a bend in the road

"my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does. It has a fascination of its own, that bend, Marilla. I wonder how the road beyond it goes--what there is of green glory and soft, checkered light and shadows--what new landscapes--what new beauties--what curves and hills and valleys further on." --- Anne of Green Gables

enamored with austen

I'm a lover of all things Jane Austen. Here are a few of my personal favorites...

this actor as Mr. Darcy (no one competes): 

this mug (I want it so badly):

the bonnets:

the dancing:

Mr. Darcy: Do you talk, as a rule, while dancing?
Elizabeth Bennet: No… No, I prefer to be unsociable and taciturn… Makes it all so much more enjoyable, don’t you think?

Marianne Dashwood's idea of love: 

TO LOVE IS TO BURN TO BE ON FIRE, ALL MADE OF PASSION, OF ADORATION, OF SACRIFICE!

 ---Sense & Sensibility

this lovely comic of Elizabeth Bennet: 

the disagreements between Emma Woodhouse and Mr. Knightly:

"badly done, Emma, badly done"

the famous Jane Austen silhouette:

the opening sentence of Pride & Prejudice (best of all-time):

IT IS A TRUTH UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED, THAT A SINGLE MAN IN POSSESSION OF A GOOD FORTUNE MUST BE IN WANT OF A WIFE.

the rescue in Sense & Sensibility:

"there is nothing lost that may be found if sought..." 

this memoir:

this song from the Pride & Prejudice original soundtrack:

this quote from Persuasion:

I IMAGINED MYSELF INDIFFERENT TO HER WHEN I WAS ONLY ANGRY AND RESENTFUL.  I’M TOO LATE – TOO LATE I BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND MYSELF AND HER.  NEVER HAVE I MET HER EQUAL IN GOOD SENSE OR SWEETNESS OF CHARACTER. SHE’S PERFECTION ITSELF.  I’VE NEVER LOVED ANY BUT HER.

---Persuasion

ode to my big sister

Today, I dug up some old home videos. I found myself curled up on the couch watching myself as a 6 month old baby, playing in the bathtub with my big sister, Taylor.

In the video, my mom and dad were both crammed into the bathroom in our little apartment in Newfoundland, Canada, trying their best to get us to perform, laugh, and talk for the camera. Taylor, at 25 months, showed off her knowledge of colors and said hi to all the family members that my parents listed. However, she eventually became stubbornly distracted with the bath toys. Me, at 6 months, just sat and watched her pour water back and forth from one bowl to another. I was mesmerized.

"Taylor, your little sister is watching every move you make" comes my dad's voice from behind the camera.

As I watched, I smiled to myself---I did then, and I have ever since.

I don't think Taylor would label herself a "leader." She has her own quiet, resolute way of doing things, but somehow because of this, she is a leader. I watched her embrace individuality when we were young girls, make good decisions as teenagers, marry well and love with purpose, and put a little, tiny somebody above herself.....and I have decided I want to be just like her.

Taylor, thank you for leading a life worthy to be followed. Thank you for investing where it matters, and for being the kind of woman that I strive to become. Thank you for showing this younger sister just what to do. I love you, and remember --- I watch every move you make.

the romantic life of a librarian

Today, I visited the county library with my younger siblings. While walking in holding Anderson's little hand, I caught a whiff: books.

After making my selections (The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, The Complete Poems of John Keats, and A Man For All Seasons by Robert Bolt), I browsed the shelves and imagined the occupation of a librarian.

I decided I would like it very much.

Smelling books all day, helping people find their good reads, making book recommendations, getting caught by a gripping title, being surrounded by readers of all ages, interacting with children on school field trips --- it would be a good life.

"I'm of a fearsome mind to throw my arms around every living librarian who crosses my path, on behalf of the souls they never knew they saved" -- Barbara Kingsolver  

It's April

And so therefore I want some of these:

When I was 7 years old, my sisters and I were flower girls in my aunt's wedding. Our dresses were homemade. They were floral -- pink, purple, and blue tulips. They had puffed sleeves with tight elastic that cut into our arms, and we had to wear an itchy, coarse crinoline underneath so the dress flared out. To make matters worse, my mom made us sleep in curlers so we would have matching hair. A week or so before the wedding, my parents dressed us up in our dresses and took us to a field full of bluebonnets outside of Dallas for some portraits. We were miserable the whole time. Sun in our eyes, red marks around our poor arms, wind whipping our curls in our face, scratchy fabric rubbing against our legs...I doubt we even smiled for any camera. But, how I would love to relive that afternoon, what I would give to sit in a field of bluebonnets once again. 

the first summer day of many

It is 84 degrees outside.

