"... TO GIVE UNTO THEM BEAUTY FOR ASHES, THE OIL OF JOY FOR MOURNING, THE GARMENT OF PRAISE FOR THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS; THAT THEY MIGHT BE CALLED TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,THE PLANTING OF THE LORD, THAT HE MIGHT BE GLORIFIED." ISAIAH 61:3

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Carpe Diem



car·pe di·em 

  [kahr-pe dee-em; Eng. kahr-peedahy-uhm, kahr-pey dee-uhm] 
Latin seize the day; enjoy the present, 
as opposed to placing all hope in the future.

Joey recently finished a resilience training course for work. The impact of which has been amazing!

Even though he has one of the most stressful jobs on the planet (Forbes even backs that claim), he has always been adamant about not bringing his work home.
But when you're working 16 hours a day and getting phone calls and texts the other 8, it's a little hard to shut down 'army mode'.

This course was heaven sent.
Nothing earth-shattering. Just reminders that 'negative' doesn't have to be a permanent state of mind and simple pleasures abound.

A few of my simple pleasures;
~Face time! It makes the distance from family more bearable.
~Sleeping in on a rainy day.
~Music. Anytime, anywhere.
~Dr. Pepper!!!
~Crisp clean bed sheets.
~The smell after a rain.
~Tucking my girls in at night.
~Reading.
~I love the sound of snow crunching under my feet, especially when the only other sound is silence.
~Joey gets up at 4am - I do not. But I love it a couple of hours later when he comes back for breakfast. He texts me a pic of a pot of coffee and I know he's waiting downstairs with a steaming cup and some good conversation.
~Candles. Yep, those things that are supposed to sit on the mantle for looks - I burn them! I love the smell and the soft glow. (We use our 'guest towels' too, gasp!)


I could go on but I think you get the idea. 


After finishing his course, Joey started a new tradition of sorts. Every evening at dinner we go around the table and list our 'Good Stuff' for the day. Only one rule - all answers must be positive. Any simple pleasure, anything that brought a smile that day is shared. 
We focus on the good and let the bad fade away.


God blesses in big and small ways. 


So Carpe diem!


And while you're at it, Carpe de good towels that are 'only for guests'.


And Carpe de delicate summer breeze blowing through an open window.


And Carpe de dishes that are only for 'special occasions'.


Carpe . . .


    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Some of Joey's 'Good Stuff';
Old fashioned Sarsaparilla,












Driving with the top down,

And being with his girls.