I believe in daydreams

I believe in daydreams and warm cups of tea

Hand written postcards sent from you to me 

I believe in laughter shared with a friend

Long summer days that you never want to end

 

 I believe in lips that speak only of love

 The greatest of all reigns from up above

 

 

Greatness of God

 

“If you don’t see the greatness of God then all the things that money can buy become very exciting. If you can’t see the sun you will be impressed with a street light. If you’ve never felt thunder and lightning you’ll be impressed with fireworks. And if you turn your back on the greatness and majesty of God you’ll fall in love with a world of shadows and short-lived pleasures.”

—	John Piper

Spilling Ink: The beautiful beast

Eyes like diamonds

Teeth like pearls

Skin like satin

Hair that curls

Make him gentle, make him fine, if he be all this…make him mine

And from the spell made by the young queen’s brew came a boy with thin limbs and features off skew. The queen gasped as she saw the hideous sight, trying hard not to deplore him. Trying, with all her might. She put him in room, dark colored with little light and kept the boy hidden for 20 years, out of sight.

Only the queen knew of the beast behind the door. She would hold him and bring him gifts from her kingdom’s store. The boy grew in that room never seeing his own face. He grew to be playful, wise and full of grace.

The boy, now a man, asked why he need stay behind the walls. The queen said he was so beautiful the world would be appalled. They would look at him and see their own ugliness within. They would hate themselves by hating him and see their own sins. The man asked why he had never seen his own reflection. The queen said this was for his own protection.

The man said why, what harm could it do. The queen said the man would become like others, vain and untrue. You will love yourself only with your eyes, and that is wrong said the queen, tis better to love with your heart which feels rather than sees beauty. The man was content with the answer and said he would stay in the unlit room for his own safety.

He told the queen she must be very beautiful indeed. The queen smiled but felt ashamed and full of greed. She had made the man to suit her own ideals and when he turned out to be different she locked him away. On her thrown of gold she sat high with pride, while her subjects suffered night and day.

The queen cried in her room, why am I like this? She cried on her bed and with her whole heart made a wish. Make me more like the man, humble and pure. If there be a way from these evils, let me find the cure.

The day after that the queen went to the man and said, “to you there is something I must tell.” I made you from a brew; I made you from a spell and when the spell went wrong I banished you to hell. The man seemed puzzled for he lived joyfully. How can this be hell, when you have done so much for me?

“I would have loved you more, if the spell went as it should. I would have given you all of me, and more if I could.”

The man asked do you love me now with your heart? The queen said yes, for you are kind, gentle, loving and smart. The man asked the queen to give the man some light. So he may for once, gaze upon the queen’s sight. The queen lit a candle and stepped into the glow. Upon seeing her beauty the man bowed his head low. My queen, he said, to me your heart has been fair. You have shown me love, mercy and that you care.

The queen realized that there had been a change in her. And from this feeling something began to stir. The queen took the man outside and proclaimed:

“I am in love and things will no longer be the same.”

She was kinder to subjects; her people were amazed. All across the lands, the people gave her praise. For she was different, her heart was now true. Now longer drenched in vanity, away her problems flew.

On the day the man and she wed, she was happy, of this you can be sure. For she loved him and he loved her.

Always be a flower

In the search for love or friendship look for someone who see your beauty in all stages of your life. Look for someone who will say “I will be there when you are no more than a budding seed; I will be there when you begin to blossom, and I will be there when your petals begin to fall because no matter what you will always be a flower.” Don’t look for someone who only wants you at your best-- blossomed with your full beauty too obvious to miss. Their eyes will turn away when you are not a typical beauty. Don’t look for someone who wants you as a seed: fragile, vulnerable, and needy.  Their need to be depended on will make it difficult to grow and find your own sense of self. Look for someone who appreciates and see all your beauty and awe in each moment of your life.

Unload

Songs of Kabir LXI said, With the load of desires which you hold on your head, how can you be light?...Keep within you: truth, detachment, and love.

