a stolen moment

i apologize for the sporadic posting as of late. truth is, i'm surrounded by summer and am having a hard time sitting in front of my computer. there's an old dirt road near my house, and every evening, after a tomato sandwich supper on the front porch swing (we've seriously done this every night since the tomatoes arrived), we go walking. and get to talking. and get to dreaming. and get to scheming. and get to laughing. and  running. and telling stories and remembering.

so it's hard to pull myself away.

but i love this little blog here. and i love your blogs. so i write.

i wrote a little guest post for my sweet friend jackie on my wedding day. on a moment stolen on the front steps of my hometown church. you can read more about it here.

thank you for reading, and for hanging around and waiting on me, kind of like those june bugs that haven't quite realized it's july and still swarm our front yard every morning. except you're cute!

find me over here

today i am so honored to be posting over at my sweet friend erika's blog, chambanachik.

erika's the kind of girl who sends you pretty vintage things in the mail, leaves you the kindest wall posts on facebook, and is just an overall wonderful person to call friend. i think she's the bees knees and i'm sure you will too. check it out here.

have a great weekend, xoxo!

two things. one is happy, the other is hopeful.

 
today is friday. and there's a little sliver of sunshine dancing on the bushes outside my office window. it's a precious reminder that though there are storm clouds above the oaks, there is hope. i gave a presentation last night, in a big city two hours away. i got up to the podium and for all my practice, special ear device and big deep guttural  breaths, i completely bombed. i felt my face flush and my stomach sink to my ankles as about twenty eyes watched me stammer.

i cried all the way home as robert championed my ability to fight my fears. to stand defenseless in a room full of lions. i didn't do as i wished. as i planned or hoped. but i did it. i stuttered my way through an eighteen minute humiliation. i left to a room full of crickets.

i sank into the bathtub at one in the morning and hugged my knees to my chest. i read somewhere that when lady gaga gets lonely or sad, she rubs her feet together. one day, she said she rubbed all day. holding my knees to my chest in an old ceramic tub full of hot water is my similar defense mechanism. that and a good sob. i got  both.

but as robert reminded me on the ride home, i have a sweet life. i have a family and a little plot of land and a warm home. a pup whose heart bursts when i walk into the door.

and i have sweet, beautiful friends who lift me up to unimaginable heights. one such friend is diana. in talking to diana over the blogosphere, her heart for christ and for others is immediately transparent. not only do we share a favorite movie (the last kiss), her blog is so well written and she challenges me and her readers to love like Jesus. to be thoughtful and considerate and celebratory of the little moments.

diana has sweetly featured me on her blog today. go on over and check it out.

and do have a beautiful weekend, xoxoxo.

microscope heart: gina + a series introduction

it's been a while since we've done a microscope heart post, and i can't think of a sweet person to bring it back than gina, my sweet friend from contemplating beauty. since meeting gina a few months ago, i've been blown away by her kindness, gentleness and heart for Christ. oh and she too has a fluffy white dog-->arrows to my heart immediately.

Thank you so much Courtney for having be a guest on your beautiful blog, it's humbling and exciting to share with all of you today! As most of you do, I adore Courtney and admire her writing so much! Courtney has been an amazing friend and sister in Christ in this blog journey, and I am thankful for her!

When Courtney asked me to write something for Microscope Heart, the simplest thing that makes me happy, I couldn't resist sharing about my pooch. His name is Nells, and here are a few fun facts about him:

-He is from a strip mall pet store (I think that's less common these days)
-He walks backwards (not regularly, but from time to time)
-He is Apricot color, I guess you could say he's a ginger (hehe)
-He loves BUTTER, and all dairy, he would do anything for it!
-He howls at the first Wednesday of the month sirens
-He is 75% poodle, and 25% Bichon

Nells warms my heart in so many ways. He makes me laugh and brings great comfort to me through many circumstances in my life. He's such a faithful friend, and eases my soul when it is heavy laden. It's incredible what pooches can do to lift our spirits, they add so much to our lives! I'm so thankful for God's creatures, especially my little 6 year old boy.

