Sunday Morning Travels

Yesterday I woke up at 6 a.m. unable to go back to sleep. After tossing and turning for quite some time, I moved to the couch so I wouldn't wake up Kevin. The morning sun was beaming through my bathroom window and casting the most beautiful light on a round wooden coffee table my grandparents gave me. In that moment, my mind traveled back to when my grandparents lived in Dodge City, Kansas. I closed my eyes and took myself on a tour of their old house. I can still hear how walking up the stairs to their backdoor sounds in my mind, like springing rubber bands due to the echo of my footsteps. My mind wandered through every room and corner of their house, bringing giggles and warmness as memories from each room came to me.

They moved away from that house over 13 years ago. I drove by it 4 years ago for the first since they moved. It was amazing how much smaller that house on all the land seemed now that I was older. It's filled with new owners who have re-modeled all of my favorite elements, or so I hear from my grandparents. I dare not go inside in fear that my happy memories will be replaced with unwelcome newness. In this instance, ignorance is bliss.

I was thankful I couldn't fall back asleep yesterday morning. The mind can be such a beautiful place to travel.

A Very Berry Adventure

Erika and I woke up at 6:45 a.m. a few weekends ago to head out to Thunderbird Farm in Broken Arrow to scavenge for blueberries. There was a bounty of blueberries, and we were lucky to find a few strawberries and even some red, juicy raspberries. It was so peaceful to be out that early. The weather was quiet and beautiful. For three dollars a pound, we are sold on pick-your-own berry farms.

Want to pick your own berries? See if there is a berry farm near you! Click here.

A Season for Growing

Planting our seedlings. Photo by Erika

I love spring. I didn't even realize it until this year. Everything about it is hopeful and new. Vibrant and alive. I want my life to be like spring; to be able transition from something lifeless and dull to something so beautiful and inviting. I know it's getting there. We are all being made into Christ's image, a new creation! It doesn't get much more hopeful than that.

In other news, this weather has been so very unpredictable making the garden a soaking plot of cold mud. I think after tonight, we're in the clear as far as freezing temperatures go. And as thankful as I am for the rain (I truly am), I need my garden bed to dry out a little so I can get to planting. What a learning experience it's been so far. I told myself I won't get discouraged when things go wrong since I'm brand new at this. It's helped to have Erika as my trusty garden companion. Onward!

Digging In

 Today's warm weather inspired me to go work in the garden. We are so close, folks! I was really pining for some good winter weather, but after today, I think I'm ready for spring. I love the life and color it brings with it. Veggies, fruits, flowers, leaves, grass! Know what I mean?

 I guess it's warm enough for weeds to start sprouting up, because I spent most of the day picking them out of the dirt. Gotta get some newspaper and mulch down to stop those suckers.

Hope you all had a restful weekend. Let's get to livin'!

p.s.- Major props to all you fashion bloggers! I was embarrassed just having Kevin take these photos for me.

Resolution Check-In

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I thought it'd be fun to check-in and update on how my resolutions are going so far. Am I the only one that can hardly believe it's almost March? I am looking forward to daylight savings on the 10th; an extra hour of daylight!

Talk less, love more. Well, maybe you should ask Kevin and my friends and family on this one. I can only say I hope I am doing better at this. I have realized I haven't said many things that make me feel extremely guilty right after they escape my mouth, so I guess that's good. Onward!

Have a successful garden. I've got my online cart all loaded up with organic seeds from High Mowing Seeds. Just waiting til payday (tomorrow) to purchase them. Erika has so enthusiastically offered to help me garden, so I am doubly pumped to get started! We hope to be sewing some seeds indoors within the next 2 weeks.

Get more involved with my neighbors. Wah-wah...FAIL. Well, I have talked to my neighbor to the West more than I have in the past. He is very kind. He looks kind of mean and rough, so I guess that shows me not to judge a book by it's cover. 

Go to school. I haven't done it yet, but by gosh, I plan on doing it in the fall. I just haven't decided if I want to get my BS in Horticulture or if I just want to get a certificate of Horticulture. What should I do, bloggersphere?

Learn to knit. Oh gosh, I wish. I need at least 2 more hours in the day! 

Read more. PEOPLE. I have read more in the past 2 months than I can ever remember reading. So far I've read Love Does by Bob Goff (I CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS ENOUGH!!!!), I'm almost finished with Beth Moore's So Long Insecurities, and I'm almost done with Pride and Prejudice. All these books I highly suggest.
Kevin and I were going to try to read through the whole Bible for lent. We've read every day, but just not the suggested 30 chapters in order to meet that goal, which I've decided is OK. It's not about how good I am at keeping that goal, it's what God does to me and through me and how he is glorified in the process. It's been good to get into the Word every day. I love learning more about God's character. Next on the list: 7 by Jen Hatmaker and Follow Me by David Platt.

Give more without complaining or worrying. I'm not sure about this one either...Kevin would probably be a better judge of this than myself. After reading Love Does, Bob Goff has inspired me to be, as he calls it, "secretly awesome." So...maybe it's a secret how I'm doing with this goal!

How about you guys? Are you being too hard on yourself? Or not disciplined enough? Or your resolutions brought on even more resolutions? I'd love to hear!