I take this quote to heart and try to make it part of my life. 

We are so full of want. So much so that we forget what we genuinely and deeply need. More so, we forget that we need so little.

I feel a need to want less. I am inspired to unload, detach and renouce claim over my vain desires...or at least remind myself to.

Dress: H&M
Sweater: H&M
Gloves: Etsy
Shoes: Thrifted
Bag: Thrift Store
Stockings: Ardene

Show me love February

There is a picnic in my heart. Someone has laid down a feast of love. Underneath the snowy blanket is a pinic blanket with treats like patience, hope, smiles and warm embraces.

 

This is my February wish: a picnic of love. I dream of boxes of heart shaped memories and melt in my heart kind words to melt away the snow. February is a good a month as any to wish for love. 

I'm not wishing for love between lovers. I want something more substantial than that. I want a love that is so boundless, so seeped in honesty and knowing that it leaves the heart no room for anything else. 

 

Trench Coat: Gift

Bag: Yesstyle

Short/Leggings: Yesstyle

Boots: Charlotte Russe

The long road/La longue route

I took the long road to get here
That was my mistake, but I don't care
I made a wrong turn a mile or so back
It threw me off, set things out of whack
I could have followed the others ahead
But that would mean passing you instead
You were the destination; the place I want to be
I'm sorry for the wait; will you still love me?

-----
 J'ai pris la longue route pour arriver ici 
C'est mon erreur, mais je n'ai pas de soins 
J'ai fait un mauvais virage un mile de retour 
Il m'a jeté hors, mettre les choses détraqué 
J'ai pu suivre les autres à venir 
Mais cela signifierait que vous passer à la place 
Vous avez été la destination, l'endroit Je veux être 
Je suis désolé pour l'attente; vous m'aimez toujours?

Adelaide Love

Gif Credit: Tumblr

December Dreams

I woke up with a pounding in my heart

a pounding in my heart to let day start

I found the courage to shake of the dust

shake of the dust and learn to trust 

I whispered kindly to the snow

whispered to the snow to let my heart grow 

Let me twirl in winter's mirth

twirl in the mirth until spring's rebirth

The snow said clearly

  said clearly to me, laugh and love for you are free

In that blanket of white

  blanket of white I let my December dreams ignite

Dress: H&M

Sweater: Thrifted

Gloves: Navi's Castle

Boots: Thrifted

Necklace: Tiffany's

Tights: Ardene

Smile Some More. Make Some Smores

The particular day I am reminiscing was a day when summer and fall were mixing, mingling and loving each other. There were flowers in my garden and dying leaves on my lawn. Sun rays kissed the changing leaves and my own cheeks, making me smile.

The day was meant to be a rushed one, doing errands, checking off lists. But while in the grocery store, I spotted something that made me think "slow down, smile more." I spotted a craving, a box of happiness, another reason to smile--a smores kit.

I should explain this burst of happiness came for several reasons. One, I had been craving smores madly. Two, the smores kit was deliciously affordable. Three, it was a kit--meaning lazy me had everything I needed to satisfy my craving and to make smiles come more easily.

The box was placed in the grocery cart and there was racing in my heart to get home and make smores.

I will share a full review of the kit itself. But for now I will say, it is probably one of the best things ever made. I'm not someone who likes chocolate and sweets but this kit is quality, and makes plenty of smores for those who love it.

Oozy chocolate, gooey marshmallow, and crunchy gram crackers all came together to give me yet another smile, mixed with giggles.

We search for moments that will give us happiness, neglecting to see that life, living, simply being is happiness. Seeing the sun out is happiness; the wonder of changing seasons is happiness; a simple snack by yourself or with a friend is happiness. We don't need much to make us smile.  So I think I'd like to smile some more, by loving life and making smores.

