Divine Imperfections

Five Minute Friday: Grateful

 

Grateful.

 

Grateful takes work.

Grateful is good, but grateful is hard.

 

 

Jaded. That’s easy. 

Frustrated. All the time.

 

Disapointed, yes. 

But grateful?

 

 

For imperfect people.

Crappy days.

Flowers that will soon be dead.

  

A life that is so unbelievably far from what I had hoped.

 

It’s better in a lot of ways, this life I’m leading.

Don't get me wrong.

 

But it doesn’t look at all like I thought it should.

 

My photos are blurry and grainy and poorly lit. 

Not the sort of white and shiny thing it would be easy to promote on Instagram.

  

But does that mean it’s bad?

Does that mean my life is inferior?

'Cause it wouldn't look right in a magazine?

It doesn't look pulled from the "front page" of Pinterest?

 

 

Raw. Unedited.

But something to be grateful for nonetheless.

That's life.

 

That's my life. 

 

Lots of questions these days.

 

Lots of what ifs. 

And why on earths.

 

Frustrations, little and major, come with nearly every turn these days.

 

But still.

  

 

I see a smiley face sticker on the coffee shop wall.

And take a second to actually savor my next sip of latte.

 

And I pause from those pesky voicemails I have to return, to catch my breath first.

To refocus. To re-see.

 

 

 

Things aren’t so bad. 

In fact, life is pretty great.

 

Not always pretty, clean, or enviable. 

But then again, what place does envy have amongst the living?

 

 

Shouldn’t we all be too busy, and too present, in our own blessed lives, to be anything but grateful for the breaths we alone get to breathe? 

Those are my jumbled thoughts from the wire, words that mark a joyful reunion with the Friday free writers.

I really am thanking God for this weekend, 

Weekend Update: Hangin' with our Homies

We're so close to this weekend I can almost taste it.

In the meantime, here's a quick look at what we were up to eight days ago.

 

Hope it helps you get through those last two long work days.

You already know the hubs had a concert this past Saturday, in my hometown of all places. That was super fun.

But what you don't know is how we killed the rest of our weekend.

And boy did we kill it. (That's still a good thing, right?)

 

Here we go!

 

There are no pictures from work last Friday (imagine that!), but I did capture one quick snapshot of my remaining plant babies before we left home.

(So far this spring I've literally killed a cilantro, a rosemary and a basil plant - or two. And... the season is young yet. :/

I have increasingly low hopes, even for the cacti, hence the picture.)

 

Saturday "the boys" and I walked to the nearest (only) coffee shop in town, where they were spotted, which was pretty cool.

 

"Are you that band?" a stranger asked.

 

Why yes, they are that band. :) You know, the one band.

 

Thanks to last-minute packing I spent Saturday afternoon frantically hitting up four-stores trying to hunt down any remaining sweatshirts in Texas.

Eventually success was found at Kohl's.

But really the whole trip was fun, thanks to very good company. (Old friends are the best!)

 

Saturday night after the concert (our first selling shirts by the way - thanks everyone that purchased one!) Mikael and I celebrated the way we usually do after a show.

By eating our weight in Whataburger. (So many regrets. :) )

 

Sunday we spent the day recouping from our wild, crazy weekend (mostly the Whataburger) by leaving the house only once, for a lunch break with our cousins.

This time, we went vegan. Only, because I'm me, I ordered the least healthy options I could find.

 
A white sausage covered burrito, AND a cookies and cream shake (made with almond milk)?

Yup; they were delicious.

And the trip was fun, as always.

 

I've never lived close to my cousins, so it was great inheriting awesome ones through Mikael.

 

And that was last weekend in words.

But I know what you really want is more pictures.

 

So, here's Teddy (my favorite puppy nephew) helping me blog.

I'm thinking he's the cutest assistant I ever did see. 

While we were up to that, what were you guys doing this weekend? Anything fun?

More importantly...

 

What are your big plans come Friday?

 

Related articles

Weekend Update: A Conference, A Concert, and Plenty of Coffee

Weekend Update: A Fresh Feeling

Weekend Update: A Birthday Bash and Band Practice

Hey Alligators!

Today I overslept, then spent most of the day in my pajamas, with Wife Swap on in the background, making me hope the Mayans are right and the world will end soon. (Toddlers and Tiaras has the same effect on me.)

Then I made the mistake of calling my mom, all sad and stuff. (Poor Mom.) She tried to cheer me up and offer me genuine encouragement, but it's hard to feel good about life with dirty hair I've decided.

 

So I cried. And wiped snot on my shirt. And then I wrote a really long, really dramatic post.

