EVERY single day.

 

[Instagram: theplaidsparrow]

 

 

Every day, we have a choice.

We can let fear of something that really is small compared to the greatness of God cripple us.

OR ...

we can take a risk,

do something to help someone else,

make a person smile,

change someone's world.

 

Life to the fullest exists.

It's available.

All we have to do is decide to get up and embrace it.

 

-Katie Davis, (Kisses from Katie)

Guest Post: Funny Lady.

I'm stoked about this guest post.

I know you are all going to love, Heidi.

She is so funny! Seriously.

& I am pretty sure I tell her that EVERY time I talk to her.

She is probably sick of it, but it's true.

Plus, she and her husband are the cutest. 

Oh, and she gets to travel A LOT, which makes me jealous!

----------

First off I want to say thank you to Colie for having me. I have loved our email/text exchanges over the past few weeks, she is truly a breath of fresh air. And she has fun Instagram pics, you should follow her. Bonus, her birthday is my wedding anniversary! Happy May 29^th to us!

Hey! My name is Heidi and I blog over at Heidi of the Future. What a strange name you might be thinking... yes, yes it is. I started my blog when I moved to China in 2009 to teach English to university students. My family and friends needed to stay up to date with all the weird food I was eating, so my blog was created. At the time I was in the future, aka 14 hours ahead of America, but now that I'm back stateside it sounds like I'm into science or time travel or something...

Life didn't become normal just because I was back home in Oklahoma (love you Oklahoma!). It actually might have gotten crazier, and China is crazy. Ten months after returning from China I was married to my super long distance out-of-the-country boyfriend who stuck with me when I said, "I'm going to China, date me if you want, I'll be back in a year". He is also from Oklahoma (miss you Oklahoma!) but moved to Philadelphia to start optometry school.

So, I found myself married and moving the next day to Philadelphia where he was the only person I knew. China prepared me for this... my independence (I also was living in the city where independence happened… or something like that). I lived there for 8 months before starting out on the next journey of our life... optometry rotations. We move every 3 months to a new state, and there is never a dull moment.

So I write about our day-to-day (or week-to-week, not a lot happens sometimes, that's when I just post youtube videos) crazy adventures. We have no money, no friends or family around us usually (we do right now in Denver!), so it's just us... being gypsies... loving life, trusting God, and seeing the country in a really unique way. I wouldn't have it any other way. Well, okay, maybe getting paid, but that's all. Okay, and having my people to travel along. That would be cool.

So come stop on by, say hi. Who knows, maybe I am moving to a city near you, and I need friends... Like, really, I need friends. Anyone? Also we need a place to live in Miami... anyone?

----------

So, now go do yourself a favor and pop on over to her blog.

Say hello and stay awhile.

It will make her day! :)

Happy Wednesday, friends.

much love,

xoxo.

Front page news!

This evening I was so sad to hear the news that Richard Dawson, host of Family Fued, had passed away on June 2. :( 

He will be missed.

Also, do you remember him on the 70's game show, "Match Game"?
Probably not.

Listen people: Let me just say that if I were growing up during the 70's, then this is the show I would watch all the freakin' time. I'm serious.

It is the most hilarious show EVER!!

To prove it, I suggest you take a moment after reading this post, hop on over to YouTube, watch snippets of the show and then laugh until it hurts. 

(PS. You are welcome.)

------

Now, onto Miley Cyrus. 

I am pretty sure most of you are about to judge me right now.

I don't care.

I was happy to hear the news about her engagement to Hunger Games star, Liam Hemsworth.

I am going to be quite honest with you guys.

I kind of want to dislike Miley.

I know that sounds horrible. 

I really do.

BUT!

I think I feel that way mostly because everyone seems to have a reason that they don't care for her.

However, I think that may be the reason I like her more.

She isn't perfect, truly not the best actress, and the singing could improve a bit.

However,

I feel like she would be someone I'd love to hang out with, someone who despite how many people tear her down she is always talking about loving/caring for others, and I also love most of her outfits.
Plus, have you seen Liam?
That is definitely a hottie with a body. Just sayin'.

{She is also a big supporter of TWLOHA (To Write Love on Her Arms), which is a very important organization to me.} 

------

In other news, a girl walked into the store the other day.

She looked straight at me and said, "You look just like Amy Winehouse. It is definitely the eyes."

I didn't know what to say.

So, I responded with, "Well, thank you ... if you meant that as a compliment."

