giving thanks. day 2. november 2.

Day 2 | Family

This is a family photo from last Christmas. I so dearly love my family. No... we aren't perfect. We each have our flaws and challenges, but we sure know that we love each other... more than words can say. "I love you" is a common yet very meaningful phrase around our home. I'm so very blessed and absolutely love to spend time with my family. They are my best friends. Family vacations/trips are the best! :) I know everyone can't say this about their families. May I never take them for granted.

Loving | Leap Year

Currently and absolutely loving the movie "Leap Year". Beautiful scenery. Brilliant love story. Laughs. Tears. I love it. Kinda makes you realize that we don't always know what is best for us. I would highly recommend this one. :)

I've been reading...

Love Beyond Reason by John Ortberg

This was such a powerful book that I would highly recommend that you read. I feel like I need to read it again right now just to be able to absorb all of it. I felt like it took me on a behind the scenes journey of God's love for me, and how and why I can translate that into my love for Him and others. Some key elements that John Ortberg covered were contentment in the desert, being chosen, how He searches for hiding people, and how He is the God of the roundabout way. Here are a couple of quotes that were significant to me.

"You have made us for yourself; and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in Thee." -Augustine

"This is the ineffable and infinite mercy of God which the slender capacity of man's heart cannot comprehend and much less utter- the unfathomable depth and burning zeal of God's love toward us." -martin luther

"Yes Lord [I love you.]," Peter answers. "Then feed my sheep," Jesus says. Love and teach and guard and guide and serve the little flock that means all the world to me. Get back in the game." -john ortberg

Jesus loves me, this I know...

This is the view from my seat tonight and the sun sets... feeling like I have the best seat in the house... listening to the sound of the crashing waves and looking at the vast expanse of the ocean... in absolute awe... there is something about the ocean that makes you feel so near to God... and stand in such awe of Him at the very same moment. You guessed it... I'm on vacation... spending 10 days of relaxation in Florida. It's easy for one to feel guilty for taking time off... but, as I shared with a friend just the other day... I believe that vacation is absolutely necessary. And as I sit here at the ocean... I am reminded that some of my greatest vision and dreams for life have been the fruit of times away from the hustle and bustle of life.... when there is no agenda... nothing preoccupying your thoughts... and there is opportunity for sleep, rest, and refreshment... It brings clarity. And, I think that sometimes you don't realize how much you needed a break until you get one. These past couple of days have been incredible. So- I was walking by myself along the beach yesterday afternoon... splashing along and letting the sand squish beneath my toes.... when I said the silent prayer, "Lord, teach me something new about You... and I'll tell the world what I find." Now that seems like kind of a bold prayer... then, I go pick up the book "Love Beyond Reason" by John Ortberg... this could be a pretty neat journey... I'll let you be part of my "world". :) Yesterday my sister and I saw dolphins off the coast, and today we saw about 50 cownose sting rays [come to find out- they are migrating to Mexico and there could have been thousands of them!] and we didn't even have to go to sea world. :) I'm excited for the new things God is going to teach me this week, the visions and dreams He will place in my heart, and the rejuvenating He will give my body, mind, and spirit.

Signing off for now... here's what I've been up to as I've been writing... green tea in hand. :)

day 07. photo(s) that make you happy.

funday. monday. (thanks to my sis)

Life is too short to dread any day of the week or to get stuck in such a life routine that you can't get out or to miss out on doing the things you love or to feel purposeless or to be too busy for people. I am convinced that the world will do anything to sap the life and joy out of you... trying to turn you into a person you were never created to be. Today was wonderful. I got started back into pilates... I've missed it! I went to coffee with my incredible Aunt. My office was the Library today... with a peanut butter puddle. These are the days and the moments that make up Life. I feel like for the past year I have overlooked too many wonderful things... I've been pretty focused on my business... which is important... but, there is so much more to life. I'm not willing to let that happen again. It's so true that if you don't manage your time, your time will manage you. When you don't feel out of control, it's much more exciting to get out of bed in the morning and rest well at night. Life isn't always exciting... sometimes you have to do hard things or be a big person... but, I'm convinced that a fun attitude can take you a long way... why not grab a latte or take a friend along for the ride or take a mid-day break for a pilates class. I've learned that life is miserable when you do it alone... stay connected to people. I've learned that life is miserable when you live for yourself... learn to see God in the details. So, here's to funday monday and tuesday and wednesday and.... :)

a merry little christmas.

This is my family, and we love each other dearly. We stick together through the good and the bad... when other people fail me, I know that I can count on them... US. At the beginning of the year, we made it through Dad's thyroid surgery. Then, we went on an incredible trip to Thailand and Tokyo... summer vacation in Florida... my photo biz has taken off... Hona graduated with her Master's degree (MBA)... God has done it all. We celebrate a wonderful year and look forward to the things God has in store for 2010. [thank you, becca, for taking these rockin' family photos] [looking forward to the day when we will have two more incredible men in them. ;) ]

beyond blessed.

I am so incredibly blessed.  It seems like yesterday and today I have been reminded of it more than usual.  Yesterday I was eating dinner before church... all the fresh farmer's market veggies I could have asked for.  There are starving and malnourished people all around the world... and I am eating food that tastes good and is good for me.  I savored each bite.  Last night after church, I was standing in the kitchen thinking... thinking how incredibly blessed I am to have been born into a Christian family that loves God and has taught me how to love Him.  I basically had the gospel handed to me on a platter... I didn't have to search my whole life to find Him.  So blessed.  I went to our neighborhood pool for a while this morning and noticed how beautiful and clean it was... and how nice my beach towel is... I have been so blessed.  As I was telling all of this to my dear sister, she was quick to remind me... yes, you are blessed... and to whom much is given, much is required.  That is a big responsibility God has entrusted to me.  I have had more of a burden than before to really jump on board with the Overflow Experience we are doing with the youth at my church... to raise money for missionaries through Speed the Light.  I don't need a single thing or to accumulate possessions for myself... this life is not my own... I'm living for eternity.  Take a look at the life you are living... there may be some blessings you have overlooked.  Thank you Jesus for being so incredibly good.

saturday morning.

I am sitting at Starbucks. processing photos as always. drinking my tall skinny caramel macchiato. (fave)  The rest of my family is busy this morning... and there is nothing like Starbucks on a saturday morning.  Who knows what I will do today... that's the beauty of it.  Life is good.  One of my favorite couples just came in for coffee.  They take photos together and are so obviously the best of friends... kind of an inspiration in my life.