Wow…I have completed one full week of class. And what a week that was! Eleven chapters (yes, 11) and 2 tests later I am still happy and thankful to be going back to school! My study habits do seem to be a little rusty, but they are returning. And so far I am maintaining an A average!!!
I am also quite thankful that there are quite a crew of us from Wewa :) No doubt there will be lots of studying and carpooling between us for the next year. And a beyond that will last for many years to come!
So to do something a little different, I am going to do a few new weekly items on my blog. One of these being “A Quick Snap”, aka a randomly selected photo!
Yes…I think that I am really and truly finding happiness in my life. And I came across this quote earlier today that really summarizes things perfectly:
Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means that you have decided to look beyond the imperfections.
Those two short sentences really say it all. Life will never be perfect. There will always flaws…we’re human and we make mistakes. But when we can see past the imperfections and see to the heart, that is where the happiness resides.
That is what this week has been!
Classes started Monday and at a fast & furious pace! Thankfully the first test has been taken and passed (YAY!) so now I can slightly relax. This will definitely be a tough year, but I am excited and ready for the challenge :)
Ok….back to books I must go! Will catch up with blogging this weekend tho!!!
in this post, here are a few pictures from Sunday’s wedding aboard the Lady Anderson!
What an amazing sunset!
The Newlyweds!
An absolutely stunning gown!
The Beautiful Bride!
Now it’s time to celebrate!!!
Wow…what a weekend it has been! Friday we went to Tallahassee to do a little shopping. There were several things that I needed to pick up before starting back to school. One of those items being a watch! It has been over 10 years since the last time I wore one. With the technology of cell phones there was not really a reason to wear one any longer…until now that is!
I can’t believe that it is less than one week before I start school. At this point I am a little nervous, but also excited. It has been a while and I am sure my study habits are going to be a little rusty. I see the need to make myself a schedule and get myself a little more organized!
Yesterday I had the opportunity to assist Rebecca Knowles Photography as a second shooter at the wedding of a very lovely couple. It was such a beautiful wedding and the location was quite a change of pace. The wedding was not your traditional church ceremony or a beach ceremony. It took place on the Lady Anderson. It was such a fun night! There will be pics of the lovely evening to follow later!!!
It is definitely summer…it is so hot already and I cannot imagine what it will be like in July and August. I am very thankful that our beaches are still beautiful and free of oil. But who knows how long they will remain that way. One bright side is that scallop season will be opening early this year…June 19th to be exact. And I can’t wait to go get my share! From all I have heard this appears to be a great season and one of the best in the last 10 years. So if anyone is looking for me next weekend you will find me out in the bay!
Music always has and will always remain a big part of my life. My choice of music is vast…I don’t have a favorite style or genre. I have many artists that I love and then there are those songs that seem to just fit your life.
Stand In The Rain by Superchick is one of those “fit” songs. I fell in love with this song the very first time I heard it. And if you have never heard it…take a few minutes and listen!
She never slows down
She doesn't know why but
she knows that when
She's all alone feels
Like it's all coming down
She won't turn around
The shadows are long
And she fears if she cries
That first tear
The tears will not stop
Raining down
So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it's all crashing down
You stand through the pain
You won't drown
And one day what's lost can be found
You stand in the rain
She won't make a sound
Alone in this fight with herself
And the fears whispering
If she stands, she'll fall down
She wants to be found
The only way out is through
everything she's running from
Wants to give up and lie down
So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it's all crashing down
You stand through the pain
You won't drown
And one day what's lost can be found
You stand in the rain
So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it's all crashing down
Stand through the pain
You won't drown
And one day what's lost can be found
So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it's all crashing down
You stand through the pain
You won't drown
And one day what's lost can be found
You stand in the rain
“Indeed, man wishes to be happy even when he so lives as to make happiness impossible.” St. Augustine
I recently read this quote the other day. And it really made me stop and think. We are always in pursuit of what brings us happiness but many times we come up short.
Why is that?