thank  you, gina! be sure to check out her blog for more pics of nells. oh, and to read her beautiful posts too:)

and now, an announcement:

an exciting announcement: gina and i are partnering with morgan of mama loves papa for a five-week series on relationships. these ladies are so kind. they are sweet and communicative, and wonderful partners on this blogging journey.

this is a series on finding God in the hard times, praising God through the blessed times, and leaning on and learning from Him and each other during the times between. we will be tackling topics like communication, loving through the storms, and more.

starting next tuesday, we will be posting once a week. and we'll be posting link-ups for you to join, if you will. we hope you'll consider it and play along! 

next week's series topics is: expectations: the ones you brought into the relationship. the ones you still hang on to. the ones you strive toward and the ones you threw away. 

*and though marriage is a topic, we'd love to hear from everyone--single, dating, divorced, married, engaged, widowed. anyone. because i believe what my mama told me is true: the single most important thing that matters on this earth, second only to your relationship with Christ, are the relationships you form with the people around you.





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have a beautiful, blessed weekend! xoxo

the delicate dash: a guest post

today i'm over at my friend cara-mia's space, i typed for miles talking about weddings. and marriage. and how they are both beautiful and holy and lovely. but they are different. and that's important to remember. enjoy your honeymoon, sweet friend!

the importance of being second

today i'm over at singing in the rain talking about my romance with robert. and why i come second in his life, and why i'm perfectly okay with that. please check it out and show jen some love! xoxo

two essential topics

#1: today is my sister's birthday. she is turning twenty. twenty!

the girl who slept feet from me all her life until i left for college.

the girl who made my phone calls in high school when i just couldn't and stood beside me at my wedding.

the girl who is infinitely more  beautiful, kind and good-hearted than i could ever hope to be.

i love you, carly. and i'm honored to call you my best friend. the sisters thing is just the icing.

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#2: today i'm over at my friend sarah's blog, desirous of everything. sarah asked me to do a little how-to post. and i thought. and thought some more. i've seen super blog tutorials about how to make bib necklaces. how to sew a wallet. how to cook a delish nutrish meal.

but i can't do any of those things, so i began to feel like a tiny failure.

then i looked at my ankles and saw my bundle of fluff, pablo. and remembered.

i am an expert in doggie belly rubs.

so hop on over and watch as i break down the art of the belly rub into seven easy steps! then give sarah some love because her blog is a true treasure. just try to not get lost in her writing. just try!

microscope heart: tiffany

today's microscope heart comes from my sweet friend tiffany from figuring out the plot. tiffany's a country girl like myself, which was one of the things that first brought me to her blog. once there, i was so happy i stuck around. because she is certainly one insightful, lovely woman. she has a heart for Christ and her future husband, and her posts about both make my heart swell. thank you, tiffany!
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Hey y'all! I'm Tiffany...a farm girl living in the city practicing law and cheering for Oklahoma State football (Go Pokes!) and blogging about my adventures at Figuring Out The Plot.

First off, how much do y'all love this little series that Courtney came up with? I think it's fantastic! I'm so excited to take part in it today....in my opinion, she is the best writer in blog land! You'll have to bear with me because my writing is not even close to the same level as you read on Vintch every day!

When I saw the concept of Microscope Heart, I started thinking about what little thing I am grateful for. I thought about this for a long time and finally came up with my answer....Hugs.

 via

Hugs just make me happy. They make a person feel special and loved and if you ask me, they make the world a better place.

And hugs are totally not about the physical, but about the feelings. If you think about hugs literally, it's just four arms getting sort of tangled up together. Seems like something strange...doesn't make sense really. But the fact is, hugs are so much more than that.

Just a hug can convey a whole range of emotions. Happiness or sorrow. Excitement or joy. Pain or peace. Comfort or attraction. It's a way to share your love....your support....your soul...with someone else.

