A Hello And A Goodbye

Hello hello, how do you do? This just might be the last post on this little blog of mine. I've enjoyed writing and posting my photography on here so much. It almost feels like a small home to me, worn in just the right places. To be writing the last post is a little bittersweet, but I know I'm doing the right thing. Don't worry though, my writing isn't over. Actually, it is just starting. Since my life is changing and taking a new form I thought it would be good to have a fresh, clean slate to write on. I have started a new blog over on Wordpress called Rooftop Secrets. I'm really excited about this blog and can't wait to break it in. 

Before I leave, I would just like to thank you all so much for sticking around here and reading my writing. All your comments have meant the world to me. Your support has been wonderful. I hope you will join me over at my new blog. I'm excited to see where the future takes it.

www.selectedampersand.blogspot.com

~Messy~

A Small List #2

Filed Under: A Small List, Thoughts, Writing 

Making: Pretty Things

Baking: A strawberry tart 

Drinking: Passion tea lemonade and black tea 

Reading: Psalms  

Wanting: A little white house with blue shutters and a view of the ocean

Learning: To put my trust and hope in God

Playing: Ukulele strings 

Waisting: Paper towel  (sorry, I just  have to be honest) 

Sowing: Seeds to grow into living things

Wishing: That I could carry the sea with me wherever I go

Enjoying: The warm weather that finally came and swept me off my feet

Waiting: For the day where I get to take my first senior photos for someone 

Liking: Iced tea

Hoping:  That the rest of this year will be filled with open doors 

Loving: Flowers, oh so many flowers

Marveling: Over how God is real and that He is right next to me

Needing: Chocolate. Because a girl always needs chocolate. And this one already ate everything she got from Easter. 

Smelling: A relaxing blend of essential oils

Wearing: Gray and brown tank-top with a light brown knit shirt,  leggings, and sandals

Following: Still way to many people on Instagram 

Noticing: All the trees that are budding around me

Knowing: That God loves me more than any human ever could and I can find my identity in Him

Thinking: Way to late into the night

Bookmarking: {lux et amor} 

Looking: Through my camera lens

Giggling: With (not at!)  my friend because he is really funny

Feeling: Relaxed and at peace

Crazy Little Adventure Called Life

Filed Under: Photography, Thoughts, Writing 

There are so many beautiful little moments in life.  Even when everything is messy, crazy and hectic. 

I’m finding out that life will never be perfect and it will never go smoothly like you hope. There will aways be something that you wish you could change.  It will never be picture perfect like you see in magazines or on the internet.  

Never. 

I’m learning though, that being able to still find the joy in life.   Being able to give thanks in the midst of the storm, will fulfill your heart more than any other perfect kind of life would. 

 Too long I have wasted my days wishing my life could be different. Pouring over images I see of other peoples lives.  Lives that look perfect and pleasing.  I’m finding out though, that this is just a deception and a waist of time.  

What’s life with out a little messiness?  What’s life with out a rain shower?  Finding the joy, the love, and the beautiful small things in a crazy messy life is such a wonderful little adventure. 

~Messy~

Ever Even Dreamed Of

Filed Under: Thoughts, Writing 

I believe with all my heart that if we ask God to open our eyes, He’ll let us see different aspects of Him in the creation around us. We’ll see the peace and quaintness of Him in the empty, foggy corn field we drive through on the interstate. We’ll see His mightiness and largeness on top of a rocky mountain cliff. We’ll see His depth and and wideness in the deep ocean blue. And we’ll see His majestic and awestruck-wonderness in the starry sky that hangs right above us every night.

If we just ask to see, we’ll get to know our God on a intimate level we have never even dreamed of.

She Breaths In Dirt And Exhales FLowers {Quote}

"She breathes in dirt and exhales flowers" - Isa Ampersand

I love this quote for numerous reasons. One reason is because it's small and tiny, but it implies so much. You could write it on a tiny slip of paper, roll it up and keep it in a locket, and have it by your heart.

So yes, I just really liked this quote. I thought that if I shared it with you, you may like it too. I hope it inspires you as it did me. 

xoxo, Messy

We've Got Our Own Sense Of Time {Photography}

We've got our own sense of time:

Walks midday 

Blurry eyes

Wind rushing through my curly hair

Running wild down the street

Sutter clicks

Icy sidewalks

Puddle jumping

Drenched shoes

Refections 

Sun shinning through the branches

Slow speed limits 

Cooked carrots 

Cupcakes 

Empty shoes

Bare feet

Wet doggie noses

Open doors

My Sunday...

A Small List

Making: Poems with words just out of reach, photos, and melodies on the piano

Baking: A chocolate cake with stevia instead of sugar

Drinking: Tazo Passion Tea

Reading: Mere Christianity, the Bible, and numerous other books that are making a stack beside my bed.

Wanting: Chocolate

Learning: To execpt constructive ciritisivem. Even on the things that are dear to my heart.

Playing: Piano keys and soft melodies 

Waisting: Time

Sowing: Little bits of goodness for the future 

Wishing: That warm weather would come and sweep me off my feet. 