For me, I let life get too busy. And in that “too busy” I loose sight of the things that are important to me. The small things that bring me joy and make me smile. I don’t take time to stop and enjoy the view or smell the roses.
Sometimes I think we need a time-out. A chance to stop the mary-go-round and regain our focus. Enjoy the little things that make us laugh and bring a smile to our faces. And in doing so, happiness will once again find a place in our life.
So what is that makes happiness seem impossible in your life?
This is where I would love to be at the moment. Enjoying the wonderful sunshine with my toes in the water!
There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.
Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.
Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.
I have always loved to read and early on was a frequent library visitor. One of my favorite books was Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Siverstein. I absolutely loved this book! I cannot help but wonder if this generation of children even know that such books exists.
Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Winston Churchill once said:
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
And it really got me thinking. It is so much easier to be pessimistic. It will take too much time or be too hard. As I look around, the world in generally wants easy and anything that alters from this easy trend gets a negative label.
But just what are we missing out on in life by not taking a positive view? How would things be different if we decided to look for the positive in all situations? After all, it is when we face difficulties that we learn life lessons.
This is one area of my life that I am still working on. And as I put this principle to practice in my life, I find that I am becoming a much happier person. The world is starting to look different. I have a long way to go as old habits are not changed overnight, but I am determined to look for the opportunity in all things, no matter how difficult it may be.
This is only 2 of the many adjectives describing those who live along the Gulf of Mexico. The reality is that life as we know it will be changed forever. A way of life is about to be taken away.
There have been so many articles written and published that have contained statements from BP. However there is a statement in one article that really just made me angry.
The statement was made by BP chief executive Tony Hayward. He stated:
“BP is running very well today, “ he said. “it’s generating a lot of cash. It’ll generate 30-35 billion dollars of free cash flow this year. We have a very strong balance sheet, very low level of debt, low gearing, a strong set of assets. We have the financial strength to see through this and we have the determination to do the right thing, to rebuild our reputation.”
Well Mr. Hayward…let me give you the reality of what those who make their living off of the waters that are now destined to be closed are faced with. These hard-working people have already taken a hit by a failing economy. They are now faced with no income. Their pockets are not nearly as padded as yours are. For you this may be a bump in the road…for them this is an impassable mountain! While you generate your billions of revenue this year and count your many assets, those who make a living off of the waters will be left counting pennies.
When it comes right down to it…can your deep running pockets really get you through this? Because yes…there is going to be a very large financial loss take place. But even you Mr. Hayward will not be able to fix the desolation of our beautiful beaches and flourishing sea life that we have enjoyed in the gulf waters.
A love of the ocean that is passed from generation to generation will be no more. And the question remains as to how long, if ever, it will take for what we love to be returned to us. And no amount of money will be able to fix this.
The article the above quote was taken from can be found here.
to spend a girls only weekend than to have a little mini photo session! Yes, I have been invaded by a teenager with pink hair!
Here is a little peek at the fun we have had!
so peaceful and magical about sitting on the beach listening to the waves crash upon the shore. It is a sound that can truly soothe all worries and cares.
In the last several months, I have had a lot of time to evaluate life and to look at myself under a magnifying glass. Some of the things that I could see made me happy. Others…not so much!
One thing that really bothered me was the realization of how negative I had become. And there was no joy or happiness left either.
What happened to me? Where did the happiness in my life escape to? How did I become so negative? Can I find me again?
For months, I could feel some sort of change coming in my life. But I wasn’t sure what this change would be or how it would come. It was just a feeling that I couldn’t shake. And then it happened…I get the pink slip. GREAT! Now what?!?!?!
Becoming unemployed and learning that I was not in control of life was just what I needed to find me again.
It didn’t take long for me to realize this either. Of all the emotions that came with me losing my job, the most prominent was a sense of relief. Yes…I said relief. My job was the greatest source of my unhappiness and negative attitude.
Somehow…almost overnight…I was starting to find me again.
AKA…VACATION
I love when I can escape reality. Especially when life has been a little crazy! And one of my favorite places to escape to is the mountains. Here is a little glimpse of my recent trip a few weeks ago…Enjoy!
