epiphany?

Let's be real, people: I've been terrible at blogging lately.

I don't really have any good reasons aside from the fact that I'm really busy and I haven't had anything to write about.

Wait - are those good reasons?

Regardless, I miss it. I love writing, and lately all I've been writing are weekly papers for my Spanish class and essays for my sociology class. Obviously these types of writing are not the same as rambling on about nothing in a post that has nothing to do with my grades and GPA.

Part of the reason I haven't been posting frequently is because I don't feel like I have anything to say. I enjoy reading blogs about people's day-to-day lives, but that was never what I myself intended to write about.

Let's be honest - my life is not that interesting. I can give you a quick rundown right now if you'd like: I go to class Monday through Friday. I work on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I complain about my 7:00-10:00 p.m. class every Wednesday. I make dinner, do homework, watch whatever show is on that night (How I Met Your Mother on Monday, Glee and Teen Mom on Tuesday, nothing on Wednesday, The Big Bang Theory and Grey's Anatomy on Thursday, and Say Yes To the Dress on Friday. Note to self: You watch way too much TV), and go to bed...get up and repeat. On weekends I work, do homework, clean, and grocery shop.

See? No big deal. So what am I supposed to write about? I always feel the need to post "deep" thoughts on life. Maybe not deep, but somewhat profound...something to think about it.

But I thought about this - I don't have a huge epiphany every day. I don't always have some brilliant thought that I feel compelled to share with the world...sometimes, all I have is what I did that day. And what I do every day, no matter how mundane, is profound just the same.

Because it's my life. And I'm living it. I'm choosing every day to continue my education, to cultivate my relationships, to work hard so that someday I can be where I want to be.

This doesn't necessarily mean more posts...really, it's okay that no one wants to read about how my day was. I wouldn't either. But I guess this means that I won't just write off my days as insignificant anymore...because while they may not be significant enough to provoke a deep thought, they are significant enough to keep me going.

And maybe that's significant enough to get me writing?

We'll see...stay tuned!

♥ abigail

on another note...

Hopefully you all got to see my Valentine's Day post from earlier this morning...if you didn't, check it out here...it felt good to get writing again!

I just created another blog for myself - Abigail Abroad. I am going to use it to talk about everything and anything related to my time studying in Santander, Spain this spring. Check it out here and follow if you are so inclined!

♥ abigail

thoughts on valentine's day

It's hard to be cynical about today, Valentine's Day, because I have that special someone in my life...and according to him, there are various tricks up his sleeve for today, one of his favorite days of the year.

I've always disliked Valentine's Day, simply based on principle. Sure, when I was younger I enjoyed it - but receiving a Valentine and gobs of candy from each of my classmates in our hand-crafted "mailboxes" was so exciting! In high school my appreciation for it dwindled, not because I was single (but really, isn't everyone single in high school? Not to be bitter, but in my experience and from what I've witnessed, these days most high school relationships end up in the toilet even before they're actually relationships...but we can talk about that some other time), but because it seemed silly to me that there was one day a year when it's essentially required to express your love for the important people in your life.

It seems that I've always managed to get around Valentine's Day simply by saying I think it's silly and stupid and I don't like it. And it is silly. And it is stupid. And I know I don't like it, but that doesn't mean I hate it.

Is it silly that there is a specific day of the year where we're supposed to give chocolates, flowers and cards to show our love? Yes. But is it a nice break from the regular, plain ol' days with people? Yes.

My guess is that a lot of people who choose to celebrate Valentine's Day do so because they already celebrate love every other day of the year.

And isn't that kind of nice?

Having a special day with sweet treats and surprises really isn't anything I can turn my nose up at. And think about it - isn't have a special day all part of the fun?

On Christmas we celebrate the birth of Christ - but I celebrate that every day through prayer, every Sunday at church, every time I read my Bible.

On Thanksgiving we celebrate all we are thankful for - but I celebrate that every day through time with friends and family, feeling blessed for things in my life like food and a roof over my head, remembering to enjoy the small things.

