Beauty

Weekends are lovely little things...

My weekend started out with my friend Mia coming over to Napa, and we were able to hit the local coffee shop (Napa Valley Coffee Roasters) and have fufu drinks, while we both read a bit for school... 

Now one thing that you need to know about my friend is that she loves creamy things... and being in Napa, I guess to her that means cheese! So we found ourselves at a winery/ deli, and were able to try many different cheeses. (She tried duck liver on a cracker too. Eww!!! And no wine, we are only 19!) 

Our next adventure was to my favorite consignment store "LoLo's". It has the best clothes, and the prices might be a bit high for used clothes, but the experience of the treasure hunt is priceless!

Eating cheese, bread from a local bakery, and "organtic" grapes brought an end to our fine day...

and my beautiful weekend!

The pictures above are of the beautiful sweater that I call my treasure from LoLo's!!!

Now, to me, my beautiful sweater symbolizes the beauty of my weekend.

How was yours?

Oh the Effort!

    I had to pull off on the side of the road, and jump a rock wall in order to capture the images of these grapes!! I was so proud of myself... I am not sure why I was proud, but I was! Are these not the most beautiful grapes ever?
 

 The bees were enjoying the sunflowers almost as much as I was:)

Well, well, well...

Today was fab-u-lous! I was able to start classes, and take a bit of a trip into Napa. Now I must study, study, study... I am in a repetitious mood! which is a good thing because studying is coming up rather soon!

God is Faithful

Loneliness...

I know that everyone feels this at some time. 

I just happen to be feeling it tonight.

When no one is around, God is still there... 

I can't even whisper to Him because I feel that the silence is too oppressive, but I know that He listens to my heart shouting out to Him. I want His love to wash over me and I want Him to get me though my lonely times. 

Once life picks up its pace, all will be well... But until then, I sit in solitude silently waiting for sleep to come.

Comfort me Lord

.  .  .

He is faithful, I prayed and he answered me, He is wonderful. Now I can sleep in peace and tomorrow worship with my family. Ahh...

Napa, Here I Am!

Well, I am back at school laying in my dorm 

room with the blankets wrapped close to my body. 

I fell the fall whispering my name, it is coming. I am looking forward to fall coming and bringing beautiful colored grape vines with it... Ohh I can not hardly wait to see the blazing grape vines, and smell the fermenting grapes as I drive though the beautiful Napa Valley.

Fall is a wonderful thing. I love how the crisp air makes your eyes water, and how it 

makes tea tastes even better than it already is when the weather changes for the cooler:)

All in all, I heart Napa, even though in just a few short days nursing starts, and life will get a bit more hectic!

 

Those silly Barmaids

              

Bowling shoes are entertaining....                     

     

And smiles are contagious!

                                        

Barmaids: a pin that is hidden behind another pin.

Bowling is a fun sort of activity...

It is the kind of thing that you do with a large group of people, that may or may not have very many things in  common.

I went bowling last night, and instead of actually throwing the ball down the ally, I took pictures:)

And so now you may experience the beauty of bowling through my eyes. 

Might you be inspired to put a bowling party together one day and enjoy peoples company that you might not otherwise be able to enjoy...

That Box

What is the purpose of planning anything? 

Honestly, what is its purpose.... Do you think that it is Godly to plan? 

I think that it is good to plan. If I don't plan something then I wont do anything. But it is bad to plan because when I have a plan life is more easily placed in a box. If I can wrap my ideas around what is going to be happening in my life then I feel as if I can control it. (warning sign to self)

I really am doubting that planning is a good thing at all... I mean, all the plans that I make are trumped by God. He has the ultimate authority.  I live my life in order to please Him. But am I doing that when I plan everything out, and leave no room for God to break my mold of what I have place in the box of my life? 

It seems if  I was in Gods will things would fall into place.

I wish that I was more willing to place my life into God's hands, and allow His will take over. Is God's will for our lives as smooth as butter, or does God enjoy chunky peanut butter better? 

I have decide that God likes peanut butter. I don't think that God wants us to be comfortable. I don't really want to be comfortable. Actually, I do like to be comfortable, but I know that I am better off if I am not, because that means that I am more able to feel God's comfort when I need it. 

So maybe, just maybe, God wants us to plan, so that He can change our plans and make us uncomfortable so that we can know Him better....

WOW! I am not so sure that I even understand what in the fat I am talking about, but it feels good to get it out of my mind and onto "paper".... 

SuccesS

Today was a lovely day...

I got to work and had to only stay for three hours, which covers feeding the people, and then doing vital signs (which I love to do)... 

The hospital was overstaffed!! Can you believe that?

I actually did not mind getting out of there today, because I had much too many things on my mind. 

I had to compare prices for car tires, a car inspection appointment that needed to be made, and a necessary telephone call that needed to be made to my college.

I found that two tires for my car will be quite a pretty penny, I made the car appointment for tomorrow at threeish, and I finally got ahold of my college after three failed attempts...

I feel as though this day was completely successful in-spite of the five hours of work that was lost...

And now I will get some shut eye, before the sun arrives.

Goodnight!

Trusting in the Unchanging One

I am so stubborn sometimes, well, most of the time...Life is constantly changing and the only thing that is truly constant is change. I also know that God is unchanging. 

Why am I so opposed to change? How can I change the fact that I hate change so much? Some people embrace change with open arms. How do they do that?

I really want the Lord to give me peace in Him, because he is the constant unchanging one in my life. Today I am ready to give my stubbornness to Him, so He will be the one who will keep me grounded when life becomes too much. When life throws curve balls at me, the Lord will be the one to help me in my trek through life. 

James 1:17 says;

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

I need to remember that God is perfect, he has no need to change because he is already perfect. I need change to be apart of my life because I am still not perfect... Change brings out my imperfections, so that I may see my need to be transformed by the living God. When I die I will be made perfect. Until that time, I will learn how to embrace change, because God is good and perfect. He will help me handle life...

Berries!

Summer is almost over, and school is going to start rather soon, yet my grandmothers garden is still producing beautiful raspberries!! 

I was inspired when I was washing the red jewels to capture their exquisiteness. 

I might want to start a garden of my own someday... but until then I will enjoy my grandmothers garden.

If nothing else, I hope that you may decide to go to the store and purchase a case of antioxidant rich fruit... :) :) :)