I finally I have my summer plans figured out.

I just had my second meeting for my summer England trip.

I unpacked some of my summer clothes --- and then ached to go shop for tons more.

I just bought a new pair of black, strappy flat sandals.

Currently, I am sitting outside under the beautiful sunshine on the green lawn with some of my hallmates. Due to the perfection of the day, we decided to take advantage of it.

Yes, folks, summer is vastly approaching.

So, to commemorate the end of the semester and the start of a new, glorious season, I am posting my summer "lists."

SUMMER 2011 PLAYLIST

1. Wannabe -- Spice Girls (for my sisters, mostly)

2. Girls They Wanna Have Fun -- Greg Laswell (such a good cover)

3. Feeling a Moment -- Feeder

4. Hey, Soul Sister -- Train (because of Ben)

5. Cecilia -- Simon & Garfunkel

6. Young London -- Angels & Airwaves (reminds me of driving 90 down the interstate)

7. Forevermore -- Katie Herzig

8. I'm Only Me When I'm With You -- Taylor Swift

9. Island In The Sun -- Weezer (this always makes the list)

10. Nothing Left to Lose -- Needtobreathe

11. Overboard (feat. Jessica Jarrell) -- Justin Bieber (and pretty much anything j.biebs)

12. Save Me, San Francisco -- Train

13. You'll Ask For Me -- Tyler Hilton (another that one that will never be cut from the list)

14. Hey Jude -- The Beatles (reminds me of a sunset)

15. Take It Home -- The White Tie Affair

16. Weight of the World -- Chantel Kreviazuk

17. Shark In The Water -- VV Brown

18. Little Lies -- Dave Barnes

19. Kiss a Girl -- Keith Urban

20. Touch My Hand -- David Archuleta (another one dedicated to my sisters)

21. Love Today -- Mika

22. Here It Goes -- Jimmy Eat World

23. The Awakening -- Switchfoot

24. Come On, Come Out -- A Fine Frenzy

25. Open Your Eyes -- Andrew Belle (the perfect retrospective, end of the summer song)

SUMMMER 2011 FASHION:

1. multi-purpose black dress

2. african sundresses courtesy of my mama and dad

3. metallic sandals

4. bandanas worn in your hair

5. toms wedges

6. straw hats

7. tie-dye

8. homemade jeans-turned-shorts

9. crop tops with neon tanks worn underneath

SUMMER 2011 READING LIST:

1. Anne of Green Gables -- L. M. Montgomery

2. Pride & Prejudice -- Jane Austen (again)

3. Pillars of the Earth -- Ken Follett

4. Murder in the Cathedral -- T.S. Elliot

5. The Lucky One -- Nicholas Sparks (in preparation for Zac Efron)

6. Jane Eyre -- Charlotte Bronte

7. Little Women -- Louisa May Alcott

8. Emmanuel's Veins -- Ted Dekker (courtesy of big sis, taylor-lynn)

SUMMER 2011 TRAVEL:

1. Colorado Springs, Colorado

2. Cambridge, England

3. Wilmington, North Carolina (with my seeeesterss)

when I grow up...

my future home is going to be full of so many secret riches and loveliness. It's the little things that make 'home' so special...and I plan to fulfill myself with quiet comforts and sentimental treasures.

