Friday, July 31, 2009

As good as Christmas

Several years ago, ok it was almost nine years ago, while I was in my first few years of college, I had started to unpack my kitchen stuff that had been boxed up. I remember how excited I was, it was excited about pulling out a pan. I think at the time I even exclaimed "This is better than Christmas" or how I forgot I had that. When I moved out of my house to a new adventure a month ago, I accidentally left my pots and pans. Today I had the renewed joy of my old roommate dropping them off, with additional kitchen gadgets I forgot, or that she had given me. "It was as good as Christmas." A wire strainer which will make straining chili broth better, and a measuring cup and my pans, and measuring spoons. I think my favorite place in my house is the kitchen, hands down. Oh I love curling up reading a good book etc in other rooms, but I am finding that I truly love to cook. :)

Thursday, July 30, 2009

small miracles

So last night I woke up from my sleep in the middle of the night and could not fall back asleep for about 2 hours. I was driving somewhere in the morning and wanted to be safe and alert, even if it was a short trip. So I said a little prayer than myself, my car and all those around me would be safe. I am here to say prayers are answered. The general layout of this story is that I was driving down a residential street and am supposed to take a right at the stop sign onto a slightly busy street (not way busy but a slight busy). As I was driving down the street I totally ran the stop sign and instead of turning right onto the previously described slightly busy street, I drove right through it. Yep I drove right through it, I didn't even realized I passed it until maybe a block later. What a miracle that there was no cars there when I completely missed the stop sign and drove across a slightly busy street without even looking both ways (let alone one way). I would definitely have to say that my prayers were answered.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Salmon

There is a joy that comes when you accomplish or create something. So I love salmon, and I love to cook salmon. However, when I generally make salmon it is with lemon pepper, garlic, onion and olive oil. Today I went on the adventureous side and made it with BBQ sauce. I added a few other ingredients namely brown sugar and pineapple juice. WOW I think it was the best salmon I think I have ever cooked. It made me happy like a giddy little school girl. This isn't a prideful look at me feeling but rather, a giddy feeling of accomplishment and one I could share. We can find joy in accomplishing and creating things, and in sharing that with others. :)

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

The phone

So my life has been interesting recently from one thing to another I have had blessings in disguise. My recent one was my phone. I had a phone I rather enjoyed, but I had a plan that was rather expensive. So my phone stopped charging correctly. I had to hold it just right and put the correct amount of pressure on it in order for it to charge. Yep it was a little annoying, so after having it partially charged I decided it was time to check the phone company and what do you know I was due for an upgrade. So I got a new one and was able to change my plan to save me about 40 bucks a month. SWEET. Not only is it new it is red :). So the next interesting thing is because my old phone couldn't get a charge by this point I couldn't transfer my numbers or pictures over (the machine that does it has to use the charger connection which obviously was not working), however it had a some charge left in it. So I was able to use it long enough to copy (by hand) the majority of the numbers. The timing was perfect !! and I just saved money :)

Monday, July 27, 2009

Water Fights and Hugs

Sometimes we just need a hug. Life may be good or it may be hard but some days we just need a hug. This could be an actual physical hug, it could be a conversation hug, it could be a flowers hug, it could be a spiritual moment hug, it could just be some stranger telling us we look good hug. Today was one of those days. I am grateful for the different hugs I got today. For the actual physical hugs from friends, for the spiritual aha hug, for the kindness from the complete strangers hug. All these seem to make life a little more bearable. Life is hard and we are not intended to make it through on our own. And sometimes we don't need our problems solved at the moment but rather to feel the strength and encouragement to carry on and feel our loads acceptable.
Life's random laughable moments can help us forget our worries just for a moment. I love a good water fight, dumping buckets of water on friends or throwing water balloons or catching them. Life is good when you are wet. (of course not hypothermic)

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Ducks on a Day of Rest

I think on of my favorite things to do on Sunday is to take a Sunday nap. These very in length for me but there is nothing so nice as to rest on the day of rest, especially after a late night (as noted on the time signature of the previous blog).
Today as I was driving to a friends place all the cars on the road had stopped and can you guess what for. So a family of ducks could cross the road. There was a mother and several babies. I don't know what it is that really makes me smile about this, but it made me smile for no particular reason but the coolness of the moment. :)

summer ice cream

What a contentful evening it was just to be outside in the perfect summer evening eating an ice cream cone being surrounded by good friends. Life doesn't have to be wild and crazy to be good, it can be simple and enjoyable. Just surrounding ourselves with good people, helping those around us and just simple moments of contentment are so very good. They bring a smile to our faces. Our days don't have to be filled with crazy fun adventures or happy moments, in fact they can be filled with boring things or even sad moments. We can have moments where all we need is a hug or days where we are discouraged or feeling low, however there are simple moments of enjoyment in our lives. Moments where we just feel content and we don't worry or fret.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Enjoy the ride