Awake and Alive

My garden captivated my imagination. Not for the grass and trees, but for the examination of life. Something great made the trees; the flowers; the blades of grass. Something breathed life into all that stood in my garden that day, including me. And this same something breathed love into each creation, because it so apparent that I wasn't just looking at a product. There was an energy so powerful in each creation in my garden that all I could do was marvel.

I've seen my garden many times, admired the flowers and greenery, but it was perhaps the first time that I was seeing more than just a pretty flower. There is something so profound, so energized with love that no one can begin to understand it. All we can do is cherish it and be grateful for it.

My hand bag, though I think it is pretty, is not part of this great web of life. Admiring it is not the same as the admiring the creations of God. It breaths no life; it offers no love. The day made me want to choose carefully where I gave my worship. I want my attention to be maximized on all that is made by and centered on the astounding, un-replicable love of God.

Sweater: thrift
Bag: Casablanca (I thrifted it)
Hat: Bay
Leggings: H&M

Madam Freedom

She wore blossoms in her hair 

And lived her life without a care

She flew high, past mountain tops

And planted dreams by growing crops

She was wild and she was free

She made magic grow in me 

She was flesh and she was soul

She made love her only goal 

~Adelaide Love

Warm my head and warm my heart

The sun shone as brightly as my yellow toque the day I took this picture. Spring had settled and there wasn’t an icicle in sight. But still I felt cold. A chill crossed upon me: uninvited, and unfitting of the cheery yellow that shone through the window.

There are days when the sun itself cannot fill me. Its heat does not penetrate. On those days when I need more, I turn to the one who controls the rays. I put on my cap of sunny yellow and pray a prayer for your warmth oh Lord. Only you can warm my heart and set a fire in my soul large enough to keep the winters of life at bay.

I tried many things that day to sustain the warmth, attempting one substitute after the other: hats, sweaters, blankets and warm delicious stew made by my hands thinking it would lock in the heat. But there was nothing that could truly suffice. Nothing could take your place and embody your love.

A hat on my head for days of chill, a belly of stew for evenings of cold hunger, and the Lord in my heart for an eternity of warmth.





Toque: Thrift Store

Check Shirt: Thrift Store

Dark Denim Skinny Jeans: Urban Behavior

Suspenders: H&M

Teddy's Advice for the Day

 

Love each other as your creator has loved you

John 15:12

Seeking Approval

 

All of us want to be liked. We want to be admired and have the support of others, especially those close to us. So when we learn that someone might not share the same enthusiasm about something important to us, we can’t help but to take it personally and in some cases feel insulted. For example, you’ve finally decided what you want to do with your life but your family is less than thrilled with your decision, or perhaps you’ve experienced the harsh feeling that comes with introducing someone your friends and family dislike. 

I myself, have sought the approval of others and with that often comes the need to feel validated, to feel reassured that I’m still a person of valuable and worthy opinions and ideas. And it is this quest for validation after feeling dejected that often gets one into trouble. Is there a way to make people approve of you and your ideas? Perhaps not, but there are ways to soften the harsh blow of disapproval, and reduce the need to seek validation. 

 1. Don’t share until you’re ready. A fellow marketing friend of mine once told me “don’t share any business idea, until you have a strong foundation.” I’ve always believed this and hearing him say it helped me to confirm it. When you share an ill constructed idea, it gives people ample opportunity to find the holes in it until they’ve torn it apart, leaving you feeling hollow. It’s not that people want you to fail, but they do like pointing out that it’s a possibility. But my friend wasn’t just talking about the idea itself, but also my confidence in it. Whether it’s a new relationship, career choice, even a new outfit, it’s much easier to take the critique when you have built a strong confidence in it. You’ll feel less bruised when you’ve padded yourself with an armor of self esteem and confidence. Therefore, wait until your idea and your belief in it is solid before seeking approval.