And the same thing---one hug---can convey all of these different emotions without needing a single word. With as busy and as complicated as life can be, I love knowing that there is one little thing that can mean so much. It's something small....microscopic.....but its meaning is so much more.
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thank you, tiffany! hope your weekend is blessed.
what's the absolute smallest thing that makes you happy? tell me here!

microscope heart : kaylia

This week's microscope heart comes from my sweet friend kaylia, from the many colours of happiness. writing all the way from beautiful australia, kaylia is such a fabulous fixture in the blogosphere. she's honest and raw about her life, and she does it all in the most lovely way possible. she's salt of the earth, this girl, and i'm so happy to feature here today.
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Firstly I want to thank Vintch for coming up with such a beautiful little series. As soon as I read others contributions I knew that I wanted to take part and add a little piece of my own happiness into this wonderful collection.

It took me a while to decide what I wanted to write about. There are so many lovely things in life that it’s hard to pick just one, isn’t it? But, as I’m sure is the case with everyone, there was something that really stuck out for me. You see, when I was feeling a bit down, a bit unmotivated, I looked up ways to maybe make life a little more sparkly again. There were a lot of great suggestions, one of them including ‘stretch in the mornings’.

Such a simple little thing, but one that has indeed brought the sparkle back into my world.

On that first morning after deciding to try it out I got up early and crept softly into the living room, so as not to wake my sleeping husband. I pulled opened the curtains and let the early morning sunlight I often missed in my rush to get ready pour in and fill my soul. Then I began.

But there was a problem. What I haven’t mentioned is that I have two cats. Two cats that feel particularly affectionate in the mornings and who were overly excited to see me up so early. Every time I started my stretching routine one of them would bound up to me, demanding attention and tripping me up. And every time I did a stretch that required me to sit down, one of them would climb into my lap and refuse to budge.

I couldn’t help it, after a few half-hearted attempts I burst out laughing and gave up for the rest of the morning, choosing to cuddle the cats instead. And that has been my routine every morning since. I might not have gotten any more flexible, but when a morning is started with cuddles and laughter? Well how can you possibly have a bad day after that.

And all it took was that simple little thing to bring so much happiness and joy into my life. Pretty cool, huh?

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very, very cool kaylia. thank you so much!
what's the absolute teeniest tiniest thing that makes you happy? tell me here.

microscope heart : kate

you guys are in for such a treat today. my sweet friend kate from one size fits most is this week's microscope heart. kate is such a beauty. she's smart, kind and thoughtful. her blog is chock full of inspiration and themes of self-acceptance. be sure to read her "where it began" section for a beautifully written, informative look into her world. she's an inspiration, that one.
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since the introduction of this new series i have been hopelessly trying to narrow down the one thing without fail that can always make me happy. and to be honest, i struggled a bit. i tried to find it, to search it out, but it became artificial. not authentic kate. i would look at my life and try to make something be that one thing and it was never genuine. there are millions of little things that make me happy but when i actually stopped trying to look for it, i found it. its the wind. strong and passionate. its the breeze. light and romantic. and its even a small chill. crispy and humbling. 

it could be in the blazing summer. that mysterious little gust that makes the sweat beads quiver for a brief moment and instantly makes you feel renewed. rejuvenated. or it could be in autumn. when the first chilly air of fall lifts up your hair to dance and whip around in its wonder and leaves you yearning for more. it can even be in the dead of winter when you are already frozen to the core but a ferocious wind attacks and nips at your cheeks and all you can do is open your mouth and inhale it deep into your lungs. and for me, lately its been when i have all the windows down driving through the streets of my hometown.

cool october air pouring through all the openings in my little car, cosuming me, and making me feel alive. with no music on the whistling, howling, and soft murmur it creates tells me a story i have been longing to hear and feel deep inside of me.

because the wind has always been a cleansing thing to me. a renewing. a mystery. it flows around you, through you, and inside of you. and you never know where that breeze has been or where its going next. as a little girl i remember my parents always saying, "God is like the wind. even though you cant see it, you can feel it." so whenever i have a moment of doubt, a stumbling block, a rough patch, or am in desperate need of cleansing, i close my eyes, feel for the wind, and am consumed by its wonder. and that to me, is my beautiful happiness. 

