2013, so far

Happy Monday ladies! I can't believe that it's almost May. Seriously. Where'd the time go? And in honor of it being (almost) May, I thought I'd talk about the year so far.

I graduated from college a year ago today. I can't believe it. So much has happened in a year. I can't even believe how much has changed since last May. I moved back home and I started subbing five days after I graduated. In August, I got my first full-time job, and though it has had its challenges, it's been a fun ride so far. Also in August, I started giving piano lessons to one little girl and I now have eight students every week. I babysit, perhaps a bit too much, for several really good families. It's been a whirlwind. and I can't believe it's been a year.

one of my favorites and I at IWU graduation a year ago today

To say that 2013 has had its challenges so far is an understatement. It's been a time of little bits of trial and hardship. My faith has been tested, but I always know that God will provide and His plan will work itself out in time. I've spent a lot of time with my family and I wouldn't have it any other way. I've worked. and worked. and worked. Probably a little too much because I've gotten too many colds this year, like today. But I feel good about all the work I've done so far, and I'm saving a lot, which was one of my goals for the year.

But I've also had my fun (aka one of the most relaxing trips I've ever been on). I've spent so many fun Friday nights cooking, watching too many movies, and getting to know my favorite city once again.

It's been a crazy ride so far and I wouldn't change anything about it. I know that there will still be more challenges that come my way, but I know I can face anything head on and I'd like to think that I've been sticking to this 2013 manifesto (found here). What about you? Have you stuck to your goals this year?

Be Strong and Courageous

Morning ladies! It's been a while since I've given this blog some love, and today, for just personal reasons, I need a little boost. My sister Mary found this tumblr last week that had the best bible quotes, but the illustrations make these prints more than just a verse. Each verse has a beautifully hand-painted illustration by a woman named Laura Lin. She has videos in slow-motion of how they are created and the time and details required for each piece--just gorgeous. Though all of these prints are gorgeous, today, this is the one that resonates most with me.

Though sometimes strength is the hardest feeling to exert, we need to be strong, always knowing that someone else will always be there to help us through.

Check out the rest of her beautifully illustrated quotes here (and pin away! I have!)

MLK Jr.

I am so thankful to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for the faith that he had in himself and the people of this country to make changes that shaped our whole nation. He was such a brilliant speaker, and this quote for me says a lot. I think that many times in our lives, things are uncertain. We never know where exactly we're headed next, so we need to have that faith and believe that things will head in the direction they are supposed to. I think another thing I've learned from Dr. King and others like him was how hard he worked to achieve his dreams. I know that if I do enough hard work and believe in myself, I know that I'm doing something right, something meaningful.

Happy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Everyone enjoy their day off (I wish I had today off!)

Image via

(Wednesday) Thoughts: Fasting and Feasting

Fast from emphasis on difference; feast on the unity of life.

Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of life.

Fast from thoughts of illness; feast on the healing power of God.

Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.

Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger; feast on patience.

Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.

Fast from worry; feast on divine order.

Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation

Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.

Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.

Fast from hostility; feast on forgiveness. 

Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others. 

Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth. 

Fast from discouragements; feast on hope. 

Fast from facts that depress; feast on verities that uplift. 

Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm. 

Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire. 

Fast from shadows of sorrow; feast on the sunlight of serenity. 

Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence. 
Peter Millar. Our Hearts Still Sing

This fasting and feasting is something I grabbed from my church bulletin, but I seriously believe that it is not just a church concept. Lent starts today, so these are my goals for the next forty days, but for me these words sit next to my bed and I look at them daily. They fuel my thoughts on things I can fast from and feast on every day. Because really isn't life so much better when we feast on what is really important and fast from all these little things that tend to take up our time and our thoughts anyway? 

For those of us celebrating Lent this year, I hope that whatever you fast from goes well. 

~Susan

Thursday Thoughts: Smile!

image via pinterest

Happy Thursday friends! I hope you are all having wonderful weeks. As winter, or whatever we're calling this season, progresses, we often find ourselves in a lull. It gets tough at times, and yes a little depressing. But I hope we're all finding reasons to smile this week! Here's a few reasons why I'm smiling (little things count!):

a smile from me to you!

I got a new nail polish! Essie olé caliente! Hot huh? I love it! It's going to be my essential spring color (I've already decided!) It's the perfect mix between orange and pink! I'm in! (although it looks red in  this picture. It's not)

I got to hear the wonderful and inspiring Sr. Helen Prejean speak about her journey counseling criminals on death row (the movie Dead Man Walking was based on her book, Susan Sarandon played her in the movie). She is truly an inspiration and I am so lucky to have heard her speak about social justice and her thoughts on the world. Here's some more words that she left that really struck me: "We are all worth more than the worst thing we ever did in our life." It was powerful ladies.

