{The Life Inspiring} January 22

Today was the first day back to school.  I had three classes and work.  Two of those classes gave me two syllabus slaps with a bunch of reading. My least favorite assignment given for every class is a ton of reading.  But I guess I have no choice, right?  What was interesting about today was that two-thirds of my professors had cool cups with 'kid story' characters on them.  No shame in that! I thought that was really cool.  It was good to be back in class, even though it feels like we never left last semester.

Wednesday, January 22

 The sun was so bright this morning!

 The Lorax!  Brought in by Dr. Caudill to Abnormal Psychology.

 I love seeing the sun shining through the trees on my way to class.  It's neat when I take a picture, I can look and see all the spindly twigs sprouting out from the branches.

 Philosophy class.  I hate this book.  This guy is a horrible philosopher with really bad arguments.  It's infuriating to see the way so many people think about Christianity.  The reason they have this view of Christianity is because of all the people whose lives don't line up with what they say they believe...

 Peter Rabbit!  Belonging to Dr. Gentry in Philosophy.  Frank loved Peter Rabbit as a kid.

 When Frank and I were just beginning to know each other, I mistakened one of these lights for the moon!

 The Boulevard is lined with flags from every country represented by our graduates.  Seeing these lines of flags was the first time I felt God telling me that CIU is where I belong.  Can you name the countries these flags belong to?

 I. love. Subaru.  We don't own a Subaru, unfortunately, but we are definitely a Subaru family!!

 Good ol' Dr. Farra.  I love being a Psychology major.

 If there is ever an opportunity opened to us to go, Sweden is where Frank and I have always felt called to to serve!  I hope we can go someday, even if it's only for short-term!

 There's another clock!

 Our teachers leave out puzzles and games for us in the hallways.  Sounds childish?  Wouldn't it stop you in the hall?  Yeah, it works ;)

 I was spying on Frank while he was in class!!!

 The view of sunlight coming through the window in the room next to me.

 I've never noticed the old time fire alarm in the hallway!

And the last rays of light leaving me for the night.  God gave us a beautiful first day of school!

I decided on a name for this little project!  The Life Inspired.  Because all of these things, taken for granted, inspire our every day lives.  We don't really think about it, but it's true.  How much do you pay attention to what you see at the first minute of the day?  Or how things on the walls have really because 'wallflowers'?  Our life is subconsciously inspired by the small things.  The life around us is inspiring us, even when we don't notice.  Life inspiring us is open-ended; how will life around you inspire life yet to be seen?  Think about it.

The day started with a beautiful sunrise and gorgeous blue sky and ended with the most beautiful colors!

How was your day?

{My-Life Mosaic} Jan 21

I enjoy carrying my camera around.  I love being able to take pictures of things I know that, sometimes, memory just can't suffice.  A lot of times, people try to comfort you by saying, "we'll always have the memory" but fer serious - do you really remember all those times you could only have the memory?  Yeah, maybe (as some people say) that's because we don't use our minds like we used to, but even then, do you think we would really remember everything.  I want to remember everything.  I'm a pretty sentimental person.  Am I alone when I say this: when I was young, I wanted to get away from home so bad... I couldn't wait!  And even though, now, I enjoy being out on my own, I've noticed how much I really do miss home, that old refuge, the old place I grew up in.  No I'm not alone, because - even in some small way - everyone misses something about their home.  I like looking at pictures of home sometimes because it's like comfort food for my memory.  When you're hungry and want something to eat, sure thinking of food makes it somehow a little bit easier to cope with the hunger.  But actually having food to eat satisfies that hunger completely.  In this case, remembering home is good, but actually seeing pieces of home help to sooth the soul.  Although right now I really can't wait to leave this place, I know someday I'll miss it.

Tuesday, January 21

 This is the first thing I looked at yesterday morning.  I noticed that a bit of dust has collected on it.  Hubby usually gets that off for me.  I love the little things he does for me.

 The sky is my headboard!  This is the second thing I saw this morning; blue sky with a few puffy cumulus clouds.

 My husband loves ties, this shirt, and he works in the kitchen.  He gets little stains everywhere and doesn't realize it.

