You Are Holy, Righteous, and Redeemed

  Honestly, I haven't thought about my five things in a while.  Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful, but I'm also a person who forgets how thankful she is only minutes after I thank the Lord for all the blessing he has given me.  It's easy for me to say I'm grateful for something and then not a minute later take it for granted.  I really wanted to give my five things some thought this week.  I am constantly thankful for my family--the one I was born into and the one I gained when I married my loving husband, but I also am thankful for way more than that.

  

This week I'm thankful for these five things:

The grace and mercy God is able to give to me

(Because I have someone to take my place and intercede for me)

The simple fact that I'm finally feeling better emotionally 

(I think it's mostly due to the sun coming out from under the clouds and bringing spring with it)

The opportunity to continue my photography business

(Not that it ever stopped, but without feeling well it's kind of hard to put yourself out there, or at least it is for me)

The special day of Good Friday that my husby gets to have off

(I can't wait for us to spend the day together; we've had a hugely busy past few weekends)

The support my husby gives me in all my endeavors

(Whether it is this blog, knitting, weaving, photography, and the occasional dabble in hand lettering and watercolors, he is always there to encourage me)

Plus:

The crazy, amazing day that is today

(The day of Jesus's death for me, even though I am the one who put him there and I was the one who cried out to kill him;  without today there would be no resurrection, no life everlasting, no hope for the future--for my future and for future generations to come)

And a totally unrelated, but adorable photograph

(They actually love each other to pieces, but Oscar is more like the annoying little sibling to Dante):

I promise Oscar will not be in every blog post, I am still working on taking more photos 

(With both my film camera and my iPhone/digital camera so I can post them immediately on here; otherwise there will most likely be a short lapse in photos of what's happened and when I post them)

Title:  "Greater" by MercyMe

The Story of the Beast with Those Four Dirty Paws

     My dirty pawed rascal had his bed taken over by a senior member of the family tonight.  Oscar wasn't quite sure what to do with Dante on his bed.  I think he really wanted to play with Kitty, but he doesn't understand the difference in sizes or what to make of the difference in species.  All of this usually ends up with Oscar barking his head off at Dante for what seems like hours (especially if it's early in the morning and you're trying to sleep in).  Dante stood his ground on Oscar's bed for quite a while before finally giving up the space in a rather violent fit that had all the animals hyped up (though I'm sure the fact that I had treats in my hand didn't really help matters).  But no animals were harmed and everyone settled back down pretty quickly.  I've noticed that Oscar has a scratch on the top of his nose that looks suspiciously like Dante's handiwork.  Maybe he'll learn his lesson soon enough.

Title: "Dirty Paws" by Of Monsters and Men

Every Single Time That You Shake It You'll Make It So Beautiful

5 things I'm thankful for:

Got my blood work back, I'm pretty much normal

(well, my tests came back normal)

Willy's HOME
Which also means that we got to finally finish our Christmas card
(here's an outtake from the first "photo shoot")

Over the weekend, I got to visit with my Grandmother down in Oxford
(and my Aunt and Uncle who are not pictured)

Oscar is starting to somewhat get along with the Kitty
(He keeps trying to play with Dante by nipping and barking at him, but Dante mostly ignores him)

Finding a little something to distract me from everything
(pass the time and just something I love to do in general)

Title: "Snow Globe" by Matt Wertz

The Only Difference Is That You Want Nothing and I Want Everything

     I don't think it would be too hard to convince me to move to the UK.  I've always wanted to travel there and things like Burberry campaigns haven't changed my mind.  I'm not sure what it is about the UK that draws me in.  The accents and landscape doesn't hurt, but some of it I think is the history of the land.  America doesn't really have that.  We're still a "new" country, plus any of the history we might have had was erased with the eradication of the Native Americans.  Of course, I'd have a hard time leaving my crazy pets, but England, Scotland, Ireland and everything in between is so very appealing.

Title: "My Doll" by Sam Beeton

We Are the Great Pretenders

     I turn 23 today.  It seems like it's been forever since I had the philosophy that birthdays should be celebrated for a whole week.  (Honestly, that whole idea didn't quite play out ever... unless it was someone's else birthday.)  But I'm definitely feeling the whole adult life right now.  I have a doctor's appointment this morning because I think I have cold or something.  It's making a little hard to breathe (my lungs feel a bit wheezy and I can't seem to take a deep breath without coughing).  It definitely could be worse.
     My mom keeps reminding me that as a kid I would get myself so worked up and excited in the days leading up to my birthday parties I'd literally make myself sick.  I remember a long, long time ago I had a dress-up birthday party (which was like a Halloween dress rehearsal I guess, but I think I might've had to have a different costume for the separate occasions, I don't really remember).  What I do remember is right before my party, my costume wouldn't fit right or something and I was so tired I started crying.  Yes, I was a difficult kid.  Somethings I remember being difficult about because I wanted them perfect, I wasn't old enough to have the ability to execute it correctly, and my mother never could get it right.  (Things like hairdo's and some other projects, they're stuff you have to do yourself--and sometimes fail to do--or you're never satisfied.)  It's funny what we remember as children.
     Even though I'm a little ill, don't feel too sorry for me.  I've gotten wonderful presents already.  And my wonderful dad made me a pound cake.  Don't even think about asking me to share.  (Okay, well maybe just a few pieces, if I must.)

