Tag Archives: 5 Things

5 Things That Happened Today

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Five things that happened today:

1. A dragonfly wing–a whole and completely intact dragonfly wing–fell out of the sky and landed at my feet today. I have decided that this is good luck.

For me.

Not the dragonfly.

2. I took a really long nap after work.

One of my favorite lines in the movie Letters to Juliet (which is a lovely, wonderfully romantic movie up until the last 15 minutes when it then becomes horrible. It’s like the writers lost their words at the very last second when it mattered most.) is when Clair says to Sophie, “One of life’s great joys is having one’s hair brushed.” True. Very true. (It’s such a beautiful scene.)

Well–I have decided that one of life’s great pleasures is an afternoon nap.

3. The baby sister and I drove to Jacksonville tonight. We’re staying in a hotel by the airport because she flies out at the buttcrack tomorrow morning. Like 4:45 a.m. Ooof. But I thoroughly enjoyed the drive. We talked wedding plans. And I love her. So very very much.

4. I didn’t eat any meat.

I decided about three months ago that I was going to be a vegetarian. If you want to avoid a similar fate, do not–I repeat, do not–watch the documentary Food, Inc. For almost 90 days now I’ve not eaten one ounce of meat. It’s been pretty easy, although I think about BBQ’d ribs a lot. And I don’t think I’ll stay vegetarian for the rest of my life–I’m too much of a foodie. But it’s made me think about my food–where it comes from, how it’s prepared, and how balanced and healthy my food lifestyle is, or rather–wasn’t.

Oh, and if you have a great vegetarian recipe, please send it my way. Bean and cheese quesadillas get real old real fast.

5. I took a swig of a caffeine-free diet Coke and gagged.

I do realize that it seems counter-intuitive that I would go off meat, but still drink the poison carbonation. But I’ve never claimed to be rational. And despite being off soda for years, I can’t seem to curb a recent craving for the fizz. But anyway. I would suggest avoiding caffeine-free diet Coke. It serves absolutely no purpose. No sugar. No caffeine. No taste. In short–it’s disgusting.

5 Things That Inspire Me

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1. God

I hesitated to write that first, simply because it may seem cliche, too simple even, or that it would perhaps appear as though I thought I “had” to write it first. But I didn’t let myself walk too far down that line of thinking, because for me, before anything else, there is Him. God is the source of all good things–both in my life and in yours. I know that He breathes in me and lends me life, every day. His unending mercy, love, and light fill me and lift me. If I have any sort of inspired thought or find myself in the midst of creating something lovely, or have a moment where my senses and abilities and understanding peak, I am ever aware that it was from Him–a gift to me.

2. The Earth

Our world takes my breath away. There are times when it’s so beautiful, that I find myself clutching my heart in awe. I’m amazed at the way things cycle and grow and flow in perfect order. The colors knock me over and leave me aching for more. Whenever I write something that I think is worth reading, nine times out of ten, it’s been written after I have been out, close to, and experiencing the Earth.

3. Light

I have always been fascinated with the concept of light. How it bends, reflects, refracts, warms, and fills. How it changes and opens understanding and sight. No matter how awful I was at science or how difficult I found it to pay attention in those classes, when we came to the chapters on light, I was always on the edge of my seat. To even think of light fills me with ideas and wonder.

4. Words

Few things affect me as deeply or as profoundly as words. The way they combine and form into sentences and ideas and stories that have the ability to move and change us is thrilling to me. To understand a word, I mean really understand it–to find out where it came from, and know its root, what it meant originally, what it means now–is like opening a beautifully wrapped package with the most exquisite gift inside. I am at times left speechless (or in tears) by beautiful writing. I feel my soul expand and I clamor to read it again and again. I feel “most like me” when I’m using my words.

5. Love

I love seeing people in love. I love hearing stories of love. I love experiencing acts of love. And not just romantic love, but love in its finest and gentlest and purest form. Where it’s the motivation behind goodness, honesty, kindness, and sincerity. Rarely does it need to be grand. In fact, simple is usually better. But the result is sheer happiness. Love like that motivates me to do more and be more than I am.

Tell me: What inspires you?

