A Quiet spot...

I needed some quiet.

It's wierd that you don't know you need it till it comes.

And then, it washes over you and you can....breathe.

I've really longed to hear God lately.

He's seemed too quiet.

I prayed off and on for the distance to shorten between us.

And in walks this chair.

I was making coffee (eight 0'clock columbian my new and cheap fave)

and noticed a flurry of cars just past the cul-de-sac.

I HATE garage sales.

But I know the lady who was doing this one and she is a CLEAN freak.

I mostly hate garage sales because of a small issue with germs.

(some of you recall a couch someone took from the side of the road that was infested with lice.)

Anyway, I thought as I grabbed my checkbook and ran out the door how silly it was to walk in with checks. I never buy things at garage sales!

And then I saw it.

Beth had a rocker like this from Sams and I recall going back SEVERAl times to try to get one.

I love upholstered rocking chairs.

This one:

~perfect condition

~pottery barn

~rocked only babies in and then hardly ever sat it

~neutral

~slip-coverable

~most importantly: REALLY COMFY and only FIFTY BUCKS.

I pulled out my checkbook, wrote the check and this warm spring morning have sat quietly in it listening to birds, feeling the breeze, reading, drinking from my FAVE mug bought at a newly rediscovered awesome store called Anthropologie.

And as always, my favorite quiet partner by my side.

Yesterday was one of those wierd days that make you want to crawl under a rock and never again have to face people and the world.

But today, my chair, my dog, my mug, God's breeze, and His spirit quietly refreshed me.

Here's to non-lice-infested-50 buck-garage-sale-serenity.....

Busy Bee

I feel a lot like this guy right now.

a busy busy busy bee.

He literally moved from one flower to the next

so quickly I had trouble keeping up.

He has a big job, you know.

Helping to keep this Azelia coming back next year.

I think at times he must feel a lot of pressure.

I know I do.

It is hard to keep serenity with so many people counting on you.

But.

I am sure, this bee doesn't think about his task.

He just does it.

Do you think bees grumble?

I kinda doubt it.

Anyway.

Just a thought.

Beautiful Singing

This little guy was singing away in my tree out front.

It was such a happy song and so carefree.

I decided my day needed to mirror his.

To live life not worrying about the next anything...the next paycheck,

the next job, the next "good time", the next anything.

Here's to carefree songs on a carefree spring day.

New camera...

We went ahead and purchased a Nikon D40. I am thrilled with it.

Here are a few of my favorite things and people and of course,

my favorite animal in the entire world.

He's leaving...I'm happy...I'm sad

My brother is a great person.

He is a great friend.

He is a constant source of stability in my life.

The effects of the economy were one of the reasons Matt and I left Michigan.

Now my brother is the next one.

He is an Acoustical Engineer with General Motors and has been

trying to get out for some time now.

He did it.

He will be working at a company who makes hearing aids.

He is thrilled with the idea of using his knowledge and talent to help other people.

He is excited.

However...he has lived in Michigan all his life, only 30 minutes from my parents.

All 41 years of it.

And now he is moving here:

Colorado Springs, Colorado.

And although it is a 22 hour drive,

IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

Sure beats Clarkston, Michigan.

But today, I am thrilled for him and their new life but will miss him like crazy.

I love him and hate that he'll be so far away.

But I am thankful God has provided a great job and a beautiful place to live...

We will see each other a little less but am thankful for things like

FACEBOOK!

Blogs!

CellPhones!

They make the leaving much easier...

Anyway. Just wanted to get that off my heart.

For Carin...

Spending lots more time here lately. Sometimes you just can't sleep after a long day at work. And whenever I'm laying there soaking it in....I think of Carin and the hundreds or maybe even thousands of baths she has taken in her lifetime.

And while I'm laying there...I'm also reading this, taking deep breaths and giving it all to God, reciting the entire "Serenity Prayer":

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time,

Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace.

Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is,

Not as I would have it.

Trusting that You will make all things right,

If I surrender to your will,

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,

And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

Anyone want some serentity?

I'll loan out my bathtub for free.....

Florida on the way....and the financial crisis understood

This background change is to celebrate that I am leaving for Florida to visit my mom and dad in 37 short days. It is how I survive the rest of the winter. Counting down the dreary days to paradise. Sorry for the blog silence. Just been so busy working that its either blogging or facebook and facebook has been my computer "crack" of choice lately.

Something really getting to me lately is the financial crisis. We moved here from Michigan almost three years ago and left the "financial mess" in that state hoping to escape it by moving to Indianapolis - the land of what seemed like financial stability and growing economies. Neighborhoods being built on every corner, new strip malls everywhere, brand new elementary schools and on and on. HOWEVER. Things have changed. Big time. Now we have empty houses everywhere (even brand new ones), and houses selling in our neighborhood for much less than they sold for three years ago. It is funny because Matt and I are beginning to say..."Hey, does this remind you of Michigan three years ago?" Anyway, got on a friend's blog this a.m. that had these videos posted of how to understand what has REALLY happened in this mess (former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is partly indited in it). It is a FUN to watch, interesting video that will leave you feeling like a smarty pants using words like Sub Prime Market, Collateral Debt Obligations and on and on. Enjoy and let me know what you think. I had trouble downloading the actual videos so these are the links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0zEXdDO5JU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhDkZjKBEw&feature=related

See ya....