A Sunday at Home.

Indiana and I lazied around the house tonight, enjoying our Sunday off together. She's been sick lately, which makes me sad for her, but I'd be lying if I didn't say the break from her daily energy isn't welcomed.
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Even though the house is just too quiet while Blake is away at work, I still love the serenity of it all. I love hearing nothing but the wind softly brushing against the trees outside the windows, bundled up in a blanket with my book and Indi by my side.
We had a really nice evening together.
~~Recently I've taken an interest in house plants, and I'm looking forward to hopefully cultivating a green thumb this coming spring.
I have many plans for our yard running through my mind, and I'm only hoping that the execution will be possible.
~~I would love to have a little garden this spring filled with my favorite vegetables and spices, but every time I daydream, I quickly remember that Indi is a digger. A digger of random. Our yard is filled with random little holes. She digs. She gets bored. Then she digs again.
Maybe my green thumb will be limited to household plants after all.
~~~
Thanks to her.
Cute, right?
Happy Weekend, everyone.
I hope it was wonderful.
-Jess.

MLK Jr. Day

My niece recently had a second grade performance at her school in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

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MLK Jr. is an American historical icon that I find so inspiring.

This man deserves to be honored.

It made me so happy to hear that Fatima's school was honoring him. This is nothing I have ever personally done as a student, and his 'I have a Dream' message is one that needs to be shared and cherished, as it is just as current and relevant today as it was when delivered in 1963.

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It was so cute watching all these little children talk about the Civil Rights Movement as well as sing their little hearts out.

Of course, Fatima was the absolute most adorable kid there.

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Uncle Blake and I surprised Fatima with flowers after her performance.

She loved them.

-Blake and Jess.

Spring.

As much as I love the winter, I'm getting excited for the upcoming spring season.
Today was beautiful. The sun was out and provided just enough warmth to venture out in a cardigan.
Thinking of spring makes me think of sunny days, green grass, laughter, and play.
I was looking through some pictures from last year and came across a couple of my niece, Cora Lynn, playing soccer. She's such a good little player...Way better than I was at her age.
I can't wait to watch her play again this coming season.-Jess.

A Very Exciting Little Update.

Hello friends.
Its been a few weeks since I've blogged, which is simply because I have had nothing exciting to blog about; unless, of course, your definition of excitement would involve working like crazy, attending school five days out of the week, and spending nearly all your spare time studying legal citation, computer applications, science, and philosophy. If you consider that exciting, then my life has recently been completely full of nothing but utter excitement.
In all seriousness...I apologize for the absence, but there may be quite a bit of that over the next few months. I just simply don't have the time to experience excitement right now. My current definition of an exciting day is simply one that I can justify taking some time to soak up some relaxation in the tub. Right now, my days are filled with merely trying to figure out how to best prioritize my time while also dealing with stresses coming from numerous directions.
It will all be worth it in the end. I'm looking forward to graduation in the fall and a trip out of the country soon to follow.
Then, I'll probably find myself knocked up or something, so watch out!
Yes..All this world is missing is a miniature Blake and me. (:Happy Weekend Everyone.
I hope it is filled with nothing but excitement.
Mine will be...After the Bears beat up on the Packers.
-Blake and Jess.
~~~
P.S.
And the reason I began blogging tonight (give me a break for going on a tangent)...I'm starting a little household bathroom project. Paint selection comes tomorrow. I'll be sure to post pictures soon. (:

Journal.

I said goodbye to my old Journal last week.
I've had it since my engagement with Blake and it holds many amazing experiences and memories, but I knew inevitably I would reach the last page.
It is now filed away with my prior Journals; a collection that only continues to grow and dates back to my first journal my mother gave me at eight years old.
~~~
I am so passionate about journal writing. About writing in general.
Documenting my thoughts and feelings relaxes and centers me.
It helps me focus on what is truly important to me.
If a feeling or experience isn't important enough for me to write down to keep forever, then it really wasn't that important.
I've been looking throughout this week for the perfect journal to hold my words.
I have found that journal.Its a beautiful leather-bound book with hand-painted artwork on the cover.
The pages feel thick and ancient.
And It smells antique.
I love it.
I'm looking forward to begin filling it with ink.
-Jess.

Run. Baby. Run.

Blake surprised me with a Sole treadmill for Christmas.
I told him a while back that if he got me a treadmill I would promise to cancel my over-priced gym membership and use it daily.
Good negotiation, I guess, because it worked!
I have kept my promise so far, and I promise to continue.
I've been running 3 miles each day, quickening my time bit by bit.
Its been so long since I have consistently ran, and I'm definitely not in as good of shape as I used to be.
But it feels amazing to be running again!
I'm in love!
-Jess.