A Smattering of Thought

Sometimes prespective comes out of nowhere...and usually unexpected or unsolicited! I suppose since I'm reading the book ( One Thousand Gifts ), the thought of gratefulness should have been expected, but yet it still seemed to hit me upside the head.   Really?   I should live with an attitude of gratefulness?                                Will that really make me feel better about life?                                Will all my troubles just vanish?                                Will I suddenly see world peace?   Okay, so my expectations were a little out of reach. However, if your attitude changes, doesn't your perspective? As I continue to read this book...I feel convicted.  Not just a little pang of "yikes, I need to be more grateful" but the "hit me in the face...I am a complainer" type of jab.  At first I wanted to deny it or at least justify it. I just complain about the things other people do...traffic...weather...stupid people do

For as long as I can remember I have always enjoyed planning activities, big or small.  The aspect of entertaining I enjoy the most is creating an atmosphere with elicits good conversation, carefree laughter and enjoyment!  I am still a self-professed non-creative person, it is fun to bring an idea together...even if a simple dessert party for friends.  This past weekend I wanted to share my new apartment with some friends and have an excuse to do some baking.   (side note: I LOVE baking but the food needs to go somewhere else so I don't eat it all). I made some yummy red{ish} velvet cupcakes with whipped cream cheese frosting. I also wanted to try my hand at making refreshing fruit infused water .   It came out a bit tart, but still refreshing: strawberry lemonade water.   After looking at the for quite a few months, I used some birthday funds to purchase a replica mason jar dispenser {World Market} and was excited to fill it for the first time. The

You would think that e stablishing  home would be an fairly easy task.    You find a place, put your belongings in and ta-da...home!   When I look back on my childhood, I realized that we really moved a lot until I was near high school.  We seemed to move somewhere new every two years...at times just across town but other times it was across country.   The unique aspect about the concept of "home" is that it seems that wherever you are, it is home.  My mom always did a great job of making the place we inhabited feel, look and smell like home.  She even made our motorhome feel just like home.    I gleaned from that experience that home is what you make it.  Throughout my adult life thus far, if you count dorm rooms (which I do, they are home for 9 full months), I  have moved 10 times, at one point I moved almost every 6-7 months.  I got really good at sorting and purging! Each place felt like home.  Each home held relationships to foster. Each building held dif

I really like weddings.   No I LOVE weddings!   The colors, the flowers, the click of the camera, the swell of the music and the look of adoration in the eyes of the betrothed.  I just love weddings.   Everyone has their favorite moment of the ceremony.   The bride as she enters. The grooms face as soon as he sees her the first time.   The vows.   The rings. The possibility someone many faint.   The music.   The flowers.   The food.   For me, the whole event is my favorite...I know that is breaking the rules, but oh well.  As part of my job at the church I have the privilege of helping brides create their special day.  I have always had an affinity to party planning and what better party than a wedding!  The icing on the cake is being a small part of a couples special day whom God has brought together and you have seen the long road to the end of the aisle.   This past weekend I had the honor of coordinating Julianne Beadner and  Andrew Dusendang.   Spring Banque