She did and I was glad.

Amy Winehouse was a genius.

Have you heard her voice?

Phenomenal.

It is a shame that she was taken from us so soon.

I believe she is someone who was truly beautiful inside and out, but that she couldn't escape her demons. 

People can say whatever they like about her tragic life, but I must say that I have a spot in my heart for those that are most often judged. 

I'm always the one rooting in the corner for them.

[I also know I look nothing like Amy Winehouse, but it was a sweet compliment.]

------

This next photo melted my heart:

Gahh!!

So. stinkin'. cute!

I must mention that it took me some time to warm up to Jared's (Padalecki) hair, but I don't mind it being long anymore. Though, he could trim it up a bit. 

But, hey .. the photo is still adorbs, right?? 

& one more thing.

Can we please talk about how cute he and his wife, Geneieve, are together? :)

Aww. :)

------

You go girl!

Congrats to Kelly for losing 30 pounds. 

Either way, she is GORGEOUS! :)

------

Ok, that is all the news I have for now.

Not because I don't have more to share, but mostly because it is late and I'm sleepy. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Monday.

much love, 

xoxo.

Ruts are no fun.

[instagram: theplaidsparrow]

Hey there. 

Could I be honest with you for just a moment?

Yes. 

Ok.

 Here it goes:

My life is a mess.

I do not have it all together, despite how it may seem on this little blog of mine at times.

I am just as broken, lost, flawed, and imperfect as everyone else. 

I beat myself down more than anyone I know.

I run from people who mean the most to me, because I feel like I can conquer my struggles alone.

I guess I don't want to drag them through the dirt, so to speak.

Some days, I am so happy and bubbly on the outside, but feel so hurt and sad on the inside.

I become overwhelmed with stress & worry. 

I don't like it.

Who would?

But I feel those things...

not everyday, but more often than I'd like. 

In spite of all that, I know that I have hope.

I have been given a promise by my sweet Father.

I am learning to love myself more through His love and grace.

I'm learning patience.

In all that I am also searching for healing.

It's taking a bit longer than I'd hoped, but I'm getting there.

Slowly, but surely.

Life really is a beautiful gift.

PS. Through this season, God is blessing me with wonderful friendships.

It has given me great encouragement just to know such strong & caring women.

For that, I would really love to hear what is going on in your lives.

Whether that be commenting below or shooting me an email.

& no matter how small it may seem, I'd love to hear about it!

as always, much love.

xoxo.

Guest Post: Ms. Lulu ... or Ash. (I'm sure she will answer to both ;)

Oh, sweet friends ... you are in for a treat today! 

One of the loveliest ladies around is doing a guest post for me. 

I am over-the-moon excited about it!!

She is a dear & I am so grateful that God is blessing me with such a wonderful friendship!

Please pop on over to her blog after reading what her current favorites are lately.

You will be oh-so happy that you did!

xoxo

hello!

i'm ash from love.lulu. i am so honored that colie asked me to guest post. she is such a doll & is quickly becoming a dear, dear friend.

a little about my life? i've been married to the man of my dreams for three years. we have one sweet little boy (he'll be two next month), & a pretty awesome cat. oh, & i love god. a lot.

the spring in the air has caused me to have organizing on the brain, as well as wanting to try a bit more overall in my appearance & health (I know my husband appreciates it. haha.). with that, i've come across some pretty great things. here are a few of my current favorites.

my new cosmetic bag. 

i don't know how i've never heard of danica studio until now. it's pretty much perfect. & pretty cheap. which makes me happy.

my new necklace.

this actually just came in the mail a few days ago. from fab.com. i've been in desperate need of new jewelry, & this is so fun!

my new water bottle.

i got my husband the grey&black one for christmas, & have been secretly coveting it since. the other day, he came home with this for me. oh, i love him.

my new bag.

my in-laws got this for me for my birthday. they know me too well. it's my new favorite bag, for sure! & big enough for all my life-with-a-toddler essentials. & well, i think the toddler, too.

well, those are some of my favorites this week. hope you enjoyed.

have a lovely weekend!

love.

Ms. Roosevelt once said...

Learning and living,

 but they are really the same thing, aren't they?

There is NO experience from which you can not learn something... and the purpose of life, after all, is to LIVE it -- to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.

You can do that only if you have curiosity -- an unquenchable spirit for adventure. The experience can have meaning only if you understand it.

