Beautiful Mt. Rainier....

I finally did it ... I took a whole day and just drove around beautiful Mt. Rainier. 

It was breathtaking, refreshing, and energizing. 

Its funny how easily we forget the things in our life that fill our tanks.

You know, the moments that take your breath away, that cause you to pause life and just take it all in. 

It was amazing to see life awakening as the snow continued to melt and plants began to spring forth.  God is so good.


He always renews the earth and causes a rebirth that is more spectacular than the time prior.  I think of a new favorite song....."Our God is greater, our God is stonger ... God you are higher than any other ... our God is healer ... awesome in power ... our God, our God..."

Thank you Lord for all of the things and people in my life that fill my tank and help me to be the best version of me I can be. 

Things that make you go hmmmmm.....

Well, I find myself pondering a few things as I am on "vacation".....

1. Where does time go?  How does it go from one month to the next and there seems to be little to account for the time?  
2. How does the morning start out gloomy, overcast and doubtful to be anything more than that INTO blue sparkling skies, warm sunshine on your skin and the need for sunglasses??!?!!
3. Kettle Corn.....part salty, part sweet and SOOOO delicious!  Enough said.
4. Giraffe's are by far the tallest and one of the most amazing animals on earth....from their blue tongues to their grace when moving.....amazing.   And I am pretty sure they can dance quite well, Samuel showed me that.
5. I believe we have God-given passions in life, and I find through time I have let some passions lie dormant.  Why?  Photography has been and is one thing that I find my creativity letting loose and the freedom of expression unveiled.  It's time to let that horse back out of the barn....

Can't this freaking weather decide!!!!??!????

So, it was a beautiful, wonderfully sunshiny day all morning and afternoon....I got dressed for work tonight [capri's, sandals & a tank] enjoying the need for sunglasses and bronzer so I didn't look quite so pasty.  I had left the back door open so that my darling Sasha could enjoy the backyard while I was gone.  Much to my dismay, shortly after arriving at work, the BLACK clouds rolled in and the torrential downpour began.  My initial thought was something like, oh great....it's pouring and I am in sandals!   Then my mind quickly shifted to Sasha, who absolutely LOVES to lay out in the rain and had the ability to move in and out of the house at will.   My imagination began to envision muddy paw prints all over the kitchen and living room.  

But don't worry.   Once I was done with work, the sun was shining again.  PTLA!

I am CALLED....

"So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call.  May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do."

                                                       2 Thessalonians 1:11

I am reminded today that God enables me to live according to HIS call on my life, and gives me power to follow through on the promptings from the Holy Spirit.  He is so GOOD!!

The sun shines again.....

I was delighted this morning to wake up to the sun bursting through my blinds.  There is just something indescribable that happens when the sun shines.  Life is good, all is at peace, motivation is greater.  The warmth on your skin and the wincing that is required are somehow enjoyable.  One of my most favorite cards says "I believe we are all here for reason.  As each day unfolds we see less of the shadow and more of the sun."  And I can't help but think its even better changed to "As each day unfolds we see less of the shadow and more of the SON."  I am so thankful today that He shines in me and through me and around me each and every day.  That because of His presence shining down, life is good, all is at peace and I am motivated to share Him with everyone I come into contact with.  I am truly captivated by my Savior.

How can you NOT believe in God?

So, my back yard is springing....new growth on the tree's and flowers popping up on tree's and from forgotten bulbs.  Its so nice to see the color and variety.  

I can't help but wonder how it is that someone could look at flowers like these and think that they just happened, on accident. 

Or people....we are all so unique and intricate...and that supposedly just happened?!  Come on!  There is no way.  

Today I am SO VERY THANKFUL to God that He is my creator and specifically designed me!  Every hair on my head was thought of - even the gray ones, thank you mom for passing that on! 

Selling a home....

It's odd to me that when one decides to sell their home, it becomes a house in an attempt to help others see how it could be their new home.  And the difference between a house and a home is HUGE!  A house is merely a structure, a building where stuff goes.  But a home, well a home is your space, personalized and catered to how you live life.  Additionally, selling your home causes you to do all the things you wanted to do while living in your home.  Clean this area of the yard up, touch up paint this area, clear the clutter from here.  I now have fresh flowers on my kitchen table at all times, which I love!  Why didn't I do this before now?  Was I waiting for someone to give me the flowers, or was I just unwilling to spend the money if it was only for me?  And if that was the case, WHY?!!??! 

