Down Time in the Country...

I have had a crazy busy few weeks,  professionally but personally as well, and I was blessed recently with some down time in what can only be called a true down South Fish Camp.  This building was originally an old Tobacco barn that was moved next to a perfect little pond.  It was one of the best times I have had in a very long time. I am grateful to friends who share their special places with me.

Deep south...Deer heads and fish on the wall!

Couldn't you curl up with a pillow and a good book in this gorgeous porch swing on the screened porch?  I know I would love to spend an whole day just soaking in the moments.

The upstairs of the Fish Camp is a little apartment that has this gorgeous handmade bed.  A man that works on the farm where this is located made the bed and much of the furniture, including the porch swing!  I love it.

I even got to do a little target practice! Oh, and yes...my gun is pink and my heels are high!

These photos are probably what make this magical little place as amazing as it is. 

You literally feel like the world is a gazillion miles away. 

 

And then....the sunset came.

 

Well, I have been to Vegas...

I did make that trip to Las Vegas for work a couple of weeks ago and haven't had a chance to write about it because I have been working, working, working!  My week in Vegas was truly a work week and by the time I was home I was completely, totally pooped! Then Monday came and the whirlwind which appears to be my new normal started.  Oh, and did I mention I have gone back to school as well?

I was curious if I would like Las Vegas at all, since I really never had any desire to go to the city, but I did have a good time. I learned so much workwise and met more great people than you can ever imagine.  Of course, I took pictures so you can see my favorite parts of Las Vegas....

I stayed at and  my company's event was at the MGM Grand Hotel, which is like a small city in itself.  It was beautiful and was filled with tons of shops, restaurants, entertainment and, of course, gambling! Due to it being a work function I think I saw day light once that week!  

 

 Even though I didn't get to spend much time outside, I got to see lots of pretty lights at night....

 

But by far, my favorite thing was so very unVegas!  It was a handmade soap shop that had me drooling.  Yes...drooling!  I had to go in it, every chance I got just to smell, look and be amazed...

It was just too much!!!  And of course, I did spend a little time doing some late night retail therapy!

Yes, the jacket came straight home to South Carolina along with a few other goodies!

 







My biggest surprise about Vegas was how small it truly is.  There are a lot of suburbs, but the actual "Vegas" you always see on TV and the movies seems so much bigger on the screen than it is in real life (I guess that is a Hollywood trick?)  I was expecting this monsterous city full of skyscrapers and crazy traffic.  Either way, I can finally say "Vegas, been there, done that."

Worklife....

This week finds me working from a location I have never really wanted to visit but here I am.  Let me tell you...there are more light bulbs than at GE!  Welcome to Las VEGAS! 

I will be here all week in meetings and conference activities for my job but I plan to have a little fun as well.  Maybe I have never mentioned that I love my job and my industry.  What girl doesn't like playing with clothes, jewelry and make up....and getting paid for it?  Sometimes I look around and can't believe I have been so blessed to have my job and how much I love it.  It stretches me and challenges me and gives me a peak into what can be.  I have learned so much about myself and my abilities in this position.  My Co-Workers are fantastic as well, providing guidance, encouragement and support.

Though,  I won't be popping any money into the slots, I will be experiencing some new and fun things this week and hopefully I can share with you!  Have a GREAT day!!!!

No Phone Saturday...

Guess what?  Today I didn't use my cell phone.  I didn't call or text anyone.  I didn't use it to take a photo, or check the weather.  I didn't scroll through emails with it.  I actually left it in my bag all day.  I will look at it tomorrow.  I should also note that I didn't look at either of my phones because, yes, I have more than one due to work.  Neither of them came out to play today because I just didn't feel like I wanted to connect with anyone in that way. 

I wanted to see today, all of it and not through the lens of a phone.  I wanted to talk to people face to face, not through a text or hurried phone conversation.  I wanted to look directly at who ever I  talking to and not bother to look down to check for a text message or other notification.  I wanted to be present in the moment.  It was nice to not dig through my bag or once say "where is my phone?"  Surprisingly, I didn't miss it.  Maybe it was just another step in my drawing my world smaller...part of the culling? 

