My Big Adventure

Hi long, lost, friends!

I sat down to write (after about 6 months of being out of the word zone) because I feel kind of excited today, maybe like Pee Wee, without the pervy connotations?  Tomorrow, I start my BIG adventure!  It is probably my most exciting, unexpected, opportunity yet, career wise.  Thinking about it makes me smile and a little scared all at once; isn't that the sign of a good choice?  

You see the last 6 months I have been working in a position that didn't turn out to be a good fit for me.  It wasn't my gig.  I am grateful for the really wonderful people I met and things I learned; but for me it created a level of stress in my life that just wasn't what I needed.   I also was traveling constantly and that was something, that although I have done in the past, not while being married...so there's that.  

My new opportunity will give me new challenges and should allow me tap into the things I do best. There is an energy and what feels like "providence"  in this career move. It has been forever since I have looked forward to going to work and it seems like time has been crawling up to tomorrow!!!  I am, of course obsessing over "what should I wear on my first day?"  It feels like the night before the first day of school.  Please send good wishes and prayers my way!

It is almost here and it is time to take charge of you!

 

We are just a few days from the turning of a calendar page that will mark the beginning of another New Year. I thought when the calendar turned last year that maybe, just maybe we could breathe a sigh of relief.  I was wrong. I didn't think 2021 could outdo 2020 in shear stress, loss, fear, and plain out jumbling of life - but I was wrong.  I could write a post singularly on the things that went south in my life personally, not to mention so many people I care about, but I am not going to do that.

2022 is my year of hope, celebration, surpassing goals, and seeing personal success.  I am going to focus on what wonderful things I have.  This doesn't mean my life is perfect but it means I am going to find the perfection between the thorns. God has been so very good to me and I often forget that fact,  I am excited about what is to come.

I am going back to why I started blogging. I am going to celebrate life.  That includes my amazing, too good for me, husband. Why he loves me, I don't know but am so blessed he does.  Love after 50 is different and we are still technically newlyweds so I am sure I will share the struggles and triumphs of this season which includes blending families and lifestyles. My husband truly took a withered vine and nursed it back to health and continues to love me daily and helps me grow stronger.  He makes me feel like anything is possible. With him, by the way, his name is David, I have learned to dream and my creative spirit is being watered to life. Things I long had felt I lost the ability to do or the passion to pursue have bloomed and I am not afraid to share without shame. In a past life I was made to feel as if sharing the things that brought me joy was wrong and annoying, but the great thing I have learned is that it doesn't matter because it brings me pleasure.  I will be sharing the creation and evolving of our home and gardens, time with old and new friends, exploring food, entertaining and adventures...not to mention products I have tried, books I have read, life with children who are now young adults, and of course life with 3 big dogs.  Oh...and a liberal dose of fashion, shoes, and skincare/makeup just to round out life.

Transparency is a word I have often used in the blogging world but I am committed to it...the good, the bad, and the ugly - which, when you think about it is truly all part of the beautiful thing we call life.

Ultimately I have realized my greatest gift is that I am a Lifestyle Curator.  My greatest talent is helping to create lives that are not just beautiful on the outside but also the inside in the deepest part of one's heart.  We can have both and they can both be real and transparent.  You can be perfectly put together and have a day that is just off and that is okay. Tears are okay. A messy house is okay.  A beautiful life is one where you can be all those things and continue to strive for peace which is the basis of the ultimate beautiful life.

I love you for taking a few moments to read my words. Your comments mean more than you will ever know. I would very much like for you to leave a comment with your greatest hope for 2022. Let the best be yet to come!

Early Morning Adventure!

This morning found me dragging my 2 boys + friend out of bed at about 5:30 AM. That is early for a summer morning around here! It was worth the sleepy eyes because we went to the 1st morning of the Annual Helen Atlantic Hot Air Balloon Race. Unfortunately, due to weather, the actual race start had to be delayed but we still got to see several balloons inflated and a couple taking off.

http://www.helenballoon.com/

DS1, Friend & DS2 watch as a balloon begins to inflate.

I don't think I ever fully appreciated how big these balloons actually are!

We were extra proud that Clemson was well represented!Go Tigers!!!

Up, up and away...

Oh, and the best part? This was early morning FREE fun!

DS2 loved getting to climb inside and check out a real balloon basket.

School is out!

I have been MIA lately because I have been busy with the kiddos and all their end of the year activities and, of course, baseball! DS2 finished up his baseball season last Saturday with the team winning the game and then having a really fun end of the season party, complete with water balloons!


After the party we decided to have a little adventure and headed to Yellow Branch Falls. It was the perfect kick off to summer! We walked the 1.5 mile trail back into the falls and boy, was it worth it!

DS1 leads the way.

The flowers were so gorgeous and I probably spent an annoying amount of time taking photos on the way to the falls.

Just lovely!

My photo snapping caused theboys to have to stop and wait on the Slow-Poe (as DS2 has been known to label me!).

As we made our final turn and headed down to the falls we saw a cool blanket of mist rising. It was almost spooky.

So worth the walk.

Me!

I think if it hadn't been so late in the day, I could have sat there for hours.

My favorite shot of the day!

It was the perfect start to our summer vacation. It was especially nice that DH could go with us since we tend to find adventures while he is at work. He actually got to be part of the fun rather than just hear about it!

Drought....

This past weekend DD and DS#2 and I decided to walk around the lake a bit. I realize that doesn’t sound very interesting but to those of you outside of North GA ,you might be interested in knowing we literally walked around “IN” the lake. If you haven’t heard... North GA is in a severe drought and has been for the last year or so. Lake Lanier and others lakes in the region are practically unrecognizable. Though, loved by boaters and fisherman alike, most of the boat ramps are closed and it is dangerously low. Here is a link http://www.conservewatergeorgia.net/Documents/georgia_drought.html if you are interested is learning more.

Normally, the water line is up to those trees and makes it an island.
Yes, that is a boating buoying (is that how you spell that?) to let boaters know of more shallow waters...in a full lake you wouldn't see the bottom half or the pole! Now, if that isn't context I don't know what is.
DD & DS#2

BTW, the clams are dying in our lake!

Me and Art....

***photo taken by DD

Art....

Yes, DH....art.

Please click to enlarge and read about this art....