Tunesday

Happy Tunesday!




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Little Things

Sometimes it's hard to not get bugged by little things. Things like the "10% battery left" notification. The temperamental shower going back and forth from spraying little ice darts to liquid fire. Spilling chinese food everywhere. Baby spit up on freshly clean clothes. But do they really matter? Of course not.

There are so many more good things to focus on than bad. There are little joys scattered throughout everyday and those should take up more space in my mind than the minor annoyances. Here are some little things that make my life better:

- New guitar strings
- Video chatting with my friends back home
- The perfect commercial skip
- Hilarious texts from my nana
- Laughing with Michelle
- Filling up the babies' bottles to the perfect amount (first try)
- Laughing with a new friend
- A chapter of Harry Potter

- Clean sheets

- My dad holding a goofy face on FaceTime until I acknowledge it

- Heart to hearts with my mom        

- Sun shining through the window

- Linc's excited squeals

- Sophie's contagious laugh

- A cuddly blanket

- And quite frankly, Netflix

 Of all the little things those littles over there are my favorite part of everyday. 

There are a million little things that make up a day. Some good, some bad. And we get to choose what parts to look at. How wonderful is that? So, go ahead, have a wonderful Monday!

Wherever You Are Standing

This past week I've had people tell me how amazing it is that I get to be in New York having all of these experiences. I too, think it is amazing. I feel incredibly blessed. That got me thinking though. I want to love wherever I am. I guess I wish that I had appreciated more of the places I've been. New York has taught me to love each street and each turn of a place and of life. It has also taught me to love discovering, near or far. And my mind has wandered back to one of my favorite places as I've thought about this.

A red outdoor couch sitting on my parent's back deck in Utah. It's where I spend most of my summer. Hours have been spent there reading, writing, playing the guitar, napping, or listening to music. Some days I just sit and listen to the meadowlarks chirp and I try to return the tune by whistling. My back deck isn't going to be found on a must-see destination list but it's one of my favorite places.

I guess what I've realized is that it doesn't matter where you are. It doesn't matter whether you're walking the streets of London or walking to get the mail. What matters is living life. In simple ways, in big ways, in quiet ways, in loud ways. What matters is doing what makes you happy. What matters is enjoying wherever you are. And mostly, enjoying who you are and the people around you. Love every minute of your life. Even love the bad moments because one day they will make you better. Life is worth living and loving, wherever you are standing.

Tunesday

Around 5 o'clock around here the babies get a little crazy. They eat at 6:30 so we have to figure out ways to hold them off. The best solution I've come to is music. I'll play guitar or we'll dance or I'll lip-sync to them. Here's the best part. They are babies. When I lip-sync to them they may actually believe that whatever voice is singing is actually mine. I pretty much get to be an incredible singer for whatever amount of time they will go for it. They, of course, are always my back up singers... in this week's case, Hayley Williams' back up singers. I have been loving Paramore's new album for awhile now and the babies really loved my performance of this song this week. At least I had a lot of fun. Happy Tunesday!




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A Snippet Of Time

I got an email from one of my friends who is on a mission and in it he asked me to share a moment I learned a life lesson in only a snippet of time. I was so surprised by the question and I've been thinking about it a lot. I've thought about it all week and have shuffled through memories. I sat on the play mat with the babies and a new lesson unfolded before me.

As I was sitting there I handed Sophie a toy and she played with it for quite sometime but eventually it got pushed just out of her reach. So badly I wanted to grab the toy and put it back in her arms, but mobility is something the babies are learning. Her little fingers stretched and stretched and she began to get frustrated. And my urge to help her got stronger. But I sat back and a thought hit me. This is how Heavenly Father must feel about us. I cheered her on, "Come on Soph, you can do it." Soon she shifted her little body and the tips of her fingers pulled the toy back.

I'm not sure if this fits under the category of life lessons but it was a comforting, peaceful realization to me. Heavenly Father loves us so He allows us to grow. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for Him to watch us struggle, yet He is patient with us and determined for us. Many times in life I've been upset with what I'm having to do, just like Sophie reaching for the toy but just as I'm ready to pull back I've felt His love push me forward. "Come on Jess, you can do it." And the tips of my fingers cling to hope and pull me through. What a blessing it is to reach.

Tunesday

Happy Tunesday!

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Boston

Our final spring break stop was Boston. Michelle and Danny had gone before and fell head over heels for it. And now I know why. Everywhere we have gone has such a different feel. I've never been anywhere that feels like Boston. Its history lingers in the air and is visible in all of its bricks. I loved walking on the cobblestone streets watching Michelle take it all in. She majored in history and even more specifically, the revolution. I loved watching her love it. And I loved it too. I especially loved the harbor. The waves dully splashed onto the rocks as I walked out onto a bobbing dock. It was so peaceful. I always imagined Boston as loud but it was so quiet to me. There's room to stroll and I liked that about it. Here's our day in pictures:

And this guy. I could not stop laughing.

Spring break, you were wonderful. Truly just as awesome as a guy in a bear suit shredding on a keytar.

Vermont

Since it's Danny's spring break we have been able to go on a few adventures. Yesterday we went to Vermont and again I was completely charmed by it. It is so quaint and so pretty. I love the run-down buildings, the gorgeous houses tucked into the brush, and oh, the churches. I love wandering from shop to shop. Each one filled with nostalgia, knick knacks, and sweets. I've become certain that Christmas Village is based off of Vermont. I've been three times now and each time is as special as the last. Here's some of the charm I've experienced thus far:

I'm not sure there's anything that goes wrong in Vermont.

Tunesday

After going to Brooklyn for my first time recently this song seemed fitting. The day this song was released I listened to it while I was sitting on a train with my sweet dad. We rocked our way down the Hudson River headed into Manhattan. It was completely magical. This song will always remind me of New York. I keep falling in love with this state and all of its boroughs, towns, cities, buildings, and streets. Of course, I keep falling in love with Imagine Dragons too. Happy Tunesday!

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Brooklyn

On saturday I spent the day in Brooklyn with my sister, Michelle, and two fantastic friends. It was so fun and so full of laughter. It was completely wonderful. Once again, a new place has snuck its way into my heart.

Driving into Brooklyn and adoring the Manhattan skyline.

Brooklyn

(Have I mentioned how much I love murals on buildings?)

The Brooklyn Flea Market!

 

Dulce de leche Belgium waffles for dessert after a grilled cheese lunch.

Playing around at the New York Transit Museum like little girls.

And the mesmerizing drive home around the outskirts of Manhattan.

My favorite New York purchase ever. Thank you Brooklyn!

*sigh* As if I didn't love New York enough already.