Live. Big. Adventure.

So, today I was thinking and I actually had a lot of good thoughts. Weird, right? HAH. Just kidding.
But, I was writing in my actual journal earlier this evening and I thought you might enjoy seeing what I wrote.

So, I'm thinking you can read the above. . . And yes, it just restates the name of my blog. But, it was just going through my mind all day today. I've had a lot on my mind, and I feel like. . . not very many people really take the time to listen what I have to say. Yeah, I know I talk a lot, but if you'd actually listen, maybe you'd get something out of it. Sometimes I just need someone to talk to, because sometimes I have something to say. 

Now this is just a journal page, and it started out as me writing a song but then I just started writing and I couldn't stop until the final word 'adventure' hit me. So, here's what I wrote.

Trust me, you'll see I've got my head held high. 

I know what I want and where I'm going to stay.

Believe me, this isn't going to be easy but I can't keep waiting to LIVE 

It's time for be to go, to fly, to leap.

I have dreams, why can't you see? I'm going to do BIG things, and they don't include this.

Let me go, I might surprise you.

No matter what what, I'm going to enjoy this and create an 

ADVENTURE

To be honest, I really don't have a clue as to what I wrote there. I know it doesn't make any sense. . . right now. But, I think that God put that in me to write. I get that sometimes, where I'll be writing then all of the sudden I'll have written a whole page, and be like what in the world?! I don't remember writing this at ALL. Whatever it means, if it's meant for one you, my readers, I hope that it finds you in good hands. Because I KNOW that God has a plan for me, as well as for you. You just need to believe that He's big enough for anything and EVERYTHING you throw at Him. 

Much love,

xoxo

Shannon 

Catching Up

Well, I should probably start with how my weekend was, since I'm a bad person and neglected my poor blog.

FORGIVE ME, my avid followers. *cough* *Nathan* *cough*. 

Okay, here goes nothing. 

Friday, I spend the day with my little sister, Michaela. We were supposed to go ice skating, but I am a horrible sister and didn't actually check when the ice rink was open. . .so, we didn't go ice skating. DEPRESSING, but, we made crafts & had lunch and had fun! We decorated a monogram - well, she decorated an 'M' and I decorated an 'S'. It was fun! Then I went to bed early, I can't remember why... but there was a reason. 

Saturday, mom & Michaela left to go see my dad who's living up north right now, at a job site (THANKS WISCONSIN). I stayed home, because I really did not have a keen desire to spend a weekend in a camper with 4 people . . . it's small, crowded & no personal space. NOT my favorite. (Sorry dad!) Anyways, I did some staining of the fence, as well as cleaned up my room & picked up my check from work. Then I went over to Juan & Alicia's for the night. They went out on a date & I stayed home with the kiddos. :) & then when they returned the kids were sleeping and we watched Safehouse! Fantastic movie, by the way. (Ryan Reynolds, enough said). 

Sunday morning rolled around, and we all went to Living Light for Church! Golly, I love my Church! <3 

After Church I had lunch with them & then headed home. I finally finished converting all those .NEF files into .JPG files. YAY! And I started working on editing. Thankfully, not much needs to be done. 

So, today I woke up for no particular reason at around 7:30 - ridiculous, right? I finished a load of laundry, emptied the dishwasher & cleaned up my room a bit & then decided to repair my skirt. Mom & Michaela were home around 3 p.m. and I helped them unpack and such, then finished cleaning up my sewing supplies and got ready to have coffee with the lovely Emily Smith! I'm so thankful for her in my life, I seriously do not have a clue as to what  I'd do without her. We talk, share stories, laugh, & encourage each other. It's wonderful! I'm going to miss her so much this fall when she leaves to go back to NCU. :( Thankfully we're in a technology driven age, right? After a fantastic visit, I had to head to LLCC for Vision & Commitment - a class I'm taking to become a member. I really like the class, it's so informative and answers questions about the Bible and beliefs that I've always been afraid to ask. 

Well, that's been my life since Friday - same old, same old. 

I hope & pray you're having a good week & had a great Monday! 

Much love, 

xoxo

Shannon

Interesting?

Today was . . . a day. An interesting day.
I have been watching my sister this week. . . and she's 7. I usually get funny looks when I bring her places, but I never get called 'mom' by anyone. Today at Hobby Lobby as I was buying fabric, the sales lady starts talking to Michaela and then looks at me and back at her and asks her "is your mommy being nice to you today?" SAAAAYY WHAAT?! I'm sorry, but I'm 18 and a VERY young looking 18 year old. How in heaven's name do you think I'M her MOM?! So, yeah. That's how that went down. HA!
Then Michaela and I did a cute little monogram craft, and then I mowed the lawn (blaaahhhh). 