 I like hard boiled eggs.  I'm a vegetarian and therefore need extra foods in my diet for protein purposes.  I'm thankful the caf offers these little babies!

 Someone was sweet enough to share their sweetness with the rest of the admin building yesterday.  I can always go for a little piece of chocolate (peppermint bark).

 I've always known this chandelier was hanging in the lobby, but I've never really stopped and looked at it.  No, it's not grand, but it's very pretty, and adds a bit of charm to the rest of the building.

 Here's a new clock face I'm getting used to looking at - right outside my office.  I look at it everytime I pass it to see what time it is - even if I just checked a minute ago.

These are the doors to the closet in my office.  For some reason, I really appreciate the old round pull knobs that allow it easy open.  I just like the fact that they're round!

***

That was my yesterday, as I celebrated my brother's birthday.  It's funny how much more I'm noticing now that I'm paying attention.  I feel like Sherlock!  "You see, but you don't observe."
I'm still rattling through some ideas of things to call this little personal project.  For now, I will keep it the same, but soon there will be a new name.

Have you noticed anything new in your environment?

{My-Life Mosaic} Jan 17-20

Last week, I decided that I wanted to start carrying my camera around everywhere I go.  I want to try this for the semester, but it might extend to the rest of 2014.  The purpose?  Two purposes:

1.)  I see the buildings and trees and other structures around us (this is gonna sound cheesy) as a "blank canvas" of sorts.  Other than regular wear-and-tear, and maybe some growth and vegetation, our surroundings basically stay the same.  However, everything else changes and moves around.  Since the earth is a "canvas," we humans (and animals) are the portrait being painted.  The problem with this painting: we won't be here forever.  How often do you see someone walking a dog in an animal-free environment?  How often do you notice that big clock at work?  Sure these things happen, but how often?  Maybe we know these things are there, but do we take them for granted?  I don't want to take pictures of things people see all the time; I want to take pictures of things people don't notice.  I want to take pictures of things that aren't there everyday - they are painted there today, but are wiped away and forgotten tomorrow.  I want to capture the small things that slip our minds and attention, but we'll remember when we see them later.

2.)  The second purpose is much less impressive: I want to practice.  I'm not a licensed professional photographer.  I don't have all this chunky, expensive equipment.  I don't have super pricey editing software.  I don't own a Mac.  I'm not very tech-saavy.  None of that.  I have an old, hand-me-down, camera that doesn't have a working flash.  It's manual; I have to focus my own lens because it is not point and shoot.  It takes practice to use, and I'm finding out new things about it every day.  I've had it for almost three years now, and the more I've used it, the better I've gotten.  I want to keep learning, and keep getting better.  So I want to carry it around and practice.  Every day.  Everywhere.

So for now, I will share some pictures I have taken in the past few days as I've run through my mind whether or not I want to do this.  Keep a look out for more posts like this, and soon I'll add a tab for {My-Life Mosaic}. (and.. maybe I'll think of a more clever name)

Friday, January 17

 My path to and from the school, and work.

 Frank has been working checker at his job.

 I love freshly-sliced cucumbers.

 I love healthy lunches that include egg sandwiches.

 I got some coupons from a friend.

 I think about my sweetheart while I'm at work.

 I always look at this clock when I pass it.

 There are so many different bowls in the cafeteria.

 Sometimes, I forget the signs are there.

Saturday, January 18

 I love the way the light hits the steps.

 There are a lot of children here, and it's lovely hearing them from outside while they play.

 I love that the fruit (good stuff) and the confections (junky stuff) are in the same location.. tempting..

 I love the little bunnies Frank makes out of lemons to decorate the food.

 I got this fruit from some friends.  I love fruit.  I don't like pineapple.

 Frank is working through some personal stuff, and I get to help him.

Sunday, January 19

 All caught up with Sherlock, we got to watch the long-waited new episode to season 3!

Monday, January 20

 This is the view from my pillow when I wake up in the morning.  I always say: who needs a headboard when the sky is our headboard!

Frank loves to read, and we love old clocks, and our engraved ships.  I don't mind that the one on the left is crooked.

Look around you today, and try to notice the little things.  How often do you take them for granted?

Share some parts of your day that you've never noticed.