This afternoon my youngest son and I were walking through a park and walked by the amphitheater area and both of us noticed the strangest thing...there were lots of people sitting there in the shade of the hot afternoon but it was eerily silent...everyone was literally looking at their phones.  I think it says something about how far this phenomenon has gone when a 14 year old notices it and says something about how sad it was.  He also spent several hours last night with friends and none of them used their phones and he came home excited about what great conversations they had.  Wow...telling, isn't it? 

I am going to make some phone changes because real life truly is better and people deserve your presence and not just virtually. I want to hear your voice and your laughter but lets do it face to face whenever possible.

I blew it today....again.

photo credit unknown

I blew it today...Again.  I blew it as a Mom.  I failed to bridge a connection and scale a wall that I can't see or don't even know where it starts. I failed to teach respect or honor.  It weighs heavily on me, always.  I think all Mothers feel that when they aren't connecting with their children, no matter how old that child might be.  There is a saying, that you are only as happy as your most unhappy child, and I know for me that has always held true.  I want to be a good Mom and I think being a single Mom, I multiply that pressure  tenfold.  The reality is, I stink at being a Dad, so when I fail at being a good Mom I beat myself up doubly.  Of course, everyone will say don't do that...I just haven't quite figured out how not to yet. 

I am trying so hard to be the Mom I should be, it is literally the top priority in my life as my calling from God. My relationship with my children is only second to my relationship with God.  It is very discouraging when I drop the ball and watch it roll down an endless hill, with little hope of recovery.  I say things I shouldn't, I don't say things I should.  More than anything I want to be a pathway to Christ for my children and when I mess up, like today, I know I am so far off the mark it isn't funny.  Rather than lighting a path...I am building a roadblock.

My greatest earthly blessings are my children.  I know that there is nothing that they will ever do that will stop my love for them.  My greatest desire is for them to grow into Godly men and a Godly woman...much more than I ever have been.  I want them to avoid the pains I have walked through because I wasn't walking with God or putting Him first but sometimes words aren't enough.  I am grateful that God forgives, unfortunately, humans (even our children) aren't so quick to do so no matter how many times we ask.  We are the closest things to God our children often see, they see our failures and humanness and assign it to what they think God is.  That is why it hurts so badly when I fail one of them, because I know I may very well be pushing them further from their Heavenly Father.

So, I get up from my epic fall, wipe off my knees, and hopefully, I will get another day to try again.

Be the Change...

It is the time of year; when the stores are filled to the brim with school supplies.  Today my youngest son and I picked up his school supplies and I couldn't pass up this notebook when I saw it. 

 

My life theme has become "Be the Change," which is a cliché, but it truly has become the driving force behind the person I want to be.  I would like to say "the person I am," but I think to truly be the change one has to continually evolve and reach deep within and rethink who and how you approach life. It is a daily, maybe even hourly, recommitment to being the best you can be.   It takes loving, even when you aren't loved and loving the unlovable.  

 

It feels like the world has gone crazy.  Sometimes, I feel  that way when I walk through my own house, which has driven me to want to make a change in how I live and how I see people.  I am only one person, but I am responsible for my little spot on this planet and how I cultivate it for others. I have made mistakes and will again, but I have to start somewhere.

 

Our Church has also been doing a lot on similar topics.  We are being led to take personal responsibility in how we live out our faith and how we love others.  Many things have aligned in my life lately to bring me to this "Be the Change" attitude.  So many heart breaking events in our world, both far and near, in my life, and the lives of those I love.  There are so many people in pain and I can't get away from it...what do I do other than try to move the needle at least in my little corner of the world?  

 

I want to see some of this pain, hurting, depression and sense of anger in our world go away, even if it isn't noticeable to anyone else.  My heart knows  time is short and there is so much to do. What if each one of us decided to "Be the Change" is some small way, everyday?   

Isn't it though...