it's a lovely day

"...And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer..."

F. Scott Fitzgerald ~ The Great Gatsby

For some much needed inspiration - in my closet, and home! - I went to the thrift store the other morning, in hopes of finding some treasures.  I found this cute kid's vintage book (circa 1950s...for $.90!), a $5 skirt to wear for the next month, and a steal of a deal on a blazer that fits me now at 8 months pregnant and will fit me after.  I didn't give myself a ton of time there, which was probably for good reason...there were a lot of other things that I just may need to go back to "look at"... !!

I not only loved the fact that this vintage little book was in mint condition and oh-so-cute, but I was especially drawn to it's title.  It's simple reminder to view the day as lovely [lovely: highly pleasing or enjoyable].

It may very well be because summer is right around the corner, or that I am getting proper rest now, or due to the fact that I am TOTALLY ecstatic that baby is only a month away(!), but each and every morning, I am being reminded that I have the opportunity to view the approaching day as a new beginning.  In my eyes, lovely or not, it's all in how I choose to undertake it.

Sometimes, we allow our life circumstances, tasks, disappointments, responsibilities, emotions, pains, etc. to cloud our ability to see and make fresh a new dawn.  Before you know it, the day is gone and we haven't been able to snap out of it.  Being thankful is one way to overcome discouragement and charge it into a new perspective ... as is realizing that God has promised us that we will experience new mercies each and every morning:

"...Sing praise to the Lord, all you who belong to Him.  Give thanks to His holy name....Crying may last for a night, but joy comes with the new day..."
Psalm 30:4-5

There's nothing new about this message...quite honestly, in my own life, I've visited and revisited this thought time and time again.  It's merely another reminder for us not to lose sight and/or get stuck into thinking that we live in a desperate cycle of drab with no way out.  Today, regardless of where you are physically, emotionally, or spiritually, you have the choice to see "the lovely" that's right in front of you.

In Calgary, it's not supposed to be the "most delightful" of days (weather-wise, forecasted rain, rain, rain) ... but the way I see it,

It's a Lovely Day.

pix pic: my "new" vintage find, Calgary, AB, 23.April.2012

new growth

Spring is nearly here!  Grass is slowly creeping into new shades of fresh green, birds are waking me up every morning with their song, even the tulips are poking their way up out of the winter soil!  Talking to some friends down in South Carolina, they were already experiencing spring over a month ago, so I can imagine for some of you it may not seem as exciting(!).  The spring season doesn't last long up here, as we usually get an unexpected dump of snow (or two!) before the end of May.  By then ... we're pretty much in summer anyway.  So, every bit of spring that comes our way, I savor.

I decided to put my green thumb to the test this year and start some plants right from the seed.  This was all new "ground" for me.  In the past, I've diligently tended to my store bought patio plants, but I've never started from the "root" of things like this.  According to the plant lady at the greenhouse, I started the seeds about a week and a half too late for our short season, but I'm determined to try it anyway.  Because our little place faces north/northeast, the total amount of sun we get is limited, so I stuck with the leafy vegetables this year (kale, 3 different types of lettuce, etc...).

Much like my own life right now, new things are sprouting and coming to the surface.  Yes ... the baby of course is getting bigger (only 6 weeks to go!), as are some other areas in my life that have needed new growth.

I've been an independent person most of my life, always finding ways to make things happen.  And by that, I pretty much mean, working hard!  My jobs (even though I haven't always loved them) have always been the main reason for my daily routine and working hard at them have proven to give me productive, purposeful "meaning".  I always dreamt of the day when I wouldn't have my job(s) roadblocking and distracting me from doing things that needed to get done or that I really wanted to be doing - housework, sleep, creativity, personal time, running, etc...

Since I've been on maternity leave (March 23), I've felt lost in my own skin.  It's wonderful that Matt can work and I don't have to.  Trust me ... I'm not complaining here!  But it is quite the shift to have a feeling of daily satisfaction because of those career/work goals, to now, completely freeing my mind from them and pursuing a purposeful day from my personal objectives (with the evident new factors of being pregnant! - another blog post heh heh).  I've been asking myself again, "what do I really want to accomplish?". 

The beauty of having moments of realization like this, is that I don't have to prove anything ... to myself, to God, or to others.  Often, I've felt the need to push the normal standard just to feel validated in the work I do.  Sometimes missing moments because I've given into pursuing the goals others give me instead of own.  Obviously, working for someone, you have to(!), but I'm the type of person that won't let it rest unless I've proven something.  


I've been trying to curb that with the very truth ... that my value is not in what I prove.

The law of Your mouth is better to me

Than thousands of coins and silver ...

Your hands have made and fashioned me

Give me understanding that I may learn your commandments ...

Psalm 119:73-74

We've all been made and fashioned, way before we ever had those moments of "discovering ourselves" and "learning who are".  Why then, would I have to do things to authenticate who I am?

We are all fearfully and wonderfully made ... with no expectation to prove who or what we can do.

