High5

Tags

beach, college, High5, home, renew, reunion, timing, vacation, visit

I’ve been on vacation for the past week. A good, old-fashioned family road trip with my mom, sister, and her little family. We had an awesome trip, so it was only fitting that I reflect on five of my greatest blessings from the past week. This is my High5 Vacation Edition.

 

1.

Sweet Wake-up Call

The whole crew of six of us stayed in a multi-room hotel suite the first few nights of our trip. My wake-up call each morning wasn’t the glaring sound of an alarm clock. It was the sweet little voice of my five-year-old nephew coming from the kitchen. He woke up chipper and ready for conversation with my mom, who was the first one up in the morning. Even though I wasn’t in the same room, I could see him smiling as I heard his cheerful conversation and it put a big smile on my face at the start of each day.

 

2.

College Reminiscing

I spent last weekend revisiting my college town, friends, and went to a college football game. Being back in that space brought back a mixture of wonderful, nostalgic feelings. I was transported to another time and it almost felt like my time spent there over fifteen years ago had been a dream. The memories from being back in a place where I’ve lived but haven’t visited in awhile come back in waves. The recognition of a building where I had classes or seeing my old college apartment again led to memories of the people and moments and sites and smells that I had since forgotten. The funny thing about being in college is that, at the time, I felt like I was 100% adult, but didn’t realize how unlike real life that college experience really was until I entered the ‘real world.’ My college experiences were steps towards being fully independent, but I was still so sheltered and protected that those experiences only gave me a taste of life on my own as an adult. Last weekend was a bliss-filled, fairy tale experience to live into those memories and feelings again. 

 

3.

Unexpected Reunion

I love the new routine vacations provide. Waking up to a leisurely breakfast, walking the beach, showering up before heading out for lunch at an island cafe . . . rough life, I know. Such was our itinerary one day in the middle of our trip. After our morning beach activities, we headed to a sweet local cafe for lunch, were seated, and began looking over the menu. I glanced up and recognized a woman who had just walked in. Her mother was a tremendous positive influence on me as a teenager, so my smiles of recognition at her turned into sheer joy when her mother came in behind her. They were seated at the table right next to me and my mom. Laughs and hugs and a few happy tears were shared, along with the awe of God’s timing of this ‘chance’ reunion. This unexpected encounter will be close to my heart for a very long time.

 

4.

Toes in the Water ~ Toes in the Sand

 

 

5.

Planning with Mom

We put nearly 2,000 miles on my car on this trip (1,993 to be exact), so there were hours and hours . . . . and hours of talk time in the car as we journeyed between destinations. My mom and I are really good at bouncing ideas off of each other and capturing plans and lists and brainstorms for projects back home. There’s something about distancing myself from my everyday life that brings forth clarity and bursts of creativity. I love this time with my mom to dream and reflect and prioritize and I always look forward to returning home with renewed vigor and energy. Vacations are amazing and necessary for my soul . . . but, there’s something about coming back home that brings me new life and renews my spirit.

High5

Tags

chobani, concert, High5, iTunes Radio, pay it forward, sushi, walk

1.

Paying it forward

My sister and I love going to concerts and because we go to several every year, lawn seats fall right within our concert-going budget. We attended a concert last month and the opening act was not a group we recognized, nor cared for very much, so we relaxed on the lawn and gabbed through their set. In the wait time after the opening act and before the main event, a couple of girls came up to us with papers in hand. They asked if we wanted their seats on the 25th row, since they only came for the opening act and were leaving.  Um, yes please!  My sis and I quickly gathered up our blanket and bags and made our way to the front of the venue with tickets to rock-star seating in hand. So awesome to be the recipient of a pay it forward at such an unexpected time.

 

2.

Ridiculous Sushi Night (RSN)

A few close girlfriends and I schedule regular sushi nights. I cherish this time of sharing and laughing and just being with each other. Sushi for me is not just another dinner. It’s an experience….a calming, savoring experience akin to relaxing with a hot cup of tea or drinking a glass of wine. It is not to be rushed. I savor each and every bite. There’s something so special and intimate about sharing the same plate of sushi rolls with dear friends. I love it. One of these friends is moving out of state later this month, so our sushi night last week was our last RSN as a group. This makes it the saddest High5 I’ve posted, but the memories of these special moments make me smile.

