rainbow order

 

everyday i'm trying to do at least one thing that is good for the soul. 

today/tonight's was cleaning out the closet. 

{and organizing my wardrobe ROY-G-BIV-style}

myron dunn humored me & goodwilled a ton...

like, more than i could have dreamed...

and bless his heart, i lovelovelove him for it. 

i ♥ simplifying. 

remembering what's important

being away from the internet for a week really made me realize how much time i spend waste in front of my "glowing rectangles"....

my life needs less facebook & more real-life. 

less instagrams & more memories. 

less pinning & more doing. 

here's to that. ↑

♥

seriously heaven

where have the girls & i been all week, you ask? 

um, that would be here: 

 

with these wonderful people, aka, my awesome dixon-redd cousins:

 we roadtripped over to the sunny beaches of cali with cousin rachel
{"curly headed rachel" as chloe calls her} 

on tuesday, 
spent a fun filled day at the redd's home 
& cutest children's museum ever on wednesday, 
beached it up for a few days 
& arrived home this evening.

needless to say, we had a beyond wonderful time. 

i feel so lucky to be related to such kind, generous, and hilarious people. 

we made tons of memories, got to meet baby spencer for the first time, ate super yummy meals, played lots of games, visited & laughed, and experienced the beach at it's finest.

the breather from "real life" was oh-so fabulous & so very needed and appreciated. :)

besides missing our daddy like crazy, the trip couldn't have been more fun! 

kids on the beach is magical....the girls were obsessed.

here are a few pictures to prove it:

 

we had the time of our lives-

thanks redds! 

we ♥ you!

today's gifts

1: air conditioning

2: a sweet friend entertaining chloe for a couple of hours

3: saintly parents who serve me constantly

4: fresh banana bread via clodhopper's oven

5: chloe beating the last level of 'little big planet 2'

6: learning i could do something huge, that i didn't think i could

7: personal testaments that god is mindful of me

8: a wonderful job @ ETC & kind co-workers

9: late night walmart & dairy queen run

10: the promise of a vacation/road trip tomorrow!

i ♥ finishing projects

i've had these prints for over a year...

i finally hung them by my front door today. :) 

i love words & happy reminders in my home...

find joy in the journey

dare to be unique

set your course & sour

stand a little taller

happy saturday ♥

think happy thoughts

 

my car broke down today,

i had a wicked headache,

& my kids fought. seriously. all. day. long.

 it wasn't a horrible day, by any means,

but there were moments when i wanted to scream, for sure. 

*and maybe did once, or twice. :) 

bless myron's saintly ginger heart, for watching our girls...

while i, happily took a night out with friends.

i wasn't gonna go, because i've had lots of fun obligations at night lately,

and i was running super late [because of the car drama]

AND halfway there, realized i forgot my wallet.

[typical angie]

but, i went anyway. {an hour late & wallet-less}

and i'm so glad.

my spirit has been uplifted & renewed.

i was reminded that the goodness & sweetness in my life is found in my relationships.

no amount of money or  fancy {working} vehicles couldn't come near to matching the support system i have been given from my loving, heavenly father. 

funny thing is, i hadn't seen most of those people in months or years,

and it was like no time had passed....kindred spirit sytle. :)

what special, beautiful people...each one of them.

i have {indeed} been blessed with very dear friends, old & new.

on the way home, i thought about how i often spend too much time focusing on the negative situations that make me feel powerless & misunderstood. 

why am i not spending that wasted energy on building the relationships & parts of my life that DO bring joy & happiness to me, my family, and others?

life often feels hard for my little senstive soul to handle,

but i'm really starting to learn:

there is too much good,

too many wonderful people in this world,

too many learning, enriching expiriences,

to be unhappy.

life is what ya make of it.

thanks, sweet friends, for making mine happy tonight. ♥ 

finally sinking in

 
"i plead with you young women to please be more accepting of yourselves, including your body shape and style, with a little less longing to look like someone else. we are all different. some are tall, and some are short. some are round, and some are thin. and almost everyone at some time or other wants to be something they are not! but as one adviser to teenage girls said: “you can’t live your life worrying that the world is staring at you. when you let people’s opinions make you self-conscious you give away your power.…

the key to feeling [confident] is to always listen to your inner self—[the real you.]”  and in the kingdom of god, the real you is “more precious than rubies.” 