Luckily for you, instead of publishing said post I opted to take a shower.

 

Feeling much more humane, and less stinky, I opened my email and saw there was an Etsy order. (Yay!)

Then I realized walking to the post office to drop off the cuties that sold meant an excuse to stop and get a Pepsi.

And walking back home with a caffeine buzz, I remembered it's Friday.

 

It's really hard to be all mopey and dramatic when it's Friday, and you're sipping a Pepsi, and you made $15-ish dollars on cute little brass figurines that were previously very sad & collecting dust in a box in your living room.

 

So, instead of bumming you out with all the woes of the week, I'm just gonna say, "Have a GREAT weekend."

And "See ya later Gators."

 

Now I can get back to really important stuff, like watching Pride and Prejudice on Oxygen (the scene where they zoom in on the first hand touch just melted my jaded heart), and waiting for Hubby to come home so we can celebrate sale #3, and the fact that we won't need an alarm clock 'til Monday.

 

P.S. If you're interested in totally making my Monday - and helping me become slightly less of a hoarder - check out my Etsy shop.

You might just persuade me to update it over the weekend, and make my Husband eternally grateful that we own slightly less vintage "treasure."  :)

... And Fancyfree

So tonight my sister and I got dolled up (put on something other than sweatpants) and headed out to the theatre (the one closeby with the $1 hotdogs)... and we... had the BEST NIGHT EVER.

Not an exaggeration.

If, like me, you sometimes take life too seriously and just need to relax... I've got a one word solution for you. That word?

FOOTLOOSE!!!

Having never seen the original, I must say, the 2011 version... PRICELESS! Which makes it definitely worth the $12 we paid, $11.75 if you deduct the quarter I found on the carpet afterwards. SCORE!

 

So, where to begin...

Julianne Hough, thank you for making pastor's kids everywhere look like "angels." 'Preciate it much.

And Dennis Quaid. What happened to the likable guy in Let's Give 'Em Something To Talk About? Frequency? Even that movie where you were a teacher/baseball player?

Whatever happened, he did not show up for filming on Footloose. I cry for you.

Of course, speaking of not showing up... can we talk about the lead guy's dancing skills. Just saying?

What... you're super super angry? Good idea! Go gymnastics-itout across a cotton gin. That looks awesome. Really. (This is one of many points in the film where we tried - in vain - to suppress giggles. For other such moments, go see the movie. Really.)

 

Maybe I'm being harsh. But please, can someone, anyone back me up that it was Hi-larious??

I may never wear Levi's again, after watching so many butt shots of thirtyyearolds "teenagers" shaking their things.

Also, I'm less inclined to wanna visit Georgia. Thank you fictional Bomont.

Or heed Andie McDowell's advice when it comes to L'Oreal. ("Good job Ariel.")

 

The one redeeming quality of the movie? The lights in the inevitable dance scene were pretty awesome.

Well, also....

Nope that was pretty much my favorite part. :)

 

In light of girls' night getting off to such a super start we have decided to continue the fun.

Wish us luck; I've never had this much Bacon in my life. I'm not sure it's healthy. ;)

P.S.  Having made it forty minutes into the original, I'm so glad to know who to thank for Pajama Jeans. :)

TGI April

Gentlmen... it's officially time to start your razors.

 
 And ladies who have been kissing porcupines for the last month, it's time to kiss those grizzly guys goodbye.

April has finally arrived. And that's plenty of reason to celebrate in my book.

(This is my cheap-ified version of a Five for Friday. A day late.  I do what I can, okay?)

 

Anyways, for those of you worried about soup-strainer withdraws though...

A little eye candy, plus plenty more where that came from.

 

 Hope you have a wonderful weekend, and that your spring is kicking off to be a fabulously fresh start!

 

P.S. Thank you pen pal for my own sweet 'stache.

So stinkin' thankful (insert something witty about the number FIVE here)

Sometimes it's just too easy to come up with FIVE things to be thankful for. But, as a recovering over-achiever, I think it's crucial to my health that I stick to my limits. I hope you'll understand.

Here are five things making me extra happy this week. 

1.) This lady came to town. Giving me an excuse to make a mid-week trip to P-town.

2.) Which gave me a chance to see this dude, who I'm extra proud of, for displaying nothing short of extremedevotion to the little phenomenon known as "MUSTACHE March!" 

3.) And thanks to the siblings' combined presence I got to have a GOOD TIME with Grandma, a woman who is notoriously bad at decrypting Dad's leftover doodles, a trait that always ups the giggle quota at lunch time.

(Case in point, the above was "Chicken Caesar Sad Pot" even though she knew it, in fact, contained Chicken Caesar Salad.)

