Angelica Grace Designs Blog

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

THE POSITIVE vs. THE NEGATIVE

This is where I should be sitting today. On the beach. The private access beach for the neighborhood. It's secluded, quiet, prestine, and favored. Instead, I'm back home behind my computer and in full swing of this thing we call life. La la land is over. Back to reality until school lets out in 2.5 weeks. Back to the daily grind. Back to filling out medical paperwork for Kenidi today. Back to a dermatologist appt. for her in a couple of hours due to a rash she broke out in while in Florida. (we think it was from a new sunscreen) Back to horse therapy tonight at the stables. Back to guitar lessons for Brennen at 7pm. Back to make up homework and tests. Back to life.

While I'm 'doing' life though, I'm going to enjoy these images from our trip and relish in the fact that God gave us this wonderful gift called the beach. It's where all of your troubles float away temporarily. Well, most times anyway. It's a place that cleanses your soul. A place that calls out to who you really are. The emerald colored sea last weekend with the umbrellas to boot in the backdrop was almost too much for my heart to handle. I fell deeply and madly in love with the sea - all over again - as I always do. And so for that...I'm going to continue to always share these trips, this journey to and fro. I had someone email me yesterday - a blog reader - who told me how much she loved the blog, the upbeat spirit, and the "virtual vacation" she gets to go on via the pictures I post here. I love her for her words and her kind heart. Many times I struggle whether or not to share the daily grind here on the blog. The negative. The bad. The ugly. Cuz' guess what...??? We all got it! What may look like a perfect life from afar to all of you readers is truly far from it. To keep it real...we have days where we yell at Brennen for his back talk. Many of them actually. Or days where I get totally ticked off at Brent and want to walk out and slam the door behind me - or maybe smother him in his sleep with my pillow. After 15 years of marriage, I've watched way tooooo many cold case files on the forensic channel. Ha ha! Just kidding friends! Or there are days where a distant family member rocks me to the core and hurts my feelings beyond recognition. One of those episodes where things will never be the same. Non-recoverable life moments as I call it. Or something so simple as days where a doctors office receptionist seems 'put out' by having to check us in and it in turn ticks me off. I can't stand un-friendly customer service. There is no sense in it. There are days where the hustle and bustle of life seems so stressful that it literally sucks every bit of life out of you at that moment. Truth is...life is far from perfect. And anyone who ever tries to act like it is, well...they are lying to ya'. So with that said...I pray that you all realize that life here in AGD land is NOT perfect. The photos, the talk of our children, our marriage, etc...that is just the cream of the crop. We still have our REAL episodes. Our REAL moments. However, if I chose to share every drama driven bit of detail we endure on a day to day basis on this blog...you'd never come back and read again. And I wouldn't blame you.

So, as a sweet blog reader friend (Hi Stacia) from Texas likes to call me, I'll continue to be a "peppy pill" for ya'll. Yes, a peppy pill. Love that! And I'll continue to share my frustrations from time to time regarding life, raising a special needs child, etc. But in the end, I want my blog to be a retreat for each of you. I want it to be like a virtual vacation as the blog reader called it yesterday. I want this little place in your world to be a get-a-way with your morning cup of Joe/coffee (as I often hear it is amongst readers). I want this place in your world to be uplifting and positive. In a nut shell...I want to change your state! Your state of mind that is. If you are having a bad day, I pray that you can drop in here and find a new attitude that will change the course of your day. I don't want to be a Debbie Downer that discloses all my baggage which then in turn drags you down even more. But do know this...our lives are not perfect! What you see here is just a 10 minite snippet most days of what certain moments throughout our day looked like. Never for one second assume that life is grand over here and that yours is sooooo bad. We are all in the same boat. Maybe different sets of circumstances but either way - no one has life in grand form. Even if you are at the beach...watching the white caps come crashing in off the waves...

So when you see trip photos here or read stories of my love for my children and my husband, just know that I'm sharing the good parts with you as a therapeutic process for me and you. Not only does staying positive hopefully help you guys, it helps redirect my "off" days as well. Life is what we make of it and I choose to try and stay as positive as possible. I have a favorite quote that pertains to why I blog. I get asked about blogging a lot. I've always loved this quote because I feel it sums up why I write day in and day out. Or at least part of why anyhow. It reads:

"We write to taste life twice, once in the moment & once in retrospection."
~Anais Nin

I taste life twice to basically savor the moment at the actual moment and then in turn write to remember it later on down the road. This blog is my journal of good. Of great. Of grand. However, I have journals of the ugly and the not so fun as well. In the end though, I focus on the grand because it reminds me of what is possible should I choose to remain upbeat and positive. You know - like moments where you slip your flip flops off (actually Brent's) in the sand and let life begin sugaring your toes - seaside...

