germs and rodents

It's been a tough few weeks ... I've been pretty sick and just can't seem to shake it. After much denial and resistance on my part, I was finally ordered to bed this weekend by my doctor, complete with a round of antibiotics and a stern lecture by the nurse about getting enough rest.

This morning I obliged her and called in sick to work. I woke up, planning to fill Aidan with a warm breakfast before taking him in to school. During the flurry of our morning activities, I didn't yet have on my glasses or contacts, and I noticed that the dogs had left me a pile of leaves and junk on the carpet. As I bent down to pick it up, I quickly realized that the 'pile of leaves' was a dead rat, proudly deposited for me by one of my happy canines.

I don't know if I'll ever fully recover. I washed my hands for at least 5 minutes.

Ty will be home for Spring Break in 2 weeks. I CANNOT wait. I also don't think I'm going to let him leave.

happiness is ROY G. BIV

Remember when you were a kid and learned about the color spectrum with the pnemonic, Roy G. Biv? Among all the facts and figures we were forced to soak up, it's funny how the simplest ones seem to stick.

If Roy G. Biv was a real person, I have a feeling he'd be one cool cat -- someone to hang out with and ponder life, while sipping martinis and listening to live jazz or something. Yep. I'm certain he'd be that kind of guy -- smoothe and easy. ;)

I adore color. The brighter, the better, even if there's no rhyme or reason to it (look no further than my crazy tin ornament tree or my fascination with Alamo Fiesta on Main). Rich, gem-tone colors have me breathing deep and smiling on the inside.

Throughout my life, I've taken advantage of various outlets for the creative chunk of my soul that is mostly ignored. My twin sister and I have collaborated together on projects, big and small. Some were fun. Some were good. Some sucked. Not all were technically art, and frequently they involved written language. I've always enjoyed creating something from nothing, and color was consistently an important component of all projects.

Recently, that urge to create has really kicked in again. It's a side of my personality that, I'm ashamed to say, I don't embrace like I should; however, it's ever-present, and it's strong. One of my goals over the next few years is to "get creative" again. No specifics yet, other than it must involve color.

There's a piece of art -- Om Mosaic Window -- I found on Etsy by Mandolin Mosaics that absolutely captivates me. I can only imagine how it must harness and display sunlight -- spectacular, no doubt. Om Mosaic Window epitomizes color -- true, solid, deep, saturated color. Gem tones. Deep reds, blues and oranges. And for some reason, I return to it often and just stare at it. If I had an extra $3,000.00 to plunk down on such things, I'd snatch it up in a heartbeat.

But for now, I'm content to look at Om from afar and to let it inspire me ... to soak it up in all its Roy G. Biv glory and think of all the possibilities ... and of course, all its color.

heaven is a little bit brighter...

... but earth a little more dim this morning.

My sweet cousin and her husband lost their niece during the night after a courageous battle with cancer. Little R fought harder for life in her short time here than some of us do with decades of the same opportunity.

Time is so precious. Every minute, even the painful ones, are worth cherishing. Wishing for more than we are given is such a selfish way to live, and I am guilty of it.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." -- Revelation 21:4

Life is eternal and love is immortal. God speed, little one. Play without pain, and smile without tears.

football, family and friends

My beloved Fightin' Texas Aggies opened the season last night at home with a solid and convincing win against New Mexico.

We spent the day tailgating and catching up with family and friends -- and wading through the excitement of college football gameday.

My sister made some killer stuffed mushrooms that we cooked on the grill. Another friend brought the hottest, cheesiest, and yummiest jalapeno dip that I've ever tasted. Drinks were strong and cold, and rain threatened all day (but never materialized), adding the perfect amount of breeze and tolerable temperature levels.

No matter how crazy life can get, returning "home" to College Station amongst the friendliest people in the world, always helps to ground me and remind me how fun this whole ride can be.

So ... beat the hell outta Utah State, Ags!

i realized something today

I'm always telling my husband to "have faith," but I seldom follow my own advice. I'm really good at dishing it out, but frequently guilty of [over] worrying about the future and what might come -- to the point that I'm often missing the obvious -- I'm blessed. How insulting my doubt and lack of true faith has been.

I've decided to make a conscious effort to really trust in the Plan for my life, rather than trying to control everything.

I stepped outside of my box big-time at work today, and it felt unexpectedly good. It also enlightened me. I don't know when it happened, but somewhere along the way I learned to wrap myself up way too tight in my own comfort zone and fear any kind of unknown or risk. That's so not the way I want to live my life, or how I want to model life for my son.

So hooray for personal epiphanies on Thursdays. I love it when I can put some miles behind me on the road to discover who I am -- especially when the sky is so bright and blue.