Compassionate Lent

The Holy Season of Lent has begun. It began yesterday with Ash Wednesday service. I hope this Lenten Season for me is especially "compassionate." I want to respond to the Lord's call with more "compassion" as well as live more "compassionately" as a Christian. I want to live my life with more charity this Lent. I will use these 40 Days and 40 Nights to fill each day with true and complete acts of charity to my fellowman.

I have been blessed my entire life to not only have this beautiful life but to live out my dreams. The word "passion" helps make up the word "compassion" so I feel that in my "compassion" this Lent I should be filled with enough drive and "passion" for this new undertaking and outlook on my life. Now, I know that I should live each day with charity and that is what makes a Christian...this I know. What I am saying is to take my very simple acts and try and expand them to reach more people.

With each Lenten Season is not about giving up chocolates or sweets...it is more about building a strong relationship with Christ and growing more faithful to Him. I wish you a "Compassionate" Lent. Use this time to start fresh and connect with God - to get closer to His word - to follow Him in His Passion.

Rediscovered Love

I have been reading ever since I can remember and yet I am rediscovering my love for the written word. I think it is because reading books for school is one thing and it is completely different to read a book on your own time. It is a shame how the youth of today is pushing books aside to play video games or watch TV. I almost feel reconnected to my youth in a way when I am reading. I also feel energized after I finish a great book - a new part of myself has been opened and explored.

It still amazes me how many wonderful books I have not read or even have heard of yet. So many characters to connect to, so many adventures to go on and still so many stories to experience. I want to encourage you to get a book and curl up in bed and read instead of watching TV this afternoon or tonight. Have a "date" with a great story tonight instead of your TV. Trust me, you will have fun...even more fun then if you were watching TV. I just read The Time Traveler's Wife, which I blogged about earlier - "What If Time Stopped?" and now I am reading "Ella Minnow Pea" which is turning out to be witty, charming and fun! Next on my list is Steve Martin's "Shopgirl."

Hope you find some time to rediscover your love for books or if you already have a love for books, then I am so happy to share this love with you!

Twittering

Twitter is like a mini blog. You can post links, thoughts, ramblings, etc. and it will all fit on one line to share with those that follow you! I have a Twitter...my user name is SLEAK...

Check out the site it's pretty cool and who know, you may create an account too!

Sunshine On A Cloudy Day

“Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”
---James Matthew Barrie

“Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.”
---Anthony J. D'Angelo

“Daisies are like sunshine to the ground.”
---Drew Barrymore quotes

A Happy Heart

I wanted to share...

Things that make my heart happy...
My Top 15

---my blackberry (it's cute and practical)
---shirley temples (a long-time love affair)
---David Cook (I think he is talented and wonderful)
---towels just out of the dryer (warm and they smell so good)
---phone call from my parents (love them)
---daisies (the most friendliest flower)
---girlie movies (simply the best)
---praising God in the morning (a great way to start my day)
---blogging (it's addictive)
---theater (it's my life, it's my love, it's my air)
---best friends (through thick and thin)
---sleeping in (I wish I could do this more)
---going green (every small step counts)
---coffee (from home, from Starbucks, from anywhere)
---free stuff (things are just better if you don't have to pay)

Now make a fun list of your own!

True Meaning of Valentine's

This past Saturday was Valentine's Day. I realize that many people detest this holiday either because they feel it is to commercialized or because they are lonely. I can sympathize with both cases. I used to work for Hallmark and I know how crazy it is around Valentine's...we are up to our ears in red/pink/white cards, glitter, flowers, balloons, candy, etc. And I have had my share of guy-less Valentine's Days too...but ultimately I use Valentine's to show my family and friends how much they mean to me. This past Saturday I went to one of my friend's house with some other friends. We all had dinner and dessert, watched some movies and played some games and it was wonderful! I had the most fun and was able to enjoy all the "love" I had received that day! Valentine's Day is not about chocolate, flowers and going out to dinner with your significant other...it's about sharing with those who matter most the impact they have made on your life!

Friday the 13th

So...it's Friday the 13th...Oooooh! Ghostly noises are all around - supposedly. Well, to be honest I truly believe it's a mind game we all play...we know the 13th is coming and we start to get anxious. And I fell victim this morning - and now my day is a little off...but I will NOT let that get me down! So...don't get discouraged... and get excited because tomorrow is Valentine's Day!

I Love You More Than (Blank)

This site is crazy cute...check it out! How would you fill in the blank? I submitted: I love you more than Orion loves his belt. I am a constellation fan myself. What else can you think of? Turn this Valentine's Day into a fun fest of witty words. Make it more creative than things found on the conversations hearts. Ooooh good idea...I also submitted: I love you more than conversation hearts say.

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We Start Anew

“With each sunrise, we start anew” - Anonymous

Here is a glimpse of a beautiful sunrise...here is a chance for all of us to "start anew"...take a moment to mentally and spiritually "refresh" your life...here's a second chance for a new beginning!

Gratitude

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."

--- Melody Beattie

25 Tid-Bits of Info

So...I got this idea from Facebook. Here is 25 random facts about myself to get to know me better...

25 Random Things:

1. I am obsessed with the color green and my eyes are green…I don’t believe the two are necessarily connected.

2. Thai is my favorite food. And I think Thai Ice Tea is heavenly.

3. I have moved around my entire life – including living overseas. I believe that due to this I am far more outgoing that I would have been otherwise.

4. I love the movie The Breakfast Club and I have the movie poster in my bedroom.

5. I am extremely proud of my brother. He is not even 21 yet and already has a career and goals in mind for himself. He keeps pushing the limits and is not afraid to tell you. He’s a Marine serving our country, a sacrifice I was never willing to make.

6. My parents are my heroes. I love them for all they have done and continue to do for me. If I go without seeing them or talking to them for a long period of time, I become extremely sad.

7. My favorite constellation is Orion…whether or not it’s my favorite because it is the first constellation I can usually find in the night sky is irrelevant.

8. I love being Catholic.

9. I am in a sorority and I love it more than I could have ever imagined. These girls are part of my heart and soul now.

10. I believe in the power of theater as a supreme art form. It can change a person. I was changed from my first production experience and I will love theater forever.

11. At some point in my life I want to give a year to do missionary work around the world.

12. I believe in the power of true love and all the forms it posses.

13. If I were to ever win a big award on TV, I would most definitely cry.

14. I taught my cat how to sit, shake and give a high five. When I go visit my parents and he comes running up to me, it warms my heart.

15. I just created a blog this year and I am now addicted to blogging.

16. My 3 favorite shows on TV are: Chuck, LOST and Psych.

17. I wish I lived closer to my extended family.

18. B/c I have moved around (#3), I am extremely blessed to have such close friends all over the world.

19. As a director, my favorite moment is opening night right before the show…the audience is all seated and settled, the lights are dimming and a rush overwhelms me…I helped create this.

20. I need to work on my organizational skills…only pertaining to my room.

21. One of my happiest memories while I was in London was seeing Equus from the 3rd row. Daniel and Richard were brilliant!

22. I want to move to DC.

23. The moment before my dad walks me down the aisle, I will cry. Once I have recovered, I will ask him to be in a picture with me and that picture I will have framed by my bed forever.

24. When I become a mother, I hope I am at least half of the mother my mom is to me.

25. Being with Christ in Adoration, is when I am most at peace. It is during this time, that I can really listen to what He is asking of me.