On Independence Day we celebrate our country and its freedom - but we celebrate that every day by enjoying all the rights and privileges we have simply by living in the United States.

On our birthdays we celebrate our coming into the world - but I celebrate that every day when I marvel at all the wonderful people in my life and know that they all had to get here somehow.

I guess what I'm saying is that while we may celebrate every day, even though we don't necessarily recognize it. So what's wrong with taking a little extra time to recognize something that's also worth celebrating - love?

While Hallmark tends to make it all about romantic love, this day can be about the love you share with any of the important people in your life - friends, parents, kids, cousins, grandparents...because in the end, it is all about love.

Having a day devoted to love is pretty wonderful. I could do without all the pink and red, but at the end of the day, I'm not complaining - there are far worse things to celebrate than love.

And that's really what today is all about...so even though you love them all 364 other days of the year, make today special for those you love. Remind them of why you think they're so wonderful, why you're glad they're in your life, and why you love them.

It doesn't have to be cheesy or tacky or over-the-top. It can be. But it doesn't have to be. We all express love in different ways, so you don't necessarily have to buy what Hallmark is selling...but don't be like I have in the past, boycotting the lovely day of love, simply because you're too stubborn to see that love is something that definitely deserves to be celebrated.

♥ abigail

I'm Back?

Well. It certainly has been a while, hasn't it?

The last time I blogged was on December 19 - and that post wasn't even a real one, just a fun little Fill In the Blank Friday.

Tonight, for the first time in over a month, I have had time to sit and mull over my thoughts. I'm not going to lie to you - there's nothing very deep going on in my head right now. I've exhausted my brain over the past few hours with Spanish papers, copyediting assignments and grammar studies...and now I'm sitting and listening to music, snuggled up in a blanket, feeling very peaceful and very happy that it's the weekend.

Life has been so busy lately. Brief recap - my sister got engaged recently (I am the maid-of-honor and am in full wedding planning mode as of late), I got myself a nice boyfriend (he' definitely a keeper), I'm working to keep my decent GPA (3.53 cumulative, which is pretty good for college, if you ask me), I'm working hard at work, and I'm readying myself to go to Spain in March (passport arrived in the mail a few weeks ago so it's starting to sink in that I'm actually leaving).

Between all of these things, I haven't had much time for myself.

Not that I'm complaining - I like to stay busy. I get restless when I'm not doing something. Just the other day the instructor of my Cardio Combo class gave us extra stretching time and walked us through some yoga...it was definitely not relaxing for me. Instead of focusing on my breathing or letting myself relax, I felt as if I were wasting time. I even felt a little guilty lying there when I had so many other things I needed to do.

I think I have a problem.

But even though my doing nothing involves doing something (reading, writing, watching Friends or Gilmore Girls, cleaning), I think that's okay - because that's what I need.

I'm going to try to ease back into this whole blogging world...I've missed it! I don't know what, if anything, I have to say...but if I come up with anything, you all will be the first to know!

And now I'm off to relax...aka organize my closet. Hey, to each her own, right?

♥ abigail

fill in the blank friday

Okay, so it's not Friday...and okay, I haven't posted in more than a week...but after being crazy-busy for the first part of this week and battling strep throat for the second half, now is the first time I've been able to post in a while.

I'm slowly on the mend, which is good because I am extremely tired of laying in bed, I am out of Harry Potter on CD to listen to, and I'm sick of waking up exhausted and with a sore throat.

So here it is - another Fill in the Blank Friday from Lauren at the little things we do ... play along if you'd like!

1. Giving is the best thing ever. If I could afford it, every time I saw something that I thought someone would love, I would buy it for them. I feel happiest when I'm making other people happy, and I think giving is a good way to do that.

2. Receiving is nice, but not as nice as giving. I really would rather give than receive - it's more fulfilling.

3. The best gift I ever received was my autographed Luke Ridnour jersey. I was in eighth grade, basically obsessed with him (he was the University of Oregon's stud basketball player who was in his rookie season for the Seattle SuperSonics), and someone in my life knew how happy it would make me...he was right!