 

3.

iTunes Radio

I updated my iPhone to iOS7 last week and quickly began exploring iTunes Radio. I didn’t have to look very far before discovering that the ENTIRE Justin Timberlake 20/20 Experience was playing for free. Stop it with the awesomeness!  I’m still discovering new stations and adding them to the My Stations list. Last week, I enjoyed Hits of the 80s Radio and Christian Radio as I started my day. I love rediscovering songs from my past and finding some great new tunes to get hooked on. And, best of all . . . it’s free!

 

4.

Chobani bites

I will eat ANYTHING that has the words ‘chocolate’ and ‘mint’ in the ingredient list. So, imagine my glee when I discovered this precious little find. It’s the perfect blend of health food and chocolate/mint obsession all in a petite package.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.

Walking unplugged

It was unseasonably warm here this weekend. Shorts and t-shirts were my weekend attire and I was almost wishing the pool was open again. Definitely a great couple of days to spend outside. So, I headed out for a walk Saturday morning and since I knew my afternoon and evening would include social settings with lots of noise and talking, I decided to walk sans earbuds . . . no music or podcasts. I knew a little peace and quiet would be a great way to start my busy day. I’m always plugged in while I walk, but it was so refreshing to listen to the lawn mowers, swings creaking back and forth, childrens’ laughter, and other neighborhood sounds on an active Saturday morning. 

 

 

High5

Tags

conversations, fall, gifts, Harvest, High5, honey crisps, Matthew West, pumpkin spice

1.

Spontaneous latte

It really doesn’t take much to bring a great big smile to my face. I am not a ‘gifts’ girl. That is, I don’t like people to lavish me with gifts or give me stuff. The gift to me is spending time with the person; it’s their friendship, not another chotchke to put in my living room. But, a meaningful, spontaneous gift . . . one that is customized just for me, that the person knows I will love and appreciate, those gifts are awesome! They make my entire day. So, imagine my joy when someone at work arrived last week with a pumpkin spice latte just for me . . . just because. She must have known I was unable to stop for one, thought about it after getting to work, and longed to have that precious taste of fall to start my morning. It was an extra-special gift that tasted far better than if I had bought it for myself.

 

2.

Hello, My Name is . . . 

I agree with my sister that the heyday of Contemporary Christian music was over a decade ago. So today, even though I don’t latch on to as many songs in this genre as I used to, a song will come along every once in awhile and grab ahold of me. Right now, it’s this song by the brilliant Matthew West. Simplistic, relatable, and yet so profound.

 

WARNING: You WILL get the tune and lyrics stuck in your head ALL DAY LONG after listening to it.  Enjoy!

 

 

3.

Harvest

I am not a fragrance person. I don’t burn candles year-round or try out different perfumes or use air fresheners in my house or car. But, I do have two huge exceptions. My fall and Christmas candles MUST be from Yankee Candle and MUST each be a specific scent that screams the season for me when I smell them. For fall, I always burn Harvest from Yankee Candle. Now there are impostors . . . those with similar names or colors, but they are not the same. There is only one original. The arrival of fall in my house is not dictated by a date on the calendar. Fall has officially arrived when I’ve purchased my new 22oz Harvest jar for the season. Fall is here!

 

4.

Phone calls

I was blessed with several phone conversations over the last week. With friends; with my mom. I’m not much of a phone talker, but I counted each of these conversations as such a blessing. To catch up and share and laugh and listen. I don’t always make time for these precious conversations, but this week reminded me of the simple, joy-filled act of reaching out to dear ones, near and far.

 

5.

Honey crisps

I went to the mountains a couple of weekends ago. I thought we may have been too early for apple season, but to my surprise, the apples were plentiful in close to a dozen varieties. 

There’s only one kind of apple I have my eye on each fall, and it’s the honey crisps. I eat an apple a day year-round, but there’s something about the sweet juiciness of honey crisps that makes this variety stand out among the rest. Some friends and I bought an entire bushel to split between us. I’ll be enjoying these for many weeks to come.

 

 

 

 

 

High5

Tags

Ann Voskamp, blessings, family, friends, gifts, Gpa, High5, joy, pool time

I’ve had some wonderful highs over the past couple of weeks. Here are 5 of them . . . . 

 

1.