I would consider myself a fairly organized person, I like things in their place - thank you Mom!  And I found myself getting all sorts of storage and organizational containers that were ideal for in the closet and convenient for packing.  I'm not sure how or why this didn't cross my mind before.  Of course it will be easier to pack things up [even if only with a some day mentality] if the bins neatly stack on top of each other. 

Better late than never I suppose.  Praise the Lord anyhow...

Buster will be missed

I am sad to say that my brother, sister-in-law and nephew had to put their cat down tonight.  My nephew does not understand where Buster has gone.  And he was such a great cat.  He was large and in charge and had a funny way of deciding he was ready for some attention.  But it was definitely on his terms. How does one explain death to an almost 3-year-old?  It makes me wonder when it is that children understand the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?  When does a child comprehend that they need a Savior?  And how did the passing of a cat send me into this whirlwind of exploring the understanding of a child? 

Rest in peace Buster.

PB & J anyone???

Today I experienced the most amazing kindness of a child.  As I was texting with my sister-in-law today I mentioned that I was starving and ready for lunch.  My adorable nephew, who will be 3 whole years old this month, quickly offered to share his half eaten PB & J sandwich with me.   How stinking cute is that!?!!?  Oh to be a child and willing to part with your lunch.  Its just too much.

to run or not to run.....

...well, its official.  I have FINALLY started jogging.  I have been talking about starting for quite a few weeks so I am glad I bit the bullet and did it.  And here is the pathetic part.....after a mere 7 minutes on a treadmill at a speed of 4.2, I was done!  While a speed of 4.2 might sound really fast, I am pretty sure it isn't.  Lets just say if I was being chased by a mass murderer, I pray to the Lord above that I would be able to fun faster than 4.2!!!!!  And I am already feeling sore, which seems near impossible.  Praise the Lord Anyhow.

Shoes....

It is no secret that I am a shoe fanatic.  I have always loved shoes because no matter what, they always fit.  And who gets upset about needing a 10 instead of a 9.5?  I've recently been having foot issues as far as numbness when I use an elliptical machine, and pain in my arches in most of my shoes.  I saw the advertisements prior to Christmas for the Reebok Easy Tone shoes that, in theory, tone your legs/butt as you simply walk in them due to their balance ball technology.  And I have to admit, I was absolutely intrigued!  But never having even tried on a pair of Reebok's, I was unsure of sizing to order them on-line.  And of course, when I finally tried to get them in January, they were sold out everywhere! Bummer.

So the past couple months I have been toying with seeing a doctor and getting arch support's made.  Well, I finally found some of these intriguing Reeboks at Fred Meyers of all places [who'd of thunk] for $25-40 less than on-line might I add.  I tried them on and I had an absolute epiphany.  The insoles of pretty much all of my shoes are completely worn out.  I mean beyond no good.  When people say that athletic shoes wear out in 6-9 months, they are actually right!  Assuming you wear them regularly.  The cushiness [I just made that word up] of these new shoes was AMAZING simply because there was actually support in them!  If you think about it, your feet are pretty important for basically everything we do.  So why did I not clue into the fact that I simply was not giving my feet the best?

I am pleased to say as a proud new owner of these amazing Reebok's, my feet are simply happy.  Probably partially because I have not stopped wearing my Reebok's and partially because I finally realized I was my own worst enemy.  Wow.  Some of us take longer than others...

I can't believe.....

Well, it's official. I am now a blogger. While I can't say how often I will do this, I am kind of intrigued to see how it will go. So my first "I can't believe...." is that I am a blogger! I don't tend to be one who jumps in with current technology trends, but I have been intrigued by this for some time.

I also can't believe it officially Spring in the Pacific Northwest. And that even though it is spring, we have been having beautiful sunshiny days in the upper 60's!

I can't believe my nephew [who is exceptionally adorable in my personal opinion] is almost 3!!! That's it for now.