It's almost Spring!

Spring has come early to my heart. I first sensed it when I saw all the daffodils popping up everywhere all bright and yellow and joking around. Then today, while driving up the 101, the wildflowers in the hills and all along the freeway just stole my heart! I'm suddenly buzzing like a bumble bee!

And as expected I am feeling on the brink of change and growth, and I'm ready to kick things up a notch. This Spring I want to embrace life more abundantly, and take a step into deeper faith, hope, and love. The journey begins...

passion love

Once there was this whale. She was pretty content. She thought that maybe she couldn't even be happier. She went to school and found a job that she liked real well. She spent special time with her family and friends, and even bought herself fancy new shoes. Everyday she would watch the sun rise and set, and think

"Well, that was sure nice".


Then one day, another whale came to town. He was soo cute.

He paid real special attention to her and she felt butterflies in her stomach.

Boy did they hit it off. He put some love in her heart

and then she put some love in his heart and

then they just kept putting more and more love into each other's hearts,

back and forth like this.


Everyday their hearts grew bigger and bigger and more and more full of love. At first she wondered if her heart would hold it all... what if it exploded or something!


But then she decided to chance it. She fell in love. And her life was never the same.

See Ya There!!

http://http//monsterloveconspiracy.blogspot.com/

1.21.10

Top 10 reasons to xoxo Mike

10. He loves puppies

9. He loves the people he loves

8. He puts his whole heart into his work and projects

7. He is considerate and thinks about the needs of others

6. He smells good

5. He makes really good sandwiches

4. He is bold

3. He is outgoing, a people person

2. He starts laughing toward the end of a sentence and his words turn into laughter

1. He wants to make the world a better place. and already does!

Thank you for being born 28 years ago and for filling this world with so much life and love and fun. You are a gift.

thunder. lightening. rain. power?

Can someone bring my car to my front door?
Looks like today's gonna be an adventure.

Trust steadily in God.
Hope unswervingly.
Love extravagantly.
Love extravagantly.
Love extravagantly.

home sweet home

Good Tidings!

Hark!

Good Cheer!

Yule Tides!

Check these kids out!

OFFICIAL from LE GRAND CRU on Vimeo.

bright eyed and bushy tailed

Wally gets cuter with age. Every night I call him to come inside and then have to wait for like 5 minutes. Then, all of the sudden, he comes skidding in through the front door, practically crashing into things as he races for the kitchen. He stares at the fridge and meows like a hungry teenage boy, and then eventually gives up and settles for his kibble dish. After he's done feeding, he saunters into the living room where I pick him up and he purrs and snuggles into my shoulder. As I pull out all of the little stickers and brush residue caught in his tail from all the day's adventure, I can't help but be filled with love for my sweet little explorer. All boy. Bright eyed and bushy tailed.

3 weeks?

you've got to be kidding.
(i'd be mad if i wasn't so proud of you!)

One more time, with feeling!

So my new job. It is everything I hoped and dreamed for. I am so thankful to even have a job right now, let alone one that I can find meaning and purpose in. I am learning so much everyday and I realize that, this time around, I am actually interested in learning more and asking questions. This is good because I am not currently an expert in breastfeeding, babies, or parenting. And I find myself looking things up a lot and asking my very knowledgeable coworkers things all the time… “So like what exactly is this nipple shield we keep speaking of…” and my coworkers are the most caring and supportive nurses I’ve ever worked with! As I am slowly building up my caseload (I’m currently rolling with about 6 clients… ), I’m finding that I couldn’t have asked for a better fit for me right now. I am so blessed and so thankful for this opportunity. I have so much to learn and my eyes and heart are being opened to some of the need that exists in my very own community.

This very place that I grew up in my whole life, this place that I thought I knew so well. The streets I drive on, the restaurants and coffee shops I hang out in, the stores I’ve always shopped in…. I’m seeing that there is so much more life that exists outside of my little world. I’m discovering neighborhoods I never knew existed, trailer parks tucked away in the quiet little pockets of the city. I’m seeing some poverty that I’ve only ever really seen in foreign countries. Homes that have cardboard for windows and doors, and no heating or electricity. Meth labs next to my client’s home, and maybe even in the home. I’m slowly starting to see the things that I never have before. The homeless shelters, the DSS building, The WIC office. Have these always been here? How could I not have noticed. I feel humbled and thankful and stirred, all at the same time.