Dining room art

I have a really hard time putting holes in my walls. Once I commit, that hole isn’t going to disappear unless I haul out the sparkle and paint to make the wall blemish-free again. I know this really isn’t a huge hassle, but in my mind it always makes me think for a second, third, even fourth time before pounding the hammer to the nail. I want it to be perfect. So, I repainted my dining room last August, as in August 2012 and, that’s right, my large dining room wall has been empty for a whole year. That wall is a large expanse of space and I really haven’t known what I wanted to do there. Then, I saw this painting in a local store over the summer and loved it. I went back to the store and visited it several times before purchasing it and taking it home with me Labor Day weekend. It is absolutely PERFECT! Love the colors, love the size, love the way it makes me smile just looking at it. Worth the wait and definitely worth putting some holes in the wall!

 

2.

An excuse to buy jewelry

A dear friend introduced me to this sweet little gift shop. It’s located inside an old house at a crossroads out in the country just north of where I live. It’s in a somewhat random location out there all by itself, that I wonder how they stay in business. I think that’s what gives it such great charm, like a diamond in the rough or seeing something beautiful where you don’t expect it. This little shop sells precious home decor items, candles, kitchen goods, and jewelry, lots of beautiful jewelry. I can see why my friend loves it so much. This bracelet is my beautiful memento from our time in this special place and it will always remind me of time spent with one of my besties.

 

3.

Pool time with the fam

Although I was certainly happy to see August go, I’ve been a little nostalgic this week over the fact that pool time for the summer is officially over. It became real today when I drove by my community pool on the way home and a big, red ‘pool closed’ sign hung on the entrance door. I had a very challenging summer in my personal life, but throughout that journey, a wonderful constant was spending a lot of quality time with my family. We made it a regular routine to go to church together on Sunday morning, then head to the pool to swim. I will never forget playing in the water with my two little nephews and enjoying time floating and talking with my mom and sister. You know how you can just feel that certain experiences will be etched in your memory for all time? That was what time with my fam this summer feels like to me. It resides in a very special place in my memory. Those experiences were greater than my struggles. I think it was God’s gift of love for me during a time when I desperately needed to be loved.

 

4.

Ocean = JOY

Imagine my surprise when in the middle of the children’s sermon in church I hear my name referenced. A friend from my women’s circle at church was giving the children’s message. The theme of her message was joy and she told the children that something I had said has always stuck with her. She told the children that I explained that the ocean is just the beginning of Gods love for us. That even though that ocean seemed endless and huge beyond words, that God loves us even more than the ocean is deep and wide. This was a blessing I gave to her, but in that moment, the joys and blessings of those words I shared with her several years ago flooded right back to me.

 

5.

Gpa’s smile

I was going through some books on my nightstand looking for my Sunday School journal to bring to church on Sunday. I found it, thumbed through it, and realized I had used it a couple of years ago to start recording 1,000 gifts in my life, based on Ann Voskamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts (if you haven’t read it, you must!). I glanced through the gifts I had recorded, but one gift really stuck out to me and made me smile:

 

gift #111: The way Gpa’s smile lights up his whole face.

 

My Gpa passed away earlier this year and in that moment, I feel like I was directed to read that blessing and that he was there. Thank you Lord for that gift.

High5

Tags

High5, joy, Michael Franti, Patio, roses, summer, SYTYCD

1.

Joy rocks
A friend texted me this photo on a day earlier this month when I coveted prayers. She created it using rocks near a mountain stream. Sooooo what I needed on that day and it brings me joy everytime I see it.

 

2. 

SYTYCD

I love the show So You Think You Can Dance. It’s like American Idol, but for dancers. The talent on the show is absolutely ridiculous! Dancers perform several routines each week in styles from jazz to the jive, from contemporary to the Viennese waltz, from Broadway to hip-hop. I love that my mom and I usually watch the show ‘together’ by messaging each other and giving our assessment of routines and dancers. This season of SYTYCD is winding down and the finale and selection of “America’s Favorite Dancer” occurs within the next few weeks. My votes are in . . . Go Amy! Go Fik-Shun!

 

3.

The Sound of Sunshine by Michael Franti

 

 

A 13-year-old introduced me to this song. I love it! To me, it sings of pure joy. It’s a feel good, happy summer song. ‘Here I am just waiting for this storm to pass me by. And, that’s the sound of sunshine coming down.’  Have a listen and smile. . . . 

 

4.

Gifts of Frailty and Inadequacy

If you never felt pain: How would you know that I am the Healer?

If you never went through difficulties: How would you know that I am the Deliverer?

