont think I've ever been extremely "patriotic" but after attending the show, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride of being an American...I realized, more than ever, how truly heroic our American soldiers are. Even though we are "the land of the free", freedom doesn't come free and we will forever be in debt to our vets. They put their lives at risk just to protect us and I dont know how we will ever be able to thank these noble soldiers but I believe giving them the recognition and reverence they deserve is a good start.

this video shows soldiers coming home, surprising their loved ones. 

if youre reading this - by tim mcgraw; a tribute to fallen soldiers.

bon anniversaire

today is me and brock's 7th month anniversary. we arent "celebrating" today but i am commemorating...i like that we acknowledge every month we have been together because it allows me to reflect on our relationship, to look back on our memories and to look forward for what is to come. i am a firm believer that brock and i are MEANT to be together. i believe that God allowed me to kiss a few frogs and experience a handful of unhealthy relationships prior to meeting Brock, in order for me to learn and to grow and to be able to have gratitude for such an incredible guy and a wonderful relationship. 
so, to brock: you are the frosting to my cupcake baby. i cant imagine my life without you by my side, you are absolutely my better half and you continue to inspire me to be the best person i am capable of becoming. you are the most endearing, chivalrous, loyal man i have ever met and it is an honor being your girl :) i have never known anyone like you, you enable to be myself; with no inhibition or insecurity, you make me feel safe and protected, and you provide me with an unprecedented happiness so thank you for every little thing you do for me and to me. you are my best friend and the love of my life. i love you darlin! 

 

 

a girl can dream...

 

happy wednesday

automatic mood enhancer :) 

heaven on earth

dream home part 2