Today made me happy. It seemed like the perfect small town home life. We went to a pond outside a small town in Utah. There were people swimming, people fishing, people on small blow up boats, people camping, people on rope swings, people outside enjoying life. It was perfect. It was the way you can picture a summer day. I tried something new for the first time, I tried to Kayak all by myself. It was fun. Yeah for trying something new, for improvement, for good outside fun. I also attempted something else new today. I tried a rope swing. It may have been only from the shore into shallow water, but it was a start and it was fun. Being outside and doing new things which help you to achieve are good things. I want to be outside in-shape, I love being outside and I loved those outside activities I did. It is not just about what I will look like but rather the things I want to do and the person I want to be. It is about improving but enjoying it. And becoming and enjoying not just the outcome but the process as well.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Babies

Today I found out that one of my old friends just had a baby. How happy it makes me to know that a young little girl is going into the home of two loving parents. There is something that touches our hearts when we look at small children. When we see a young baby. It is more than looking at them and seeing potential and wonder for what they will become. It is joy and love. You cannot help but feel love for children.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Faith

So generally I write my blog at the end of the day, but today I feel like writing my thoughts now. I am grateful for hope and faith. God does know us, He knows each of us individually. It isn't like the knowledge of a friend, teacher or parent, but far deeper. He knows our pains, our hurts, our fears, our joys, our hopes, our dreams and our needs. He knows the trials we have and He loves us so much that He allows them, so that we can grow. He knows when a sparrow falls, He is more than just aware of our lives. What a strength it is, to know that we are loved by Diety. We are loved by our Heavenly Father. That love is far deeper and greater than we can comprehend. Often times we ask "how could He love, I have fallen so short?" But the truth of the matter is that He loves you. He has a hand in our lives and what a comfort it is to know that He is perfect and loving and ALL knowing. I wouldn't want someone who didn't completely know me and completely love me having the influence He has in my life. But He does know us, He does love us. Sometimes in life all we can do is cling to that hope. Cling to the hope that He does know best. Sometimes we just have to cling to that love. When the world throws us curve balls and arrows that we can't seem to dodge, He is there. He is always there, if we let Him. Today I am grateful for peace, hope and faith.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Gavin

So our cat makes me chuckle. I am grateful I am not allergic to him. He has found a new comfy place to rest, my computer chair. :) His name is Gavin and he just makes me smile. I went down stairs today to do my laundry and as I was bent down to put my laundry in the wash what did he do, he stepped for the washing machine right onto my back and laid down. Yep I was just standing there bent over and he laid down right there on my back. I had to chuckle. Then as I sat on the couch reading a good book he just came and curled up on me. It was a moment of contentment. It reminded me of the times I just sat or stood there holding my friend's babies. Those quiet moments of contentment. You didn't have to say anything or do anything just enjoy the moment. :)

Monday, July 20, 2009

Goals, hugs, and silly moments

Today I had a slight realization. I was going to go running with a friend, and they changed plans slast minute, so I decided to go by myself. No one will make me achieve my goals, they can't. The only way I will achieve my goals is if I put forth the effort and do it myself. I may not have ran far, in all actuality I actually jogged and not ran, but I put forth the effort to achieve my goals. I will admit I am not in love with running, I used to enjoy it a little bit more than I do now, but that will come with time. I may not have achieved my goal of being as in shape as I want to be but I had to make the sacrifice to attain it myself. It is a step in the right direction. Later tonight I went on a hike with some friends and the way up, was just that UP. But I could tell that I was in a little better shape than I have been in the past and it made me happy. I was happy to be outside and hiking and be around good people, but I was also happy that I could feel the difference of my efforts. By no means could I have run up the mountain, but I could hike it better than I could have a few weeks ago.
I love hugs, they warm my soul. The true story for why I started giving hugs was a friend of mine from high school. He would not let me get by with out giving him a real hug. Since then I give hugs to almost everyone. I love to give hugs to strangers, to friends, to new friends. It makes me smile. So those little hugs today make me smile, and the fact that people will actually hug me back makes me smile.
Silly moments of life seem to bring a smile of amusement to me. We made it to the top this lake and there was a sign. So where did I want to be in the picture, I wanted to be sitting on the sign. It was a log pole stuck in the ground and above my head so I needed a lift up and I had to drop down, but it was amusing to just sit on a sign. Silly moments like dancing around to a good song, or a little water fight somehow brighten an ordinary day. They make me smile.
Life is good, it is full of moments everyday of things that enrich our lives. I have come to be more and more grateful for good friends. For those people who don't have to do anything but be themselves, but seem to inspire me to be better, to live up to my potential and goals. I am better for knowing them.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Simple things

