Caramel Apples

Yesterday I had this intense craving for a cookies n cream caramel apple from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Since the store closed in Grand Island, I decided to try and create one myself.

We enjoyed fettuccini alfredo, a glass of wine, and caramel apples as we watched my favorite show, Parenthood. It was a lovely fall evening. (My love for fall will most likely die soon since the temperature is dropping and the wind is increasing.)

Talk soon, J.

P.S. Listen to the song "Left on Laura, Left on Lisa" by The Avett Brothers. It will change your life.

I Love Fall? I Love Fall!

I have never been someone who looks forward to fall.
I associate the season with football, school, and cold weather--things I dislike the most.
However, I have been having a huge love affair with fall this year.
The streets through our neighborhood are lined with red and yellow trees and there are pumpkins on each stoop. There hasn't been a day in the past three weeks where it was below 60 and I am truly grateful.

Coco and I have been doing a lot of walking (mainly because I love looking at all the adorable houses). We were shuffling through the leaves on the street yesterday, there was no wind, and the sun would peak out from the clouds every 5 minutes.
I was truly present in that moment.
All I could do was smile, take a deep breathe, and thank God for letting me enjoy his creation....and then I yelled at Coco for peeing in the neighbors yard.

It has been a wonderful season.

P.S. If you need some good music to enhance your fall experience, listen to all of the above:
Neil Young, Karen Dalton, Ryan Adams, Tim Hardin, Nick Drake, & The Avett Brothers.

'Til next time,
J.

Calm My Anxious Heart

I feel like I blog a ton about being content so I told myself after my last blog that I would change subjects for a while...but then I started my new book. So, if you're tired of hearing me blab about how I'm searching for the secret of contentment, then stop here.

I knew this book would speak deeply to me from the title alone. "Anxious" is my middle name.
I'm a worry wart and a control freak--a recipe for disaster.
It's probably my biggest struggle and I was excited to see what Mrs. Linda Dillow had to say.

I was a few pages in and already blown away.
She really focuses her writing around a few verses in Philippians. One verse in particular basically jumped off the page and hit me in the forehead: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things." In other words, dwell on the positive.
Seems pretty simple. It isn't, but gosh darn it I'm sure going to try.

Linda shared a story about a friend she knew who was a missionary. She lived by these rules:

(1) Never allow yourself to complain- not even about the weather
(2) Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else
(3) Never compare your lot with others
(4) Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise
(5) Never dwell on tomorrow- remember that is God's, not ours

I have decided to adopt these rules as my own and I'm excited to see the outcome.

Cheers, J.

The Local Theatre

Life in Grand Island is getting pretty dull.
This isn't surprising to me since I knew it was bound to happen.
I'm still enjoying my break from school, but I'm ready to move.
However, I'm still trying very hard to be content so I have been focusing on what's great about being here.

1. Coffee shop
2. Free food (most of the time)
3. Spending time with Truman and his family
4. The Grand Theatre

Oh, that theatre will never truly know my love for it.

Grand Island doesn't have much to offer, but I will tell you it is worth driving here JUST to catch a weekend flick. The atmosphere, the families, the price, the location-- I wouldn't change a thing.

Truman and I were there last night to see Eat, Pray, Love. The movie was terrible, but I felt so at home. Walking downtown on a crisp night to see the rest of the town in line (slightly over exaggerating) makes me feel like I'm an extra on Gilmore Girls.
I feel welcome there.
I feel so happy to see families spending time together or older couples going on a date. The $3.50 ticket is worth it just to have that feeling.

I love supporting Grand Island's best business with the rest of the community.

Last night I was perfectly content.
I wasn't thinking about my friends being independent in Lincoln (though I miss them), or the wedding, or my family troubles.
I was just happy to be another local headed to see a movie.

J.