If you never made a mistake: How would you know that I am the Forgiver?

If you never felt sadness: How would you know that I am the Comforter?

If you knew all things: How would you know that I will answer your questions?

If you were never in trouble: How would you know that I will come to rescue you?

If you were never broken: How would you know that I can make you whole?

If you never had a problem: How would you know that I can solve them?

If you never had any suffering: How would you know what Jesus went through?

If you never went through fire: How would you become pure?

If I gave you all things: How would you appreciate them?

If I never corrected you: How would you know that I love you?

If you had all the power: How would you learn to depend on me?

If you were perfect: What would you need me for?

 

A friend shared this with me several years ago. I printed it out and posted it on my bulletin board over my desk in my home office. I read it the other evening, intentionally, and let the words really sink in. Such power and beauty and simplicity. It’s a gift that needs to be shared.

 

5.

G-ma’s roses

I have an incredibly brown thumb. I love having plants, I just forget about them after the novelty of having new lovelies has worn off. Forgetting about them = no water for them. You can see where this is going. I gave my Gma a tiny pink rose plant for her to keep in her apartment a few years ago. After several months, she gave it back to me saying that it really should be planted and she wanted me to enjoy it. Knowing my somewhat tragic growing history, I was reluctant to accept. But, I planted those roses out back and they’re thriving! I don’t pay them any extra attention, they just seem to love it at my house. My Gma loves it and is alway eager for photo updates of “her roses.” It brings me joy when I see that they’re the flowers that thrive the most on my patio.

High5

Tags

Aaron Copland, butterflies, classical music, High5, Judy Blume, Mary Tyler Moore, New Year's Resolutions, Project Life, Quiet City, summer

I follow several bloggers who post a weekly ‘inspirations’ or a regular ‘top five’ blog entry. It’s a way of sharing good things that are happening in their lives. I love this idea. Quotes. Photos. Videos. Stories. Conversations. Vignettes. What a wonderful outlet to share nuggets of joy and put blessings before burdens. I’m looking forward to consistently posting “High5” entries each month. Here’s my first High5 for August 18, 2013:

 

1.

Aaron Copland’s Quiet City

I love to play classical music in the evenings, especially when I’ve had a hectic day or am in desperate need of some “I” time. This piece is on a cd I have titled, Meditations for a Summer Evening. When you have 10 minutes, give it a listen. The beautiful solo trumpet melody builds to a stunning climax within the last three minutes of the piece. Copland’s music is so simple, so lovely, so hopeful. This piece is like a dream and takes me back to another time. I love getting lost in it.

 

 

 

2.

Butterflies

I was in the mountains last weekend and we hiked a lesser-traveled trail to an amazing waterfall. On the way back from the falls, it started to rain. As we were walking through a field of wild flowers, a swarm of butterflies surrounded us. They fluttered and danced and landed on the beautiful wildflowers in the field, completely oblivious to the fact that we were in the midst of them. We paused and got some amazing shots. It was one of those precious moments with nature that I’ll never experience in the same way again. What a gift!

 

 

3.

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret

I finished re-reading this iconic Judy Blume novel from my childhood earlier this week. For the longest time, I didn’t want to read it again. I didn’t want to read it as a 30-something and have that perspective overshadow my impressionable 12-year-old perception. Well, I’m glad I read it again. It brought back those warm, fuzzy feelings of reading it 25 years ago. Although I didn’t remember all of the details, there was a familiarity while I was reading…almost like I was tapping into my adolescent self. Such a special experience!

 

 

4.

Mary Tyler Moore

I’ve been hooked on watching old episodes of the Mary Tyler Moore Show this summer. I started at season 1, episode 1 and fit in the 25-minute episodes at different points in my week. I see a lot of myself in Mary….single girl in her 30s, moving to a new place, has a job that she loves. I love the close relationships she has with her co-workers and friends, Phyllis and Rhoda. The show just makes me happy.

 

 

5.

Project Life

Would you believe I already decided on my New Year’s Resolution for 2014? My sister scrapbooks the life of their family using the Project Life method. I’ve been so intrigued by this concept and decided that I would document each week of my life for 52 weeks, starting in January 2014. For now, I’m gathering page layout ideas, organizing tips, supplies I’ll need, etc. so I’ll be ready to embark on this journey in a few months. But, I’m super stoked about it right now and wanted to capture it here.