Words of Wisdom

I'm a huge fan of quotes and lyrics. They can be from famous people, sermons, or just something a friend says in a casual conversation. Over the years I've collected hundreds of them from all different places. I jot them down when I find one that really inspires me. Right at this moment you can find quotes that I've scribbled on scraps of paper or post-its on the dashboard of my car, on the back of my bedroom door, in the empty pages in the back of my Bible, and in most of my notebooks and journals. I often wonder what people would say at my funeral--what things they would remember me saying. I've never felt like I had much wisdom to impart, so I'm always excited when I hear a quote that seems to speak to my heart--or seemingly out of my heart in a way that I wasn't yet able to verbalize. I've decided to use my blog as a way to share some of my favorites.

"Life is too short to live the same day twice." -unknown

"Freedom begins when you get out of the cage you've built." -Lacuna Coil

"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." -T.S. Eliot

"Use your talents, for the woods would be silent if no birds sang but the best." -unknown

"Sometimes what feels like an end is actually a beginning, and that's when the real work starts." -Bob Guiney

"Forgiveness is forfeiting the right to be offended by how someone has treated you." -unknown

"Life is like a roll of toilet paper--the more you use up, the faster it goes." -Althea Kelly

"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt

"The best thing you can do for a man is give him someone to love. If you can't do this, then give him something to hope for. If you can't do that, just give him something to do!" -Flight of the Phoenix

"Intimacy and Honesty are best friends." -Andrew Hudson

"One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential." -Maya Angelou

"Who is a hero? He who turns his enemy into a friend." -the Talmud

"A half-hearted effort means you never really lose because the game never gets your all. The real risk? To try your hardest." -unknown

"I try to believe like I did when I was 5...when your heart tells you everything you need to know." -Lucy Liu

"Religion is man trying to get to God. Jesus Christ is God building a bridge to man."-Out of Eden

"Suffering is opportunity wrapped up in pain." -Shanon Pope

And my absolute favorite...
"I believe in the Sun, even when it is not shining, in Love even when I am alone, and in God even when He is silent."
-found scratched in a wall in Germany by someone hiding from Nazi concentration camps.

Hope you enjoyed these as much as I do, and as always, thanks for reading!

Favorites

There's this fun game I love to play with my friends. It's called the "Favorites Game" and it's a great way to kill time, get to know people better, and have a few laughs. One person simply asks the group "What's your favorite...(whatever)?"and everyone takes a turn answering. The neat thing about this game is that when I suggest playing it, I'm usually answered with groans. But once the game gets going, everyone ends up having a good time. What I especially love about that game is that I get to think about all the things I love best in life. I think it's important to count my blessings, especially when things get rough. So, at the risk of getting all "Sound of Music-esque," I will now list for you 20 of my very most favorite things in life (there are many more than 2o but I tried to keep it short).

I LOVE...

1) Talking, eating and laughing with my family

2) All-day hikes

3) Sleeping when it rains outside

4) Singing my head off while driving

5) Summertime at the beach

6) Finding a perfect quote

7) A great hair day

8) Nonverbal communication

9) Four-wheeling (and other speed/thrill/danger-producing hobbies)

10) Acting out stories

11) Diet Coke

12) Staying up late

13) Getting lost in a good book

14) Dinner and a movie with friends

15) Hearing a great pianist do their thing

16) Making people laugh

17) Chocolate (milk, not dark)

18) Sunday church

19) Snakes, bunnies, and pugs

20) People who think outside the box

Thanks for letting me share my list. Hope this makes you want to go start one of your own!

Passes, Popcorn, and PG-13

Everyone has a secret guilty pleasure. For most people it's things like chocolate, reality TV, or mystery novels. It's something they love. Something they'd never want to give up. Usually it's something slightly embarrassing or revealing that they would NEVER want their closest friends and family to know about. Or maybe it's something that they would ONLY want their closest friends and family to know about. Either way, I bet that now I've got you thinking of yours--laughing to yourself about how embarrassing it is--wondering what certain people would say if they ever found out. Well, I'm gonna tell you mine. Yep, I'm gonna lay it all out there. I'm not afraid. You see, there is no "guilty" in my "guilty pleasure." I love mine soooo much, that I really don't feel guilty at all!

So here it is....

Drumroll please....

It's...

GOING TO THE MOVIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just LOVE it! I love everything about it. I love the rush that comes when you see a good trailer on TV. I love the excitement of waiting for a new movie to finally be released. I love planning when I'll go see it. I love the ticket lines, the waiting, the crowds!

I love the smell of the popcorn. I love the grouchy ticket takers, (I do everything I can to make them smile), and I love the nice ones that greet me as a regular. I love choosing just the right seat. I love the pre-movie trivia, and in some cases, I even love the low-budget adds....

....Then....that exciting moment arrives!!!! The lights dim, the crowd hushes. The cell phones are (by those with appropriate respect for what's about to happen) turned off! Those who have had the privilege of accompanying me to the movies know that this is the moment when I usually lean back in my seat and say, (with big eyes and childlike wonder), "It's time!" The first preview comes up...I'm ready, notebook and pen in hand. (How else can I write down the names and release dates of the next movies I need to see?)

I hardly breathe through the previews. I love them so much. I could sit through two hours of just previews.

Then the movie starts and the magic really begins. I have a certain strong affection for the first five minutes of movies... The scene is set, the music reels you in, and before you know it, you're transported!