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thank you, kate, for everything. 

what's the smallest thing that makes you happy? tell me here.

microscope heart: charla-beth

today's microscope heart comes from my sweet friend charla-beth. not only is she a beautiful, talented writer, she has a heart of gold that shines so sweetly for our Savior. be sure to check out her blog here.
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When I first decided to send something in for Microscope Heart, I made lists upon lists of the littlest reasons for joy.  And those lists turned into more lists.

But the very first thing I thought of, the first item I wrote down and the one thing I kept coming back to... was the smell of morning. 

Like that rich smell of the summer between ripened fruit and freshly cut grass.  Or the crisp smell of autumn when the earth's buds begin to close her petals and morning dew quickly turns to frost.  There's that frosty bite in the air after new-fallen winter rain.  And come spring, the smell of fresh earth and new blooms permeate the air.  Regardless of the day, the month, or the time of year, every morning has that “new day” smell that I simply can’t get enough of.

And everything in my being knows that it is good.  Because with the fresh smell of morning comes the reminder that I have been given today.  And even if yesterday was a hard day, a stumbling day, a weep-worthy day, the morning brings a reminder that creation is renewed with each and every sunrise.  Myself, included. :)

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning...” {lamentations 3:22-23a}

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 see what i mean? gorgeous. thank you, sweet friend.
tell me about the smallest thing that makes you happy here.

microscope heart: lauren

this week's microscope heart is from lauren, who blogs over at pack n' play. lauren is such a sweet spirit and writes about life in the city with MD, fabulous recipes (she recently ushered in crock-pot season, a girl after my own heart) and on fridays, she posts dance music. perfection. thank you, lauren!
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I am not a city girl, but somehow I have found myself in one of the busiest cities on the east coast for over 5 years now. There is a little gem of a reservoir where I escape to everyday after work and remember what it is like to just watch the sunset. I often forget where I am in those moments, it makes me feel like I am right back home.
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thank you, sweet friend. be sure to check out lauren's blog here.
what's the smallest thing that makes you happy! i'd love to feature you. learn more here.

microscope heart...by gwen

today's microscope heart comes from sweet gwen, who posts over at saturdays with maggy. in a nutshell, gwen's blog always makes me super hungry, even after i just ate. please go check it out and show her some love!
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the smallest thing that makes me happy is the fork. 

The fork can mash, the fork can feed. The fork can work magic with cold butter and flour. The fork is my trusty go-to kitchen utensil. It never fails me when the food processor won't process or the beaters won't beat. It knows when the meat is done and how much longer the potatoes need cooking. 

My mother was not much of a cook, but when in doubt she'd advise you to use a fork to stir the biscuits or mix the cookie dough. And she's right. All you need is a fork and your hands. It lets you feel the texture of the ingredients, the weight and the thickness. The fork brings me back to the taste of things, the enjoying of things, the slow mixing together of sugar and eggs. 

The fork doesn't mind if you scrape the bowl or smash the bananas extra hard because you're mad. It keeps quiet when you eat just one more bite of cake. We can do this thing called cooking, me and the fork, and we can certainly do the eating, too. 

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thank you so much, sweet friend! be sure to check out her blog here.

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

microscope heart : sarah

for this week's microscope heart series, i am so happy to introduce you to sarah, from desirous of everything. pretty sarah is living every english major's dream as a librarian in manhattan. she's quirky and cute and just the sweetest thing. her blog is a beautiful collection of musings, writings, and snippets of life with her love, alex. please do stop by and show her some love.
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I try and recognize tiny things that make me happy on a daily basis if only for the reason that it makes life more fun!  Which is why I was so excited to try Courtney's Microscope Heart challenge.  When I sat down and thought about it, I found myself experiencing this weird paradox of not being able to think of anything, and then not being able to think of only one small thing to focus on!  Finally, I realized that for me, scent is one of those tiny little things that always make me happy.  Just this weekend, while spending time down the shore with my family, my dad made some amazing steamed muscles in a garlicky white wine sauce and the smell of it sent me over the moon with joy, even more than the taste I think.  I kept bending over and inhaling that big beautiful bowl of food.