You can understand it only if you have arrived at some knowledge of yourself. -- a knowledge based on a deliberately & usually painfully acquired self-discipline, which teaches you to cast out fear & frees you for the fullest experience of the adventure of life.

I honor the human race.

When it faces life head-on, it can almost remake itself.

(Thank you, Eleanor. Thank you.)

via

Be Inspired.

Without words, we have nothing.

**All photos found via Pinterest.

If you would like credit, please let me know.

The in-between.

Life is a fickle thing, I tell ya.
I find myself caught up in two different worlds, so to speak.

First, I just want to start off by saying that I am a Christian.
I love the Lord with all my heart!
If you are someone who knows me well, then you definitely know this about me.
However, I try not to be one of those over-bearing, in your face, kind of "Christians".
(**quotations are put around christian because it has become such a watered down, misused word.)
I'm one of those "open-minded christians" you hear about, I suppose.

I believe that being a "christian" and being IN the world, but not OF the world is one of the hardest things to do.
I find myself struggling with that a lot!
I remember when I first gave my life to the Lord.
Goodness, what a feeling!
Joy. Happiness. Love. Grace. Peace.
ALL THE TIME!
I was on fire and NOTHING or NO ONE could stop me.

Ah ... but then time moved on.
There have been seasons come and go along the way.
I have seen myself on the very top of the mountain bursting with pure joy.
I've also found myself in the low depths of valley wondering if God were really around at all.
In those times, I questioned God.
I think that is okay to do. I don't believe He was ever mad at me.
For He knows my heart and every emotion, need, and struggle that I face in this life ... I mean, He kinda wrote the story, ya know?! ;)

And along my journey, I have grown.
In that growth, I have changed.
I still LOVE the Lord!
I know that NOTHING can shake that from me.
However, I find myself unsure of the balance between expressing my love for the Lord and not talking about my faith "so much".
The latter has a tendency of pushing people away. : /

We live in a very strange culture and time.
Jesus never sought after the rich or desireable, but just the opposite.
He came to those in their brokeness & brought light to their life.
He didn't judge or down grade those who were "different".
He offered arms to hold them and love to heal them.
I'm still learning how to do that, while not worrying wether someone will like me in the end.
It has been a very hard lesson for me to learn that no matter how much you want people to like you, they just might not.
I'm still working on it.

As I have mentioned in a previous post, some of my conservative friends think I'm more liberal, while my more liberal friends believe I am quite conservatice.
I believe this is funny because on either side, I am judged.
My "conservative" friends believe I should be more traditional. Some even feel the need that everything they talk about be followed by scripture or some type of message that the Lord has sent them.
While, my "liberal" friends believe I should be more open-minded. Though, they do see that I am different than most "christians", they feel my box is still far too small and needs to be expanded.

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.'
-Matthew 7: 1-2
(NIV)

It seems like I spend so much time trying to fit into what the world, whether it be of christians or non-believers, EXPECT of me. (This probably steaming from the fact that I am a people pleaser in many ways.)
It makes me so tired trying to keep up with it all.

All I can say is that I love Jesus, I love people, and I'm NOT perfect.
Without Jesus in my life there would be a great void missing, which nothing could fill.
I want to be a better person because of His presence in my life.
His grace is so abundant if we would be willing to accept it!
But every now and again I may say a curse word, I still plan to get another tattoo, I would rather listen to "secular" music sometimes instead of some christian band on the raido, I like people who aren't afraid to be themselves, and I've learned along the way that I have no clue who will or will not enter the gates of heaven based on what they believe ... nor is it my place.

"I'm speaking to you as dear friends. Don't be bluffed into silence or insincerity by the threats of religious bullies. True, they can kill you, but then what can they do? There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life -- body and soul -- in his hands. Stand up for me among the people you meet and the Son of Man will stand up for you before all God's angels. But if you pretend you don't know me, do you think I'll defend you before God's angels?"
-Luke 12: 4-5 & 8-9
(The Message)

BE KIND.
BE TRUE.
BE LOVE.
BE YOU.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Tuesdays with Colie Week 2

taken from page 55 of 'tuesdays with morrie'

Unlike week one, this week's lesson hit me like a ton of bricks.

The other day I spoke about how I tend to worry far too much. : /

I believe that in that worry, I start feeling sorry for myself at times.

Do you have those moments?

I'm sure they happen far more often than we would like to admit.