Title: "Get Home" by Bastille

It's Nothing But the Truth

Five Things I'm thankful for this week:

I was able to relax this weekend

Just me and the animals

I think I'm getting things set up a little more professionally on here

So I'll be posting the morning instead of night
(In case you're unsure of what this is... it is the blog post I have written and set to post tomorrow)

(Photo Credit)

I only have 3 weeks and 2 days until my 23rd birthday

Which will mean when I accidentally tell people I'm 23 I will no longer be lying
(Yes, I want a birthday cake.  No, it doesn't really have to look like this one, but it is cute, no?)

(Photo Credit)

This will be the second week in a row that I do not work on Monday

Yay!  I don't think that will happen pretty much ever again
(Not how I feel just an extremely awesome "Monday" named company.)

(Photo Credit)

I'm a beyond inspired fashion-wise for fall

Now for the weather to start cooling off!

Title: "All I've Got" by Lucy Rose

You Fashion Your Life

     I keep finding myself striving to do more, especially now that I'm back to not feeling so well.  Now that I know if I try to do anything (and everything) I want to do, I will end up with a headache.  I know that sounds weird (or like I'm just creating a self-fulling prophecy) but I've been living with this pain for long enough to know that if I'm very calm and I sit around/lay around and do nothing I'll feel better (and like I can do something) and then when I do something (anything) the pain immediately comes back.  I've gotten to the point where I'm hesitant to even knit because I'm scared it will bring on a headache.
     While I'm sitting around, I find myself thinking of half thought out plans of things I want to do.  I keep saying "when I feel better I'm going to..." I think that it's uplifting that I know I have plans, that I'm not content with just laying around all day doing nothing but watching TV or reading.  I'm hoping that once I do feel better I will follow through with everything I've said I'm going to do.  Even more than that I'm truly hoping I will feel better enough to have the energy to work and do other things, maybe even make some friends around the DeSoto County area.  Until then I'm just going to have to keep taking my medicine, work, and be fulfilled with what God has put in my life (my family and my puppies, oh and my kitty).

Poor Kitty Dante still gets barked at by Puppy Oscar.

Title: "Bird on a Wire" by Sarah Blasko

It Washes Over Me

Things I'm thankful for this week:

My new and amazingly awesome job 

that comes with this desk

(photo taken by my new boss, Sondra)

Oscar is doing just fine 

even if he doesn't always put pressure on his hurt leg

(he's fine enough to harass the cat--and jump up on the cars)

We've seen more of Kitty Dante this week than we have in months.

He stays on top of the cars and meows to remind us of his presence

I'm done editing a rehearsal dinner I took pictures of a week or two ago

and now I can send them off tomorrow (or maybe Tuesday)! Yay!

(but this is an edit for myself--and this blog--all of the photos for my client are naturally edited)

My red SHORT hair

(I love it!)

And that I have the ability to do whatever I want to my hair 

I'm also immeasurably grateful that God sought me and changed me (to make me want to seek him) even when I didn't deserve it (especially when I didn't deserve it).

My love for him (and any and all of my changes of heart) come from him and him alone 

(well, maybe with the help of the Holy Spirit, but that's just semantics)

Title: "Only Water" by Brandon Heath

Beautiful Fields Lie Just Beyond Me

     Today has been like most the week... uneventful.  I signed up for a photography workshop in January of next year that I can't wait to attend!  But besides that it has been a pretty low key day.  However, I did prepare several things so that I can attend to them tomorrow without any delay.  I am hoping that I can get everything I need to done tomorrow so that the cleaning ladies will arrive to a clean house on Monday.  I guess we'll see.  I went back through my phone to find some old pictures that I could post.   I also ended up finding a really amazing jewelry box full of bracelets and necklaces galore (but mostly bracelets).  I plan on keeping most of them but I did set aside a few to put up on my Etsy shop once I get that up and running.

Title: "Wayfaring Stranger" by Ed Sheeran

Is My Life About to Change?

Five things I'm thankful for this week:

I got to talk to my family on Skype today!!

(Sorry, I don't exactly have a picture of that as I was looking a little rough.)

(you can't really see it but that's Dante's head/ears behind the fridge)

(that's also Dante down there in the woods)

Sibling rivalry can occur in all shapes and sizes and right now it takes the form of Dante and Oscar 

(and while that isn't necessarily a good thing it keeps things pretty interesting while I'm home alone.)

Being on the "Anna Diet" for this week and the next week or so

(which means baking whenever I want and meals that pretty much consist of unhealthy things.)

My new camera equipment that I love

(and am going to be using for a long, long time.)

