my friends and I have a bucket list going for our last semester of college, and it is full of fabulous things for us to do together to make as many memories as we can before the real world tears us apart (i'll have to keep you updated on that list as we go through it!)...so i suppose this picture is more of a bucket list for myself over the next few months...or even years, really.
i've been reading blogs all night (one of my fav things to do at the moment) and came across this quote/pic on a friend of a friend's blog. i love how simple and genuine it is. these are all things that we take for granted everyday, but i'm going to put more effort into making sure they don't get overlooked in my everyday life. i wonder if these little things will really make a difference? i feel some good things coming my way :)
p.s. if you ever come read my blog, follow me! i just put a link over on the left for followers. i'd love to know who is reading...i'll be shocked if i have any at all.
Bored. That's pretty much all that's going on right now. I'm in Greenwood for a few days to celebrate my dad's birthday with the fam, and of course, the day I come home, the weather goes crazy. Another Arctic Blast is coming through. We haven't gotten much but rain and sleet here, but I'm pretty sure Oxford is getting lots of ice, and I know Memphis/Nashville is getting a good bit of snow. Jealous. I'm just dying for a little bit more snow before spring (and 90 degree) weather returns. Anyway, enough about the weather. One thing that's always true about Greenwood--there is never anything to do. Some days that's great and exactly what I need, but others, it's just simply miserable. Maybe miserable is a harsh word...boring would suffice. Being home gives me a lot of extra time to think about things. There's been a lot on my mind lately, and hopefully some of those random thoughts will eventually evolve into blog posts if I can ever figure out how to decipher them into anything you would want to read :).
So, what exactly is on my mind right now? Excitement. I'm looking forward to a lot of things right now...and I'm going to share some of them with you!
1) First off, the new Lady Antebellum album came out this past week, and my sweet Mama bought it for me! SO excited. I've heard such great reviews about it so far, so I'm looking forward to loving it as much as I loved their last one. I'm also going to see them in Jackson in a few weeks...it's at a rodeo, which I hate to admit, but I think I can bear to be around some rednecks for the sake of LadyA! Go get their new CD, Need You Now on iTunes! www.ladyantebellum.com
2) Tomorrow is the All-Star Senior Bowl! WOO! As most of you probably already know, I'm a HUGE football fan...especially an Ole Miss football fan. The game is being played tomorrow at 3 pm in Mobile, and I'm SO jealous that we didn't get tickets to it. My boy, Dexter McCluster, is playing in it, and at the moment, I'm watching ESPN with my dad...guess who they said was the man to watch tomorrow? DEXTER!
3) I've been obsessed with arts and crafts lately, not sure why...but Etsy is my FAV website now. If you've never visited it, go now! www.etsy.com They have SUCH cool items, anything from jewelry to art to clothes to house decor. My kind of website! I'm excited to get some of these pieces! Here's a collage of a few of the items on my Etsy wishlist right now.
i LOVE their Valentine's stock...despite my feelings on that day :) go check out that post if you haven't already. But first, look how cute this card is...
And I just want this canvas for no reason...it's just adorable. I love the bright colors. Go visit Etsy to see more of this great stuff!
I hope you all have a good Friday and a great weekend! Final thoughts... This was in my devotional (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young) this morning, and I enjoyed it so much, I decided to share it!
"Let the goal of this day be to bring every though captive to Me. Whenever your mind wanders, grab those thoughts and bring them into My Presence. In My radiant Light, anxious thoughts shrink and shrivel away. Judgmental thoughts are unmasked as you bask in My unconditional Love. Confused ideas are untangled while you rest in the simplicity of my Peace. I will guard you and keep you in constant Peace, as you focus your mind on Me."
Today was one of those days. Yeah, THOSE. You know what I mean by that. But first let me explain...nothing bad happened. Not to me directly, at least. Class was fine, work was fine, studying is going fine (minus me being distracted by this blog). Nothing really to complain about. But today, it seemed like EVERYONE that I came into contact with was in a bad mood or had a bad attitude about something (except for a few, sweet people that give me hope). Do you know how hard it is to stay positive when everything/everyone around you is just trying to bring you down? It amazes me how rude people can be sometimes...it's like no one has any common courtesy anymore. One of my dear friends who is in a position of authority came to me tonight, struggling with people just cutting her down at any chance that they could get. I could see the pain in her eyes when I looked at her, and it really made me wonder... how often I cause that pain in other people?
Do the words I say bring people down or build them up? Do I show love in my actions? In my words? In my body language or my tone of voice? It really makes you think. I know we all struggle with negativity when we've had a bad day or when something hasn't gone our way...but when does it cross the line of hurting other people, too? I, probably more than most, know how hard it is not to let my situation determine my joy. I read this quote recently and it really hit the nail on the head...
"Joy should come from within, not from circumstances."
