Zoo

This past weekend, Bryon and I had a date at the Akron Zoo! We walked around for about 4-hours just enjoying the great 70 degree weather and the amazing creatures around us. If you are from around the Akron area, I highly recommend the Akron Zoo. The renovations they have done are wonderful! Great entertainment and affordable prices all around. We enjoyed ourselves more than we expected we would.. The animals were, for the most part, very active. The banana split Dip'n'Dots were also a plus! 

What can I say, the both of us are just big kids. That Saturday at the zoo just fed into our vast imagination and need for a small adventure!

The Mushrooms of the Sea.

"Jelly Fishing, Jelly Fishing, Jelly Fishing!" -Patrick and SpongeBob

Giddy up.

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made"
-Genesis 3:1

H00ter!

I am LEO, hear me ROAR!

"Any day spent with you is my favorite day. So today is my new favorite day."
-Winnie the Pooh

As we went from exhibit to exhibit, I couldn't help but wonder in a Twilight Zone kind-of-way: are we attractions to the animals as they are to us? We are on the one side looking in on them while they are on the other side looking out at us.. reversing roles, I bet we are equally fascinating to them as they are to us. What a fabulous, trippy world we live in!

God Bless You! Smile!

It was just an ordinary Tuesday night. I had just clocked in for my shift at the Dollar Tree with my same old numbers typed into the same old time clock. Ahead of me was a typical night of cashiering, stocking and clean-up. Everything routine and nothing new and exciting. 

The first customer that came up to the register was a middle aged man, possibly hispanic, with a wonderful smile dressed in a simple t-shirt and jeans. I returned a smile and said "Hello! How are you?" 

He tried to speak but no words escaped him. He just gave me a wave of his hand and continued to smile. I returned with a thumbs up, realizing he could not talk and started to ring him out.

He payed, I handed him his bags and told him to have the most wonderful of nights! He nodded and pointed to the receipt paper and pen beside me. I tore him off a piece and handed him over the writing utensil just as another customer started to put their items on the register.

He put up his index finger to indicate he needed a minute and moved over to the register behind me. As he wrote, I took care of the other customer. He waited till I was finished and handed me over the receipt paper.

As I looked down at the paper, my heart lit up. It stated "God Bless You! Smile!" with a cute little picture drawn beside it. He smiled as I told him how much I loved it and how it had made my day! I told him to have a blessed day and waved with giddy. He nodded, waved and went on his way.

Though he couldn't speak, his message was great. God Bless You. Smile.. the physical evidence of seeing it on paper had more volume and impact than just simply hearing the words. It truly did make my night better having someone write down something so meaningful and true and handing it over to me.

So now I share it with you. GOD BLESS YOU! SMILE!

I hope this brings something bright into your day. Share it with others and spread the joy that is God's love and the little miracles that happen that can make all the difference. 

The Reveal

As of late, Spring has definitely been keeping me a busy bee. I have been buzzing through the town with my head in the clouds.. This floating sensation could possibly be from the astronomical pollen count and my inability to get oxygen to my brain from all the sinus pressure.. Time has just seemed to go in a haze, and summer is just right around the corner. Spring time has revealed to me subtle as well as bigger changes that are going on in my life..

For one, I have decided to not enter any art shows this coming summer and fall. I need to reinvent myself.. I feel as though I am a caterpillar going through the incubation period in a cocoon. I am working on hatching out and showing my true colors. A lot of realizations have brought me to this.. I have so much more growing to do (as we all do in this life). I am going to do everything in my power to expand my mind and skills so I can continue my art in a caught-up, more clear state of mind. I am extremely lucky to have the support of my family and friends.. They are a continued inspiration to me. 

Speaking of inspiration, my beloved Bryon and I have recently celebrated our one year anniversary. I cannot believe how powerful our love has grown since our first date. In some ways it doesn't feel like it has only been a year that we have been together.. I feel more connected to this man than I have with anyone else. My life truly started the moment we began.

I am beyond excited to see what our future brings.. We are going to be taking a little vacation next month that we are both looking forward to. A weekend getaway in Hocking Hills. We will have our own little cottage in the middle of the serenity and peacefulness of the great outdoors! I couldn't be more excited to escape for a couple days with my partner in life. Expect a lot of pictures from this little getaway!

I have also decided to finally jump on the healthy food and work-out chain. My self image has been a little down lately. I am still trying to shake off some leftover winter blues as well. Spring is definitely a transition period in both the physical and mental state. I am positive though. The sun will shine and everything good will happen in time.

Also, God is great. He continues to reveal to me miracles and beauty everyday through the little things and the big.. My heart is forever thankful for his love and mercy. 

On more media terms, I am excited about Florence and the Machines reveal of their new album "How Big How Blue How Beautiful" next month! Florence has released three incredible songs/videos from the album in the past couple months, and I am in utter awe! Never has an musical artist impacted me as much. Her albums are candy to my ears! In interviews she discusses how this album is all about her going through major transitions in her life.. this album is going to be her most personal yet, and from what I have heard it is also going to be her greatest work to date. So, needless to say, I am truly looking forward to this masterpiece!

In closing, the next couple months I plan to expand my knowledge, understanding and charity in new ways. I have, what I hope to be, wonderful ideas with good intentions: the big reveal is soon to come. In the end I hope to reveal a better version of me. Stay tuned..

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...” ― Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go!