Reality Check

So, when I got home just a little bit ago, I realized that someone probably needs to slap me...

I'm afraid I've gotten a little spoiled.  I have really tried not to let it happen, but I'm afraid it's happened anyway... Not cool.  


Why do I say this?


Well, this morning Kent came in around 10:00 and said, "Put your suit on.  We're going to the beach." 

I wanted to go to the beach, but I wanted to go to one on the "Windward" side of the island... not the North Shore.  Kent, however, wanted to attempt surfing, so we went to Hale'iwa (pronounced "holly-ava") on the North Shore of the island. 

It wasn't exactly a perfect and beautiful super sunny Hawaiian day, so I was a little annoyed.  It was a little overcast and cloudy, so I grumbled about finding a spot on the beach where I could lay out and watch Kent try to get up on the board while I read my latest "brain candy" book  (For some reason, the beach close to the area to surf in Hale'iwa has trees with thorns growing all around, and the last few time I've been and laid out, I've literally had a thorn in my rear.)  Today there was not much of a breeze so I staked out a spot under the shade of some trees, set out my towel, started reading and listened to the waves. 

Then it occurred to me.  Wow!  I am really being a spoiled rotten brat!  Get a grip, Lindsay!

Not everybody gets to wake up on a Friday morning and decide, "I'm going to the beach,"  overcast and cloudy or not.

It was then that I decided to take a few snapshots to remind myself that I absolutely do not have it that bad.

I was sitting on the beach seeing this.

And this...

And this...

With this behind me.

All the while, I'm reading my book listening to the waves rhythmically crash right in front of me.

Yeah... I guess it wasn't so bad after all.  I just needed a reality check.  Wake up, Lindsay.  You're at the beach in Hawaii.  You have nothing to complain about.  

I guess we have a tendency to get too comfortable in any situation life hands us.  Then we tend to take things for granted.  This was my little reminder not to do that. 

When Kent finally finished surfing, we went to drop something by a friend's house and I even got to see this beautiful sight...

These guys were just running around wild.  How cool is that?

 We went for Mexican and margaritas after the beach, so I'd say it was a pretty awesome Friday. :)  Hope everyone else had a Friday just as wonderful!

Psssst.... Just a little reminder.  If you have been reading this blog often and you enjoy it at all, show me some love and become an "official" follower.  All you have to do is click "Follow" to the right of this post.  :)  It sure would make my day!

Small Wonders

I got to babysit this morning.  It was so much fun hanging out with my friend's four-year-old little girl, Maggie. 

Since I haven't been in the classroom in a while, I had sort of forgotten how cool it is to be around little kids.  The things they come up with, their imaginations, and the wonder they have for the little things are all so special.  Little children are so special.  (Side note here... I love little kids, but at this point in my life I love that I can appreciate them and give them back to their parents at the end of the day.  In the future and all in good time, I'm trusting that God-- not my sweet mother-in-law, my sweet friends, or anyone else-- will change my heart on that.)

We blew bubbles for a long time this morning.  I'd forgotten how much fun that was, too-- the simple joy of sitting there, dipping the wand, and gently blowing to watch the bubbles form and have their moment of glory before vanishing. 

Maggie was pretty fascinated by it all... in one of those "it's magical" kind of ways.  It's so neat to see little kids look at things with fresh eyes and wonder at it all.  I was glad to have that moment this morning to sit and watch and remember what it was like to so appreciate the little things like bubbles.  Maggie reminded me that I need to slow down, notice, and remember those little things more often.

This is not my photo.  It came from HERE .

So often I find myself wishing for more more more, or maybe a slightly different outcome for a situation (For instance, why in the world am I so far from my family? Why isn't the teaching thing working like I had planned? Or even why did I stub my toe just now?)    Like any of us imperfect mere mortals, I guess I'm never really satisfied.  When I really stop to think about it though, I realize that God does give me little reminders all the time that I really am blessed.  Today, I'm reminding myself to appreciate the small wonders... like bubbles or a pretty sunset or a nice breeze on a hot day or even a smile from a stranger. 

 This one actually is my photo. :-)

(Sorry if I seem a little sappy today... I'm just feeling blessed remembering these things and it's overflowing.)

   Hope everyone is having a fantastic and blessed week!

Eyes Overflowing...

I knew by 6am this morning that it was going to be one of those days.

Duke decided that I should be awake and playing with him at 6 this morning (no, he didn't even have to go out). I tried to go back to sleep for just a little bit because I was up late the night before painting, but I woke up less than an hour later with not only a crick in my neck, but an actual neck cramp!  I've never had that happen before... what in the world??

At this point, I'm still thinking there's a possibility things could get better.

Then my clumsy self catches my little toe turning the corner walking into the bathroom.  Shoot.  Really?


I walk downstairs to scrounge for breakfast since it's the first thing I think about when my eyes open.  I want a bagel.... Crap, no bagels.

After settling for a Pop-Tart, I go back upstairs to put on a brand new t-shirt.  Sometimes looking the part makes a day better, right?


Doesn't work for me today... As soon as I try to have a glass of juice, it goes all over me.  Wonderful.

It doesn't help that Kent isn't around. It doesn't take long to start feeling alone on this stupid rock known as Oahu, and  I quickly start missing having someone to talk and cut up with at breakfast.

Just as I'm ready to scream and/or crawl back into bed until I get to start over tomorrow, I see four brown eyes looking at me.

It occurred to me that they don't care if I have juice on the front of my shirt.  They don't care if I have on make-up or if my hair is fixed.  They wouldn't care if I had green skin and six eyes.  The only thing in the world they care about is love (aside from eating... Murph especially is a little piggy).  Those four eyes are overflowing with love.  When these guys are with me, I'm not alone.

Sure, they can't talk back to me, but they are there for me when I just want to sit and hug them or be entertained or just have another living creature in the house with me.  They love me with a love and loyalty that is unmatched by anyone or anything else besides God.  We all should take a lesson from dogs and try to love those around us with the same unconditional love.  The world sure would be a much better place.

After my little revelation, I got back on track and worked on two different paintings and two "Cute as a Button" springtime wreaths.  You'll see both very soon.  Be on the lookout for them in my shop.  :-)

P.S.  I know I've been putting these posts on Facebook, but if you've been reading and enjoying them, why not think about becoming an official "follower"?  To do that, just click the "Follow" button to the right of this post.  I'm planning a giveaway soon, so make sure you are a follower to be eligable!  And while you're at it, if you're not already, become a fan of my studio on Facebook.