The Friends We Choose

"Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose."

- Tennessee Williams

The dog holding the heart is something I gave to my fiance for his birthday a few months ago and the sheep is a random stuffed animal that sits in his living room on a shelf by the window. Honestly the sheep doesn't mean much to me, it was merely there when I wanted to take a picture, but that dog means the world to me. It was the first stuffed animal that I ever gave to Ryan. Stuffed animals have always played a part in my relationships. I feel like the more stuffed animals a guy has the more kind-hearted and loving he will be. The funny thing is, the one guy who actually appreciated the stuffed animal (Ryan) is the one guy who already had a heart full of kindness and love. He never needed that stuffed animal, but he kept it. Of course, he never knew I did this, but seeing as he's reading this over my shoulder I guess he does now. Ryan is the center of my world and I can't imagine my life without him. This stuffed animal, "Hugs" the dog, is a symbol of the love and kindness in our hearts. I love him... almost as much as the stuffed animal.

Blessed is the Season

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in the conspiracy of love"

- Hamilton Wright Mabie

I'll be the first to admit that Christmas could easily be one of my favorite seasons merely because of what it represents. It represents family, love, happiness. This small house has been in that same place for the past 6 or 7 Christmas' and it's nice to pass by it in the morning. It's a symbolic representation of the future to me. I look at it and see the home I would one day like to live in with its large porch, small yet comfortable size, and simple colors. I want to live in a house like this with Ryan and our children and start a life in a house that really symbolizes happiness and moving on.

Life is Full of Beauty

"Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams."

- Ashley Smith 

Life is truly full of beauty. It's like HG Wells said, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Some people may look at this picture and see silver teapots and such, but then there are others who look at this and see the tea parties they had with their grandmother as a little girl or the gift they got when they first got married from an aunt they never knew existed. To me, this reminds me of Christmas dinner gathered at my grandparents house. Although the silver is never used, I always look at it and admire it's beauty. It's one of my favorite things at my grandparents house. It's beautiful and elegant. Not just they way I see it, but what I see when I look into it.