Many Are the Plans..

What do you do when suddenly a new desire pops up in your heart. A desire that seems like it is out of nowhere and consequently does NOT fit into your previously planned out life!?

Recently I have had this interest and have been intruiged by the idea of Grad School ie.e :pursuing my masters degree. Since I find myself getting a bit blase' with the everyday ins and outs of work I have been thinking hard about what I want in life. I fear I have underestimated myself up until this point. I usually get scared of faliure and in turn fail to pursue anything I desire. I'd rather desire from a distance than to fail in the pursuit. Pride. I certainly am not 'too good' for my current job or career path but do long for something more. Being bored is not for me. Being challenged by my passions- that's what I like. But I fear I have hindered any challenge because of my fears that life isn't going to end up like I wanted it...it sounds silly when I write it down but has been a reality for as long as I can remember.

So here I am with this new desire...it doesn't replace any 'old' desires but instead has to fit into all of my previous ones. Where does this fit into John being in school, us not being able to afford this, me wanting to eventually have kids and stay at home with them, wanting to move (but where to?) . It's easy to say "things will all work out, they always do" and not to fully believe it. I agree, things have a way of working themselves out but I like foreknowledge. ..exactly HOW? That's the beauty of God being in control I suppose. He knows me better than I know myself. He places desires in my heart and I guess all I can do is pursue them until otherwise directed without knowing the specifics. Finding how all of my life desires fit in with one another is another challenge..work, school, kids, marriage, church, family..I will take them as they come..and try to not pre -plan anything. Things never work out the way I plan. They almost always end up better than I imagined..far better.

And Grad School!? If I am going to pursue this, I need to focus on the GRE first.. I hear it is a beast and no one gets their desired scores the first time. I have test anxiety for test I have to pay to take! And what program!? There are a lot of different ways I could go. I guess I could start studying and schedule myself for the test and then see what happens..if life happens in the meantime, so be it..

Now that I think about it, life is happening now. So be it.

A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

The Coolest Thing I've Seen All Year

obviously I don't get out much but a friend sent this to me today and I was so excited! This place takes kids' drawings and makes them into REAL pictures!

I would have that that was the coolest thing in the world when I was young. I think it is pretty sweet even now!

http://www.yeondoojung.com/artworks_view_wonderland.php?no=88

If It's creative, count me in!

Cruising the web this a.m. I found some tasty,creative things on Etsy.com (one of the best places I waste time and spend money!) My favorite thing to do is "pounce" for new items that are undiscovered:)

I found a couple of these things when I typed the search word 'recycle'. Admist the gum wrapper sculptures and macramé plant hangers these treasures stood out to me. Check it:

Made out of a spoon...called a Serial Spoon...it tells a story. I love stories look at Yipestoo's Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5091712

and this...

And old record made into a sweet bowl! by Chickalookate:http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=16045 How perfect would a bowl out of my mom's Sound of Music record be?

NEATO!:

A necklace made out of old wallpaper samples- pretty rad, I'd say. Jewelera's Sight: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5610

And of course my ECO find of the day!

reusable eco-friendly dryer sheets. I love the different fabrics they offer and the scent sounds divine!ReFabulous:http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5194412 (ReFabulous is a cool name..good job!)

Ode to Rainy Days

Rain is grace; rain is the sky condescending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life.
-- John Updike

What Will the Sweeds Think of Next?

I was browsing around some of my fav blogs and found this treasure..and by treasure I mean it's expensive yet awesome..

Your flower pots can have their own little lamp!

"One day when I am rich.."

by Verner Panton Flowerpot Garden Lamps from the Swedish company Dansk Design found on http://blog.addicted2decorating.com- one of my favs.

Our Proud Moment/ Joy in the Meantime

Since a majority of our friends near and far are either becoming pregnant, thinking about getting pregnant or actually having their babies I wanted to write and share our good news with everyone.

After months of waiting to see if our garden would be successful, weeding and watering faithfully everyday we are proud to announce that we picked our first ripe watermelon on Saturday evening! There still is another little guy out in the garden waiting to ripen. It was 10+lbs! We were/ are so proud of ourselves. Gardens are NOT easy to grow so much. You just don't plant the seeds and hope for the best. OH NO! weeding, building supports, readjusting leaves, keeping critters out, watering, misting (yes! there is a difference), debugging...it's a job. BUT WELL WORTH IT. We are now eating not only watermelon but tomatoes(4 different kinds), green peppers, zucchini, snow peas. R.I.P red peppers...they didn't make it.

Anyway, we are glad that we were successful at this and are proud of ourselves and our "harvest". I LOVE growing things and watching them develop. I am an ISFJ after all (meyers-briggs talk).

We took pictures to commemorate these exciting few moments before we sliced into it. After we sliced into it, holy cow! It was one of the sweetest watermelons I've tasted this year.

Serious note (focus) we (John and I) LOVE to nurture and grow things. We both want children greatly however, until our time comes, like I mentioned in the cat post(see below), we find joy in and through other parts of God's creation i.e.: gardening, mentoring kids in our scatter group- other people's children, loving our animals and cherishing our family of 2 until it grows. I find myself sometimes missing out on joys in life because I wish for the next best thing. I am finding that there is so much joy to be had in the "meantime".....and I find great joy in eating watermelon that I helped grow!

We revel in our success as agricultural geniuses!

YAY!

Being silly with the watermelon

He's being extra silly with it!

WeLOVE our watermelon. Its first bath

Then we ate it- score!

A New Favorite

I love this stuff! It's amazing. you can use it for everything..seriously..EVERYTHING...

• cooking- it's extremely healthy
• your skin
• your hair and scalp
• a dietary supplement
• you can make your own toothpast out of it (SHUT RIGHT UP!)
• it can help remove lice..disgusting but good to know
• bio-fule..just in case I get a tractor or deisel truck needing some get -up -and -go.
• sunburn soother
• aromatherapy

The list could go on. It's my new favorite. I recommend it highly.