WRITING

I often wonder why I ever stopped writing. I knew that I loved it even from a really young age. In high school and college I pursued it constantly. It just so happened that I left college early and my life got filled with other things. As everyone knows, life gets busy. I stopped writing. Today, I was looking through some of my old papers from a creative writing class at Spring Arbor University and I relived many of those old stories. I'm so thankful for all that I learned in those early years of college, but I don't want that to be it. Every year I want to be a better creative writer. When I was little people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up and even then, I would say a writer (oh and a veterinarian and an astronaut too). Still you get the point.

On a different note, life has been good. Just got home from work and ran into a spider web (awesome). I'm going to post some pictures from the past couple weeks. The first week, mom and dad came to visit Jordan and I and the second week one of my closest friends, Larissa came too. I must say we were pretty spoiled and loved on. I miss them all so much already.

 

ONE OF THOSE MORNINGS

I didn't want to get out of bed either.

LETTERS

I find that it's often the simple things in life that bring the most joy and pleasure. Lately, I've been writing letters. I just got a new stationary set from a really cool place in Austin called Paper Source. I've always loved writing letters and receiving them. These days you see that less and less. Why send a letter when you can email or text? I think there is something beautiful in the simplicity of a letter that you cannot find in an email or text. It's a piece of you that someone can actually touch and feel. Something someone can hold on to. It's a way to creatively let someone know you're thinking about them and you care. My goal is to write more letters.

LIFE'S AN ADVENTURE

So in this past week, I have been realizing that I still have a lot of growing up to do and that's ok. Most people are content to live life simply, work from nine to five, pay off a mortgage, raise two perfect kids, and settle down in the same place for ever. Maybe it comes with age. I suppose someday I'll want that, but for now I'm dreaming of something different. Do we really need to settle down so quickly? Maybe there are places waiting to be discovered, people waiting to be met, and stories waiting to be told. Maybe these gray skies today are making me more contemplative than usual ;) Anyway, here are a few pictures I've taken over the past few weeks. I'm so thankful for the people in my life and am realizing the indescribable value of family.

Ya'll?

Since moving from Ohio to Texas, I often find myself in a state of confusion wondering how I should speak. Do I say ya'll, you guys, or perhaps you all? I guess you could say it's a little bit of culture shock for me. I'll be talking to someone, and a Southern accent will come out of no where. I'll quickly have to correct myself and purposely try to talk "normal." But now I find myself asking the question, what is normal? Maybe ya'll and I'm fixin' to should be normal every day words. Maybe tin roofs, cactus, road runners, armadillos, legal u-turns, and snow cone trucks are the norm. I guess I'll have to wait and see. As of now, though, I'm thinking ya'll sounds pretty normal.

A Happy Thought

 
I'm happiest when I'm outside. I'm happiest when I'm outside with him. When we're outside and together, we're happy.

Mom and Dad in Texas

Two weeks ago mom and dad came to visit Jordan and I in Texas. It was all perfect timing because I was beginning to feel homesick. I decided to post just a few pictures from our adventures.  We showed them around our town, Bastrop, took them to Austin, and explored San Antonio.

(Austin's beautiful Capital building)

(The Alamo in San Antonio)

(My new Texas license plate)