Gardening...

Today, we are gardening together as a family! I always garden best in overalls, but today a sundress and wide-brimmed hat will have to do. I love working in the sunshine, feeling the dirt on my hands, and knowing that I'm almost as awesome as Laura Ingalls Wilder. (Ha.) It will be exciting to see the fruits (and vegetables) of our labor... I hope we have lots of awesome produce this year.

And later today, after a big breakfast and a morning in the sunshine, we'll be off to a wedding! It looks to be a fun-filled and happy day... Happy Saturday!

Summer Livin'

I'm freeeeeeeeee!
Yesterday, I finished my last final of high school. That means freedom!!
...Until college.
Many of my friends and family members can tell you how exhausting and overwhelming the last few weeks of school were for me. I was stressed out, grouchy, worried, etc... (Sorry guys!) Even after I was done, I just sat there all day staring at everything with glazed-over eyes. But now, it's all over, and no more papers, tests, or projects!
It's a new day, a new summer, and I'm super excited!
After my literature final yesterday (the last one!) I celebrated summer by going to lunch with some awesome friends. And then I was surprised with these lovely flowers by the sweetest guy I know. His name starts with  J and ends with N, and he continued to prove his sweetness by buying me lunch. (Hopefully he doesn't read this and get a big head.) I put them in a mason jar to prove that I'm artsy and pinterest-y. At least that's my story.

After lunch, I spent a sleepy afternoon with my sweet nephews and nieces, sister Katya, and cousin Tiana, who is visiting for a few weeks! We then all (minus Tiana and plus Sophie and my parents) skipped off to watch an Isotopes game, which was a very boring game with few hits but we had fun spending time together. 

I honestly don't remember much because I was falling asleep.

But today I awoke with new energy, and attacked my summer with gusto. Here's a few things I'm doing with my first day of summer:

1. Cleaned a bunch. I'm not sure why, but a clean room, house, etc... gives a kind of joy that I think only certain crazy people understand.

2. The first day of summer of course needs a bright and cheery outfit. And Sophie declared that pictures must be taken, thus.... this. 

3. I adapted a new hairstyle. I parted my hair on the wrong side today, and have regretted it ever since. But, it's growing on me. No pun intended.

4. Quilting! My mom is going to show me and Sophie how to *not* ruin a quilt. We'll see how this one turns out.

So that's my first day of summer so far!

To my two readers: What are you doing to celebrate summer?

Beginnings

A new beginning.

I've always thought that new beginnings are somewhat scary.

• Starting a new job.
• Moving to someplace new.
• Beginning a new relationship.
• Making a new friend.
• Going to college for the first time.
• Getting married.
• Forming a new company.
• Having a baby.

The list goes on...
New beginnings are meant to be challenging, although there are some that are more
difficult than others. I think that if we weren't a little scared of what's ahead we would lose the excitement that life has to offer. For me, finishing high school, starting a new relationship, going to college for the first time... It's a little overwhelming! But it's not always about the changes. For many, the chance to start fresh is exciting, relieving, or jubilant. There are so many adventures that lie ahead. But even though starting something new is a good thing, there are still times when I feel reluctant to part with my old familiar ways; to step out of my comfort zone. But doing just that is what the great adventure of life is all about.
So, to mark the new beginnings of this brand new summer, I decided to start writing.
My literature teacher has always told me to pursue and explore my gifts in writing, but I never really thought it was "my thing." I could analyze Shakespeare and come up with silly stories all day, but when it comes to writing about myself, I've always fallen short.
So that's the reason that I've decided to start over.
With my face to the sunshine and a sense of adventure in the air, I'm going for it.
A new beginning.