This new very informative book that I have really enjoyed reading

(even though it's about wedding photography there are so many ways I can apply this to my photographs as a whole, it's really brought into perspective a great many things.)

And one more picture just for good measure:

I'm so thankful that all of God's plans worked out so that Oscar joined the family.

He's cute and adorable and so worth all that frustration that came along with trying to find a puppy.

I know there is a big movement to rescue and not buy/breed dogs when there are so many homeless puppies in the world, but I really love Oscar and my life wouldn't be the same without him.  

I'm just saying (but I totally support rescuing).

Title: "Who Knows Who Cares" by Local Natives

There's a Ticking Bomb Inside Your Chest and Every Other Living Thing That Ever Breathed

     Today I had my first ever book club.  It was pretty much nothing like I imagined.  Every book discussion I've attended has pretty much been in college so we have the obligatory English class questions of the book.  (Right now I can't think of any but it's more like: themes, symbols, the reliability of the narrator, etc.)   But book club was a little more relaxed (okay, way more relaxed) as there were no pop quizzes, no specific sitings of passages.  Basically I loved it.  It makes me want to find another book club of people my own age (and continue to go to this as well).  If you haven't read The Red Tent, I have to say it's a good book.  But I feel as though a woman with children would more relate to it (but then again I haven't completely finished the book).
     Today was also a day of doctor's offices.  I went to see the nurse practitioner at my allergist's office about getting a new nasal spray (because I thought/think I'm allergic to Qnasl.)  Of course, I ended up crying because the NP suggested that maybe most likely I am not allergic to Qnasl but the muscles around my lungs are tightening because of stress.  Which meant that I got a small blood test done, a lung test, and a few chest x-rays just to make sure there wasn't anything wrong. But apparently I'm normal.  (Like always.)  I did get a few samples of nasal sprays to try so we'll see if that helps me some.
     Dad and I also took Kitty Dante to the vet.  He wasn't particularly happy with us.  He actually hissed a few times and if we didn't have him in a carrier I'm pretty sure someone would have left the vet with some wounds (and it wouldn't be Dante).  The saddest part is I'm pretty sure I saw Dante shaking.  I think he was just really scared.  When we got him back in the car he went and hid under Dad's seat all the way home.
     We (Mom, Dad, and I) skyped Will today. Even the little puppy wanted to come inside to say hey.  Will seems to be loving Germany and all their beer gardens.  (P.S. I want a beer garden in the States.)  I don't know why we don't have them here (I'm sure they would be lots of fun).  One of the beer gardens in Munich is called "deer garden" (but in German, of course) and they literally have deer.  How cool is that? Like in the city.  I'm picturing this big garden-esque thing (like a small Central Park) in between two tall skyscrapers.  (Am I the only one?)  I also kinda could see like a fountain that was filled with beer (but I'm pretty sure that's the American in me).

Oh and I made breakfast pizza for dinner.  It was pretty dang delicious.

Marc Scibilia has released a full EP!!  Finally.  I'm in love.  He's one of the first artist who's videos I featured.  He only had one single out at that time, but now he's has an EP (which is about half a CD for the non-musically inclined/it really stands for Extended Play so it can be on average 3-6 songs).  Sadly my featured song isn't on his newly released EP, but I think you might can buy it here.  Check out his EP on iTunes and BUY IT!!  http://bit.ly/KZxQNj  

Title: "Sideways" by Marc Scibilia

My Mind Has a Tendency to Wander

     Today is Will's last day on US soil.  Tomorrow he embarks on his journey to Germany.  I'm a little jealous.  In honor of his last day, I made the whole family take a picture.  Also in honor of his last night here, we went to P.F. Changs, where I dominated a Great Wall of Chocolate (with the help of my parents).  I plan on not eating for the whole day tomorrow to make up for all of the calories I ate in that one piece of dessert.  (P.S. I'm just joking, I do not condone dieting in that way.  But I did accidentally miss lunch... I was busy getting ready to go run errands, so I felt that I could splurge a bit.  Plus I've never been one who did very well on a diet.)

   I gave Oscar an empty water bottle to play with, but was soon told that it wasn't safe for puppies because he could tear a hole in the plastic.  Well as soon as I walked over to get the bottle from him, Oscar takes off and goes deep into the woods (on the back of our property behind our house) and buries his prize in the leaves.  He comes trotting back out like he didn't have anything to hide.  Yep, I have a smart little puppy (and he gets all his brains from me! haha).  But seriously I have a feeling this little guy is going to get into a lot of mischief.  He loves playing in water and being wet all the time, although he tries to fit his whole body into the little bucket instead of playing in the pool we got him.  I don't know what to think about that.  And Oscar is still very, very curious about the kitty cat.  He barks at Dante, but I think he just wants Dante to play with him.  The cat still hisses at him some, but he's been coming up to the house more and more.  Mostly because he knows he can sucker some attention out of it and some food (we carry him from wherever he appears to his food bowl in the garage).

Title: "You and Me" by Diamond Rings