learning to live

"Then, she began to breathe, and live, and every moment took her to a place where goodbyes were hard to come by. She was in love, but not in love with someone or something, she was in love with her life. And for the first time, in a long time, everything was inspiring." ~R.R. Drake

Lately, I have been finding myself more and more discontented with where I am in life. Part of the reason is my older siblings getting married, moving out, and branching out on their own, but mostly, it is my lack of thankfulness for where God has me right now. I used to be such an optimistic, happy person, but I have been so focused on where I am not that I am no longer taking the time to live. I am realizing how selfish I have been and how focused on myself I have become.
Each and every day I am trying to learn to live in every moment, realizing that discontentment is not speeding my life up any, but it is only making me more and more miserable. I want my younger siblings (and myself) to be able to look back on these years as a time full of fun memories and great adventures together, instead of the "years the locusts ate." 
So, with that being said, I am taking some time today to list out a few things that I am thankful for. They aren't really anything that would be considered huge, but it's the little things in life that add up to make all the difference, right?
 
♥ a super juicy piece of watermelon - you know...the ones that drip down your chin...
♥ one hundred kids all in the same room collectively laughing and screaming about the same thing
♥ my friend's sweatshirt that I love a little too much. She'll get it back...eventually... :p
♥ that morning cup of black coffee that really wakes you up
♥ sudden midnight inspiration for a writing project  
♥ learning crazy new words 
♥ suddenly finding verses that are exactly what I needed to hear
♥ fountain pens
♥ glass jars of ink
♥ antique books 
♥ friends who help me to see the bright side of things again 
♥ love and laughter around the dinner table
♥ tea parties with my little sister
♥ getting packages in the mail
♥ a perfectly tuned instrument
♥ butterfly wall art
♥ a good book with a good ending

I have so, so much more to learn about growing up and life, but I am so unbelievably grateful for the amazing grace and love of God. 

You are loved more than you know, liked more than you can imagine, and are stronger than you dreamed….  so: Give love. And live large — And love larger.  
~Ann Voskamp

In case you didn't notice, I changed the name of my blog! I wanted something a little more original and creative. I kept the web address the same to avoid confusion, but The Blog is now named Pen and Ink. Let me know below how you like the new design! 
I also went ahead and updated/changed up my About the Authoress page, so you can check that out if you want to as well. 

                                                      Much loves,

~Megan ♥