I think that a lot of things that can bring joy to life are the small simple things of daily life. Today was not an incredible amazing day but there were things that made me smile. Small things that make a difference. I was driving to church today and thought I saw a friend so I quickly called to say "hello, was that you I just saw." At church today the speaker needed water and was coughing so someone got up, walked out and returned with a cup of water for him. At home I got to take a Sunday nap, what a joy it is to have a day of rest. I love cooking and especially with fresh vegetables, so what a nice thing it is to make a simple delicious dinner. I love good books and weather (I like the rain, the wind, the nice sun, not the too hot sun :) the snow) so it was nice to be outside reading a good book in the wind tonight. I saw a couple walking today and it made me smile, husband and wife with a kid in a stroller and a dog on a leash. It made me smile, it made me smile because I want that one day. I love Sunday walks. I had an answer to my simple prayers immediately after I finished praying. These are not big things, they are all small and simple but they all made me happy. Life is not always grand and exquisite but it is good.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

choices

Today there were a few things that brought a smile to my soul. :) The first was the joy of some real good food. I had a nectarine today, it was just so juicy and delicious. It is one of my favorite fruits and what a smile it gave me to have such a delicious one, when I haven't had one in so long. I would say that they remind me of summertime (good thing it is summertime). They almost remind me of being carefree and youthful.
I also smiled today to see service given to one of my friends. To see people I know and don't know helping another out. To be able, willing and doing. We were never meant to make it through this life alone. We need help. We need help from those around us. We need help from the Lord. It is vital that we serve others, but it is equally vital that we let others serve us.
The last thing that made me smile today was my gratitude for the ability to make choices. That my life is not set out before me. You will have this career, you will be married to this man, you will have 2.6 kids and 3 cats. No that is not how it is. I have the ability to choose. We all have the ability to choose. We have the ability to make choices between two equally good things, and though we may not know the exact outcome we are able to choose. We are able to choose between a good and an evil. We are able to choose between a lot of goods. We are here to make choices and we can make choices. What a blessing. My life is not spelled out for me, I can choose. I do have to deal with the consequences of my choices, but that just means all the more incentive to strive and make the better ones :) I am so grateful that I can chose.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Wow it is pretty





























So today I was thinking about if God intended for us to be miserable, He wouldn't have made this world so pretty. I got to go for a walk at my park and I just love the stream at the park and the mountains around. Why would Heavenly Father intend for us to be miserable, but make such a pretty place for us to live? I think He wants us to have joy, He intends for us to have joy, and happiness. He gave us this pretty world because He loves us. I was also thinking that joy doesn't just come to us from doing things ourselves, which is one way but also seeing other people doing things that make them happy etc. On my way back from my walk I saw some lady sitting in the shade of her tree outside with her dog, reading what appeared to be her scriptures. That brought a smile to my face. I didn't know the person but that simple scene made me happy. When others are happy we also can find happiness.







Take a look at these pictures from the places I have scene and been in my life, how can they not bring you a little smile.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

shoes

So today was amusing. I few small things today made me smile. The first came from the scriptures, I am studying the word Joy and came across a verse in psalms that talked about sorrow or mourning at night but that it would be followed by joy in the morning. What a picture!! Joy does come, there is hope.
Tonight however made me chuckle. So we went to watch a friend of a friend play softball. Since the game didn't start yet we wondered around the park. There was a horseshoe pit there. So we decided to try it out, but alas we had no horseshoes. We decided to use the next best thing, our shoes. I did hit one pole, however it was the wrong pole, but you try throwing flip flops and tevas accurately.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

"Cause its a Great Day to be Alive"

So life is good. I think the purpose of this blog will be to post my daily blessings, those little moments each day that bring me joy. Today was a great day. I got my first phone call about a pre-interview screening and I went for a bike ride. There is something so good about riding a bike. It is excilirating. I love being on my bike and I love that it is working towards my goals. I want to be healthy and outside in shape. So this first blog will be lame I promise they will get better. Oh another great thing today I went for a walk with my friend and we walked in the stream in the park near my place. I think life is better when your feet are wet. I guess that applies to so many things. It is good to be in the stream and enjoying it, but also with life you will never know what you are missing out on unless you take that chance and step in the water and get your feet wet. :)