i have HOPE because it was SPOKEN (part one)

how do you explain a special gift of attending a women’s Christian conference & a travel plan that makes you anxious (switching planes & a big Hotlanta airport with an embarrassing story to boot), & the connections from a stranger-turned-friend are placed in just the right timing? & even perhaps, how you sit next to

#themustachesmile

***PLEASE USE #THEMUSTACHESMILE for your hashtags. I MESSED UP!***** #themustachesmile my dad has had a mustache my entire life, although recently he has grown it into a goatee. for his third quarter if you will. 🙂 and my dad is one of the kindest, gentlest, most caring souls around. case in point, he just finished

usually-almost/always

the world can try and tell me what i “should” do. what i “shouldn’t” say or believe. but i am drawn to the light of goodness, i am feeling the warmth of others in this polar h-e-double-hockey-sticks, as opposed to suppressing myself into being what i “should” feel. it is so scary to take risks,

gooey s’mores

i don’t know if it is the perfectly perfect little thumbnail picture that we choose. which statuses we “like”.  who we “follow”. or the idea that somehow beyond the visual pixels and colors and music, that these people, be it a blogger, or fellow “pinner”, or a coworker’s jealous-inducing status updates on facebook, that make

snippets of summer

enjoying life. smelling the flowers as much as possible. being asked to “drive” the Jeep off road out of a HUGE, DEEP, MUDDY hole… this angle does it no justice!  i got us out though, stellar off-roader that i pretend to be. enjoying the sunshine on this beauty’s face as much as i possibly can

today i want to tell you

THERE’S A REASON YOUR HEART HEARS A BECKONING. THERE’S A REASON THAT YOUR TEARS FALL WHEN THEY MAY. THERE’S A SILVER GUILDED SILENCE THAT WRECKS YOU IN THE MOST UNIMAGINABLE WAY. THIS IS YOUR DREAM. THOSE ARE YOUR SIGNALS. YOU WERE MEANT TO LIVE THOSE DREAMS BEFORE YOU ARE NOT ABLE. DO THEM. GET THEM.

sprinkles

of joy: our little guinea pig Gus, who is growing day by day, and snuggle by snuggle. of filling up the soul: john blase’s words, are inspired.  simply inspired. find his words here of note: beautiful artist/singer miranda dodson, whom i heard originally on npr. stunning. of sight: of my ever changing michigan.  she is

blueprint :: the Kitchens

:: the idea man :: my papa was a builder.  brick by brick he planned the great structures he would erect in the metro detroit area.  he and his brothers became known for their quality of workmanship.  they have a few local Detroit landmarks from their years with the DMKitchen Building Co. but, in my

please… enjoy it!

the thing about life is, it can be stressful.  it can be downright unfair.  it can be sickish, and dirty, and grumpy, and disgusting, and mean. BUT…sometimes it can be fun.  it can be light.  it can be hilarious, and lovely, and comforting, right down to the joy at getting some new awesome mittens. take

7 to start

With just seven minutes left on my lunch hour, I will start. I will blog more, share more, LISTEN more. I will conduct more PASSIONATELY my life and times here, and everywhere. I will be BOLD in the face of uncertainty, because I know that even if I fall, countless folks, and a very important