I pray you, as well, would find freedom in that promise today.   

 

pic pix: the sprouts, my studio - Calgary, AB, 16.Apr.2012

dear NYC ... i'll be back!

It was September 2010 ... I was still working for United Airlines when I went on a few excursions.  One with m'love, my Dad, my Mom-Sister-Auntie.  All SO fun!

Was thinking about the trip to NYC with Dad over this past weekend.  Actually, more than just thinking about, I was wishing I were there.  You see ... my family (parents, sister, & brothers) were all there this weekend to see a concert (for Phil Keaggy - a personal favorite of my Dad's) at the B.B. King Blues Club.  They were sweet enough to skype me from different locations so I'd "be there".  So, in a sense, this is what I was up to (yea, thinking about!) this weekend...

pic pix: a lil getaway to the big apple, September.2010, NYC, NY

blessed

Parents are so special.

What I have been feeling lately, definitely stems to me being pregnant (miss emotional tornado over here!), but roots much deeper than just towards this "time".  Almost twenty-six years ago, my parents were anticipating a little one to make it's debut in the world.  Not knowing my gender, hair color, personality, potential...they were full of this unexplainable joy and a love for this baby that was already "theirs".

It's wild to now see and experience just a taste of how much more they care for me as I now sit on the other side of this parent-child spectrum.  Putting myself in their shoes, and thinking that baby was me, I am overwhelmed with this 'connection'/love/joy that they felt when they thought of me for the first time ... and how they look at me today.

I can't explain how thrilled I am to meet our baby or how much I am already in love him/her ... the only description that seems fitting is my own parent's love for me.

Today, I know I am so blessed.


 pic pix: when I was born, 19.June.1986, Calgary, AB

first comes love...then comes marriage! part 2

It's been one year, and 7 days since we got hitched!  Here are some more of our wedding pictures to reminisce from our so very special day...
 

 

 

What an amazing day...an incredible year...

pic pix: our wedding, 19.Feb.2011, all photos compliments of perspectiveye photography

first comes love...then comes marriage!

Yup...today is the day.  The day that marks our one-year anniversary of being married.  It is wild to think of after waiting 4.5 years of dating, we finally (!) got engaged, then married only 3 months after!!  There was so much to prepare, so much excitement.  That period of time in our lives can't, nor will it be replicated by any other.     


Just reminiscing...

More reminiscing to come!  But for now, off to enjoy this day with my husband.



pic pix: our wedding, 19.Feb.2011 all photos compliments of perspectiveye photography

clean slate

Lately, I've had this "thing" with white.  White & cream, layered textures on my bed, milky winter skies, really minimalist home design ideas, soft baby blankets that are (yup!) linen white, white-washed walls, creamy lattes (though, I really shouldn't be drinking any milk)...maybe because it is winter and we haven't really had that much snow this year either (*knock on wood*).  Even my current favorite soap is simple & white!  I really don't know why this is, because by nature, I am in love with colors.  Bold, bright, and beautiful...COLORS!

But, there is just something so raw about white and the elements that fit so well with it.  It's pure.  It's clean.  Much like how I have been attempting to start my days.  A while ago, I wrote about a bad habit of mine...not putting things away.  Along with that unruly pattern, tag-teams the "starting fresh" routine that I haven't seemed to get into a groove with since we got married.

You see, for me, mornings are just not my thing.  Never have been.  Though lately, I've been trying.  Trying to consistently make the bed as soon as I 'jump' out.  Taking the dishes OUT of the dishwasher before I leave for work.  Reading/writing something while eating breakfast instead of just staring into space (though writing down my thoughts that early usually consists of a sentence or two in a 45 minute span...maybe!!).  Though, they are the smallest of steps, I have noticed an improvement in my attitude towards the day...having a clean slate to work from.

When I was taking out the trash today, it hit me how "grubby" I can let myself get.  If you think about it, the garbage bin itself really isn't that gross, it's just the bag full of stuff that sits in it!  As I've been purging my home and making room for baby I've had to ask myself, "..am I really that cluttered or unorganized of a person?".  The answer is no...I just hold on to stuff that I really don't need and have carried it with me for years - memorabilia, guilt, papers, habits...things that limit me from starting 'fresh'.  It's like creating a painting and trying to combine every color of paint I've have collected (with every single year/experience/memory/etc.) in my life.  All that will result is an ugly, big, brown mess!

More and more, I see the need to let go of all the garbage/clutter/habits that limits my perspective to be clear, pure, and clean.  It will get harder and harder for me to see the right colors glistening together, or to enjoy the simple beauty of unpolluted white if I don't oust the unforgiven thoughts, get rid of unnecessary items (tangible or in a memory), and attempt to clear my current vision of "mess".

How do you start from a clean slate?

By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.  We have received all of this by coming to know Him...In view of this, make every effort to respond to God's promises.  Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.  2 Peter 1:3-9

pic pix: latte from DeVille, November.2011, Calgary, AB