March Musings - Day 8

I got Facebook yesterday....

Shocked most people that I finally did it...others rejoiced greatly!

I found friends I haven't seen or heard from in years, friends that I know from camp, church, work, dance, and more.

It's definitely proven to be interesting so far.

I shall have to update you on my adventures as the month progresses!

March Musings - Day 7

Sometimes it's too easy to look at the clouds ahead, the stop signs, the red lights, and just feel discouraged. It's hard to keep going when everything seems against you!

That's when you take time to stop, and look back on what God has done for you. <3

Don't get discouraged by the darkness ahead, travel in faith knowing God has you. He will see you through it to end! Count the many things He has done, and thank Him for it! There is a purpose for everything, and if you keep going, He rewards the faithful.

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."

Hebrews 10:23

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfect of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 12:1-2

(I also highly encourage you to read Hebrews 11!)

Don't give up, weary traveler! God is with you!

March Musings - Day 6

11 days until St Patrick's day!!!! But since we are dancing on the 16th due to school conflicts, we have 10 more days!!! It's crazy!

So to get you all in the mood, and so you guys can join me in it, here are some videos John and I enjoyed last night! If you're not tapping your toes and dancing inside, watch them again or watch some more!!!

Siamsa is one of my favorites! We do our "Walls of Limerick" to it and it's a blast!

"Trading Taps" is a clever dance from "Riverdance"! It's a story of tap dancers vs. Irish steppers!

This I never saw before until yesterday! It's called "Reel Around the Sun" from "Riverdance on Ice"!

Enjoy!!! I hope you have fun tappin' your toes! :~D

(email readers will have to go to the blog to view the videos)

March Musings - Day 5

So I sat in on John's church's youth group today as he has been helping with it, and they were talking a bit about friendships. I got to thinking about my three closest friends so here they are:

Obviously, John is the first! He is steadfast, smart, silly, and stuck with me! Haha, but really, he is a great friend through and through. He's my sweetheart, my friend, my fiance, my confidante, my prayer partner...I could go on and on, but there isn't enough time so I shall say this: I really don't know what I'd do without him!

Heidi: I've known her the longest of these three. She's been a protective friend when I was younger, and the roles have reversed a lot as we've gotten older. She's good at giving advice and praying for me, and she knows a lot of my past struggles so that's helpful when something new or similar arises!

Emily: I haven't known her as long as Heidi, and probably a little longer than John but not much more. She's a great friend, loyal, and good at keeping secrets. She is always there to listen to you rant, and isn't afraid to rant at the same time about life. She listens, prays, and hears you out.

Each friend is different in their strengths and weaknesses, they know different aspects about me, and yet they all are very special to me. 

So when you three read this, know I love you!!! And I thank you for everything!!

March Musings - Day 4

Brrrr...a couple days ago it was 60???

What's up with this? Simply...it's Central New York. The land of 70 degree weather in the morning, and 20 degree weather at night. Where snow storms appear in the middle of summer, and summer appears in the middle of snow storms. I've been wearing my snowflake leggings for warmth, and everyone is blaming the snowflake pattern that I chose to wear, on the weather. Oh well, I suppose it could be worse, right? It's good weather for hot drinks though. We had a lot of orders for lattes and mocha lattes tonight with this bitter cold. Despite it, I wouldn't trade places for anything. I love living in a place where my glasses freeze to my face (as to quote the Mitford series).

So do I enjoy the cold? To a degree, yes.

Would I trade the cold? If it's a sickness, yes I'd rather trade it for chocolate; but if it's the temperature, use it to make iced coffee and I'll be content.

Will I keep wearing my snowflake leggings? Yes, even in the dead of summer to drive everyone nuts...and maybe get some snow to make snow-cones out of the deal. After all, they are the cause of course! ;~)

Adios! I'm off to go fall asleep under 9 blankets, and dream of the Arctic Tundra!

March Musings - Day 3

"But he knows the way that I shall take;

when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

My foot has held fast to his steps;

I have kept his way and have not turned aside.

