purpose

Why is it so easy to fall into the mundane routines of everyday life? Why do we so easily lose sight of our happiness to just make it through? Why am I even here? What is my purpose? Is Your purpose for me the same and what I think it is for myself? Would you care to give me even the tiniest hint as to Your purpose for me please??

I know You know best. I know You have a plan. Does what I want for my life factor into Your plan at all? Would You even consider changing your mind if it didn't?

tears

lots and lots of tears.

overwhelmed.

pissed.

frustrated.

broke.

we usually weather the winter when my hubby's laid off pretty easily. but we both took large pay cuts going to new jobs last year. which means his unemployment is less and there's not that extra income from me to cover it. living paycheck to effin paycheck is no fun.

so yeah...tears are falling.

we're broke.

i'm frustrated watching all our savings disappear before my eyes.

i'm pissed that my hubby doesn't seem to care because he doesn't see all the bills.

i'm overwhelmed trying to figure out how to pay everything without depleting our savings.

more tears.

Funky Funkity Funk

Yeah, I've been in a funk lately. Yes, I've been showering...that is not the funk I'm referring to. I couldn't quite put my finger on why, but then my lovely husband reminded me that tomorrow I start my journey on the downhill to 30. Yes, tomorrow is my 27th birthday. No, I didn't forget it was my birthday tomorrow - I just blocked out the number. Yes, my hubby was just kidding. Yes, I know 27 is still young - but it feels old to me.

I've never been big on birthdays. In fact, when I was little, I would hide under the table and cry when they sang happy birthday to me. So, needless to say, the hubby and I aren't doing any big celebrating for my big 2-7.

One of my biggest flaws is that I tend to focus too much on the future and not enough on the present. I've worked really hard on that in the last year, and I was doing really well. But I'm human, and I slide back every now and then. So the specific plans I made for life so many years ago aren't happening the way I planned, and I'm in a funk.

I try to just keep repeating to myself that, "There is a plan for my life, I am just not in control of that plan." And "I must have faith and let go of the control." Some days it helps. Other days, I fall into the funk.

Haiti

I have been blessed twice in my life to have the opportunity to spend 3 weeks in the mountains of Haiti doing missionary work. The first time I went was in June of 1998, the summer after my freshman year in high school. Though the preparations for the trip were extensive, they didn't even come close to preparing me for an experience that would change my life.

In the eyes of the world, Haitians have nothing. But while they do live in poverty, they have much more than any of us could even imagine. That first trip, I went to Haiti thinking I would be able to help them. I left there having been given much more than I gave.

The people of Haiti taught me more about faith, happiness and community in a few weeks than I could have learned here in the US in my entire life.

And so tonight, the people of Haiti are weighing heavy on my heart.

Please pray for the people of Haiti during this horrific time. Economically, times are difficult for all of us. But we are blessed in so many ways. If you feel led to give a donation, however big or small, it will make a difference. The director of the group that I went to Haiti with, Sister Eunice Tassone, has been going to Haiti since 1984. She has many connections in Haiti and if you want to make a donation to an organization that you can feel comfortable that 100% of your money will go to the Haitian people, please consider sending your donation to COTY.

Donations can be sent to:

COTY / Haiti EQR
P.O. Box 745
North Adams, MA 01247

Sister Eunice Tassone will work with Janet Bauman, Director of Save the Children who is a personal friend of hers and who can work miracles in disasters such as this.

If you can give just $5, great! If all you can give is a prayer, that's great too! Every little bit will make a difference.

Please tell me...

...why it is that my husband's dirty laundry ends up on the floor, just inches away from the hamper!

The hamper is strategically placed where he gets undressed, so that it is easy for him! But, noooooooo. They end up on the floor right in front of it or on top of the cover. Is it really that difficult to lift the lid and drop it inside?!

Ladies, please tell me I'm not the only one dealing with this! I find it unbelievable and hilarious at the same time.

Why?!?!

i ♥ faces {best face photo}

Tomorrow, i ♥ faces celebrates their 1st birthday! Happy Birthday! To celebrate, they have a new logo and a fun theme this week. The theme is "Best Face Photo," which is fitting since we all ♥ faces! ;) The photo has to have been taken in December 2009 or January 2010, and must focus on a face!

