desires...

to live content with small means

to seek elegance rather than luxury,

and refinement rather than fashion

to be worthy, not respectable,

and wealthy, not rich

to listen to stars and birds,

babes and sages, with open heart

to study hard,

to think quietly,

act frankly,

talk gently,

await occasions, hurry never

in a word, to let the spiritual,

unbidden and unconscious,

grow up through the common

-this is my symphony

William Ellery Channing

sisters

Our roots say we're sisters, our hearts say we're friends.

~Author Unknown

easter

easter is a special weekend. for one, it's a long weekend. hubby is home an extra day. how is it that one extra day can seem like a week? (in a good way, i might add) we have lots and lots of family time. i like that. chocolate. check. that is always a good thing, but doesn't necessarily give us the meaning of easter. for some, easter is just another holiday. look for the easter bunny, eat some of those most sought after chocolates, have a day off, then back to the grind. whatever that may be. but for others, myself included, it's probably the most important holiday of the entire year. more important than christmas. yes, christmas is the celebration of our saviour's birth, but the story doesn't end there. oh no. the story just gets better and better (don't take my word for it, that THIS word for it). it all culminates at easter. good friday, was sad, incredibly sad. Jesus died... on the cross... felt shame... humiliation... pain... rejection... suffering... heartache... every possible human emotion. He was buried, put in a tomb. but the story did not end there. 2 days later, when women mourning his death came to the tomb, it was empty. EMPTY! and no, no thief or robber took his body. it was empty because the Lord God raised Jesus up from the dead. He conquered death. He paid the price. and He did this all for me. for you. for all of us. this isn't something to take lightly. not in my opinion. i was born a sinner. nothing perfect in me, that's for sure. i should be condemned to die. live eternity in hell. but someone saved me. Jesus. He did it all for you and me. so that we can be redeemed and we can choose to go to heaven one day to live with Him and the father there. how amazing is that? and did you know this... this gift... it is FREE! and although it is free for the taking, it is worth much more than any priceless item here on earth. no matter who you are... rich, poor, sick, healthy, shunned, popular, short, tall, beautiful, retched, clean, unclean... you can be forgiven and live a life lead by Him. you will not escape troubles in this life. but i can guarantee you this... you will have peace. no matter what you face, you will be facing it with Jesus by your side. what an amazing gift. i am so thankful. and because of this thankfulness i cannot and will not be quiet. i will share my love and my heart. i may be ridiculed, laughed at or scorned but i know in my heart there is peace for Jesus' sake. so, as you enjoy those easter chocolates (i know i will!), and enjoy the new spring weather, remember the newness of life that Jesus can bring you.

Happy Easter everyone!

music

ok, i don't know if all people are like this or not, but music really gets to me. certain chords, melodies, etc. i love music... all KINDS of music. some songs just get me going. and when i really like a song or a melody, my body reacts a certain way. i get goosebumps. anyone else get this? really, it's kind of embarrassing. but that's just me. anyhow, i thought it'd be cool to put up a few songs that do that to me when i think of them. so... here's the first one that i found today and only first heard today (this version, of course). take a listen, it's worth it.
(found this song on another blog i read)

Magpie Lovely $50 Gift Card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Magpie Lovely $50 Gift Card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

just have to enter this lovely giveaway... so many beautiful, frilly, pretty things. goods like these make me extra happy to be a woman! :)

back to my childhood

i just found one of the coolest downloads... this!
we used to have a polaroid when i was little and i LOVED using it! i remember going out into the yard and taking pictures of the most random things. i probably still have those polaroids somewhere in and admist all the junk i've rat packed all these years! ;) i also have some great polaroid shots of me when i was little. they are quite cute, if i do say so myself, but mostly because i look like little k in them. she found them and said, "look mommy, it's a picture of me with kitty. where is this kitty?" i should scan the pic so one can compare. i guess we have the same genes! :)
anyhow, i've already been having lots of fun with this download tonight!
check out the few i've already done:

look at my sweet family! we look like we're in the 70's, save for our fashions, i suppose.

i thought this little diddy looked kinda cute as a polaroid!

now this one totally looks ancient, doesn't it? i love it! my baby girl and i, circa 2009... although it could be a picture of my mom and me, circa 1979!
my two gals before heading to awana clubs one wednesday evening, on 'wacky hair night'.
oh sweetness... how i love this little face to bits and pieces!

there you have it... just a few shots now in polaroid form. how fun! download it and try it out for yourself. you won't be disappointed.
now, i wonder how they actually print out...

10 years

our 10 year anniversary was 5 days ago on december 11th. i can hardly believe it's been 10 years already. i'm married to the very best man, chosen for me. sometimes it's so easy to neglect our relationship. to take for granted. when i do take the time to remember our wedding day, i'm filled with emotions. so many amazing moments. i remember vividly the first time we saw one another that day. it was just after noon and i had come to the photographer's studio to take pics, alone with m. he drove himself there, i was dropped off by my dad. i took my shoes off, took my cloak off and walked with anticipation into the studio. i could hear him chatting with the photographer. i walked around the corner and our eyes met. the photographer kindly left the room for us to have a moment by ourselves. it was magical. we just stood there, so excited about the day. chatting about how surreal it was. we were so in love. we're still in love. maybe i don't always show it... maybe there isn't as much glitz and glamour (although what kind of glitz and glamour was there then? maybe just lest wrinkles and more hair -- for one of the parties involved)... maybe our life currently revolves around 3 people who are less than 4 feet tall. ;) we're now more in love today than we were then. we've endured much and fallen deeper in love with one another b/c of those hardships... and the good times also. we can only get closer as the years go by, as long as we stand by each other. i love you so much, m!! you were made for me, and i for you!
10 years... 5 houses... 4 vehicles... 3 beautiful girls... 2 platinum wedding bands... 1 amazing man... happy 10 year anniversary!!