Job 23:10-11 (ESV)

I read this a couple days ago, and these verse have stuck with me! They've encouraged me in many ways, and I'm glad to have read them. We drove past the major power lines today. Normally that wouldn't be of any consequence as they cut through several near by fields. But today they had some pallets fashioned in such a way that they had created a vast road alongside the power lines so that they could do some work. It made me think of these verses.

God knows the way we should take. Sometimes it's the paved path; sometimes it's a path put down before us, plank by plank. We might not even know the next plank or step that we have to take, but if we stay on His path, when trials come, we will come out as gold.

I encourage you to stay on God's path, even if the paved one seems easier, His way is better! Don't lose faith, just take one step, one day, one plank at a time! <3

March Musings - Day 2

Today was a long day...9 hour shift. I almost was able to go see a show tonight, but it didn't work out, so John and I had an adventure. He knows how to romance me, and I think it's rather sweet. I asked him to think of something to do tonight instead of the show, and he came up with the following:

- sour cream donut

- bookstore

- Batman or Star Trek when we got back home

We altered it slightly when my friend K texted and said he was gonna come to Bailiwick, so we stuck around and got hot fudge sundaes (instead of a donut!)...they were a disaster as they melted all over but oh so good! Then after chatting until past close, because my coworkers are awesome, John and I hopped on the highway to go to the bookstore! He said he'd get me a book of my choice. I was hoping for a leather bound pocket set of the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, but unfortunately they didn't have it at this Barnes and Noble!! So we settled for a Star Trek book I've been drooling over...50 of the original episodes, adapted from the script into short stories! Then we headed back to my house for 2 episodes of the original Batman series from the late 60s. All in all, a good day!

(I also had fun doing shopping of my own....peppermint soap, tea cups for tea parties, a journal for a birthday present for someone, and chocolate for Mommy! The shirt was a gift from my cafe's owner! I think it's totally my cats and even looks like them too!

All in all, with the snow this morning and this evening, and my adventures today, it's been a great one....

Hope you enjoyed my journal-style muse of my day!

March Musings - Intro & Day 1

It's March, the month of Irish Dancing, Shamrock Shakes, St. Patrick's day, and Leprechauns. March is the lull between winter and spring, between gray and vivid color. It's a time of change, of renewal, of growth. It's a month that is unique from every other. So my challenge for myself this month is to have a March Musings. Musings everyday about this, that, and the other thing. Whatever I'm musing about for the day, I shall muse. So do a jig, grab a shake, dance, and make-believe with me, as we go on a musing adventure through March! 

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Today I called John over on a whim. The weather was gorgeous, perfect for a walk. So for a walk we went! The whole time we were out, I had this hymn on my mind:

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

O how bright the path grows from day to day,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

The song was encouraging to have stuck in my head. I needed the reminder! It was quite a lovely walk, and we raced back outside a short while later to catch the sunset. A great way to start the month of March!

Finding Color

Colors are the building blocks,

and tiny little gears,

that make wheels spin,

in colorful ways,

so ideas come rolling to you.

But a sad thought can stop it,

while a bright thought can pop it!

Shining lights, colors bright,

finding colors.

Confessions of a Bookworn

Yes, I have inhaled the musty aroma.

Yes, I have swooned over a book store.

Yes, I have read for hours on end.

Yes, I have let the stories rock my core.

Yes, I have longed for a shelf of the classics.

Yes, I use my birthday money to buy even ones that are dull.

Yes, I treat myself to adventure and fantasy.

Yes, I trudge through books I need to stop in to mull.

Yes, I enjoy every style, genre, and kind.

Yes, I feel the salty sea in the ocean pages.

Yes, I stop to smell the daffodils in a poem rhymed.

Yes, I feel the bitter cold while a war rages.

Yes, I rejoice when the characters do.

Yes, I feel the heartache when they lose a friend or two.

Yes, I am a bookworm, it's clear through and through.

Yes, I am a bookworm; now what about you?