Spring!

 

I love Spring! I love the start of every season actually, it's just so exciting to see how everything changes as the seasons change and each season brings it's own beauty and adventures. The love the cheerfulness of daffodils and how quickly they spring up, reminding us that winter is over (or almost over) and new life is here (in bright colors :). I hope you are all enjoying the first glimpses of Spring and the promise of new life.

7 Quick Takes (Vol. 3) the Book Edition

So for this week's 7 Quick Takes I'm going to share with you some of the great books I'm currently reading/recently finished. Feel free to shout out any favs that your currently reading/would suggest I read next.

~~ 1 ~~

 The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

This is such a fun book with amazing illustrations (like the one above) and a fun and different set-up for a book. Definitely worth the time, it's a quick read.

~~ 2 ~~

Picture from Here

 

The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings

The invention of Hugo Cabret I read not because of the movie, but because it was recommended to me, The Descendants was also recommended to me, but I have to admit I did end up reading it more because of all the hype over the movie. I'm about halfway through, so far so good.

~~ 3 ~~

Men, Women and the Mystery of Love: Practical Insights from John Paul II's Love and Responsibility by Dr. Edward Sri

So I haven't started this one yet, but I'm super excited to. I've heard it's an amazing book by so many people. Hopefully I'll get to delve into it this weekend.

~~ 4 ~~

Image from Here.

Humanae Vitae by Pope Paul VI

I was given this a few years ago, lost it, and recently found my copy again. This is such a relavent encyclical today, and reading it I'm often amazed that it was written in 1968. You can read the whole encyclical on the Vatican's website, just click on the above picture.

~~ 5 ~~

 Image from Here.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

This is the book on tape I'm currently listening to. I've always been interested in people's stories, especially if they are passionate about something. Jobs had such a profound impact on today's technology, it's interesting to hear about the man himself, flaws and all.

~~ 6 ~~

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

I loved this book. It helped make me take a step back and really look at what I think is important, and see how silly some of the tasks in our lives are. The book reminded me of the beauty of childhood and that we should all strive to live with the heart of a child.

~~ 7 ~~

 

Picture from Here.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

This book is a classic for many reasons and after finally reading it (I never had to growing up) I agree. I've always loved Mark Twain's books, his humor as well as his straightforward approach to dealing with the issues of the day.

 Alright, that's all from me for this cloudy Friday. Enjoy the weekend! 

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 2)

So I'm kind of a photography nut. I love love love looking at photographs, color or black and white, subject doesn't matter. I love the fabulous creative ideas people come up with. So for the start of this week's list I'm going to share some of my favorite galleries I've found lately. Just click on the picture and it'll take you to the site. Enjoy! 

~~ 1 ~~

 Jan von Holleben's series "Dreams of Flying" is so fun. It brings fantasies to life. I saw it over at Rae Gun, where she's got a hilarious video you should check out involving a sloth...

~~ 2 ~~

Snowflakes! They are absolutely beautiful and all so different. Check out Kenneth G. Libbrecht's photos.

 

~~ 3 ~~

Guy Laramee makes these amazing scultures out of books.

~~ 4 ~~

 Liu Bolin truly is the invisible man. He paints himself to blend in with the surroundings, cool stuff.

~~ 5 ~~

I think I'm going to do some baking this weekend. Maybe some homemade bread and pizza dough. Maybe some sweets, or maybe not since it is Lent, we'll see.

~~ 6 ~~

It's snowing again here, I'm thinking a night in with hot chocolate or tea a good movie/book and a nice warm place on the couch with a soft blanket are in order.

~~ 7 ~~

 

I'm super excited to be helping out with the "Feed My Sheep" project through 6:8. It's a great program.

 Alright, that's all from me for this lovely Friday. Enjoy the weekend! 

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Thankful Thursday and a bit of Cave Dwelling

 

Caves are cool. There's just something about the idea of exploring these vast caverns that appeals to the kid in all of us, well at least it does to me :) Over the weekend one of our adventures included visiting the beautiful Cave of the Mounds, a place just up the road from me that I'd never taken the time to visit. I love cave tours. They're always filled with enthusiastic tour guides with corny jokes, excited children and adults, and of course, the beautiful natural cave itself. I grew up near Hannibal, Missouri so there were many trips to the Mark Twain Cave and the fun lantern lit tours of Cameron Cave. So maybe this love of caves is in my blood.

They told us not to touch anything. Something about the oils on our hands stopping the natural growth of the cave. I really wanted to break the rules, but thought generations after me might not like that, so I restrained myself.

I finally finished my laptop case! It's super cute (except for the zipper, which I've always had issues with, but I will someday be able to do a clean, neat finished zipper, someday...). Tutorial is here if you're feeling like a little project.

Alright, finally I think I'm ready for another long-past-due Thankful Thursday. 

At this moment I am thankful for...

(1) A mild winter. I've missed the snow, I'm not going to lie, but I am very thankful for the beautiful unexpectedly warm winter we've had. It means safer travels. It means walks outside. It means enjoying God's natural beauty.

(2) Underground parking. I'll admit I'm a bit spoiled. I am blessed that each morning I don't have to worry about scraping off my car, running out in the rain, bundling up from the wind. I do like my underground parking quite a bit :)

(3) Books on tape. I like to travel and I love listening to books on tape while I drive. I can check off books I've been wanting to read/classics I feel I should read and I don't have to worry about flipping channels to try to find something "good" to listen to. Plus, I'm very thankful for my local library where I have access to all these books free of charge :)

(4) Reminders of my weakness. This might be odd, but it is Lent and I'm thankful for a chance to grow. Grow in my faith, grow in my job, grow in my relationships. As hard as it is to tamper my pride and realize the areas I struggle in, I am thankful that our God is one of forgiveness and through Him I can strive to be the woman He wants me to be. One day at a time.

 

(5) The beauty of motherhood. I'm surrounded by so many fabulous moms, new and not so new. I'm thankful for their example and their desire to raise their children in a faith filled home, with strong values and lots of love. They are beautiful examples of where I hope to be someday (just not any time soon :).

(6) The endless list of projects and recipes the Internet offers. I'm thankful for the ease of being able to find recipes with the items in my cupboard. I'm thankful for the inspiration of others and many projects to help organize and beautify my life.

(7) The unknown. I'm thankful for the idea of what's to come, the idea that I don't really have control (which I hate at the same time), the idea of where I'll be in the future. I'm thankful that God has a plan and therefore I don't have to.