This little pumpkin is trying to look scary but just looks cute instead.



I think I need to sleep now.

shine

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

-Marianne Williamson

i heart autumn!

A+A take on Big Sur

Yesterday Ash and I loaded up the car and headed North up Highway one to Big Sur for our first ever annual Girl's camp out (right Ash?)! Boy did we have an adventure. After making a few stops along the way, we made it to our lovely campground. Lucky for us, they weren't at full capacity and we got to choose whatever site we pleased. We looked and looked for the perfect spot and finally decided on the most beautiful site in the whole place. The afternoon sun was streaming through the trees just right and we spent the whole rest of the afternoon setting up our beautiful campsite just so. Unfortunately, the sun went down before we had time to really explore or hike around the area, but we didn't mind. After all, we had dinner to make and s'mores to roast! Here are some pictures of our magical camping trip.


"Our fire looks so professional"


"Come and get it!"


"Shall we check the corn again?"


"Sure does shut down early around here"


"This looks like something the boys would totally eat"

Of course, the trip did have it's ups and downs. I would be lying if I said that I did not get food poisoning and did not throw up multiple times during the early hours of the morning. Yes it was a low point and we had to wrap things up earlier than expected the next morning (Or rather, Ashley did...) But overall our camping trip was a success! And I would even say that the bathroom facilities were pretty clean and accommodating for "being sick". I used almost every one in fact. And the side of my car. and a few bushes next to our tent.



Ash I love you! Thanks for the memorable camping trip. I loved telling that lady in the store how we were best friends and had been "For fifteen years" and then laughing at how that almost sounded like an old person thing to say. You bring so much fun and love and laughter into my life and I am so thankful for you. A+A forever baby!

Dear Diary,

My boyfriend is so nice. I like him.

Dear interview panel,

I thought we really connected the other day. The way you ladies looked at me and smiled and nodded. I honestly thought we were hitting it off. I felt so articulate and charming as I poured out my heart to you, telling you about all my experiences and projects, and how I could really find meaning and purpose in this job. That it would be more to me than just some old job. I told you that I would work extra hours, late hours, and that I would learn do my best to become an expert in this field. I told you how much I loved your organization and your mission. I actually meant it.

And my outfit. I looked cute and professional. And it killed me, but I wore the simple pearl studs instead of my prettier dangly ones. I didn’t want to be too flashy on our first date. And when I left, we were all smiling and thanking each other… the chemistry was so good. I was certain you felt it too.

It’s been over a week now, ladies, and I haven’t heard back from you. No call. No text. No email. Nothing. I got your answering machine again this afternoon and I debated in a split second whether or not to leave a message or try again later. I decided to try again Monday morning, and hope for a real human on the other end.

I braced myself for this. In fact I anticipated it. But now that it’s happening I feel so rejected, so deflated. I put myself out there. I took a chance. Frankly, I’m a little crushed. I took it personally because I am a person. So now I guess I have to get back out there. You know, start dating again… I know something even better is out there for me. And when I find it, it will be magic.

Sincerely,
Amy

Ps. If you change your mind please call me. I will forgive you and take you back xoxo

Breaking news!

I know this is sooo last week. But look how sweet little Lucky is with his little coaster-feets... Thank you Lucky for your lesson in perseverance. I love you.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

furious longing, furious love

When then, eternal father, did you create this

creature of yours?...You show me that you made

us for one reason only: in your light you saw

yourself compelled by the fire of your love to give

us being in spite of the evil we would commit

against you, eternal father. It was fire, then,

that compelled you. Oh, unutterable love, even

though you saw all the evils your creatures

would commit against your infinite goodness,

you acted as if you did not see and set your

eye only on the beauty of your creature, with

whom you had fallen in love like one drunk and

crazy with love... You are the fire, nothing but

a fire of love, crazy over what you have made.

-The Prayers of Catherine of siena

(Taken of course from B. Manning's The Furious Longing of God)