Show Us Your Life

Today I'm doing something I've never done before....I'm linking up with someone else's blog. You can tell I don't blog that often based on the frequency of my past posts. But, Kelly's blog is one I read religiously so I figured this would be a good one to link up with. Kelly over at Kelly's Korner is starting her "Show Us Your Life" series and this one is "Show Us Your Life...Singles".

I'd like to introduce you to my dear friend Samantha....

Samantha is one of the most loyal people I know. We met in college and we're both avid TCU fans! She's a fun young woman who currently lives in Fort Worth after a short stint in Iowa. She enjoys puppies, children of all ages, frozen yogurt, local news and being outside on a sunny day! She's a very determined woman with big dreams! She is a regular church-goer who would drop anything to help out a friend!

Samantha is in her mid-20s and the oldest of three. She has grown up in the great state of Texas! She's genuinely a sweet person who loves her salsa hot and her margaritas strong!

She'd be a great catch for anyone and she's ready to meet her special someone!

If you know someone who would be interested, leave a comment!

Thanks,

Julie

it's upon us

The most wonderful time of year is upon us once again. Sure, it's only mid-November, but I heard Christmas carols on the radio today and I instantly felt happy, warm and all things nice. Tonight, some friends and I are gathering around the outdoor fireplace I have right outside my front door. It's in the mid-50s outside which is simply perfect for outdoor fireplaces, s'mores, Christmas carols, holiday decorations and gathering with friends and family.

It's funny that a simple little song can change your attitude. I admit, it changed mine today. I wasn't in a particularly sour mood but it did put a smile on my face. I can't wait for the weather to get even colder, to break out my fleece and wear flannel pants at night.

Friends, here's to wishing you the happiest and merriest of holidays this year. Remember not to forget the real reason for the season.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulder. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

-Isaiah 9:6

true friends

Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.

-Woodrow Wilson

A few days ago, I was blessed to be a part of a dear friend's special day. I was able to stand with her at the church and witness the love she has for her true love. It was a wonderful day and weekend where we ate, drank and celebrated these two who had committed to each other forever.

In addition to witnessing the blessing of marriage, I got to spend the weekend with some "old" friends. When we were all a bit younger and a little less wise, we lived together in a quaint little house near TCU. We laughed together, cried together, celebrated together, learned together and loved together throughout that short year. Well, four of the five of us were reunited for this wedding and man, did we have fun! It was so wonderful to pick up where we had left off when we all went our separate ways just five years earlier.

True friendship is rare and hard to find these days. These women have taught me so much and I hope they can say the same about me someday. Thank you, ladies, for a fabulous weekend! Here's to a few more celebrations in the years to come!

life

One of my greatest joys in life is people....being with people, loving people, serving people, listening to people, etc. If you know me, you know that I thoroughly enjoy watching people. Some people call this staring but I just call it "people watching". I can usually find someone to watch everywhere I go. I sit and wonder where they came from, why did they choose this place and not next door, what kind of car do they drive, etc. I am intrigued by people and the stories they have to tell. I think this is one explanation for why I follow so many blogs on a daily basis. Over half the blogs I read are written my complete strangers that I've come to call "friends".

Instead of watching people so often, I want to get the courage to go up and speak to them. I enjoy talking to people almost as much as I enjoy watching people. I am going to challenge myself to speak up instead of just watching because I would much rather know their story as opposed to just wondering about their story.

smile...

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.

-Phyllis Diller

This morning I treated myself to a Pilates class at the gym. No, I've never done Pilates and no, I wasn't good. But hey, you can't be good at something if you don't try, right? The teacher, a thin, tattooed blonde mother of four, pushed me to try and stretch myself. And as I sit here and type, my abs, legs and arms ache...so it worked!

She encouraged us with her little words of wisdom throughout the class. She said, "you can choose how you want to live your life.....you have a choice every single day.....do you choose illness or wellness?" Sure, they're simple, but they really hit me hard this morning. We do have a choice everyday to be happy or sad, be joyful or depressed, eat an apple or a candy bar, etc. The joy that we exhibit to others will not only change our life, but it will also change someone else's life. She reminded us that a smile on our face will effect how someone responds.

