July 11, 2016

Seeking the Beauty


I sit writing this on the front porch, the sun warming my back and a light breeze tickling my face. There is not a bit of humidity, at least not the kind I grew up with in the south. It's peaceful here and I feel drawn to this spot, this place where I can gather my thoughts, close my eyes and deeply inhale all of the smells of summer.


Since last we met, our Emma was rescued by our towns finest from the creek behind our house while tubing, after a storm caused it to rise unexpectedly (she's fine!), we traveled to Michigan on vacation, dug our toes in the sand, celebrated the 4th of July, had many cups of tea and coffee on the patio, time in the garden, trips to the farmers market, cooked some amazing meals, had drinks on the porch, visits with friends, read books, took naps and did any number of lovely things.


Since last we met, the world seems to have gone crazy, although really it's not just since last we met, as it seems to be increasingly going crazy.


Life is messy. There is beauty amongst the ugliness, weeds amongst the flowers. Life can be chaotic and stressful. Relationships can be hard. Different seasons of life bring us varying challenges and beauty. Sometimes we have to protect ourselves from things that make us unhappy. Sometimes that can't be done and that's okay too, but when it can, I feel a strong need to shape my life into the kind of life I want to be living rather than leaving it to circumstance.


What you seek, is what you will find. So I shall seek the beauty. Seek the kindness. Seek the good. Seek the love. Seek the peace. Seek the laughter.


And during those moments where I am thrust into chaos, I will hold on to the knowledge that I will find my way back to the beautiful moments. They are always there waiting for me if I just take the time to see them.


13 comments:

  1. Jen- So beautifully written. You said so much in a short post. I feel like you read my thoughts and then put them into words sometimes. I am so glad your Emma is okay. That must have been terribly scary. Someone was watching over that child. Summer blessings- xo Diana

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  2. So beautiful - thank you. How scary about Emma! Thankful that she is fine. xoxo

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  3. Beautifully written, Jen! There is always going to be ugliness and hatred in the world. We just have to find our own peace within it.
    Brenda

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  4. I'm with you on seeking the beauty, the peace & the goodness. The peaches... been enjoying some delicious ones here. One of the lovely tastes of summer.

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  5. Jen, it is always a joy to come over to your little place of happiness! Thank you for reminding us of the good & beautiful things that surround us if we only take a little moment to appreciate them.
    Anna xx

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  6. Oh goodness, I am so with you on all of this! This year so far for me seems to be completely chaotic and stressful. I can't even say that I have been able to fall back on creativity to calm and sooth me. But hey ho, it's life. We take the good with the bad. We ride the storms and seek to find the rainbows afterwards. Like you Jen, I will seek the good and the beauty and it'll all work out in the end xxxx

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  7. This is spot-on and of course, very timely. Thank You for sharing.

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  8. Beautiful -- thanks for posting such lovely and thoughtful words! So happy that Emma is ok!

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  9. OMG!!! I'm so glad that Emma is okay. Please Please Emma ~ don't do that again. We just had a little boy that was trying to cross a swollen creek... and he didn't make it. I read a blog (An Inch of Grey) and her son, Jack, passed several years ago in a swollen creek.

    Again, I'm so happy that you are safe Emma.

    xo

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  10. Hey Jen,
    Found your blog when you commented on Lemon Lane Style to a comment I made.
    Love Millie... we have a Golden too. They are great ---except for the copious amount of hair!
    Your home is so pretty and your town looks lovely.
    I will be popping in more.

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  11. I love your post and for the beauty you showed.

    There is so much more beauty and kindness in the world than evil. The news just shows all the bad and ugly events.

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