And speaking of my Dad...

4.) I'm ridiculously thankful that even after all these years my parents still know how to make each other laugh. They are a shining example of what it is to choose LOVE for better, worse and nearly immobile.

And speaking of mobility...

 5.) I'm incredibly grateful for a job (more importantly gracious bosses) who made this much-needed, rather impromptu roadtrip possible. 

 

It is always a treat to spend time with my family, but especially when good food and lots of giggles are involved. What can I say? It's hard to top an Andes mint.

But, you should try.

What blessings have got you counting???

FIVE times two

Did you know I named my toes once? Well I did. All ten of 'em.

And it's not like we're on a first name basis or anything... I mean, I guess we are. But I don't talk to them anymore exactly... so that's okay right?

I just think the least I can do is know whose name to scream out when one of 'em finds a nightstand in the middle of the night. Or what to write on the front of the Ziploc baggy should one of them get inadvertently chopped off by a falling kitchen knife and have to go for a ride to the hospital (I'll double check it's not a carrot, don't worry).

And typing it all out like this I suppose it might seem weird. But what can I really say, except that it's probably a very good thing I have a day job.

And also, I'd like to introduce you to...

 

From left, Piggly, Homie, Beefy, Nonie (pronounced None-E), and WeeWee.

And though I'd never admit this to them, WeeWee is definitely my favorite. (Insert girly giggle here, 'cause I said weewee.)

Now on the other side, there's Tiger, Mo, Minie (pronounced Mine-E), Meenie, and Eenie. And though you'd totally expect Meenie to be a real jerk, I gotta say, Tiger is a much bigger problem. He can get pretty feisty at times. Like when I wear those black ruffled flats... he hates those for some reason, and makes his opinion known. Often.

Anyways, that's the gang. The motley little crew of personalities that spend their days south of my ankles.

It's not a glamorous life by any means, but now that the weather is nice, I might take them in for a little pampering. Without the occasional pedicure they become a real drag to be around, especially this time of year.

And though I guess that makes them a little diva-like, I can't really blame 'em. I think everyone (even houses) want to look their best for Spring. Plus it's the least I can do after walking all over 'em for most of my life.

 

With all that strangeness said, here's a few things - maybe FIVE in fact - (besides feet) that I'm thankful for this Friday.

1.)  Being close enough to friends to drive up for the weekend

2.)  Particularly when Randy Travis is in town

3.)  Fresh flowers, a little indulgence that have a big impact

4.)  Five o'clock, and having a job that lets me leave then

5.)  Surprise calls, texts, packages and friendships, the kind that sneak up on you and make you smile

 

I really do think Spring is going to be a lovely season, with or without a pedicure. But hopefully with.

WeeWee and the gang deserve a little treat after being stuffed away in boots all Winter. And so do you and I.

 

Have a happy, warm weekend.

FIVE for... PHOTOS!!!

I think I recently promised you a "surprise." (Or pictures as they're generally called.) And since it's Friday, and I like to be thankful for no more or less than FIVE things on Friday... and since I now have a computer to use (and internet borrowed from some stranger in the complex) I thought maybe it'd be nice to do a quick recap of my new life in Waco so far. You in?

Good. Let's go.

 
First, I have to ask. Did you know water towers sometimes disappear? 'Cause apparently they do. I always thought "here today gone tomorrow" referred to cookies, or something. But I guess the saying goes for water towers too. 'Cause that is exactly what happened outside the church where I work.

And it makes me extra glad I took 1.) these pictures, just a few days before this lovely, vintage beauty got hauled off to the scrap metal yard. Mostly to prove to myself she did in fact exist. (At that point I was way too embarrassed to ask my coworkers about it 'cause I was scared it might have just been a mirage created by my own dehydrated subconscious. : / )

Anyways, enough on that. Here's what's been happening when I haven't been staring at empty air.

Though it'd be considered a humble lifestyle by a lot of people's standards... I'm in a dated one-bedroom, with baby pink bathroom tiles and baby blue kitchen counters ... I've gotta tell you, I'm sorta living a dream. My dream at least - of having my own place once again.

A place for putting 2.) funky pillows all over the couch. 

And for filling my fridge with only the 3.) stuff I want to eat (in other words NO more Swiss cheese, Mom!). If this were Cribs and I was obligated to give you a tour of the place right now, you'd find a Code Red, French vanilla coffee creamer, and hotdogs (of course) in my fridge. 

Of course, in the dream version 4.) my washer and dryer match each other, and weren't the first things you see when you walk into my apartment.

And I'm pretty sure in the dream I had cable (how I missed you Food Network). 

