everything...by cara-mia

today is the last installment in my "everything" series, and i'm so happy to usher it out with this fine lady. cara-mia found her lasting inspiration deep in the heart of words and literature:

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Ever since I learned how to read, I have been an avid reader. I was definitely one of those bookish children that preferred reading over many an activity. Going to the school library was the highlight of my week. Classic books were my favorites, and I feel that is what I learned from the most. (It should come as no surprise then that I majored in English.) Here are just a few lessons I picked up from those beloved books at different stages of life.

This is the very first book series I can remember getting into as a child. (Yes, even before the days of Goosebumps.) I have always had an obsession with red hair, and Nancy was lucky enough to be a red head. She also drove a convertible and solved mysteries, which was so glamorous to me. As if that wasn’t enough, she also had a gorgeous and older boyfriend, Ned Nickerson. More than that, though, Ned seemed very supportive and protective of Nancy, which appealed to me the most about him. Having support from a partner is extremely important.

 A series I truly loved in middle school. (So much so, that I wrote a letter to Madeleine L’Engle. She sent back a general typed letter that she sent to fans, but wrote a personal note to me in the margin. It meant so much to me and I treasure that letter.) I could definitely relate to Meg and how awkward she felt compared to everyone else. Junior high is such an awkward time in general, so I'm sure many kids that age can relate to this. In the story Meg learns to appreciate what makes her different, which everyone should do. 

I almost do not like saying this is my favorite novel because it seems like a cliché. Don’t most people cite this as their favorite novel? Even so, it is indeed my favorite, and it is also the book that sparked my Fitzgerald and 1920’s obsessions. A close friend of mine once said I favor tragedies. This might be true, but there is much to be learned in tragedies about the human condition.  

My second favorite novel. I first read this when I started college (over seven years ago), and I recently reread it. It is an amazing novel with three plots: the story of a man named Adam and his two sons, John Steinbeck’s family history, and the Bible story about Cain and Abel. Since there are three plot lines, there is so much in here to think about, but perhaps the main theme is that of good versus evil and our free will in regards to that. Although I went to Catholic school, I must admit I never gave much thought to the Cain and Abel story – it turns out I didn’t even know the whole story. I thought it was just about a man that killed his brother and was banished. There is more to it than that, and this book explores that idea in a fascinating way. The central message is that man has the choice to rule over sin, which is not only important to the characters in the novel, but to humanity in general.

Thank you for letting me ramble a bit about some of my favorite novels. When I was in college we had an anthology called Literature: The Human Experience. This is how I have come to see literature and why I feel there is much to be learned in novels although they are fiction. I would love to hear anything you may have learned from literature! 

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thank you, cara-mia! be sure to check out her blog here.

we're over halfway done with our new england road trip. i've missed you guys! can't wait to share our travels with you on monday!

everything...by amylou

today's guest post comes from the super sweet miss amy lou, from amylouwho, who found her infinite wisdom in the chords and notes of music. thank you, amy lou!

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Hi everyone! My name is Amylou! I blog over at my little space called AmyLouWho.

When Courtney asked me to guest post, I was really honored. I love her blog and she has an amazing way with words. I always feel inspired when I leave her space! At first I was worried I might not have the words in me to fit in with this theme, but once I started writing, my words just flowed. I'm really thankful that I had the chance to write this post. I feel like this reprents my true self more than anything I've ever written before! Thank you for letting me share a little piece of my heart with you today.

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Everything I ever needed to know, I learned from music. Music has taught me a lot about myself and this amazing life that we live!

I have learned that I am a singer and sometimes even a dancer. I won't profess to be a professional at either, but my mom does like to tell these stories about when I was very young that I think really show how much music means to me. Three years old and my favorite activity was plugging in a movie and singing along while I danced around the room. Sound of Music and Dirty Dancing were my favorite movies as a kid. (Don't worry. I had no idea it was even called Dirty Dancing or what it was about at all!) I just loved to ask my mom if I could watch "Baby and Johnny" dance or hear Julie Andrews sing at the top of her lungs. My love of music started young.

I got my first cassette player when I was about 10. It was just my Momma's hand-me-down that she didn't use very much and we only had a few cassettes in our house. I chose Whitney Houston's "The Bodyguard" soundtrack and played it non-stop for months. I knew that I wanted to have a strong voice like hers someday. Soon I learned how to sing by ear. I didn't give up and learned more and more about music as time went on.


As a young teen, I wanted nothing more than to sing in my church praise team, and I was so excited when I got to join. I really studied songs. I have no idea how to read music theory and I failed to learn how to play piano. What I mean by studied is that I would print out lyrics and memorize them. I would feel the song out in my head. I sang alone in my room daily. Often, the first thing I would do when I got home from school was to turn my stereo on. I played the same song ten times in a row. Soon I learned what singing harmony, instead of melody meant as well, and then I could use my voice in a whole new way. Singing was something I looked forward to every Sunday morning, and while I'm not a member of a praise team anymore, I still usually sing my heart out when my ipod shuffles and lands on one of my favorite worship songs.


