It isn't what I planned....

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer. 29:11

Life isn’t always perfect but sometimes it’s even better. I’ve been thinking about where my life really is and where I thought/wanted it to be.

I’ve always had this dream about what my life would look like as an adult. Don’t we all? Mine was probably “farther fetched” then the average girl but it looked a bit like this. (in my mind’s eye=)

I wanted to live in a studio apartment in some big city. Heels, Starbucks and long hours of work in an office - one that an elevator had to be used to reach. My dream job, a lawyer. There would be meetings, the kinds around those huge tables.  

I’d have an expensive car.

I’d go home for the holidays and stay with my parents.  

I’d get my nails done weekly with my girlfriends.

Weekends I would spend alone in my room or at the gym.

A Perfect Life.

But no. Reality isn’t exactly that.

I wake super early every morning and put more wood in my stove and while waiting for my chilly house to heat up I jump in the warm shower, which I practically have to drag myself out of if it’s super cold out…

Cleaning stalls is a never ending chore, while the rooster crows non-stop, no matter the time of day. I smell like hay and manure more than not. And hauling firewood is a norm on my “to-do” list.

I work in an office, alright, but have to hold my cell phone to my left ear (closer to the window) or I’ll lose whoever I’m talking with. My internet comes from a small “hot spot” that sits in the (you guessed it) window. The lighting isn’t good and sometimes after a long day my eyes ache.

At night I sit alone on my couch, in an oversize sweater – drowning myself in a mug of hot chocolate, trying to unthaw from jogging thoroughbreds in the blistering cold. And wonder why I still do it. But tomorrow night I’ll go back and do it again and the next…if I don't I'd miss it terribly.

For fun I look through cookbooks and dream of going to culinary school. I run. Or I’ll spend my evening painting a wall, baiting a mouse trap, changing a light fixture or trying to read a book.

Weekends I drive home from my third job, missing yet another of my brother’s basketball games and wondering if it’s really worth it. I smell like like I’ve bathed in ranch dressing. And by the time I shower etc. it’s closer to the morning hours, than not.

My nails I hardly paint anymore. I have coffee with friends early on Saturdays or slip in a dinner here and there during some of my weeks. Always feeling rushed. But so thankful for understanding friends and the wonderful small amounts of time I get to share with them.

Is my life perfect? No.

 Is it easy?….NO!

 Is it worth it? I’ll get back to you with this one.

I’m I happy?  

YES! 

Standing outside my house in my coat and overall. Watching as the snow falls silently, and the smoke from my chimney curls up over the moon and my rooster breaks the peace by crowing…I have to smile and thank God for this life he’s given me.

My heart is overwhelmed! 

Happy hump day!!!

XOXO

a simple white sunday

I know I've been silent a long while...life has just gotten so busy! It's like I'm on fast forward. So lately I've just been trying to learn to balance my life and work. I work endless hours on the clock and at home. And realized at the start of 2016 that I needed time of doing absolutely nothing. Doing this is actually more difficult than working for this girl=) 

Sunday we got our first snow, here in Indiana. It was a lovely, wet, damp snow...sticking to everything in sight as it floated downward. After church I came home to a cozy afternoon of just me. After tramping around outdoors in my lovely white world and taking a mini photo session of myself in the blissful wonderland. I settled to an afternoon of reading and drinking tea.

I sat quiet and concentrated on how my drink smelled, tasted and felt. This may sound dumb, but I don't think I've just enjoyed the simple act of drinking, in - well I can't remember when.

I sat in front of my window and did nothing except watch the snow fall and marvel at all God's beauty around me.

I let go of the guilt of doing absolutely nothing, for an hour on Sunday. I've decided that by doing nothing on Sunday I was actually giving myself a chance to be more productive and mindful in the future. 

Until next time,

Cheers!

my love<3

When I can’t deal with the stress of the busy corporate world I just escape to a place that’s familiar to me. Filled with quiet and love. A place where I know God is. Because here I can feel and hear Him.

The freezing wind biting at my nose. The cold, wet snow fogging my camera lens. And me soaking in the most beautiful of sceneries, with numb fingers and toes. Totally happy…because I’m here;

alone.

Alone in the world that make complete sense, where life is only about instinct. Not rules.

"Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle ... a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl.  And the anticipation nurtures our dream."
-  Barbara Winkler

“For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver.” -
Martin Luther

“The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.” – Psalm 24:1

“In wilderness I sense the miracle of life, and behind it our scientific accomplishments fade to trivia.”
 -Charles A. Lindbergh

”Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God.” -George Washington Carver

I’m only two months into the year…2015 looked so promising at the beginning. And so far hasn’t let my expectations for it, down.