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Smells Like Summer: 5 Ways to Enjoy the Season

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On Saturday, Frit and I went for a morning swim (cuz the triathlon is in like oh … 26 days [ack!]) and then to run errands. You know, just your standard sunny-Saturday errands: a quick good-will drop off, gathering of supplies needed for the lessons we were teaching at Church on Sunday, purchasing a new lawn trimmer AND edger as well as finding a cage to go over the outside dryer vent because the d$*% birds built a nest inside it last week (and let me tell you, the men at Lowe’s were in awe of us hauling all our “goods” around the store), picking up some potting soil, and acquiring a tanning pass so our legs don’t blind any of the other racers on triathlon day.

Anyhow. On the way home from our productive morning, we had the windows down and the radio cranked. We looked at each other and smiled as we rounded the corner to home and Frit said, “It smells like summer.” And oh boy howdy! Did it ever!

In honor of this sunny weather, I’d like to make a few suggestions on how to get the most out of this blessed season. They’re things I do to make the warm months stretch and the days seem even brighter than they already are.

1. Breath deep. Right now our back yard smells of fresh cut grass and tulips and in a few weeks the wisteria, poppies, and basil will linger on the air. Go put that sniffer to good use and take in the scents. There’s nothing like the smell of sunshine, blue skies, BBQs, & Coppertone. Trust me. Tip: closing your eyes helps.

2. Wear flip-flops if shoes are required. If not…go barefoot as much as possible…especially in the yard. Cool grass underfoot does a body good.

3. Keep a roll of quarters in your car. It’s lemonade stand season friends! I am certain the karma for supporting lemonade stands is 10 times bigger and better than any other good deed you could possibly do. Tip: Pay double what they’re charging. The look on their faces when you tell them to “keep the change” is priceless.

4. Get dirty. Whether it’s sand in your toes, dirt under your fingernails, or grass stains on your pants–just do it. Get dirty. It grounds you. It connects you to the Earth. And a little sweat never killed anyone. In fact, I think it’s good for the skin (that’s the gospel according to Krista).

5. Put your face in the sun. The heat burns away any bad you might be feeling (even if just for a little while) and warms the soul. Plus it’s a way better way to get your Vitamin D than popping a nasty, smelly tablet every morning.

Happy Summering!

5 Things You Should Know About My Day Yesterday

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1. At work yesterday I was able to sit in a private concert with Mack Wilberg, the conductor and musical director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, as he played for us, piece by piece, his plans for the Choir’s next album. All I can say is that I was thoroughly moved, transported to a beautiful place. It will be an album you will want to listen to over and over again. Cross my heart.

2. I thought about Nutella for the majority of my train ride home.

3. For dinner, I ate a sandwich piled high with tomatoes and cucumbers fresh from the garden. That might be my favorite thing about summer.

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4. I test drove a new (to me) car. I think I might put mine up for sale this weekend. Maybe.

5. I said to Frit as we walked out of the Dairy Queen with our mini blizzards, “I don’t know why anyone under 40 would want to date me. I wear house slippers to the DQ, I need to be in bed before 10:00 p.m. if I want to function properly the next day, and I prefer to be at home working on a puzzle* rather than being out on the town.” She laughed and said, “I don’t know why anyone under 80 would want to date you.”

6. Here’s a bonus, ’cause I know you’ll love this one: When Frit got home from work I started to do a little dance for her (cuz that’s what we do around our house when someone comes home), but I tripped (over my own foot) when I started my jig and slammed into one side of the kitchen counter and bounced over to the other counter, where I landed in a heap of laughter. Frit continued to belly laugh the entire night at random moments every time the scene popped into her head again. Maybe sometime I’ll video a reenactment for you — just ’cause I love ya.

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*It’s the puzzle’s fault I haven’t posted a good post in the last few days. All I can say is if you thought blogging was addictive, try doing a jigsaw. We set up one of those portable, fold-up buffet tables in the living room, and the first night we sat piecing it together for hours whilst we watched My Fair Lady on VHS. The next day it was all I thought about at work. Frit even dreamed about it all night the day before we finished it. Needless to say, we’re off to the Wal-Marts to get another one soon.