I'm in full swing getting ready for my half marathon! Stephanie has been so supportive and has given me so much advice :)

I'm catching up on Pan Am! Such a good show! Does anyone else watch it?

One of my best friends' birthday is today! We're celebrating a little bit later :) This same friend is also going to be playing an amazing beautiful piano concerto in a big concert tomorrow and I'm so excited to see her shine!

So many wonderful people have been aiding me in my job search! From all of the emails and everything that people have been helping me with, I think things are looking up!

Emails with Carly about teaching!

Though I am making most of my cards, I did find a few that Hallmark had me beat! I hope these people like them :)

Hot chocolate for dessert!

What has you smiling this week ladies? I'd love to know!

~Susan

Those busy Tuesdays...

Ahh I ran out of time to finish what I wanted to write for today! So I'll just leave you with some words for today.

Source: etsy.com via Susan on Pinterest

This kind of goes without saying, but many times we sometimes forget to do good for ourselves and for others. It's tough because we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our lives. I need this reminder that I am here to do good things not only for myself, but for my family and for others.
 Who do you do good for?

 ~Susan

P.S. Last night I rediscovered my love for You've Got Mail! It's so so so 90s! But I seriously love it!

"Pass it on..."

So remember how yesterday I said that I read a book over the weekend? The book is called Heaven is for Real and fate must have had some weird place in this somewhere. Some teachers and I were talking about this book and how they all loved it and how I really should read it in my free time. Free time? Yes, well mine's pretty much non-existent right now, so I was like ok I will when I have time. So I kept the title in mind.

Friday night came along and my train was an hour and a half late. Yep. I was sitting at the train station for what seemed like forever, in the dry Central Illinois heat. Turns out that train tracks retain heat and when they get too hot, they move outwards. Trains can only go at about 45 mph when it's that hot because if they go any faster, they won't stay on the tracks. Anyway, when I finally boarded my train to Chicago, I found a seat next to an older gentleman. Once I sat down, he started talking about how long he'd been on the train and we exchanged pleasantries and he asked me a little bit about myself.

Granted, I'd never met this man before. He was a complete stranger. We were both excited though since we were both headed to see family. But I needed something to pass the time before getting there, so I took out a book to read trying to plan lessons for the next week. All of the sudden, the man says, "Do you read religious books?" I said that I like reading lots of different books and that I like the bible. He says, quite sincerely, "I got this book today from a friend and you look like you need it right now. I'd like you to have it." I have to say that I was shocked. A complete stranger was giving me this NY Times Best Selling Book that he hadn't even read yet. I was overwhelmed, and tired, but of course said yes. He was pretty happy to see me accept it, so I started reading it.

If you haven't read this book yet, I recommend it. It's such a quick read about a family whose son has to be hospitalized for a terrible illness. While the boy is in surgery, his father, who just happens to be a very religious pastor, is asking God why He has done this to his son. The father finds out that while his son was in surgery, he had taken a trip to heaven and back again, telling his dad that he had met Jesus while he was there. I don't want to give it away, but it is such a sweet, true story about his ordinary little boy who has had quite an extraordinary journey. So pick it up if it sounds interesting to you!

When the man's stop approached, I asked him if he wanted the book back, he said no. He instead said that I should pass it on to someone who feels like they needed it.

Ok, so I know to some this sounds like a creepy story. I assure you it's not! It was actually quite sweet. So I'm waiting with the book, seeing who I think will need it next. I mean this encounter was something straight out of a movie (which stuff like that never happens to me! trust me). Has anyone ever experienced kindness from a stranger like that? It's something I know I'll never forget.

Happy Thursday!
~Susan

Tune Up

Like, suit up! Got it? Haha just kidding. Although we've been watching lots of How I Met Your Mother lately so I must be channelling my inner bro.

Literally, I felt like that weekend was just way too darn short. And it was three days. Wow. I want another one! But, I was able to read a book (Heaven is For Real, by Todd Burpo. It's a tear jerker for anyone who's interested. I loved it!), do some window shopping, go for late summer car rides with the music blasting and all windows down, and eat some homemade goodies! Nothing says fall like my mother's Pumpkin Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe to come!). It was really delicious.