I think when I stopped and smelled that delicious scent, it was really a moment of reflection.  Like my mind was able to stop for a minute and really appreciate what a great weekend I was having, how lucky I am to have family and friends that love me and yummy food to share with them over frozen margaritas, Ray Charles singing in the background and lots and lots of laughs.  My microscope heart moment came from a smell, but really, brought on so much more than that.

You know that old saying, "stop and smell the roses?"  I guess whomever came up with that really was on to something!  It's the smelling part that brings me an instant joy, but the stopping part is probably the most important.  A wonderful and delicious smell causes me to pause, breath in real deep, smile, and remember the things that are most important to me.

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thank you so much, sarah!

what's the smallest thing that makes you happy? i want to feature you! find out more here.

microscope heart : christina

for this week's microscope heart, i'm so happy to feature my friend christina from brown town. i first met christina when we were in bible study together at n.c. state, and our friendship grew from there! she's a beautiful, strong woman of the Lord and i love reading about her life with brandon and all their precious furbabies. thank you, christina. we've got to meet up in raleigh soon!
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Touch is one of the most powerful human interactions.  It creates the tingle down your spine, the butterflies in your heart, the sweat on your palms, and the emotion in your heart.  The slightest touch can change your entire mood and make your heart do a flip-flop.  I’m not talking about big touch like a handshake or a hug, no it’s those small, microscopic touches that warm my soul and make my heart sing.   Those small touches bring joy to my life and are always sure to put a smile on my face, even in the most difficult of times.      

It’s when Brandon places his hand, ever so lightly, on the small of back.   The message it sends is so much bigger than the size of the action.  It says “I’m here for you."  It says “I’m thinking of you” and of course it says “I love you."  The world can come to a complete stop when I feel the warmth of his touch. 

The beauty of it is that my sweet hubby doesn’t even realize the magnitude of this small action.  Placing his hand on my back is not as intentional as a kiss or a hug and that is what’s beautiful about it.  It is a natural thing for him, maybe even subconscious.  That’s what makes it a microscopic heart action.  It is one of those tiny things in this big world that makes me stop and remember what in this life is worth living for.  It is this small action that ripples into much larger joy and that is what matters in life.       
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thank you, christina! what's the absolute smallest thing that makes you happy? tell me here.

microscope heart: melissa

this week's microscope heart comes from melissa, the beautiful writer behind off the cuff. melissa writes with such style and grace! go over and take a peek at the lovely dinner party she had with her friends. if the narrative doesn't make your mouth water, check out the gorgeous pictures. i'm so glad to have such a crafty, inspirational friend in the blogosphere. plus, she's a twin. very cool.
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Oprah did a segment years ago about her "feather," which she defined as an object or item that had special meaning, personally...that made you happy...brightened your day or lifted you up.  Hers was a feather.  She told us why it was significant but I can’t remember why now.  I do remember thinking, what’s my feather?  I have since come to have a few. 

The first, two book inscriptions I recently found that my dad had written to me. I tore them out and framed them (he passed away ten months ago…a devastating blow to my little world.) But a constant reminder to keep learning and discovering.  (He always gave me inscribed books as gifts.)

The second, a piece of bark my late cat Remy Fox Martin left for me; he wasn’t much of a mouser. Perhaps a little, "crazy cat lady," but undying affection and loyalty from my furry friend.

Every morning at 6:15am my alarm goes off to remind me I get to experience another day.  I can’t help but notice my framed mementos of my past that inspire me to love completely, enjoy every moment and create a meaningful journey that fulfills me. 

What’s your feather? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 thank you, melissa! what is the smallest thing that makes you happy? i'd love to feature it. find out more here.