Every time I read about Morrie in the last stages of his life, it always seems to tug at some emotion in my heart.

It makes me stop and remember that life truly is a beautiful thing.

Mitch says that even for Morrie, a dying man, who could no longer stand, barely wash/feed himself, or pull up his pants thought that he was lucky.

LUCKY!

Can you believe it?

That seems like a bit crazy since we tend to fret over even the smallest of things not going our way.

I think Morrie was special, though. 

I hope only to be more like him. :)

Mitch once asked Morrie if he felt sorry for himself.

This was his response:

"Sometimes, in the mornings. Thats when I mourn. I feel around my body, I move my fingers and hands - whatever I can still move - and I mourn what I've lost. I mourn the slow, insidious way in which I'm dying. But then I stop mourning. I give myself a good cry if I need it. But then I concentrate on all the good things still in my life. On the people who are coming to see me. On the stories I'm going to hear. On you - if its Tuesday. Because we're Tuesday people."

It is okay to be hurt, to worry, to be sad, to struggle, to feel broken.

Just remember that you are alive and that you have purpose.

In the mist of what we face, I hope we remember that life is short.

(and. so. very. precious.)

Don't feel sorry for yourself.

Be proud. 

Be grateful.

Give thanks.

Smile often.

HAPPY, HAPPY TUESDAY!

much love, friends.

(PS) ---> Mitch said that visiting with his old professor was like 'a cleansing rinse of human kindness'. 

So don't just remember to be kind to others, but remember to be kind to yourself. 

If you have made it this far in your life, then you are doing good. 

Until next week's lesson ...

Tuesdays with Colie, Week 1

feel free to purchase a copy for yourself. it is wonderful! :)

Do you know that feeling you get after reading a novel, that feeling of never wanting to let go of it. You want to hold onto the story, the characters, the emotions.
Yes? Good.
No? I hope you do someday.

Morrie is about to die.
He is in the last few months of his life when Mitch hears about his old professors illness.
And just as it would be, Mitch has one last class with Morrie.
In his home, by the window in his study.
With only a short time, Morrie shares the lessons about life and how to truly LIVE.

So, over the course of the next fourteen weeks, I have decided to take that journey.
I hope that you all do as well.

"Dying is only one thing to be sad over. Living unhappily is something else." -Morrie Schwartz

**taken from 'tuesdays with morrie' page 48**

Sometimes I just stop and think about how small we all are in comparison to the world, the universe.

We are the size of ants, smaller even.

I am not sure if we are even a speck.

In a sense, we barely exist to the world around us.

Yet, we do in fact exist.

We all desire to be happy and live a life filled with love.

However, sometimes we are constantly striving for things that in the end ... as Morrie talks about ... won't matter. 

We also forget to show compassion and love to others because we spend so much time thinking about what we need for ourselves. We never have enough, right?

We keep looking for what this world can offer us to make us momentarily happy.

I feel that many times we get so caught up in having more, that we let our dreams slip away.
I hope we can find them again. 

Morrie spoke of how something changed in him once he became ill. 

He began to feel closer to people when he began to suffer.

He felt their pain and hurt.

People he didn't even know ... that his heart ached for them and instantly he would come to tears. 

During one of Mitch's classes he had with his professor in college, Morrie showed up one day and just stood in front of the class.

He just starred ... and waited.

No sound.

Everyone fidgeting, nervous, awkward.

When the silence finally broke, Morrie got what he wanted all along.

A discussion about the effect of silence on human relations.

Why are we constantly moving?

We live in a time where silence rarely exists.

Who has the time, right?

I have to say that it is something that I have to remind myself daily to do.

I do not always succeed. 

Silence is very important, I feel.

I believe that in the silence we are able to really stop and reflect on what we really NEED in our lives, not just what we WANT. 

Silence allows us to slow down and enjoy life.

When we finally do that, I think that the pursuit of living begins again.

Morrie once said, "The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in. Love is the only rational act."

first post of twenty-twelve.

Hello, friends.
I have been absent the past few days from the blogging world.
It has been busy, busy for me considering that I worked the past five days straight.
Work was awful yesterday and I almost found myself in tears on several occasions.
(patients aren't always the friendliest when they do not get their medication ... even when it obviously isn't my fault. -- that is life, for ya.)
It truly was the worst day of work by far.
So, needless to say, I am extremely grateful I do not have to relive it.

