Moving on.

As much as I hate to say it, I will no longer be blogging here. I have been forced to create a new blog, because they will no longer let me upload a photo for my header. I hate to end this blog. I WILL still be blogging, and I WILL keep this blog open. Please everyone-- followers and commenters-- come and follow me to my new site! I will be continuing blogging, just not here. So....

Good-bye Something Beautiful blog @ www.livinglife4jesuschrist.blogspot.com


Come and follow me at www.discoveringsomethingbeautiful.blogspot.com

They Won.

They did it.

As we sat there huddled under out blankets, and umbrellas we watched as their team won. They won against the completely undefeated team-- and that made them happy. The game started off by the opposing team scoring first. Then the first home run was hit, and their one score was taken quickly taken away, and there were four put up for our team. They whole game went like that- completed with a second out-of-the-park home run.

It felt good to watch them crowded around the tiny table in the middle of Dairy Queen late after their game. They broke out in their muscle arms, and peace signs when the camera came out, and some of them just looked bewildered as to why I was taking the pictures. But I knew. I knew that someday-- maybe in the future, or maybe just in a few weeks ahead-- Gabe will look back at those pictures and remember the feeling of winning... and beating. It was a good feeling.



They now will go onto the field being more sure of winning, because they know their team can win... and they know they can win good.

to my mama

Happy Mothers day to the most wonderful, loving, and fun mom!

I know that it isn't always easy for her to be a mom to us, but at the end of the day she always has hugged each of us goodnight, and told that she loves us-- regardless of the way the day has gone, or how we have acted.

 I remember the night that we moved from our home that we had lived in for seven years, and we arrived in our new town a our new house very late at night, and we were all tired, and extremely sad. She was so positive that night, and comforted me so much. Looking back now I know that she felt just as bad as we did, but she didn't show it. She has always tried to show us the good things that come out of situations, and I really love that about her.



Thank you for being such a wonderful Mama to me. I love you so much, and I thank God that He gave you to our family, and made you my Mama.

Happy Mother's day...

Love,

Lydia

ready or not.

The morning came too soon today-- yes Monday mornings always do-- but it came. Trying to stop it wasn't an option so I decided facing it with a plastered on smile was the best option.

The beginning of the week is good sometimes. After basking in the weekend and all it's pleasantness, the week is a refreshing new start. You can take the memories created over the last two days, and go forward with them... and trying very hard not to look back.

I fell a sleep multiple times while laying in a chair reading today. I tried not to, at least when any one as around . (I'm sneaky like that). But I ended up falling asleep despite my sneaky intentions, and woke again soon, and that officially ended my afternoon nap.

I'm still in denial that the royal wedding is over. The one that I have been looking forward since November, 16 2010. Yes, that one. It's over. The hoopla, the ceremony, the excitement. All of it... but the wedding spirit still exists. The tea pot (with the tea bags still in it) is still sitting out on the counter, there is still a picture of William and Kate as our screen saver, and I still have "Congratulations William and Kate" as my skype status. Like I said- I'm in denial.

Oh, and by the way... Haagen-Dazs COFFEE ice cream is now one of the things that I have to have if we go to the store after a baseball game on Saturdays. It's the icing on the cake.

The week days have started. One down, four to go.

But even in the midst of that first, busy day of the week, there are the moments that are calm, peaceful, and make all of the chaos 100% worth it. So ready or not...

...here the week comes.

William & Kate: and their Royal Wedding...

I spent the last hour of my evening last night watching all the hoopla about the Royal wedding... I have to say that my favorite part was when William and Harry came out and shook hands with people! Can you say exciting? I woke up this morning a few minutes before four and shuffled down the stairs to the sofa where I would be planted until eight this morning. Every minute was thrilling and beautiful. Congratulations to Prince William, and the beautiful Princess Catherine!

Beautiful Princess Diana... I am sure she was very missed today...

I thought Carole Middleton looked lovely (below right), Camilla looked as good as she ever will (below middle. I'm sorry I am just not a fan of Camilla), and whoever is on the left wearing the dreadful blue canoe on top of her head with a flower in it, is in a terrible need for fashion help!

Pippa couldn't have looked any more beautiful. I am in love with her dress. So gorgeous!



And the lovely kiss on the balcony of Buckingham palace. That was the icing on the cake!



(all photos from Yahoo! home page.)

Happy Easter!

Have a wonderful and beautiful Resurrection day remembering what it is truly all about~

Happy Birthday, Gabriel!

It is the moment I have dreaded... I'm out of photo space! What will I do?
I guess purchase more. :(

I was going to put a picture but I obviously can't. So...

Happy 11th birthday Gabriel!
I love you so much~
Love,
Lydia

Only spring time.

I learned something new the other day-- they do say that you learn something new everyday-- but this 'something' will actually be put into practice, and not just remain in my head as a fact. No... this new 'something' that I learned is beautiful. It made me happy as I walked through the hallways, and saw "it". "It" being the beautiful golden light. The light that made the perfect silhouettes that were shown in my last post. The light that only comes with spring sunsets- and that is the only way that I would like it. Spring has so many of those things that only it can bring. And beautiful golden light that is perfect for silhouettes is one of them.

Tonight the sun was setting, and a stillness came. The stillness that only spring time brings. It wasn't the stillness that comes when there is a fresh blanket of snow laying on the ground-- but, a quite, warm, and happy stillness. And, again- it was a stillness that only spring can bring.

And as we basked in the happy stillness, we also stood around clapping our hands at the end of the driveway, taking turns singing the verses to one of our favorite songs. It was one of those "This-is-what-I-love" moments. And we enjoyed it.