4. The best gift I ever gave was my present to my parents last Christmas. I found a whole bunch of cute pictures of my siblings and I from when we were little and printed them in black and white and put them in a nice frame.

5. Something intangible that I wish I could receive is the ability to be crafty. I always have great visions of things in my head that never come out quite right. I'd also like to receive the ability to be less competitive. My need to always be right isn't always the best thing in my various relationships.

6. Something intangible that I wish I could give is , without being too cliche, is love. It really is the greatest thing, and it makes me so sad to know that some people don't have any in their life, or don't feel as if they do. I wish I could let everyone know that they are loved and have worth, because from there, great things can happen.

7. The one gift I always wanted as a child, but never got, was...I don't know. Not to say I got everything I ever wanted or asked for, but I think the important things in life, like being with family, are what I remember more than the gifts I did or didn't get.

Have a great week!

♥ abigail

fill in the blank friday

I have to start this post by saying that I think that this is the most adorable picture I've ever seen.

That could be an exaggeration...but oh my goodness, it's cute!

I'm writing this from my bed at home (home-home in Eugene, not home in Corvallis!), warm and cozy and happy to have started my winter break. I finished finals on Wednesday and have been enjoying Eugene ever since. I have so far unpacked, cleaned the house, done a little shopping, cooked, baked, and been completely lazy. I love love love winter break!

Today's post is another fill in the blank friday...link up to Lauren's blog here and play along!

1. I wish I had more of a direction when it came to what I want to do with my life. The last time you checked I probably thought I had it figured out...I'm back to square one once again. I'm far too familiar with this square and would really like a change of scenery!

2. Yesterday I woke up happily in my own bed, went shopping with my younger sister, caught up with my old dean of students, cleaned the house, started decorating for Christmas, and cooked dinner for my family. It was a lovely day.

3. Today I will try to be disciplined and get my run in, finish my book (hopefully), get more Christmas shopping done, and start on my Christmas baking. I am optimistic that it will be another lovely day.

4. Tomorrow I will hang out with my family and possibly the man in my life, and then babysit some of my favorite kids from this summer.

5. Maybe I'll figure out my life one of these days. Tomorrow would be a good time to do that I think. Or today. Either. Both!

6. Someday I will be doing something I'm passionate about. Hopefully this life plan (although it's clearly not very specific) will involve a husband and some kidlets running around all over the place.

7. I love my life. If we want to be more specific, lately I love my family, baking, finishing the term strong, waking up to the sweetest text messages you've ever seen, finding cute little notes on post-its hidden around my room, and my grey boots.

Have a good Friday!

♥ abigail

contented

That is the best word to describe how I'm feeling at this very moment.

So much has been going on in my life the past few weeks - midterms, final projects, studying, dead week, finals...and here I sit...Monday of finals week, my last final project turned in, my first final complete (one to go, which I don't have to study for thanks to professors who like giving open-note tests)...content.

I am warm and cozy thanks to a working heater (it was fixed the day before the first - and potentially last - snowfall of the season last month), a mug of peppermint tea, flannel PJs (matching top and bottom, thankyouverymuch!), fleece blanket, and the soft sounds of my "Solo Piano" Pandora station playing through my speakers.

It's times like these, when the simplest of things can make me so very peaceful, that I truly feel content.

It's that same feeling you get when you're surrounded by the people you love, often just observing them and being in their presence, perfectly happy to just be there in their mere presence. It's the feeling of waking up and feeling refreshed and rejuvenated and completely ready to take on the day. It's walking outside and expecting clouds and instead finding the sun shining down on you on your walk to class. It's finding sweet notes that someone special hid days before and was anxiously awaiting for you to discover.

It's being at peace with everything around you, no matter how chaotic and crazy life can be.

I cherish and welcome moments like these, and find myself seeking (and finding) them often. Because if you open your eyes and your heart, I've learned that you can really find contentment in most things...and that is what makes life perfect and wonderful, despite everything else.

♥ abigail