So, I came home and did some research on the effects of smiling. Here's what I found:

1. Smiling makes us attractive: we are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction fact. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, scowls and grimaces push people away.

2. Smiling changes our mood: next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There's a good chance your mood will change for the better.

3. Smiling is contagious: when someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others and make things happier.

4. Smiling relieves stress: stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down and overwhelmed.

5. Smiling boosts your immune system: smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed.

6. Smiling lowers your blood pressure: when you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure.

7. Smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers and serotonin: together these three make us feel good. Smiling is a natural drug.

8. Smiling lifts the face and makes you look younger: the muscle we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don't go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day.

9. Smiling makes you seem successful: smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached.

10. Smiling helps you stay positive: when we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that "Life is Good!" Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling.

(About.com: Longevity)

Proverbs 15:13 says "A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit."

You can tell the condition of a person's heart by looking at their facial expression. When people are happy, you can tell by the sparkle in their eyes, their smile and their cheerful attitude. You can also read on a person's face when they have sorrow in their heart, especially when you know a person. Scripture tells us that if we allow this sorrow of heart to continue, it can break our spirits. Jesus died on the cross, not only to give us eternal life, but He also died to take our grief and sorrows. Since He took them, we do not have to take these things, but rather receive our salvation, healing, deliverance and peace by faith.

So, today....are you smiling because "Life is good"? .....or are you frowning?

Nothing to Cry About

I know it's been a loooooong time since my last post and for that I apologize. But, for now, I hope this will do.

I regularly listen to Pandora or Last.fm at work. I have recently heard a particular song over and over again. I love the song and have since researched it's lyrics. I fell in love with this artist and her words. I just love the rawness of the lyrics and how true the words are about being in the angels keep and trusting that someone has ahold on us at all times. The song lyrics are below. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

I can't tell if Alli is writing to her boyfriend, husband or child. Either way, I'm a fan of her poetic writing and the music that's put with the words.

Check her out here. I can't find a video of her singing this song on Youtube but you can listen to it here on Last.fm. (Click on the play button in the top right corner of the webpage)

and PS: I think I'll add this to my list of "possibilities" for my first dance with my future husband!

Nothing to Cry About

by Alli Rogers

There's nothing to cry about tonight

All your thoughts are brave

But they make you tired

It's only us and the world is small and new

Like I don't know anything

But how I'm in love with you

I'll hold you when the nights get long

And hold you when the times get tough

I'll love you when you've had too much

And love you when you can't get enough

Baby close your eyes

Cause we are in the angels keep

Push your worries all aside

And let me rock you back to sleep

There's nothing to cry about tonight

It's not your job to know if everyone's alright

Let me tell you how perfect you are to me

And we're all that matters now as far as I can see

I'll hold you when the nights get long

And hold you when the times get tough

I'll love you when you've had too much

And love you when you can't get enough

Baby close your eyes

Cause we are in the angels keep

Push your worries all aside

And let me rock you back to sleep

no complaints here

Too often we have more faith in the way things are done than in the One who does them.

How much more perfect can you say this idea? I could apply this to so many things in my life right now. The One has taken me to the mountain tops as well as the valleys. A wise friend reminds me often that we need to be faithful to the process....and this is just another way to say that very thing.

I am so excited about where my life is right now. I'm happy, healthy, surrounded by incredible friends and family, dutifully employed (if that makes sense) and in love with life. Over the next few months, some things in my life will be changing and that gets me even more excited.....a good friend's wedding, a big move, new opportunities on the horizon, living debt free....to name a few!

I haven't blogged in a long time but I think of things to write on my blog almost every single day. Thinking and putting those thoughts into words are two very different things. For me, thinking is far more easy.

Come along for an exciting ride!