Freedom

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

Maya Angelou

The free bird leaps

on the back of the wind

and floats downstream

till the current ends

and dips his wings

in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and

his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings

with fearful trill

of the things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill for the caged bird

sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze

and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn

and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings

with a fearful trill

of things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill

for the caged bird

sings of freedom.

Recent Favorites

inspiration

Inspiration comes in many forms. Sometimes it's a word, a verse, a picture or a lyric to a song.. but no matter how it comes to you It always hits you with that same familiar, incredible feeling. A feeling of hope for the future and peace about your purpose today. It came to me today in a late night conversation with someone incredibly close to my heart. The worries and challenges of life seem to buy our time and make cherished moments like these few and far between. I believe that Satan's strategy is to use our "busyness" as the ultimate distraction that keeps us so consumed and worried about the stresses of our petty circumstances that we can no longer see the beautiful  yet broken world around us. By doing so we are not only missing out on the simple, beautiful joys of life but we also disregard the incredible hurt that others are experiencing around us. To live consumed by our own situation ruins our ability to give, to help, to serve, to be fulfilled.  

When it comes to our own devices, we choose living in survival mode, spread thin and barely getting by. But God created us for so much more! We were designed to give of ourselves to others. There is no greater joy than the joy that comes with serving another person yet sometimes it seems impossible to make that happen because we are just too busy with life. My school, my chores, my job, my husband, my kids, my parents, my exercise, my facebook, my twitter, my blog... the list of "time-fillers" goes on forever. The real question is, what will be your priority? What means the most to you? My heart's desire is to live a purposeful life that is full of God's glory and fulfilled. At the end of each day I want to feel as though the Lord could look me in the eyes and say "Well done my good and faithful servant!".. So it's time to change things around a little. My hope is to bring serving to the top of my list of priorities. I want to walk away from the self centered, self concerned bubbles in my life and allow God to give me a compassionate heart like his for his people. To see the world through his eyes and not mine. My prayer is  for a changed perspective and a loving, considerate heart. 

 Heres to another late night talk that means so much more than just a talk!

You will always be one of my greatest inspirations in my life and I will always love you even more than you know! 

330

To my beloved 330 am.

How is it that you come to me so quickly?

Where do the hours go? 

If ten hours I could add to each day,

then the world around me may start to move slow.

Each day a whirlwind of here and there,

with stresses and worries all of their own.

It's here that I embrace our moments of silence

when the world is quiet and we are alone.

strawberries

our first strawberry from our topsy turvy :)

What I like about sundays

After what seemed like the longest most stressful week of the semester, I decided to put down my accounting book, turn off my computer with that looming unfinished paper in the background and have a day full of joy. I didn't think about my homework or studying all day long and it was great! Now of course I am paying for it as I try to finish this power-point and paper for my in-class presentation tomorrow morning at 10 and I still haven't quite figured out how the 3 chapters left in my accounting book will be read in time for my test at 6 pm. BUT If I could do this day all over again I wouldn't have changed a thing. I was able to spend an entire day with my parents which almost NEVER happens these day, spend some time at the fair with my best friend, her wonderful husband and my beautiful goddaughter and got to see my amazing boyfriend for the first time this week! It's days like today that make me so grateful for the many amazing people God has put into my life.

I miss these beautiful girls!! They melt my heart.

Silly face :)

"Come on dad, I wanna go over there!!"

I don't think I could love this baby any more no matter

 how hard I tried!! She's the cutest.

Haha.. same exact face!

Like father, like daughter!

ADORABLE.

She was singin'!

My mama gettin crazy on the tracks in Carlsbad.

We spent the afternoon scoping out what may be my parents new store location in carlsbad as well as the condos we may be moving into in October of this year!

A few weeks ago my dad found this path from the industrial park to the beach and was dying to show it to me so we went on a little walk... It took about five minutes to get to the beach from the industrial park they are considering, AWESOME.

Bamboo hut thing.. seriously so cool!

We're pretty pumped, obviously.

The scenery reminded us of Hawaii! SO Beautiful!

I think he likes me!! :)

I loved all of the natural flowers.

Aaannddd five minutes later, there it is!! 

On the way home we stopped at Double-Peak park in San Elijo to see the sunset. Erick took me here on our 2 year anniversary (almost a year ago, crazy!) so it was fun to go back :) This park is amazing. It's at the top of this huge hill so you get a 360 degree view of San Elijo and a perfect view of the ocean. It was a beautiful sunset! My mom took this picture of us and was really disappointed at first because it turned out so dark. But it actually turned out so cool! I looove it.

I know why the caged bird sings

recent obsessions and such

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