But now I'm back and everything is in full swing.  But, last night as I was frantically writing plans and taking care of business, I decided that I needed some music to pump me up and get me motivated, as well as keep me line and able to concentrate on my work. Here's what I came up with:

1. In honor of fall and football season, the Remember the Titans Soundtrack is so so so good. It's a great pump-up soundtrack, yet is very inspiring and I feel like I can persevere whenever I listen to it! 
2. I will save you all my gushing of how much I love The Holiday and Love Actually until the Christmas holidays (because get prepared, I will gush!), but I will say that I love those soundtracks too. So pretty and simple. It doesn't distract me at all (except at times when I'm just dying to watch those movies. Other than that, no distraction!).
3. Anything Michael Bublé. Yep. Love him. That's it. Oh and Josh Groban too.
4. My sisters have really turned me onto Jack Johnson recently. I love his stuff and it's something so fun to listen to that really makes work and stressful things fun. Really, it does. So give him a listen, or revisit him if you haven't listened to him lately. I love it.
5. Ok, I'll be sappy again and say that Glee has been working for me also, especially all of those Warbler songs. So so good! Darren Criss is just a cutie, he can't help it! Oh and I want the new season to start! I need a good dose of Glee back in my life!

What are your motivational songs? What do you listen to for a pick me up? I always love suggestions, because I love all genres.

Fall hit! When did this happen? Good thing I have all my sweaters, so I'm armed and ready if it gets any chillier. Here's to Hump Day everyone!
Have wonderful Wednesdays!
~Susan

What I Know for Sure--Thankful Thursday

I know lots of people who have never been/are still not fans of Oprah Winfrey, and that's completely fine with me. I have no shame in saying that I still love watching reruns of her show and occasionally turn on her network if something appealing is on. This woman is an inspiration to me. She came from nothing and worked her way up the ladder to have everything she's ever wanted and then some. We used to get her magazine at our house, but stopped quite a few years ago. However, they sent us one of those cards for subscribing in the mail the other day. On the card, she wrote a little snippet of her column called, "What I Know for Sure." She gives advice and world experience about what she can say that she knows for sure. Here's some of my favorite lines from her:

• What you put out comes back all the time, no matter what. (This is my creed.)
• You define your own life. Don't let other people write your script.
• If the only prayer you ever say is thank you, that will be enough. (From the German theologian and humanist Meister Eckhart.)
• If you make a choice that goes against what everyone else thinks, the world will not fall apart.
• The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.
• When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. (A lesson from Maya Angelou.)

Seriously, I love reading her words. They are so wholesome, inspiring, harsh yet true, and definitely believable. The other night I was reading them and I was thinking about what I know for sure. So here's a little something that I came up with:

• I know that I will always have my family, faith and friends behind me. They may not agree with every decision I make, but they know me and my character. They know that even if I falter, I will stand right back up and many of them help me do it. They are my rock and I would not be here without them.
• I know that I am not a model. I'm not perfect. But I know that I love myself. I do, not matter the day, even when I'm having one of those "fat" days (come on, we all have them!). I know that I am worth it, everyday. No one can take that away from me.
• I know that I was made to make mistakes. We all are. But I know that my mistakes help me learn and grow each day as a person. I also know when to admit that I was wrong. I sometimes don't always like to admit it, but I know that acknowledging my faults helps me discover what I did and grow for the next time. Laughing over them is also necessary!
• I know that life is a gift and that many people are not given the experiences that I am given. I have to cherish them everyday really like it is my last day. All of our days are numbered, to an extent, but some people have less time than others. Every day has to count and I try to live them as fully as I can. We can all do the same. Live them for you, no one else, but share them with those you love. 
• Always trust yourself and your own instincts. Only I truly know what is best for me. Of course, I am going to consult other people as much as possible, but really, only I know what I really should do. Don't let those instincts go unheard.
• I know that "We can do anything we want if we stick to it long enough." Helen Keller said this and it is a quote that sticks with me every single day. If we persevere, and push ourselves far enough, we can achieve anything we want, no matter how many people tell us no. We may have a million interests and thousands of things we want to achieve, but we can always achieve those few things that we stick to for the long haul. I know that I will not ever give up on my dreams, and I know that my dreams may change a few times. I will see my dreams come true if I put the work into them, even though it's a difficult road.

And here's one more thing that I thought was perfect for this post (it really sums up everything I truly know for sure!):

What do you know for sure? It's weird to think about it in that context, but I think we all do have something that we do know for sure.

Here's hoping my kiddos are in as good of a mood as they were last week! The weekend is so so close!

~Susan