So a big thank you to my readers like Jill or like Stacia or like the hundreds of others out there who've written to me thanking me for the beach images, the positive conotations, and the upbeat atmosphere they are able to be a part of via this blog. It helps me to confirm that no one comes here to read about the dog pile of my day to day grind. Well, maybe some of our "haters" would like that. Ha ha! Hi haters! But according to the feedback I continue to receive, 99.9% of you come here to be refreshed and rejuvenated throughout your day. I just pray that the content here never gets old and that you always manage to find some value or worth to it. I pray that we can always help redirect our bad days "together." I pray that you always know my life is far from perfect - even though the images you see here might send out that vibe. Remember they are just a 10 minute snippet or snap shot within a 24 hour day.

And lastly, I pray that you always see the sunshine FIRST in everything you do, say, or are a part of. I pray that you find it - seek it - and relish in all it's golden glory throughout each minute of your life here on earth. In photography, sun flare used to be a bad thing (see photo above). But now days...the "in" thing to do is to seek 'sun flare' like in the picture above. Some photographers search high and low to capture an image with sun flare and sun spots now days. This shot from our sunset cruise screamed for my lens when I saw it approaching while in the distance on the boat. The sun was demanding and commanding to be seen. And it was. It was a beautiful night that stemmed from a beautiful day. Again, seek the sun in all that you do. The sun brings smiles. Smiles bring light at the end of the tunnel. Light brings rays of happiness. Praying your day is chalked full of sunshine today...xoxoxo, Angie

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17 Comments:

Blogger Tanya said...

Angie-
You are AMAZING. Over and over again, I have visited your blog and been touched not only by your words but your photography.

Today, when I was on my way to work and talking to God about our recent struggles with Jt. I suddenly felt as if God were SHAKING me to wake up!!! I was stopped at a stop light and noticed the beautiful gift of a sunrise in front of me.It was as if God were saying...

"Tanya- just wake up and know that I am WITH you. I am there to lift you up.To help you and Jt move forward. To shine above all the negative!"

Then I came here to your blog (my escape--daily vacation....) and saw this last picture. I just stared at it... Coincidence??? NO way?

Have a wonderful day!!

Angie may I used this picture on my blog?

5/12/2009 11:09 AM  
Blogger Mickey (Michel) Johnson said...

hi angie...life is full is it not? we have tennis, awards night, birthday party at the beach, a play, a trip to the missions and battle grounds of texas..all planned over the next 7 days...then it's finals time! i know i will drop afterwards, but i wouldn't trade it for anything...i know that the sun will keep rising and setting and the days and years will pass very quickly. someday i will miss this ever quickening speed of life. love the pictures and the post! xo, mickey

5/12/2009 11:12 AM  
Blogger brooke said...

i know what you mean about the slammin of doors...i have been quite the crank the last couple of days...however with my luck they would either end up catching wind and slowing down to quietly latching...or they would bounce off the frame and spring right back into my face without a noise whatsoever!

i love the beach photos...and it definitely makes me crave an away weekend...my husband is gone and my ladies are off to spend the summer in phoenix in two weeks and i feel like traveling the 3 hours to the beautiful flordia beaches quite a bit during that time...i need to see the ocean...

thank you for showing the good and the not so good about day to day life...

5/12/2009 11:25 AM  
Anonymous Debbie (Angie's Mother in law - Brent's Mom) said...

Ang, you have a gift (well, actually many!!!) but I'm specifically referring to your gift of writing and photography as well. God blessed you with it.

5/12/2009 11:51 AM  
Anonymous Jen Gaskill said...

You couldn't have sent this update at a better time! I am having one of those "whiney" days where I want to just run away!!!!! You may know this feeling, but from time to time, I get these little pangs where the need to have my toes buried in the sand, feel the salt air on my face and hear the waves crashing to shore is so strong it almost hurts! Today happens to be one of them. My little guy is turning 6 on Friday, my "baby" girl is finishing up her last year of elementary school (pray for me...I'll have a 'tweener in junior high next year) and I am looking at birthday #39 in a few weeks. Yeah, the beach is calling! I have 11 more days until I have a 3 day trip to the sand - I think I can make it. ANYHOW...these pictures quenched my thirst so to speak. Hope Kenidi's rash clears up and it's from the sunscreen! That is easy enough to correct. Hey...how are your headaches? Take care and keep those pics coming!!!!!
Love ya - Jen

5/12/2009 12:05 PM  
Anonymous Susan Maurillo said...