Anyhoo, on New Year's I got to spend the evening with great friends!
Jordan & Tyler had a few people over ... and it was filled with snacks, laughter, crocheting, and new friends.
However, I am surprised we all lasted until the ball dropped at midnight.
I was fighting to stay awake past ten, folks.
I'm afraid it must be the old age kicking in ... ;)

jordan & i ending 2011. :)

goodbye 2011, hello 2012. 

I hope that this year I am more grateful for this wonderful life I have.

When I wake up every morning ... the first breath I breathe ... that is a reminder that I am given another day. 

Another day to drink coffee, to look at the sun rise from my back porch, to walk outside and see all the beauty in it, to be surrounded around wonderful friends who love me, to meet new people, to sing in my car (alone, because I don't sing in front of anyone ;), to smile when I get a text from someone, to plan road trips, to dream up how wonderful it will be when I finally get to travel and explore europe, to be an example for my family, to better myself, to never stop pushing myself to grow, and to always fight to walk down this path we call "life". :)

I wish you all the same and so much more!

much love, colie.

my one word.

let's all try to live by this motto. <3

we live a world that wants everything & we want it RIGHT NOW.

for me, it is hard to imagine that anything existed before this way of life.

we are not very patient people. 

our lives have become consumed around how life, in some way, owes us.

we tend to think, sometimes not purposely, that we need to get exactly what we want at the very moment we ask for it.

*i get easily annoyed if my internet connection is slow (or heaven forbid i go a full day without it!)

*if someone isn’t going “fast enough” in traffic

*if i don’t get my food the way i want it (i’m a picky eater)

*if my iphone isn’t doing what i want it to do

*if i don’t receive an immediate answer to something i feel is oh-so-important

*if someone doesn't do what i need them to do for me, especially if i have asked them several times

i tend to get annoyed or complain when things are not going the way i feel they should go.

& sadly, this isn’t just me.  

we live in a world that is focused on “me, me, me”.

then we lose sight of what is really important.

for that reason, i am doing away with my “new years resolution”. 

because if i want to be honest here, i never do any of them. : /

so, instead i am focusing on one word. 

one word to sum up what i want to change about myself and my life for the coming year. 

that word is GRATEFUL.

(**The definition of grateful is warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful; expressing by gratitude; or pleasing to the mind.)

i think it is easy for me to complain about so much that i don’t have and yet 

… what would life be like if i never had any of these things to begin with?

would i still have so much to complain about?

to feel like life just isn’t being fair to me?

i spend so much time rushing through life that i forget to just live.

to take the time:

to breathe.

to love.

to be grateful.

i hope to change that in 2012.

so, now….what is your one word?

oh, and remember to --- >

much love, colie.

(ps. this 'one word' idea came to me by reading this lovely post. enjoy!)

feel. INSPIRED.

i am extremely excited about this post today.

there is so much inspiration around me -- & i hope i can send a little your way, as well.

for those of you who do not know, i have a tumblr account.

on that account i follow miss dianna agron, otherwise known as charlie. ;)

dianna.

i enjoy her posts on music, friends, life, and the arts.

i'm sure that you will too!

so dianna just kicked off a new website.

& after popping over last night, i truly felt inspired & encouraged!

if you decide you would like to feel the same then please click on the "about charlie" tab when you get there.

it will explain the name behind the person named "charlie".

:)

taken from youmeandcharlie under "daily inspiration".

over the past couple of days i have been feeling musically inspired.

& of course being on (youmeandcharlie) last night, i stumbled upon miss emma louise.

i love her!

emma louise & a lovely birdie. :)

& on that note ... i stopped over on lauren's blog this morning.

boy, oh boy was i in for a lovely treat! :D

it is week 2 of the hunger games countdown & she did NOT disappoint.

her friend kate gave us a hunger games mixtape.

the mixtape was amazing! -- if you loved reading the books and fell in love with peeta & katniss, then please check out these posts. i promise you won't be disappointed. :) -- & if you haven't read the hunger games. please, PLEASE do so TODAY!! 
** i must say that if you have not read all three books yet, then i would not suggest you read any of lauren's hunger game posts, yet. -- you will find out far too much information, which won't make reading the novels as much fun. : /

ALSO,  just a heads up ... i know that kate had adele's "make you feel my love" by bob dylan on the list of songs, but i didn't find it on the actual playlist. so i decided to add the video below:

much love, colie.