I took this photo of our niece, when we were visiting with them the Sunday after Christmas. They have fantastic natural light in their living room, and Athena is always such a sweet, happy little girl! I love how her personality shines right through in this photo!

Taken December 27, 2009

OK Ladies...

(and Gents if there happen to be any of you out there reading my blog) I need your help!

You see, I have this friend and it's her birthday today...the BIG 2-7! Anyway, she's doing a giveaway on her blog and her husband doesn't think she can reach 125 entries. If she DOES reach 125 entries, he has promised to do all the laundry for a month!

Now come on ladies, help a sister out! Wouldn't you like your hubby to do your laundry for a month?! Head on over to her blog and enter the contest please! Tweet or blog about it and spread the word!

Happy Birthday, Trista! Hoping you reach 125! :)

Tonight...

...I am craving chocolate.

...I am feeling hopeful for the future.

...I am wishing I was curled up in front of my parents' fireplace.

...I am curled up with my electric blanket instead.

...I am wishing the Christmas fairies would show up, take down all
my Christmas decorations and neatly pack them away for me.

...I am too tired to put together a post without ellipses.

i ♥ faces {logo photo contest}

Next week, i ♥ faces is celebrating their first birthday and they're celebrating with an "i ♥ faces" photo challenge! Their logo has to be in the photo (naturally or via photo editing) along with a face, it's that simple!

It's been pretty darn cold here, so this entry is a little wishful thinking on my part...

And this one is may be a little wishful thinking on my hubby's part...

I am submitting these photos into the I Heart Faces logo photo contest. By entering, I am granting I Heart Faces LLC permission to consider my photos for use in the marketing and promotion of their website.

More new exciting things for 2010!

I've been working on a photography blog for awhile now, but whether I wasn't happy with it or just wasn't confident enough to share it, I kept it private.

Well, after redesigning my blog layout here yesterday, I was feeling confident and inspired! So, I tweaked some things, and I am proud to introduce my new photography blog to you...

Blue Eyed Perspective

There's actually a very special post today! I don't know how often I'll post to this new blog, but my hope is that I will be inspired to take more photos and post often because I know it is out there for the world to see!

I hope you enjoy my photos and please let me know what you think of the new blog!


*Update*
Apparently, the photos on my new blog aren't loading in Internet Explorer. They do load in Firefox, but I'm working on trying to figure out the problem! If you post large photos to your blog in Blogger and know how to fix this, please fill me in!

**Update 2** I didn't figure out how to fix it, but I did find another way to post larger photos that works in BOTH Firefox AND Internet Explorer! YAY! Go check it out!

New Year, New Blog Layout

If you read my blog through Google Reader or another blog reader, click on over and check out my new look for 2010!

What do you think?!

Happy New Year!

I've never been one for New Year's Resolutions. I've always thought that you should try to be your best "you" all year long, not just for the month of January. But the New Year does tend to be an easy time to reflect on the past year. And besides all the heavy, emotional growth I reflected on yesterday, there is one goal (that sounds so much less ominous than "resolution" doesn't it?!) I'd like to set for myself for 2010...

In 2010, I will strive to DELETE more photos!

That's right, delete! When I'm taking photos, I snap away like a crazy woman, trying all different techniques, in my attempt to create a beautiful image. The result is usually a few beautiful images and a whole bunch of crap (although I really shouldn't say that...I do learn from all that crap)! And I save it all to my laptop and my external hard drive thinking, "I might need that crap some day..."

Well, no more! Blurry images will be deleted (unless, of course, they were meant to be blurry)! If I take a series of shots of the same thing, I will save only the ones I would be proud to show other people and leave room on my hard drive to save more beautiful images.

And in 2010, I will try to implement a new organizational system for my photos and stick to it! I know will appreciate it every single time I have to look through my photos to find something!

So, cheers! - to you, to me, to a fabulous year, and to less cluttered, more organized hard drives!

Have you set any goals for yourself for 2010? If so, what are they? If not, why not?