Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Along the Road

Joy at the start
Fear in the journey
Joy in the coming home
A part of the heart
Gets lost in the learning
Somewhere along the road


This past weekend, Jim and I took a day trip and drove the River Road that runs along the Mississippi from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. It was such a nice day and we took our cameras. I ended up only taking a few shots because we spent the day talking. Without the radio. No TV. No laptops. Just me and my man :) We dreamed big dreams. We shared our lives with each other without interruption. We spent time together like we haven't in awhile. I fell deeper in love with him on that road.

The road was very winding and it took a lot longer than the hour it normally takes to go from NOLA to Baton Rouge. It reminded me that our life is sometimes like that road. We get a picture in our head about how to get from point A to point B and get behind the wheel of our life. We head towards our destination, expecting for the most direct and efficient route. Sometimes the route is direct and sometimes it winds and takes us four times as long to get there. In the end, we wind up right where we need to be. Sometimes taking the most direct route will get us there quicker, but something is lost along the road. Sometimes we need to take the long and winding road, to turn off the radio and appreciate the time you have with the person you are traveling with along the road.

I learned I like our life together. I like to set off with nothing more than my husband, my camera and a sweater just in case it gets chilly :)

A house in our neighborhood  - we have fancy neighbors!



Jim got knocked out in one punch!


A beautiful historic church


Slave quarters on a plantation - makes you thankful for what you have!


an old Coke machine - it was overexposed but it is kinda' cool :)


We ate dinner at the end of the road. We turned around and went back home. The point of the day was not the destination, but the journey.

Next week is our anniversary and Jim has something planned for us. Truly, it could be anywhere, as long as we travel the road together. The point of our life together is the journey. 
 
Along the road
Your steps may tumble
Your thoughts may start to stray
But through it all a heart held humble
Levels and lights your way.


xo




Tuesday, August 17, 2010

becoming pro-choice

Things here in the Big Easy and not so... well, easy :)

And I think it could be the heat or maybe it's the humidity but my attitude has been not so stellar.  To the point that I posted something quite frustrating on my Facebook status. Many friends commented on it, and I fought them tooth and nail. I was all about being stuck in my funk. I was all wrong.

I got an email from a friend that called me out on this misery and she asked me to breakfast this morning. I knew I was in for some "intervention", but I put on my best smile, squared my chin, and waited for the first punch.

What she did was let me vent. Then she took a deep breath and proceeded to tell about her experiences here in NOLA, that they weren't all rosy and great. She said something I think I knew deep in my heart, but had buried for what I thought was its own good. She said that contentment is a choice. Just like choosing to love my hubby when he annoys me (which is NEVER, right?!?!). And choosing contentment is a discipline I have to work at every day. It is hard because misery loves company and man do I hate to be alone :)

So, I will start to write down my miseries in a journal and say goodbye to posting my hurt on Facebook. I am making a choice to be content.

Choosing contentment brought me this afternoon to the new Anthropologie here in NOLA. It is two delicious floors of yummy clothes and home goods. And I was content. And I bought a bowl. And chose to be even more content.


I leave you with a pic of my new choice of contentment :)







xo

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Things happen for a reason...

This past week, I had a great opportunity land in my lap. I had two ways to respond. Both had positive and negative outcomes. I took this situation to my hubby and also to a few trusted friends. I took it to the One who always has an ear and offers wise counsel. I ended up doing what might not sound like the most competitive or popular option.

It ended up being the option that may have catapulted me into a management position with my new company in another city. Hmm... this decision may have lead to my ability to be somewhere else and also to make more money... it sounds like wisdom to me. The old adage is true, whatever is right is not usually popular. Our move to New Orleans was prayerful and now I believe that it happened for a reason... :)

More info to follow... until then, I leave you with a few pictures of some really sweet reclaimed teak. This has been on my mind for my living room... Have a good evening folks!! 





xo

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Where Y@?

More appropriately, where have I been? Well... I have been busy with the things of life. But that is no excuse.

I have found life here in New Orleans to be quite a challenge. It is really hot and humid. The bugs are everywhere. And I have yet to find a piece of furniture to work on. Not that I have been motivated. It is too hot to really work on any furniture right now. I imagine that I will have to work extra hard during the cool months and build up an inventory for the hot times.

Until then, money needs to be made. I have taken a job managing a funky cool furniture store and while it is hard to work a 9-5 retail job, I am thankful for it. There are a lot of folks out there with no job.

We have made lots of friends here in NOLA. I have found one that, like myself, has a passion for crafty things. She told me today that I should not be staying away from my blog. Instead I should use this time to be expressive and get creative juices flowing.

We did do fun things before the heat hit us, and have even done a few since it hit like taking my aunt sightseeing when she came to visit.

Something creative that is flowing right now is the desire to finish the baby shower projects that were started last weekend at a shower I gave for a friend. We made a cute mobile out of pretty paper and bamboo. I will assemble it this week and post a photo.


 Friend's shower - I am in green :)


Until then, I do promise that I will post more often.



 xo
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