Again, small and simple things...

Two posts in a day! I know... I just wanted to separate them since they were not really related.

The scripture that provides the title-of-sorts for this little blog is truly something that always helps me. I'm preparing for my Senior Violin recital, and am very aware of how quickly my performance is approaching. I was feeling ill-prepared, even though I know that that is not the case. My fears were not aligned with reality. The truth is, yes, I have a lot of hard work to do, but I will be prepared, and I will be proud of the finished product because of this hard work. I just have to continue to do the small and simple things-practice smart every day- and great things truly will come to pass.

Such a pattern to live by. Do your best, be diligent, and continue in the small and simple (albeit concentrated, focused, and meaningful) and you will receive your reward.

My joy is overflowing. Life truly is wonderful!

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

Today was an absolutely beautiful day! I wished that I could just take a blanket and sit out on a lawn of green grass and enjoy the sunshine.

I love my neighborhood. I love going on walks around my neighborhood-All of the houses have so much charm and personality, and I thoroughly enjoy their uniqueness as I go on my walks. There is the red brick house with the zen garden (?), the house that looks like a southern plantation, with its large lot of green grass surrounding it, and the house with the twisted trees in the front yard that looks like it is straight out of a fairytale forest. Oh, I love it so much- I don't know what it is about man's choice of dwelling that intrigues me so. All I know is that I really enjoy just looking at things (in this case, houses). One of those little things that make me really happy.

Oh, and in our neighborhood, there are a couple of trees that are blooming with these wonderful purple flowers- I want to say they are lilacs, but I'm not positive. All I know is that they smell heavenly.

Isn't this earth such a wonderfully beautiful place? I'm so grateful that I get to call this glorious creation home. Even with all of the "stuff" that is going on in the world, and in my little corner of it, I can always count on the beauty of this earth to strengthen me, bring me joy, and help me remember what is really important.

Not the Edible Kind

Concerning Blackberries, that is...

I was walking down a hallway in the music building, and posted outside the door of a professor I have never had, there way an article that caught my attention. I stood there, read it, thought it was interesting, and just wanted to share it with you. I'll spare you my thoughts on this topic at this moment, but I'm sure with your comments, we can have quite a conversation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/business/yourmoney/24every.html

Let me know what you think.

West Side Story...

In two ways:

1) The Lyric Opera theatre at ASU performed "West Side Story" this weekend. So, for a joint birthday present, I took Jennifer and Brandon. It was a blast. I love my family so much; they are just so cool. They got to my house in enough time for dinner (which, despite my apologies, they insisted tasted good) and then we headed over to campus. After getting our name put on the wait list for tickets, we took a long walk around campus, as I gave them a little tour. Just walking and talking. One thing that worked out really well was the whole wait-listing for tickets. Not only did we get into a sold out show, but we got AWESOME seats. Row 9, right in the center. I liked being there with my siblings more than the show; I'm glad that we went.

2) A west(ern)-side-of-the-valley story:
So, Jenny and Brandon left, and I'm eating chocolate pudding reading Jane Eyre, when I get a call from my dad. Jenny had a collision with another car just at Rural and the 60. So, of course, I headed over there to see that everything was okay, which everything was. Car accidents are not fun experiences, not matter how small (I think I should know). I'm so glad that they were okay and that nobody was hurt. I guess that could be a happy-almost-birthday Jen (jk) ;-)

Have a great day everybody!

Fellow bloggers, I have a question...

So, I just put up that post, and it took longer than I would like to get all of the pictures to work the way I wanted. Any advice?

Also, is my blog bland? Any suggestions on how to spice it up?

A few of my (new) favorite things

So, all of my roommates left (2 got married, the other moved); and as it goes, when they left, so did many on the things in the house- namely the TV, DVD player, and the kitchen table. Well, last week on Thursday, I went out in hopes of finding a table, and ended up coming back very successful with the help of my amazing parents. I got such good deals! and just wanted to share my excitement and happiness with you. Here is what I ended the day with:

Monet Print and Gold Frame-$7, Thrift store

Vintage seed print and frame-$3, Thrift Store;

Hanging half vase-$2, DI;

Flowers-$2, Wal-mart

Teapot-$6, DI;

Silk Plant-Free, mom

Ceramic utensil holder-$2, Goodwill (shout-out to cousin Emily)

TV (?!?!)-Free!! Aunt Karen

A TABLE!!!-$20, DI

All it needs is a little love, but with a table cloth (below) it looks great!

At the end of the day, my angel mother not only had spent most of the day running with me to all these stores, but then she stayed and helped me clean my kitchen (Gross Fridges-yuck...) I am so blessed with such amazing parents-They are always willing to help with anything. Thanks :-)

Be not weary in well doing...

Yes, I am finally here. Last on the bandwagon again...

So, I've always had a negative attitude towards blogs and me ever having one. But, with the new year rolling around, I've been thinking about relationships (not any kind in particular) and wondering how I can do better at nurturing them. I also thought about how there are people who have been examples to me, through their "silly, little" blogs, and they don't even know it. I thought about a lot more as well, like how I've enjoyed seeing pictures and reading news of all the wonderful things that all the wonderful people I know are doing. Finally I figured maybe there might be someone who just might enjoy the little snippets of my life as much as I do of theirs (or my own, for that matter). Ultimately, I figure that, used correctly, this blog can help me do a lot of good, or at least something:

Help me recognize my happiness and share it with others.

For whatever reason. That is why my blog is titled "Be not weary in well doing". It's part of a scripture that has often helped me remember why it is that I am doing anything. It's a scripture that has become very important to me. Sometimes I let myself become weary in the "well" that I'm doing, and I want to start enjoying every moment of the journey to a greater extent. It'll probably have ramblings about school and life and all of the other amazingly wonderful things having to do with everything. I promise it won't ever be horribly long; I also am sure that I will probably post quite a bit this first couple of days, but won't take up more of the time I don't have to be doing this, or your time that you don't have to be reading this.

Heaven knows I don't want you (or me) to become addicted to this blog. Go do something good.