I can remember several years ago, standing at the kitchen sink and sucking on the seed of a mango. It is tradition that I get the seed-- and since I am all about tradition-- I stand at the sink sucking on the mango seed. Every single time we get a mango. I hope it is always like that, because I would hate to break a tradition- and mango (seeds) are so darn yummy.

 

But, of course, there are some of us who opt for the actual meat of the fruit. I like that too.

 And then there are strawberry's. Big, red, juicy ones that-- you guessed it-- only spring can bring. My last summer held many-a-day in a strawberry field... under the blazing sun that there was no getting away from in the big open field that when on for rows, and rows.

I love Fridays- but, Friday nights are even better. Happy weekend.





Silouettes

There is something lovely about silouettes. The softness of the golden light outlining the dark shapes and forms. I discovered tonight that our house has wonderful lighting for silouettes when the sun is setting. The sun pours through the windows, and shines through the hallways with a bright happy look.

I love how just a small patch of sun shining on the wall creates such a distinct look know as a 'sillouette'.
The sun is so rejuvinating, and refreshing. It makes me feel inspired, and happy.

You are very welcome here sun.
I am glad you have come.

{here comes the sun}

Here comes the sun, doo doo doo doo


Here comes the sun, and I say
It's alright
Little darling
It's been a long, cold, lonely winter
Little darling
It feels like years since it's been here


Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's alright
Little darling
The smiles returning to the faces
Little darling
It seems like years since it's been here


Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's alright
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes


Little darling
I see the ice is slowly melting
Little darling
It seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun and i say,

It's alright, it's alright....

And with the sun comes lemonade stands.... You know the kind where they cut a lemon in half and put it in a pitcher of water, with a scoop of sugar. That's the best kind.

 



Who needs customers when you have a little sister to keep you in business.... She was

definitely the most faithful customer. She spent the afternoon by the stand, relishing every sweet sip. She had a glass in her hand everytime I turned around- she was really loving it!

I paid five cents extra for the incredible service that I got. They know how to treat their customers- maybe that's why Lily Kate kept going back.... they gave her free refills every.single.time. :)

{embracing the imperfections}

Lately when I have come to write a post the words haven't been forming into sentences.
Now but as I sit down now the words are forming- slowly- but they are forming.

I was in the kitchen this morning. The windows were open, the sun was shining, and there was happiness. As I looked around me I saw imperfections. Everywhere.

Imperfections were cluttering the counters. In the sink. everywhere.
But I was okay with them. For once, I was okay. I wasn't hypervenalating because of the messes that surrounded me. I tried to look over them-- to see the perfectness in the inperfections.

If you asked me if I was a perfectionest, I would probably answer no... until I think about it and see that I am in fact a perfectionest in some circumstances. While there are advanteges to wanting to do things perfectly, there are a lot of down falls- I exspect everyone else to do things perfectly, also. I know... it's so unrealistic. I have come to the realization that a ten year old isn't going to clean a kitchen like I would.

I'm trying to look over all the imperfectnest, and see that there is in fact beauty in the imperfections.

One night I went to take my shower, and walked into the bathroom to find a pile of towels on the floor {clean or dirty, heavens knows} and a mound of soaking wet wash clothes in the floor of the shower. Oh, and there was also stuff piled up on the counters... I can't remember what- it was so crowded.

Part of me wanted to make it right. Put the towels and wash cloths in the dirty clothes basket. Clean the counters off. But another part of me said "Leave it. Don't bother with it. It's not going to be the end of the world if you over look a mess just this once". I did leave it - against my perfectionest instinct- but I left it, and you know what? The world went on, despite that one pig-stye of a bathroom.

My goal right now is to instead of looking at the imperfections and try to make it all perfect, just to leave them and see that a sink full of cups and dirty towels in the floor really won't end the world.

 "There is a kind of beauty in imperfection". ~Conrad Hall



Now for something lighter.... how about some sweet sunset pictures?

Run, baby, run... I might try to chase you, but never would I stop you.



"I didn't ask for it to be over, but then again, I never asked for it to begin. For that's the way it is with life, for some of the most beautiful days come completely by chance. But even the most beautiful days eventually have their sunsets."~Author Unknown

{luck of the irish to ya'}

Today is the day where you wear green, or get pinched~ whatever you prefer. ;)


Today the Irish blood in me really comes out, big time.

We are going to watch Celtic Woman on Good Morning America, and Celtic Thunder on QVC-

I'm hoping that they will have some Irish dancing on the Today show, like they usually do!


"May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm up your face, and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand."~ Irish blessing




{I was going to put them sing "Ireland's Call", but they removed the video from YouTube.}


Luck of the Irish to ya'!

something about me and picnics

Whenever I spontaneously say that we are going on a picnic for lunch something is bound to happen. I'm serious. It's either extremely windy- were the napkins are floating aimlessly around the yard, and the blanket is flying up from underneath you, or something else that is ridiculous happens.

Late this morning I told Levi and Titus that we were going on a picnic today for lunch. I cut up carrots, made cheese toast, and popped popcorn. It wasn't much but enough to be out of the ordinary, and fun for them. I grabbed the camera, and the picnic basket and headed out the door with them.

We sat down in the turning-green grass, and fixed everything up.

Then it happened. The dog got out of his pen and started running towards us. He ran across the food. Twice. If it hadn't been so annoying, it would have been ridiculously annoying. I would have laughed... but I didn't.

We ate the leftovers, and basked in the sunshine. Even though it didn't go the way I was hoping- or expecting- it was still fun. We ate popcorn {lots}, and took pictures of the gorgeously blue skies. It was memorable, and nice to do something out-of-the-ordinary.

                          We kicked our shoes off and felt the grass beneath our feet.

~Lydia