- spicy mustard

- 'need to read' bookshelf

- record player that is used often

- real christmas trees

- wrap-around porch

- a garden

- a typewriter

- a lot of cookbooks

- homemade art...everywhere

- enlarged photos

- sealing wax for my letters

- patio furniture for summer nights

- ceramic mugs

- copies of old Jane Austen books passed down from my mom

- a good playlist always ready

- sticky notes for encouragement purposes

- chalkboard and chalk

- quilts

- really cool silverware like my sister's

- a built-in breakfast nook

- dad's fresh salsa and guacamole

- mom's russian chicken

- baby grand piano

- favorite quotes on display

- a fondue pot

- pictures of my sisters

- Anne of Green Gables and Lord of the Rings marathons whenever I feel like it

- goose-down comforter with pillows, pillows, pillows

- a footed bath tub

- tv on dvd

- a chandelier with tea lights

- fleece blankets for winter nights

- mac computers

- hard wood floors

- a puppy :)

- a shelf for all my collected literature

- devotionals with my husband in the mornings

- an antique phonograph

- black and white movies

- walk-in closets

- a room always prepared for my nieces and nephews

- dallas cowboys paraphernalia

- several different types of cheese

- a good grill

- craft supplies

- a balcony

- french doors

- vases for fresh flowers

- a stash of moleskines

- cobblestone in the backyard

- weekly mexican dinners

- a cable package with the NFL Network

:) satisfaction.

gold from proverbs

A couple weeks ago, I was doing devotions in proverbs. I suddenly was struck by the simple, yet life-altering advice that God makes available to us in his word! I quickly scribbled down short sentences in the margins that serve as reminders for my day to day life.

"a man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue" prov. 11:12 --- BE TRUSTWORTHY

"the Lord detests men of perverse heart but delight in those whose ways are blameless" prov. 11:20 --- BE BLAMELESS

"a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" prov. 15:1 --- AVOID CONFLICT WITH GENTLENESS

"the tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit" prov. 15:4 --- SPEAK LOVE

"a happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit" prov. 15:13 --- SMILE

"a wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother" prov. 15:18 --- BE A BLESSING TO PARENTS

"plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed" prov. 15:22 --- SEEK ADVICE

"the Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him" prov. 15:26 --- THINK PURE THOUGHTS

"to man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue" prov. 16:1 --- LISTEN TO THE LORD

"the Lord detests the proud of heart. Be sure of this: they will not go unpunished" prov. 16:9 --- HUMILITY WILL FREE YOU

"better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice" prov. 16:8 --- ALWAYS CHOOSE RIGHTEOUSNESS

"whoever gives heed to instruction prospers" prov. 16:20 --- LISTEN TO INSTRUCTION

"pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones" prov. 16:24 --- BE ENCOURAGING

"a perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends" prov. 16:20 --- BE LOYAL TO FRIENDS

"starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out" prov. 17:14 --- MAKE PEACE

"a friend loves at all times" prov. 17:17 --- LOVE NO MATTER WHAT

"a cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" prov. 17:22 --- LAUGH

"better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife" prov. 21:19 --- BE A GODLY WOMAN

"he who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity" prov. 21:23 --- BE CAREFUL WHAT YOUR MOUTH UTTERS

"there is no widsom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord" prov. 21:30 --- THE LORD'S WAY WINS ALWAYS

"a good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold" prov. 22:1 --- BE A PERSON WHOM IS ADMIRED BY OTHERS

"train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it" prov. 22:6 --- RAISE CHILDREN IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

"a generous man will himself be blessed" prov. 22:9 --- GIVE TO OTHERS

"do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared" prov. 22:24-25 --- CHOOSE FRIENDS WISELY

"like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home" prov. 27:8 --- REMEMBER YOUR HOME

"as water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man" prov. 27:19 --- YOUR HEART IS WHO & WHAT YOU ARE

"Make a wish and place it in your heart.

Anything you want. Everything you want.

Do you have it?

Good.

Now believe it can come true.

You never know where the next miracle is going to come from, the next smile, the next wish come true. But if you believe that it is right around the corner, and you open your heart and mind to the possibility of it, to the certainty of it...you just might get the thing you're wishing for.

The world is full of magic. You just have to believe in it.

So make your wish. Do you have it?

Good.

Now believe in it.

With all your heart."

an ideal

In my Brit Lit class, we read a short story by James Joyce where the protagonist battles with the concept of life and death, only to find that the two are not so disconnected. Anyway, at one point in the story, he is watching his wife as they return to their hotel after a long, lively party, and he is overcome with memories of their marriage:

"he felt that they had escaped from their lives and duties, escaped from home and friends and run away together with wild and radiant hearts to a new adventure"

- James Joyce, The Dead