Enjoying: Tripical Dreams tea, apples, and oranges

Waiting: For tomorrow and the right words to come

Liking: Pinterest pins

Hoping: I can make someone smile today. :) 

Loving: The sun light coming through my window

Marveling: How people fall in love with each other 

Needing: To slow down and time away

Smelling: My lovely vanilla grapefruit perfume 

Wearing: Light gray knit dress, black leggings, and lacy socks  

Following: To many people on Instagram 

Noticing: How many wonderfulartistic things are around me. 

Knowing: God works through my weaknesses 

Thinking: About a lot of thing. More than I can put in words. 

Bookmarking: With Love, Hannah (a blog that I recently found and love)

Looking: Through my camera lens

Giggling: Over my brother who is like, really funny.

Feeling: Joyful

Lovely February

I loved…

The sweet laughter

and presence of my friend.

How we sat and ate lunch,

and talked until it had to end.

When all the lovelies I now

came together,

and we celebrated love, chocolate,

and good smelling lotions and lip balms.

I loved…

The smell 

of my moms essential oils.

How they work miracles,

and make you feel better.

The deep black night sky

and the moon that hangs

and shines bright.

I loved…

The aroma of coffee

and black tea.

How when you pour in the creamer

it mixes together so smoothly.

The sweet and calming melodies 

of the guitar and piano

playing together. 

I loved…

When he makes me laugh so hard 

I could die.

I mean literally,

 I could die from not gasping in enough air.

(he's pretty funny)

When I got to dance 

and twirl

and spin 

and have fun with new people.

I loved…

Hanging the roses to dry

to remind me of all the memories 

this February left behind. 

I hope you had as good of a February as I did. Even though it was filled with messiness and grim, the beauty still shone through. I'm looking forward to March, though. I can't wait for the coldness to melt away and for the warmth to come shining through. I hope you all have a lovely month. <3>

It's Ok To Be Messy

Can I be honest here? 

I'm guilty of wearing masks.  Acting like I have it all figured out, knowing where I'm headed. It is so easy to fake a smile, post a picture, add a few pretty words and then call it good. It's so easy to fall into only showing the pretty side of everything. The side you want people to see. Not the other side thats messy and not put together. I sometimes like the idea of life being like a picture in a magazine instead of  being filled with grittiness, staying up to late working, being behind on deadlines, and being insecure or not sure of yourself. 

I want to be real and honest. I don't want to appear like I have it all put together because I don't. I'm far from it. Sometimes people ask me "Where are you going to college", "What are you going to do after school", "what are you interested in", or "what is your next step in life". And the true answer to all these questions is I don't know. 

Heres the true:

I get nervous by actually putting my talents to use.

I don't really know what I want to go to college for.

I care to much about what other people think and struggle with identity.

I feel like I don't measure up.

I focus on my fear to often instead of resting in God's truth and promise.

I have trouble believing in myself. 

I feel like I'm faking it and won't ever make it. 

I struggle with wanting praise from people instead of only God.

But in the misted of these truths, there is grace. And no, I don't have it all together. Not by a long shot. But I'm learning and growing. I'm slowly learning to let go of my perfectionism and and be confident in the gifts I've been given and use them to the best of my abilities. And if I mess up or fall, its alright. 

I also fear I don't measure up. Because of my age, because I haven't accomplished "x", because I don't have _____ or _______, because someone else it doing something greater and I'm here stuck in the snow in March. 

But none of that matter. That is not where I'm identity lies. I can find joy and find who I am in the things of this world or I can embrace who I am in Christ and this beautiful messy life I've been given. 

Here's the thing. It's so easy to get caught up in thinking if we each a certain point, we've got it made. That once we reach that point (whatever it is) everything will fall into place, our insecurity will go away, and we will live in this overwhelming confidence. And not all those things are bad things, but once we start basing our insecurities in where we are at instead of who we are in Christ, we lose the heart behind what we do and who we truly are. 

I struggle with my identity and who I truly am. I don't feel like I measure up most of the time. I worry what other people think about me. And it is an everyday choice to focus not of what the world says, but what God says. That I don't have it all together and thats ok! I don't have to be perfect to be His.

It's ok to be messy. 

"GOD SPEAKS SOMETHING MEANINGFUL INTO OUR LIVES AND IT FILLS US UP AND HELPS US CHANGE THE WORLD REGARDLESS OF OURSELVES AND OUR SHORTCOMINGS. HIS NAME FOR US IS HIS BELOVED. HE HOPES THAT WE WILL BELIEVE HIM & START TO SEE OURSELVES BELOVED INSTEAD OF THINKING UP REASONS WE AREN’T." — BOB GOFF

Priorities {Quote}

Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don’t want to. But other things are harder. Try it: “I’m not going to edit your résumé, sweetie, because it’s not a priority.” “I don’t go to the doctor because my health is not a priority.” If these phrases don’t sit well, that’s the point. Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don’t like how we’re spending an hour, we can choose differently.

- Wall Street Journal

Snowy Sundays {Lifestyle Snapshots}

What do you do on a cold, snowy Sunday? Why bake cinnamon rolls, listen to some music on a record player, and dream of the ocean of course! And maybe take some pictures too. ;) 

These are some of my favorite days. Getting some time off to enjoy what you love and spending time with family is the best.

 I hope you all enjoy your wonderful Sunday, wether your snowed in or your out basking in the sun (like if you live in Florida).

xoxo, Messy