-jeffery r. holland

an angieinpink recommendation! :)

i have to tell you guys! 

my friend rachel makes the yummiest & cutest cakes and cupcakes! 

if you have an event or shower or party coming up, she's your girl. 

seriously, the cake/frosting is as yummy as it is beautiful. 

*her peanut butter cupcakes changed my life, i'm not kidding! :) 

{and the lemon, and the strawberry...}

her prices are super reasonable too!

check out & "like!" her facebook page 
to see some of the great stuff she does! 

*keep her in mind! you won't be sorry! ♥

pictures & captions

words of wisdom in the kitchen. 

     sweet baby A, the most delightful little human

 

      a precious pink package from my girl britt. {thanks sister!}

already saving these babies! can you believe school starts in less than a month???

got a new job at church [as the young womens president]...like 2 months ago...and i'm {just now} getting legit organized. /: [yikes!]

     popcorn, panties & ponytails = my life. 
     it's a good life.

soul food

last year i compiled a list of 28 things to do before i turned 29. 

half of it i'm not sure i even care about anymore. 

somethings i'd still like to accomplish.

i guess that's how it goes. 

priorities change. 

life's more of a process than a checklist, right?

one thing i can say is:

i'm way more chill than i was when i made that list. 

*a step in the right direction for sure. 

each year i get less & less crazy, i think...maybe.
{i try for that at least.} 

my aim for this coming year is 
to do one thing everyday that is good for my soul. 

today i babysat the. most. scrumptious baby you've ever seen.

oh, how i love me a chubby little newborn. 

AND i finished my night with delightful friends i haven't seen for a long time. 

so, 2 things today. 

we're off to a great start.

one year older, and wiser too

10 years ago,
the plan was to have a bigger house,
a bigger bank account &
several more kids by now.

but if this is what 29 looks like for me,
i'll most certainly take it.

i feel blessed beyond measure. 

i'm so grateful for the beautiful,
"delicious ambiguity" that is
the gift of life.
♥ 

happy birthday america! ♥

god bless america! 

land that i love! 

stand beside her & guide her-

through the night with a light from above. ♥

"we are not alone in our little prisons here"

tonight my brain and heart were racked with familiar, overwhelmed feelings. 

just thinking of personal battles i'm facing and so many trials that dear people in my life are up against - became too much. 

i think of my friend's premie in the hospital, 

my sweet neighbor in the ICU, 

dear friends battling cancer,

struggling families and relationships i am aware of,

the fires in colorado & utah, 

- all the many emotional, difficult things we all face as humans. 

everyone is fighting a hard battle. 

some are out there for all to see....some are private, personal gethsemanes. 

with the good in life, [and there is, so much good!]

comes opposition, tests, challenges and heartache. 

i felt that heartache tonight. 

i prayed & pleaded to heavenly father for understanding and comfort. 

a little while later, 

i came across this lecture about joseph smith and his time in liberty jail.

i have been filled with peace. 

i know, with all my heart, 

we are given specific challenges for a reason. 

i am comforted by these words: 

"every experience can become a redemptive experience if we remain bonded to our father in heaven through it. these difficult lessons teach us that man’s extremity is god’s opportunity, and if we will be humble and faithful, if we will be believing and not curse god for our problems, he can turn the unfair and inhumane and debilitating prisons of our lives into temples—or at least into a circumstance that can bring comfort and revelation, divine companionship and peace." -jeffrey r. holland

with that, 

and the other inspiring insights i gained from reading that article, 

my testimony of the mercy of god & faith in jesus christ has been strengthened. 

i know that god is "no respector of persons."

he loves all of his children, regardless of their circumstance or choices. 

i know his mercy is extended to all...even when we feel we are unworthy of mercy.

i believe in the healing power of the atonement.

how sincerely grateful i am for christ's grace in my own life. 

"regarding our earthly journey, the lord has promised, “i will go before your face. i will be on your right hand and on your left, and my spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88). that is an everlasting declaration of god’s love and care for us, including—and perhaps especially—in times of trouble." jeffrey r. holland