Simple. To the point. Words to live by. I determine my joy, not all of the chaos that's going on around me on a daily basis. I have control of my attitude and my outlook. I have the power to change my mood, and most importantly I have the ability to affect the people around me. I wonder how different the world would be if each of us just smiled at ONE person each day, held a door open for a stranger, held our tongue when all we really wanted to do was lash out on whoever happens to hit a nerve, etc. The list goes on and on. I'm clearly on my soap box tonight, but today really just made me think about the world that we're living in these days. Sometimes I feel that it's hopeless, some days I feel like I could single-handedly change the world. It's a constant struggle.
Days like this make it evident of the control Satan has on this earthly world. Evil is seen everywhere we look. I find it humorous that days like this are the Devil's way of attacking me...trying to catch me off guard to hit me when I'm weak and make me stumble. I honestly should be thankful for these days, if you really think about it. As I sit here, venting to my friends about how corrupt this world is, I am comforted in the fact that through struggles and pain, my God is there to pick me up and hug me and remind me that every day isn't going to be like this. Every day isn't going to make me want to just lock myself in my bedroom and watch Friends for days with no outside contact. I have hope in the Prince of Peace, who calms my emotions and gives me something more to look forward to. It reminds me of the MercyMe song "Bring the Rain," which is kinda cliche but ironically, I heard it earlier on the radio and this line said exactly how I should feel after days like this:
"And I know there'll be days when this life brings me pain, but if that's what it takes to praise You, Jesus bring the rain"
I know not many people read my blog, but I hope that the people that do enjoy it. In this day and age, I'm sure some people don't want to hear me ramble about Jesus, and that's fine. I want you to read, of course, but if it offends/annoys you, you don't have to read it. This is just what has been on my heart lately, and if I don't put it somewhere, I just might go crazy :)
Ahhhhh, Valentine's Day. Two words that make most people shudder. So much pressure, so much hype...all overrated in my opinion. Don't get me wrong--I'm all for flowers and dinner and all that fun stuff that comes with V-Day, but I just hate the fact that people make SUCH a big deal over it on that ONE day. Why not celebrate your love throughout the whole year? I hate that Feb. 14th is the only day that most women ever receive flowers. I would much rather get flowers on a random day, not expecting the sweet gesture, than get them on V-Day when it's just an expectation. What happens when the guys don't live up to the ladies expectations? And those poor guys that have to plan out this magical evening for their women...so much pressure on them for it to be perfect.
Okay, okay. Enough of me bashing V-Day. I make myself sound like I'm single and bitter. The moral to this rambling, I suppose, is exactly what I already said...Valentine's Day is just a day. If you really love someone, every day should be like Valentine's Day. I think that's one of the main problems with relationships these days--people don't genuinely care anymore. Days pass by so quickly without us really even acknowledging how special the girl/guy we're dating really is. So, readers (if I even have any), my advice for you today is to go hug your love, tell them how much they mean to you, and do those simple little things that show you care. Whether it's sending flowers, writing a note, giving an extra kiss for no reason, or even simply sending a sweet text message--those are the things that really matter. Life is short. Make every day as special as V-Day :)
Now onto the video up there...I am SO excited about the movie Valentine's Day that's coming out on Feb. 12th. Watch the trailer. Seriously-look at that cast, that in itself is a reason to go see that movie. I'm a serious movie go-er and I LOVE any chick flick you put in front of me, so this movie is right up my alley. AND Bradley Cooper is in it. Need I say more?
so 2009 has come and gone, and in my mind, it's all a blur… I know days came and went; birthdays, holidays, and good times happened…but I’m blank right now. It’s crazy how quickly a year can pass by, and how important things seemed while they were happening-but a year later, none of that even matters. None of the stress, none of the worrying, none of the tears, none of it means anything to me, right this second. So why do I let it affect me so greatly in the moment that it’s occurring? Why do I let the little things get to me and break me down?
I’m not a believer in resolutions, because no one ever follows through on them (if you do, more power to you—I admire you). But as this new year/new decade is upon us, I’ve decided to better myself. And not with just quitting bad habits, losing weight, etc (the typical resolutions I make and never follow) but with more meaningful promises to myself…new year, new me. My biggest promise is that I’m going to live in the moment and cherish every day and every memory because life is short and those times are precious. I lost a dear friend this past year, and through her life, I learned somethings that I'll treasure for the rest of my life:
"I think that we should never take one single day, friend, laugh, or breath for granted. We do not know when it could be taken away from us. Life is too short so share all the happiness and love you have"
The old me let the stress of nursing school overpower me on a daily basis, but not the new me. I’m going to study the hardest I can and put 100% effort, but I’m not going to let it consume me. I’ve made it this far, and I have faith that I can get through this final semester without all the worry that I used up in the past 4 semesters. Why worry when the God of everything holds my future in His hands?