 
By the way, that's David Boreanaz (Bones on DVD) standing as a not-too-shabby fill-in for unlimited programming. I've been keeping the local Hasting's in business, I tell ya. 

But I digress...

I was trying to tell you how I'm pretty much living my dream.

And how, unfortunately, that has made me realize two things:

First, maybe I should have aimed my sights a little higher than thermostat control and a roof over my head. Like, say, dreaming of walls thick enough I don't have to hear the details of how "you be trippin'" "nu uhh, I ain't..." at 2 a.m. 

But secondly, and way more importantly...

Seeing all your dreams come true is worthless, without someone to share it with.

Thankfully, 5.) my main man (shown above) has been here most of the time. To help me settle in, and adjust to life back out here in the scary real world. Where rent is due monthly, parking can be a problem, and neighbors sometimes stare catatonic out their vertical blinds, leaving you speechless as you walk past them trying not to stare back at their obvious milk mustache (that happened this morning). Super disturbing.

Though I joke (to hide at least slightly disguise how pathetic the truth actually is), I do mean what I said.

Seeing all your dreams come true is worthless, without someone to share it with.

I'm not sure that's grammatically correct. Which makes things all the more sad (and ironic). But I do hope you understand what I'm saying, which is a not-so-gentle reminder to those of you out there who maybe don't feel like you're living a dream right now. Who are struggling to make ends meet. Or who are bickering about a broken water pipe. Or annoyed that you can't get two seconds to yourself without the pitter patter of dirty little feet running about, ruining what could be a perfectly put together home...

I'm reminding you (and MYSELF!) that the most important things you can put into a home/apartment/condo/shack... aren't leopard print pillows or Catalina dressing...

They're LOVE. Truly, LOVE.

And maybe some sparkling grape juice. 'Cause you never know when you'll need to celebrate.

Who knows? Maybe you'll wake up one day, and even though your LIFE is exactly as it was the day before, you'll suddenly think, "Wow, how did this happen? I'm living the dream. I'm living my dream."

And that'll be something worth toasting...

Living the dream or not, LIFE happening. That's something to be thankful for.

 *If, by some chance, you just can't get enough (of the pictures that is) you can see a few more shots here. Happy weekending.

Take FIVE

I've been a bad blogger... so behind on counting my blessings.

But, there's no time like the present to jump back in. Right?

So here's FIVE things I'm grateful for today.

1. So glad this guy found a job he enjoys. And that he gets to spend his free time being a rockstar.

2. This chica has a few more weeks before she has to head back to Cali. Which means plenty of time for important sisterly bonding. (I believe a trip to Sprinkles is in order.)

3. This guy is definitely Trouble with a capital T. But he's also a lot of fun. And watching he and his minion friends terrorize entertain my family has been a nice treat.


4. Both the vagabond twins are now gainfully employed. This is no short of a miracle! And a huge answer to many many prayers.


5. More than anything, I'm glad that JOY isn't restricted to a season. (Unlike my Christmas tree, which I probably should take down, right? I mean, is there such a thing as a Valentine's tree? There is. Yay! Lots more twinkling lights.)


Okay, that's enough about our strange clan and the silly things I'm thankful for. 

Now it's your turn to play along.

What are you thankful for?

Remember, there's never a bad time to count your blessings.
Jen 

FIVE for Is it Friday?

A while back I set out to thank God for five things EVERY Friday. I figured five was a nice, doable number. Even on particularly bad days I figured I could scrounge up five blessings. Plus, it sounds pretty. Five. Friday...

But, since starting life out on the road this week I've pretty much forgotten which way is up, much less what day it is. Or to blog about it.

So, here's some gratitudes a little late to you. (And a little redundant to God, who has already heard about all of them.)

In a nonsensical order...

1. Flickr. I really enjoy sharing pictures and this seems to be a good way to do it. (Again, these are raw straight-out-of-the-camera, which is why you may see duplicates, bad lighting, things I should and will be digitally cropping out.)

2. Finding our way. Without Garmen (Ginny's navigational system) we would probably still be somewhere in Oklahoma right now. Possibly being eaten by (or eating) Big Foot.

3. Faith. It doesn't always come easy, but I'm so glad when it kicks in like cruise control. And suddenly the pressure is lifted and peace takes its place.

4. Fearless people who are living their dreams. More on this subject later. 

5. Fireworks stands. They are EVERYWHERE. And for some reason they make me smile. Don't know if it's the faded paint or the promise of blowing things up, but I sure do love 'em.

I know that was random, but there you have it. Now it's your turn.

What are five (or more) things you're thankful for?????

My bonus gratitude? Fried food of course. :)