After dinner we turned on the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. HOLY BUCKETS. It's so FANTASTIC! I love the Olympics - especially the Equestrian, Gymnastics and Swimming portions. EEK. so excited to watch them!

Eh. Today was a pretty boring day, and I feel like a really boring person. Therefore I'm headed to bed early tonight.

Goodnight my lovely followers!


Much love,
xoxo

Shannon

Life is Not a Race

Today I had an epiphany. In today's society nobody knows how to slow down and enjoy the moment they're in for just what it is, instead they're constantly having to go, go, go. There's no such thing as a relaxing day.

I saw an Amish family completely in awe of the city of Chicago, well. . . the kids looked a teensy bit scared, but such is life to a child who doesn't know what a city looks like. This family walked down the avenue surrounded by people in a hurry but they didn't seem to have a care in the world. I'm sure they were here for a reason, not just to walk around downtown Chicago, but I could see in their eyes that they were going to cherish the moment they were living in, rather than letting the moments pass by.
As I walked down Michigan Avenue in Chicago today I saw this thought being played out everywhere around me. Tourists, teenagers, business men, old, young. . . Everyone. They kept going, no one took the time to slow down and catch a breath, or to look around and see the beautiful city they are blessed to live in. In fact, they walked faster, smiled less and all together lived less due to ignoring what they are so lucky to have around them.

Everyone is looking for 'something beautiful', but what I saw today made me think that maybe due to people going at unnatural speed they found that 'something beautiful', but are going to fast to come to the realization that they found it.

In this, I pray you will slow down, life is not a race. Life is a playground of learning. Sometimes it may feel monotonous, but I promise you that someday you will find your 'Something Beautiful'. In the meantime, slow down.  . . Otherwise, how will you know you didn't already pass up your beautiful something?

Much love,
xoxo
Shannon

Here, There & Everywhere

July twenty fifth, two thousand and twelve. 

That just sounds scary thinking about it. We're over halfway through the year of 2012!

Anyways, for today's post I just want to talk about my day. . . maybe mope a little bit. Possibly a rant here or there . . . (OR EVERYWHERE!) But, for the most part, this will just be me talking about a day in the life of Shannon. 

I stained some more of our fence in the backyard, oh my gosh. I swear I'm going to throw a paintbrush at somebody's head if I EVER have to paint AGAIN. I used about 1/2 gallon (the rest of the stain that was in the can) then called it quits & went inside for some water & a nice shower & relaxation.  . . which turned into me changing RAW picture files into JPG files (don't you dare ask.) I have close to 800 pictures left to turn in JPG files before I can start editing. ohmygosh, I might punch someone in the face. I mean, don't get me wrong, I LOVE taking pictures and editing them and such, but to change the file type, it's so tedious and obnoxious and just a waste of time altogether. Oh, well. 'Tis life. 

I also had to tell someone something I didn't want to today. I had to actually tell someone how I felt and why, it was so difficult, way more than it should have been. I still, to this very moment, feel like a horrible person. . . But there's one thing I DO know. I did the right thing, and doing the right thing is so much better than doing what feels good and then ultimately hurting yourself or someone else in the end. 

The day ended at my lovely sister's house watching her five adorable children - who like to scream. . . A LOT. 

All in all, today was a fabulous day & I'm thankful I was given the opportunity to be apart of today. 

Until next time, 

xoxo

Shannon 

The Importance of Listening

As I sit here, thinking in a pitch black room, I realize why I am here. 

Why I am alive & breathing. Because GOD has a plan for me. 

I want to make a change in this world, I want to set the world on fire. I want to help those around me understand that there's more to life than just . . . day to day living. 

As I sit here, I break from the inside out, as I realize that I can't change what people are going through on a day to day basis. I can't change someone's fears, or overcome their sickness, bitterness or hatred for them. But I CAN help. 

It might not seem so miniscule and unimportant to those around me. But it's extremely important to me.

It's important to stick to what I believe in, and not let others, whom I deeply care about, sway me in my decisions. 

I know that everything happens for a reason, and I have met everyone I know for a specific reason. It could be to help them overcome something, for them to learn something, or even for me to learn something - or for a slap in the face and a wake up call from God saying "Hello! Shannon! I'm trying to help you here, but you're just ignoring me, and turning your head the other way. Listen to me, because I want to help you." 

Tonight, I realized that I am smarter than I thought I was, and that I should probably listen to that little voice in the back of my head. It's usually right, especially when you have 3 or more Godly friends telling you that same thing.  Ah, the love God has for me is great, and I'm so thankful for every day I have to spend with Him. Maybe next time I'll learn to listen right away... instead of waiting until He confirms my fears through my friends. 

'tis all for tonight my dear friends.

Much love,

xoxo

Shannon