My love for music constantly changes and grows. I have a love for so many genres. My brother taught me that I could love Led Zeppelin and The Beatles just as music as I loved NSync growing up. Adele and John Mayer can speak what my heart is feeling just as much as Julie Andrews can. Third Day, David Crowder and Casting Crowns constantly show me how much my Jesus loves me. Each song and melody has a different message. Sometimes I can hear the same lyrics and they might have a completely different effect on me and what I take from them that day.


Lyrics become like my own thoughts. They make me think about love and life and the blessings that I have received. Days like those are when I know that God had something special for me for me to hear. I believe that he uses music to speak to my heart. It might just be our special love language, just between Him and I.


Music has taught me that I am a very passionate person. I love deeply especially for my dearest friends and family. My heart is big! Sometimes it teaches me patience and to trust in my Provider to take care of me through thick and thin. Other times I'm just filled with Joy! I have learned to enjoy the small moments in life and soak in the love around me. To appreciate each day. So when I say that I learned everything that I need to know from music, I guess what I'm saying is that He, my wonderful Lord and savior, really just teaches me so many things through it.
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thank you, girl! be sure to check out her sweet blog here.

everything...by amber blue bird

Today's post comes from the lovely amber blue bird, who found her lasting inspiration beneath the city lights:
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It all began with an elegantly dressed Aubrey Hepburn casually eating a croissant in front of the world famous Tiffanys.  This simple yet decadent scene is what prompted my heart to flutter about for all things New York and thus began my plan to move to the Big Apple.  Being just a small town girl from Texas, this move was met with big eyed stares from my family and friends, but after years of pining the dream finally came true. 

On a warm September day, I boarded a flight (my first flight ever in my eighteen years of existence) and landed in that magical city to attend Pace University.  It was here that I learned one of many lessons, the first being what true friendship means.  I met my close knit circle of friends the first day of college and we remain inseparable.  From these girls I learned that an open ear can soothe all your problems, that honesty creates the strongest of friendships, ice cream is calorie free as long as you eat it out of the carton, and the only cure for a hangover is another night out.

New York also taught me what love is.  I met my now husband Kevin on our second day at college and we have been an item ever since (nine years to be exact).  We held hands for the first time on the Brooklyn Bridge, found “our” restaurant in Little Italy, and got engaged under the Christmas tree in Rockefeller center.  I learned what it feels like to be unconditionally loved, that in every argument there is a lesson to be learned, and leaving dirty socks on the floor even though the hamper is only three feet away is no reason to throw said socks in the trash.

New York really did become my ultimate teacher.  I truly believe that I discovered myself under its towering skyscrapers.  As my time in New York progressed so did my self confidence.  I learned that inside myself I held a confidence that could not be deterred, that I was a take charge kind of lady, that nothing is more important than your family and friends, and that my humor was the stuff of legends.   I learned all this and then some under those bright lights of New York City.

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thank you, amber! be sure to check out her funny and fashionable blog!

everything...by gentri lee

hey guys! while i'm in new england this week, i've entrusted my space to a couple of fabulous bloggers, in a new little series called "everything i ever needed to know..."

this series will focus on the place, be it kindergarten, grad school, or that one hot bath on a tuesday two years ago, when it all just clicked. when looking back on it, that's where it happened. where a little bit of life's wisdom stuck around longer than usual.
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to kick us off, please meet miss gentri lee and the place she's found lasting inspiration, hope and beauty:

Hello Courtney's lovely readers! My name is Gentri and I blog over at Gentri Lee. I am so grateful to be guest posting over here today. Courtney's blog is definitely a favorite of mine. Her writing is probably the most beautiful out there.
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Today Courtney asked me to post around a theme. "Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in..."
My answer:

Blogland

And I am not kidding. Just in the short time I've been blogging I've learned how to be more creative, and adventurous. I've learned photography skills, cooking skills, and healthy tips. Here are some examples.

Creativity:
{Head Band/ Collar}

{Craft Room Makeover}- ignore that ancient tv

Adventurous:
{The Hand Tram}

{Rock Climbing}- Something I always swore I would never do.

Photography:
{Lake Louise}

{Aly's Photos}

Cooking:
{Berry, Cinnamon Almond, Spinach Salad}

{White Chocolate Ritz Cookies}

In short, blogging has taught me more about myself. I've developed talents, interests, and skills I never knew I had. I've made friends from all over the world, and I now view the world for the beautiful and exciting place that it is.

So thank you to all of you bloggers out there, for helping me become a better person. For giving me inspiration, hopes, and dreams.

I hope that you can all stop by my blog. I'd love to hear from you and see what we can learn from each other. Thank you Courtney for your beautiful words and for letting me guest post. It was a wonderful experience. :)
Love,
Gentri