Hello Sunshine!
I left you a beautiful message but could not figure out how to get it to you. I do not have a google account or a URL anyhow, your photographs are so clean and clear and fresh and uncluttered! I am so inspired to paint them as I see life as a canvas! I will send you a painting one day! In the meantime know that I am touched by your humility today and you are in my heart and prayers! My Mothers Day was spent in a re-hab facility! In Malibu CA but still, my son is in denial and fearful of life ouytside of these walls. I continue to place him on Abragams altar in a swaddling cloth and give him back to Jesus. I understand lost hopes and dreams and will continue to hope all things in His precious sons name. Be Blessed Angie!

5/12/2009 12:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love your landscape photos!! No matter where they are!
2 words!! Purely Artistic!!

And your blog writing really touches my soul. You are always authentic and I love reading all of them.

5/12/2009 1:23 PM  
Blogger smileyseats said...

You are truly an inspiration! Thanks for reminding us that though your life may look perfect from the outside you and all of us have our struggles. Thanks for sharing your lfe and family with us. I look forward to reading your blog everyday!

5/12/2009 2:45 PM  
Anonymous Nicole Ryan said...

Thank you for being so "real"...
Nicole

5/12/2009 3:22 PM  
Blogger jenny winstead said...

wow, i've never seen beach water so blue. i told my son just the other day that my favorite color is "ocean blue" and i can't WAIT to show him this blog so he can see my favorite color captured by you. your work is great and you truly create an atmosphere that makes you long to be in that very spot in your photographs.

also, thanks for sharing your heart. it's nice to know that not everyone has picture perfect lives, but i appreciate the fact that you do keep it positive. :)

5/12/2009 5:16 PM  
Blogger Keri Brown said...

Eye candy, Angie, pure eye candy, you had me daydreaming of the beach today!!!
:)Keri

5/12/2009 5:27 PM  
Anonymous Jill Rodriguez said...

You are Amazing!! God Love You!!!

5/12/2009 8:11 PM  
Blogger hdbl said...

I actually prefer blogging that includes the ups AND downs of life. I felt this was a very very refreshing post and I don't frequent blogs where happy and shiny and perfect and lovely are the norm. I think God was intentional about Jesus suffering for us and he is very clear in His word that we also share in his sufferings and sometimes that is just the difficulties of marriage, raising children, and juggling motherhood career and L.I.F.E. One of the most inspired bloggers I read is a woman who lost her 13 year old daughter to cancer and her journey therein. It is www.karengberber.blogspot.com. I think that through her suffering God has revealed himself to her in a deeper way than I have ever known in someone. Her writings inspire me although some are hard and sad to read.

I DO however love you're reflections on your family and your wonderful times at the beach and your amazing creations that you make those make me smile as much as you being real.....

TRYING to keep it real....

~hb

5/12/2009 9:21 PM  
Blogger Jill said...

Oh Angie, I heart you! So sweet, so humble, so talented, so down to earth. Exactly the reason I HAVE to come to this blog every single day. And those pictures! I'm going to close my eyes now and pretend I'm jumping into that ocean! ;-) Stunning! Big hugs, Jill

5/12/2009 11:08 PM  
Anonymous The Bryant girls said...

We love you Mrs. ANGIE!!!!!!!!!

5/13/2009 1:06 PM  
Anonymous Mommy said...

Angie, first of all I don't think you should put the pillow over Brents face. Maybe take his phones away, that would kill him quicker, ha ha. I think maybe now you know why I want to be a reclouse in the woods. I am at the stage in my life where I want everything to be simple, unfortunatly, you don't have that luxury at this time in your life. I think now that you are a Mommy with a pre-teen almost, You can probably understand your ol parents a little better,why we did what we did. I like what Debbie said about your writing, I have told you for years that you should write a book. I love that you can encourage the masses of people like you do including me! I wish there was some way you could escape all the trials in life, but you know God don't play that game. In fact, You will be even more persucuted because you are a child of God. I think I can speak for all your blog readers when I say "We are addicted to AGD" no matter what you are writing about or what pictures you put on your blog. We just Love you! I know the haters are addicted also, they even get some kind of fix ha ha.

5/13/2009 5:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Delurking to say I think everyone's blog goes through some sort of evolution. Our sites are what we need them to be, when we need them to be it. You can really tell who your friends are by the ones who stick with you through all the stages. I appreciate your transparency.

5/14/2009 3:01 PM  

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