More New Orleans Botanical Garden

I Will Give You Pearls

Yes, I am now 29, but I failed to tell you of my many blessings. As if it isn't obvious, I've really found a love for photography. I've been told once or twice that I'm rather talented, and maybe I am. But I've decided to pursue this talent however amatuer it is. This birthday I was blessed with many gifts to help me on this journey. I recieve programs and books to help fine tune this talent.
So with that said, I'm going to try to learn all I can. I'm going to try to see our amazing world through a lense, but also try to capture the world and the amazing moments in time to give them to you. With time, practice, and determination I might become something great. Wait and see! The world is my oyster! I will give you pearls.

I'm 29

Yesterday I turned 29. Let me say this is really a tough thing for me. I know that's silly. I'm so aware of it its ridiculous, however, the feeling is still there. It means next year....I'll be 30 (really?!?!?! OH GOD - Obviously). But, even though I have this feeling that I haven't done all the things you're "supposed" to have done by now (like getting married, having a baby, buying a house....oh yeah, I've done that) I'm starting to feel, for once in my life a sense of freedom. I'm realizing that I don't HAVE to add huge responsibilities to my life just because I'm getting older. I'm realizing that I'm only as tied down as much as I want to be tied down. I'm realizing that even though I'm probably in the last place I'd like to be in....I have a few friends that make life grand. I don't think most people can say that. So....yes I'm getting older. But I'm also getting a bit wiser which really only comes with time. You can't duplicate it. You can't pull it out of a hat. You can't buy it. You can only take each year, and each experience and enjoy it to the best of your ability.

"Intellectual growth should commence at birth and case only at death." - Albert Einstein

"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." - James Dean

New Orleans Botanical Garden

Do you ever feel that your in a rutt? Like you're completely stagnant? If you don't do something fast you're just going to go out of your mind? Well, I don't think I'm feeling so much that way right now (such a HUGE change for me), but my best friend Julie is. I completely understand this feeling. I sometimes wonder if I was a gypsy in another life (okay so I believe we only have one life but it sounded good). I don't like being in one place too long. I love the idea of travelling to and fro. I love the idea of living my life 3X5 despite John Meyer's song. So today Julie and I decided to get out of our (her) rutt and go to New Orleans for the day. We explored the Botanical Gardens and fell in love with a few plants. We saw a few statues that had alot on their minds. Some we thoughtful and some whimsical, but all beautiful in their own way. We were silly, but mostly I think we were both in awe of the beauty we saw around us. We realized very quickly that this is just one of many places that looked this beautiful. There are so many more places around the country and the world that hold so much beauty it's probalby overwhelming. So, to say the least, I don't think it did much for Julie's desire to spread her wings. And honestly I don't think it did me much good either!!! C'est la vie

Sunday

Well it is 2:13 a.m. on Sunday morning. I can't sleep - probably due to the fact that I had a very long nap this evening. It felt good though. This is the first weekend I've had off from work in a very long time. But back to it being Sunday. My prayer has been answered. I'll now be off from work on Sundays and Mondays....which means I'll get to attend church. This has been a very long time coming. The past five years I've had to work every Sunday. I haven't been involved in church this entire time. I've prayed fervently, and the Lord has finally answered. I felt I was on the verge. The verge of what, I have no idea. But on the verge. And the past couple of weeks I've just continued to ask God to answer my prayer in whatever way He saw fit. Give me Sundays off at my current job, or please just move me in the direction You want me to be in to have Sundays off. I just need to be in church. I just need a support group. I just need to grow deeper in love with You. So here I am....2:18 a.m. now. Not even close to being sleepy, knowing I need to be in bed so I'll be rested for church, but feeling the need to thank my Lord for answering my prayers. He is faithful. He is overwhelming. And He is always on time. Maybe not our timing....but always on time. Thank you God for hearing my prayer.

In my garden love grows

I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day. ~ F. Frankfort Moore, A Garden of Peace

Many things grow in the garden that were never sown there. ~Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732

I never had any other desire so strong, and so like to covetousness, as that one which I have had always, that I might be master at last of a small house and a large Garden. ~Abraham Cowley, The Garden, 1666

You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. ~Author Unknown

Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity. ~Lindley Karstens, noproblemgarden.com

The kiss of the sun for pardon,The song of the birds for mirth,One is nearer God's heart in a gardenThan anywhere else on earth.~Dorothy Frances Gurney, "Garden Thoughts"

I have never felt more at peace than walking around my yard soaking up the beauty of God around me in my garden. He shows up in the beautiful rose, the danty pinta, and bursting with color azalea. I love the smells when I walk outside. I love the colors that splash here and there. I love the birds that adorn my yard because its so peaceful. I have no idea how God came up with the idea to paint my yard and life with such beauty. And I have no idea how He knew that this yard would bring solace to my soul. But I'm so gratful that me and my best friend were able to be get our hands dirty and be a part of this great beauty.