Today

Confession: I love the world of blogging. I love being able to connect to a complete stranger and find encouragement through their words. I love how people put their passions, desires, and observations on display for the world to see. It is an inspired world of beauty and vulnerability. Over the summer I began my own adventure with blogging, which failed miserably. Although I desire to write impactful words, I can’t seem to make the time to write my thoughts. Despite this failure, I am trying again. Desire to share my voice returned today and I want to share my life with you all, just in case I may inspire you through my words.

Some days, despite all motivation to the contrary, force you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the day. Today is such a day. I woke up this morning with every intention to be productive. I prepared my To-Do list last night and was determined to complete almost every bullet point on it.  However, the day had different plans for me. Today I have embraced rest and nostalgia. And I am loving it.

I have recently been learning that you can only push yourself so far. Sometimes life has a way of being so busy, that life ends up passing instead of being lived. I feel like recently I have been a spectator in my life instead of the star of the show. Today is the day that changes. Today has forced me to reflect on my life and embrace its many blessings. I have decided to share these with you all so that you too many be encouraged to find the blessings in each day, instead of concentrating on your failures, frustrations, and never-ending To-Do list.

• I am marrying my best friend in 65 days. In the midst of wedding planning, school, church, clinicals, and 2 jobs, I keep overlooking this simple fact. Alex Chaney is my best friend, and my soon-to-be constant companion. The light keeps catching my ring today, and the sparkle keeps reminding me of this. I am so thankful for this man of God and the love he shows me each day.
• The weather is beautiful! Although many people hate storms, I love them. There is something beautiful about the delicate balance of a storm. Although it is incredibly powerful, it is also beautiful and life-sustaining. Without water, life would be non-existent. I love the changing of the seasons (even when it is as Bi-polar as it is in Missouri) and am so thankful for it today.
• My mother and her incredible skills of execution and organization. I don’t know how wedding planning would occur without this woman. She has accomplished every task given to her with precision. She is incredible and I am so thankful I can rely on her help.
• My friends. I have had so much fun the last few weeks: movie nights with my friends, breakfast-for-dinner at sketchy restaurants, shopping, going downtown, getting coffee, eating, wedding planning, and study dates. These adventures have consumed my last few weeks, and I could not be happier.
• Budding flowers: spring is almost here!
• Pictures: Turns out I can’t remember my life without pictures. I’m pretty sure I have the worst memory in the world and I am so happy to have pictures to document my life. By the way, check out Esther Ziegler with Ziegler Photography if you want any professional photography done. I met with her today to talk about my wedding photography and I couldn’t be happier. She has a beautiful heart, and I am so excited to have her be a part of my special day.
• My new job. I recently got a new job as a respite care worker, and I love it. For those of you don’t know, a Respite Care worker is someone who takes care of someone with special needs. I recently started working for the most amazing family and the most amazing kid. He is fantastic, and although the job can be difficult, I love being able to invest my life in him to make his life better. I am so blessed to have gotten this job.
•  Nursing school. Although nursing school has always been a love/hate relationship, I am so thankful for where it will get me and the relationships I have built along the way. I am excited to be a part of an occupation that is known for being caring, and I hope I will do it justice.

What will you make of your day today? Will you find peace, or will you embrace business? Will you truly live life? Or will you get wrapped up in the motions of the day only to find another day gone, never to be experienced again.

Today I encourage you to enjoy the day, to find rest, and to reflect upon each day’s blessings. Let the beauty of the day overwhelm you. Allow yourself to give up your plans, your To-Do list, and see where life takes you. Embrace the day, for it will only be here once.