2. Do it for the right reasons. We often make decisions for the same reason we seek approval on these decisions, vanity. Have you ever done something thinking, “Everybody will like this?”  Well, when it turns out that every body doesn’t like it it hurts a lot more than if you simply did it for yourself. If you’ve ever dated someone just because you thought the world would approve of him, took a job that looked great to societal standards, or even changed yourself in anyway just to get more attention you unfortunately heard, and answered, vanity’s call. The real trouble with this is if the motive is wrong then it’s harder to prove the decision is right. Any decision you make should have pure intentions. You should be doing it from your heart and without the intention of praise. If people like it great;. if not, who cares, you do!

3. It’s not you, it’s them. Everything we do in life is subjective. Everything. Therefore, if someone disapproves of something you’re doing understand that they are looking at it from the angle of their own lives. They aren’t simply thinking “is that the best thing for you to be doing,” but rather “would I do that.” If a person is showing strong opposition to a decision you’ve made, it often just means what you’re doing wouldn’t work for them or make them happy, so don’t let it eat you away. Forgive and be grateful for the fact that everyone has different definitions of happiness.

4. Try to be a little objective. When we get criticized, most of us immediately feel hurt and try to defend ourselves. But what if there is some truth to what they are saying. Perhaps it’s not the best time to be doing that particular thing, or maybe there’s something about that guy that your friends see that you don’t. Criticism can often save a lot of time and heartache, if we try and be objective with it. If someone disapproves of a decision you’ve made try looking at it from their perspective. What are they seeing that you’re not?

We can’t make everyone agree with us all the time, and we not might always get the support we need from those close to us, but if you are doing something with pure intentions God is on your side and is already blessing the decision.

A spoon full of love

My photoshop editor likes to go to war with me. It disobeys and plays tricks even when I'm looking. So I have to apologize for the way the edit looks.
I took this pic of cinnamon hearts, one of my favorite treats, and thought of the quote after I saw the picture.

I was thinking, I wish there was a big bowl of love that I could go to when I felt down, misunderstood, or depleted. Then I realized there is! I can't always rely on my friends or family, though I do love them, and self doubt can make it hard to always like myself, but God, no matter what, loves me. He is that big fountain of love that endlessly pours out. All I have to do is go to him. It's not a long journey. No matter where I am, I can always spoon out a little love.
Believe that you are loved, that this world still has love at its center, and that you are worth every bit of love you receive.

Confessing and Rejecting Christ

If anyone declares publicly that he belongs to me, I will do the same for him before my father in heaven. But if anyone rejects me publicly, I will reject him before my Father in heaven.

Luke 12.8-9

Handmade Heart Fine Silver Charm Necklace

Love and esteem are the first principles of friendship; it is always imperfect if either of these two are wanting.
-Eustace Budgell 

That's the quote that came to mine when I saw this lovely charm necklace. The heart is imperfect but it is also so perfect. This would be a nice gift to give to someone you love: a friend, lover, parent. As if to say "my heart is imperfect but it strives to love you perfectly." 

The necklace comes from Candice64 from etsy. Her shop offers numerous cute romantic-feeling items.  

Love for Enemies

 

You have heard that it was said, 'Love your friends, hate your enemies.' But now I tell you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the sons of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collector can do that! And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans can do that! You must be perfect--just as your father in heaven is perfect!

(Luke 6.27-28, 2-36)

Blessed Luck

I used to think I was a very lucky girl. That I was always dealt a nice hand of cards. But I soon realized that I'm not lucky at all.

I'm not lucky. I'm blessed. When I am holding on by a very thin string, God is the one keeping me from falling. He's the one that helps me play a fair hand in this game called life. Though some days I can feel as though there in nothing on my side, and there is no way to come out of a situation a winner, and the stack of cards leave me with very few options. I am reminded that God is on my side. Because he loves me I am always a winner and with his love there is always an option. And most times, the best option is just to keep trusting and believing in him. I cannot rely on luck or hold the belief that it can change but I can maintain the belief that God is still with me and he has blessed me with his love.