SPRING HOPE

It was refreshing to have seen this window display 2 weeks ago as we explored downtown, & BELIEVING it's message to be true.

It's incredible how - whether you're a dreamer or a realist- a simple phrase such as this can you bring hope.

How in this world filled with overwhelming suffering, the simplicity of colorful balloons and painted words on a window pane,can SPRING HOPE in you - even just for a moment- that something...anything good , no REALLY REALLY GOOD are coming.

😏 this Sunday we unexpectedly to our delight recieved news what is coming that is our REALLY REALLY GOOD, & we'll be sharing that with you tomorrow so stay tuned

 

April Shower Celebrations

...with today being the 22nd of April,

- specifically Brendan's bearthday-

the madness of March, that spirals into the showers of celebration in April, is officially wrapping up.

7 birthday's & a 50th Anniversary party later, 

we. made. it.

PHEW!

...Somehow in that hectic time frame we still managed to; 

   explore our city, interview for jobs,

be blessed with QUALITY free furniture to fill our home, 

remain informed on what's going on in the world, BBQ it up,

demolish + spackle + paint a friends new house, 

laugh until we cry,find a church to call our own, & travel!

( All the while honoring my husband by honoring our finances & staying in the budget )

Word to the Wise Wednesday as much as you can to the best of your ability;

- in a green fashion, get rid of what you don't need

-don't be shy to look for FREE {people's generosity will surprise you}

-  LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS 

( which is a perfect opportunity for you to get your imagination spinning & creativity flowing! Example: I wanted a jewelry rack to organize my necklaces, & any where I looked it cost $$.

- yes, every. penny. counts. 

because when you mind your pennies, your pennies will mind your dollars-

anyways made this simple beaut which cost me $0.00 )

I've rabbit trailed a bit, but all that to say,

here's to comfort food, craftiness, living within our means,
 paying it forward, family, 
and cruising through these April Shower Celebrations.

Because Lancaster has yet to show me a Brazilian Restaurant,
so happy round ONE of celebrating Mae & Bryann took place here

don't mind me & my Albert Einstein lookin' hair

Guilty as charged:My forever comfort food;
Feijoada, Arroz,Feijao,Vinagrette,Farofa,Fraldinha, e collard greens.

Delicia Delicia assim voce me mata <3

Cheers to GREG, MAE, BRUCIE, BRYANN, & BRENDAN

selfie we snapchatted to Bruce

& his ULTRA self snapchatted us right back,

My favorite seafood of all time

minha prima linda 

PARABENS BRENDAO te amo de mais <3

PARABENS BRYOCA e MAMAE

PARABENS ESPOSO

Typical Bryann, distracted by a mirror

Teaching mom mirror selfies

Mr.Realist wanted in on the fun

The Bride CUTS THE CAKE

HAPPY 50th anniversary =)

Life is SWEET 50 YEARS of MARRIAGE Grandma & Grandpa

Laughing together as a family reminiscing 

watching them laugh together as they reflected on 50 years of marriage was the best part of the night

( Parabens Ashley e Pai)

The Day My Husband Made Me Cry

The day my husband made me cry

It was the early afternoon, 

I got the news all too soon: 

I didn't get a job AGAIN.

I thought to myself

 will the searching ever end? 

We sat in silence as I wept in the warmth of his embrace,

as Greg gently reflected the fathers grace.

REJECTION & DESPERATION have become all too familiar,

but  Greg's word brought me to tears & continued to L I N G E R .

We spoke of what the dream was,

What I would go after, if I knew I could not fail & money was no obstacle. 

And when I responded with a simple yet frantic," I don't know, I don't know,  I don't know what the dream is", this was his strong yet comforting reply, as he looked me straight in the eye
THIS was the moment he made me cry, when he said;
 "When you figure out what the dream is,
CHASE AFTER IT WITH ALL THAT YOU'VE GOT !"

I have yet to discover what the dream is,& currently the only dream is to figure out what the dream is. But as I stood there in my husbands embrace , as he wiped my tears falling down my face I thought how empowering / necessary it is to reach that point in your life where rejection doesn't phase you. I'm not sure where I'm going with life, but I'm sure I'll  get there soon. Once I figure it out I'll chase after it with ALL that I've got, because after a while the giant that rejection once was becomes microscopic, & I begin to feel invincible.

Don't let rejection phase you.

It's okay not to know, 

But I urge you ONCE YOU FIND OUT 

chase after it with ALL that you got,

& may the reality that THERE IS HOPE bring tears to your eyes .