Close your eyes...

Close your eyes, just for a moment and I'll take you somewhere special.
There is a place I know where you can sit in the big white rocking chair on the front porch, listening to the sound of the trees rustling in the wind made by the oncoming storm.
There are moments when the smell of Honeysuckle completely takes over your senses and then t in a split second the smell of rain takes charge.
The rocking chair you're sitting in makes a creaking noise as you rock back and forth and you can faintly hear the undertones of voices having a conversation just inside the house.
The wind catches on your neighbor's wooden wind chime and the hollow clacking of the wood adds to the excitement of the storm.

The warm air almost hugs you as you sit in that old rocking chair and you can't help but notice the beauty of the strikingly green grass that surrounds your house and stretches up and over the hills surrounding it.

You lean back soaking it all in.

This is Home.

My Old Kentucky Home.

We Are Family

I've had this song stuck in my head for awhile now.
Probably because the fact that last week my entire family was together under one roof.
The last time that happened was 3 years ago.
It's interesting, you know?
The oldest, Michelle, was there with her husband and 2 children.
The second, Kimberly, had a lot of insight into the world of education, both for becoming educated and being an educator.
The third, Julie, was just as wonderful as she ever is and definitely did everything in her power to have fun with her niece and nephew. "You'll never look more ridiculous than when you're trying to get a baby to laugh."-Julie
Then there's me.
Lauren just graduated high school and works two part time jobs. She works at Tinseltown, a great thing for her family (yay free movies!) and nannies for a family of our church.
Elyse, the youngest, is going to be a senior in HS this next year.

It's weird because we're all growing up and yet when we get together it's just like old times. We're all so different. We're all very much the same, too. And even though we fight and disagree (often times) I still love my sisters. We are family, after all. :)

You NEED to KNOW!

So there is this FABULOUS lady.

Her name is Jenni James.

She has re-written the Jane Austen series for young adults and not only has she kept the classic, beloved, well-known stories ALIVE, she has added twists and turns to make them her own.

I'll tell you this:
I LOVED LOVED LOVED them!
(Well, I've only read Pride & Popularity but I just KNOW they are all going to be superb.)

So you should get the book. It's available for Kindle, etc.

If you like letting go for awhile and indulging in a fabulous retelling of a classic novel, this is the book for you!

I laughed, cried, gushed, giggled, got mad and then happy again. This book is a treasure and you'll love it!!

So, now you know! But don't just take my word for it! GO! GO! Go get the book, you silly!

Enjoy!

"M" is for Music

Let's face it folks, I eat, breathe, sleep and dream the stuff.

Almost all kinds too!

Country, Pop, Oldies, Techno, Rock, (a little bit of) Punk....the list and variations go on forever.

I could sing, sing, SING all day if you'd let me!

I almost always have to have music playing or singing...lol.

I hate the question, "What is your favorite song?" Because, seriously? How do you answer that?

Which genre? What are we talking here? Love? Break-up? Pining? Happy-go-lucky? I-hate-the-world? Don't-mess-with-me-or-I'll-tear-you-to-shreds?

...WHAT?!?!

There are a few songs that I want to share with you today though. These songs in particular have pulled me out of some of my darkest days and thoughts. Or they've made me feel A BAJILLION happier than just plain ol' happy. I hope you like them to.

1. Here Comes The Sun, The Beatles

2. Big Girl (You are Beautiful), Mika

3. Hoppipolla, Sigur Ros

4. Vanilla Twilight, Owl City

5. Unforgettable & Smile, Nat King Cole

6. Enough Love, Duffy

7. Everybody's Changing, Keane

8. Faithfully & Don't Stop Believeing, Journey

9.Good Mornin' Life, Dean Martin

10. You Are Loved, Josh Groban

11. Firework, Katy Perry

12. Fallin' For You, Colbie Caillat

....haha, and that's just to name A FEW!

"L" is for Love, Laughter and Life

Have you ever had a day that was just plain miserable? Like nothing would go right no matter how much you tried or how long you kept your chin up? Yeah, ME TOO!

The good thing about those crappy days is that there is always a remedy.
Laughter & Love.

You can never have too much laughter fill your soul and love surround and envelope you. It makes living life worth it. I for one am grateful that I have a roommate who can make me laugh so hard that I almost "pee my pants". Just yesterday a picture make me laugh so hard I cried! And lately I've been watching a show called Dr. Who and I'll tell you this, it is pure and genuine humor! I just love it.

As for "Love". Well, let's face it. I LOVE TO LOVE! I know some people believe that the more you say "I love you" the less it means. I am NOT one of those people. I believe that if you say it and you mean it, those words can change a person. Physically change them. It's like a band-aid to the scraped up soul. When someone tells me that they love me, and they mean it, I know that life is better just because I am loved. I never want anyone to ever question if I care about them or love them so I will always, ALWAYS, say it.

One of my favorite songs is "You Are Loved" by Josh Groban which you can listen to here.

Now for "Life"
Life is beautiful. It really truly is. I LOVE LIFE! Even the bumpy, scary, unhappy, painful parts. There is so much worth living for and there is so much to be seen!

"K" is for Kindness

Everyday I wake up and say to myself, "Try a little harder to be a little kinder." It's kind of my mantra. I am grateful for the kindness that many others have shown me. Roommate, friends, teachers, parents, employees...the list of names is endless. But ultimately there is One above all else that has shown endless and everlasting kindness to me. He is my Savior and my Friend. I hope you know Him too.

"For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord."-Psalms 117:2

"J" is For...

"J"

The illusive letter "J".

I've been stumped by this letter!

I seriously have tried to write a "J" gratitude blog multiple times and I've got NOTHING!

What am I grateful for that starts with "J" that isn't covered in another category?

But here are the things I love:
Julie-my sister.
Joy-the emotion.
Jelly Beans-but only the tropical Starburst flavored ones that only come out at Easter time.
Jovialness-the act of being jovial
Jane Seymour-in The Scarlet Pimpernel
Jennifer Love Hewitt-in Ghost Whisperer (I really like that show)
Jackson Emery-Um... HELLO BEAUTIFUL! Need I say more?

So, there isn't much there but it's all I got for now.