Just since the start of the year, God has been opening doors…resulting in me having to make some huge life decisions…I mean crazy big ones! But even though it’s been a tough emotional roller coaster, for me, the last few weeks, I’m happy to say I’m through the bulk of it and now strictly onto finalizing each one of them.  What I planned for myself the beginning of the year isn’t all holding together…like maybe jumping ahead a few years…I have to be okay with it. God’s plans are better anyway=) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jer. 29:11 Being flexible and resting in the knowledge that God knows what He’s doing. I can’t wait to share more details about these things but I need to wait until everything is completely set in stone.

Happy Friday!!!

Source:  99 outdoor quotes

~Photo-a-day~ Feb. 12-18

It’s late, but I wanted to get this post up before tomorrow. Life has been super crazy the past few days. This weekend was spent with family. Jonathan and his boys stopped in Saturday night. Grace came out for the weekend. And then my oldest sister came by for lunch on Sunday and Joseph showed up Sunday night…just to hang out. So it was a fun weekend just didn’t get a lot of stuff like this post done. Also on Saturday I attended the The Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show…so many people were there…and if you weren’t in camo you were out of place=) I didn’t take my camera along, just used my phone camera for a few pictures I felt I needed to get. It was actually nice not having it for once. I think I kinda get wrapped up in taking the pictures I forget to just relax and have a good time.

Day 43

~heart~

one of the many things for sale on the capital island of the Bahamas…

Day 44

~sweet~

looks so good!!!! Cheese cake is there anything better? I’ll answer that=) Nope!

Day 45

~love is…~

love is…calling my mom as soon as we reach Miami Florida after visiting the Bahamas. We had to turn our phones off due to data roaming. We hadn’t talked to anyone back home since we left. I woke up Friday morning looked out the window and woke Christina up and we both turned our phones on. I had to wait on my to quit buzzing for a bit…I had a lot of text and emails that were just now coming through.

Day 46

~I dislike…~

I dislike snow when I cancels our flight home. Our flight was cancelled on Friday due to the snow and on Saturday it was delayed twice. We had to spend the night in Cleveland Ohio Friday night. Talk about getting so close to home and then not being able to go…don’t worry we made the best of it and went to the mall=)

Day 47

~around town~

Day 48

~what I wore~

Not the best looking outfit…now looking at it this picture I’m wondering why I left my jacket on…

Day 49

~sunshine~

sunshine coming through my window at work. I was very fortunate that the day I had this word the sun was actually shining.

Happy Tuesday everyone=)

Snowy Photo-shoot=)

This lovely couple is celebrating their first anniversary this December…I love her outfit!

They are both so adorable=) I enjoyed taking these so much, plus I got to hang with Carolyn for an hour afterwards and just talk=) and who doesn’t like doing that?!?!?

Snow fight with a “no fun” husband who was done taking pictures by this time=)

So I took several of Carolyn alone…she’s so beautiful!

What do you think?

Is there snow in heaven?

"Christmas In Heaven"

December hasn't changed
This town looks the same
They still light that tree in the city square
There's red, white, and green shining everywhere
And I wish you were here
And I wonder

Is the snow falling down on the streets of gold
Are the mansions all covered in white
Are you singing with angels "Silent Night"
I wonder what Christmas in heaven is like

There's a little manger scene
Down on Third and Main
I must have walked right by it a thousand times
But I see it now in a different light
'Cause I know you are there
And I wonder

Are you kneeling with shepherds before him now
Can you reach out and touch his face
Are you part of that glorious Holy night
I wonder what Christmas in Heaven is like

Is the snow falling down on the streets of gold?
Are the mansions all covered in white?
Are you singing with angels "Silent Night"
I wonder what Christmas in Heaven is like.

~Scotty McCreery 

(I love this song)

Isn’t the snow lovely….I took so many pictures=) I love snow and when I woke up to the ground it made my day just that much better.

And it just made me think…will there be snow in heaven? Everything good will be there and I love snow….soooo…will it?

Pictures from one of my winter jobs....

I had such a good time with the lady I took these for...we drove around for an hour stopping and taking pictures of her family and friends houses. A friend of hers is moving and she is giving these to her as a gift. It was cold and slick out.

I actually really like taking pictures of houses , took over 20 houses.

This is one of my favorites...such a beautiful home.