"There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever." -Mahatma Gandhi
My second promise to myself is my biggest struggle right now…surrendering my all to Him every single day. I wake up each morning and my mind automatically jumps ahead to what I have going on that day, what tasks need to be accomplished, what I need to take to class, etc. I wish more than anything that I could wake up and just enjoy His presence in the morning--just enjoy the peace and the silence as I let Him prepare me for the day ahead. I am a stubborn, hard-headed girl, and it is a daily battle for me to hand my plans and my future over to Him. But in all honesty, I’m sure God looks down at me and laughs, watching me with my head in a tizzy, trying to schedule and organize every step ahead…it’s pretty ridiculous of me to act that way when I think about it. So that’s my big goal. Especially with this last semester and the big graduation coming up…I’m letting Him handle all of it. Applying for jobs scares me to death, but I'm putting all of my trust in Him. He's opening doors in my life, leading me where He wants me to go...so wherever He leads, I'll go. I’m handing over my stress and my worry every morning and putting it in the hands of my wonderful Savior…what an awesome thought!
on an opposite note, some of my rather less important promises: to stop drinking so much Diet Coke (I swear to you…that’s going to be my cause of death), to become more active (walk at Lake Patsy, do Pilates, aerobics with friends—whatever it takes to get a little healthier), and to show love to others around me. I’ll be the first to tell you that I’m rather impatient when someone tests my nerves, and I’m quick to become defensive or even snap back, but not the new me! With every person I come into contact with, I’m going to show compassion and encourage them when they need it. I want to be like Susan.I know I’m not always going to remember this promise-so friends, feel free to remind me when I’m not showing you love ;)
This video is by the wonderful Kari Jobe, my most recent obsession in music. She's incredible. Her voice is like an angel's. This song is one of the songs I listen to in the mornings to remind me where I need to place my focus :) pure, simple, and beautiful worship. Take a listen! Oh, and p.s., I'm going to see her in concert tomorrow night! SO EXCITED!
over the Christmas break, my family took a much needed vacation into the mountains. it was wooooonderful, such a relaxing week that we ALL needed. my grandparents decided to take us on a trip in the place of many Christmas presents that we'd probably never use (smart idea, i think). our cabin was fabulous, to say the least...3 stories, 5 bedrooms, a gameroom, a theater room, and a great den...oh and did i mention the TWO hot tubs AND a sauna?? needless to say, it was heavenly.
our cabin was deep in the mountains, and of course, we happened to come the day a huuuuge snowstorm came in, so once we got there, there was pretty much no getting out. we spent alot of time eating and sleeping, playing apples to apples, watching it SNOW (that's pretty much the only thing i did), and just hanging out. movies were watched, shopping was done (once we could finally get to town), and Breaking Dawn was re-read. it was a wonderful trip...i'm so thankful that it snowed--that seemed to really make it all the more special. we never seem to get any snow around here...or snow that sticks, so i was absolutely mesmerized by how huge the snowflakes were. my mom and i spent alot of time out on the deck, arms outstretched, just watching the snow come down. it's one of those simple little joys in life that you take for granted. one of those simple little joys that reminds you of the One who created those snowflakes. it blows my mind that people can see the beauty of snow falling over mountains, creating a perfect world of white, and still think there is no God. i am SO thankful for moments like those that remind me of the power and glory of the Creator.
here are some pictures of the view i had for a week :) be jealous!
pictures from the past year or two. all of my favorites. i wouldn't trade these memories with these precious friends for anything! i am a lucky girl-i have the most wonderful friends in the world...i am so thankful for each and every one of them and the joy they bring to my life.
I've been debating for quite a while over a starting a blog. I don't really have much to write about, well, at least not much that the public would want to read. But after much deliberation, I decided to go ahead and dive in (one of my resolutions for this year-stop being so afraid of new challenges). This blog is more for me than anyone...I need some creative outlet to take my mind off of school. Who knows where this will lead me, but I'm excited to see :)
Bear with me as I learn about blogging and figure out how to make this thing all pretty...it might take a while. I doubt that most of what I say will interest anyone but me, and who even knows if anyone will want to read it. I just recently started my last semester of college...and it hit me like a ton of bricks. These 4 years have FLOWN by. People always say it's the best years of your life, and to hold onto it while you still can. I never realized how true those words were. I cannot believe that I am about to graduate. It really does feel like just yesterday when I was a college freshman, scared to death of the next 4 years--now, I wish more than anything that I could have them back...or maybe even 4 more :)
This blog is going to serve as almost a diary for me, to write down thoughts, memories, document times with my best friends, somewhere for me to vent, adventures along my journery, etc. I'm excited for what's to come in my life--God has it all under control so I am going to enjoy the fact that my future is in His hands...what more could I ask for?? It's a new year, a new me, and a new blog...Well, here goes nothing!
Hey, y'all! Welcome to {simple.little.joys}! I'm Rachel, a Southern girl, just living the dream. This is my little space where life unfolds. Sit back and join me as I discover life's simple little joys!
my friends and I have a bucket list going for our last semester of college, and it is full of fabulous things for us to do together to make as many memories as we can before the real world tears us apart (i'll have to keep you updated on that list as we go through it!)...so i suppose this picture is more of a bucket list for myself over the next few months...or even years, really. 