People usually ask specifics about what types of movies I like. Well, I don't play favorites. I love a good comedy when I need to laugh. I love a romance when I'm feeling romantical. I love a suspense thriller when I'm in the mood to be suspensed. I love a good drama when I need a good cry. That's the beauty of cinema--there's a movie for every mood. Each has it's own merits. Each has a story to tell.

It's amazing how a good movie can unify a room full of stranger sitting together in the dark. It's amazing how watching a story unfold can make you see the world (and sometimes even other worlds) in a completely different way.

And there you have it. My "not-so-guilty" pleasure...and I know that while reading this you probably are thinking one or more of the following three things..."Doesn't she know she can watch movies at home?" "Couldn't she put her money towards something more worthwhile?" OR just simply "She's weird. I wonder if she knows how weird she is..."

And my answer to all three is simply....

YES!!!!

But it will probably never change, because I love movies, and true love lasts a lifetime!

Buon Appetito

Ever so often I find myself in the middle of a beautiful moment. It's usually an unexpected happenstance--something I stumble upon. I suddenly find myself in a situation so perfect, so inspiring, and so all-my-own, that I'm forced to pause and acknowledge the moment. Ironically, to the outsider these times probably appear rather mundane and less than noteworthy. But to me, they are like little glimpses of heaven.

My most recent "heaven glimpse" happened just a few nights ago. I had just finished a long day of teaching lessons, after an intense few days of relentless, mind-jarring, tiresome stressful soul-searching. I had a lot on my mind that night for sure. I was suppose to run home for dinner and head out to a meeting. Instead, on a whim, I decided to drive over to a little corner cafe up the road. I had just recently begun reading a rather good book and thought it'd be nice to have some relaxing down-time.

Well, of course, as soon as I walked into the cafe, I smelled their yummy food and decided I'd treat myself to some dinner (you know, since I was already there and all). I chose a cozy corner table in the back, opened my book, and quickly got lost in the pages until the waitress came with my Chicken Carbonara (the book I was reading was set in Italy so it seemed like a fitting dinner choice. Plus, any excuse for eating Italian will do).

I read and read, as I ate and ate. Hours went by...uninterrupted... peaceful...sweet...Perfect!
I'm not sure how the components of the night worked so well together to create such a special moment, but here are the things I loved about it.

1) Great food--spiral pasta, perfectly cooked, cheesy, creamy, alfredo-y! Bacon, peas, bread crumbs...yum!

2) Great book--I couldn't tear through the pages fast enough! Any book about Italy enthralls me, but this particular book made me dream and hope and practically turn inside-out with longing to go there. On top of that, almost every page had some quote or memento that made me feel like the author had researched inside my soul to get her material. It was inspiring in all the ways I needed at just the right time.

3) Great company--(not to confuse you... I know that I originally said I was alone and I was). There are just so many things to be said about the merits of spending time alone. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that people who cannot find a way to enjoy being alone are truly missing out on one of life's greatest pleasures. When I'm alone is when I dream the biggest, feel things the strongest, and think the clearest. It's pure and unapologetic. Real and genuine. Honest and raw. No pretense. No expectations. No guilt.

So I found myself in the middle of that moment, stuffing my hungry tummy with that amazing pasta, reading that incredible book, enjoying the comfortable alone-ness, and I just had to stop and be thankful--Thankful for the simple pleasures of life. Thankful for the freeing feeling of acting on a whim. Thankful for the opportunity to be totally and completely comfortable, confident and happy. It was pure joy!

I never know when my next "Heaven glimpse" will come, but until it does, I'll ride on the rush of the memories of this one, and keep smiling to myself.

The Happy Hiker

People have asked me, "What's so special about a walk in the woods?"
I'll answer, and as I do, I'll share a very precious part of my heart...

I go to the woods--my feet itching to walk. As I make my way to the trail, I can almost hear the wind calling to me as it rustles through the tops of the trees. I shoulder my backpack (my most faithful hiking companion), and off I go.

I struggle deciding which path to take (so much about hiking is symbolic of my life). Each trail has it's own offerings, and I love them all. The decision always comes down to what sort of adventure I want that day. Every trail has it's own personality...I've thought about naming them, but when I mentioned the idea to some friends, they looked at me like I was weird.

I breathe deeply. When I'm in the woods, I believe each breathe I take makes me healthier, stronger, and more alive. I ramble up and down the sloping mountains. It reminds me of home...then I miss my family. I say a prayer for them and continue on.

I walk along the creek listening to its' music. It's always playing my favorite song. I hear the birds talking in the trees. Sometimes I think they're cheering me on. Sometimes brave squirrels share the path. I like their company. On special days, I'll see a deer. They startle me, as I'm sure I startle them. We stare at each other and then respectfully continue on our way.

I talk to God-to myself-to the trees. It's the safest place to pour my heart out. The woods never judge. They never condemn. They're gracious, forgiving and honest.

I find comfort and safety knowing that there is little more to do than simply trudge on. The path lies before me--long and winding, hugged on either side by the most perfect greenery. What's around the next bend? I've GOT to know.

Time passes too fast in my woods and before I know it I'm almost back at the car. As I walk out of the woods and into the sunlight, I whisper, "Goodbye woods. I'll be back soon." And I pretend they answer, "We know."