What I'm Listening To This Evening....

Because I am Civil Girl it's only fitting that I celebrate everything civil, from wars to music. It's hard not to appreciate Joy Williams and John Paul White from The Civil Wars swooning chemistry and stirring harmonies. It doesn't hurt that John Paul White is not unlike Johnny Depp.....Enjoy! Joy's voice is incredible as well.

Your Daily Inspiration

Source: etsy.com via Vicki on Pinterest

February Inspiration

My oldest daughter and I watched this movie yesterday.
I always enjoy hearing about and seeing parts of the world that I have never been to, and especially love it when I get to hear the stories behind the places. (I am always searching for profound messages in everything and this film is no exception.) I suppose it's just me trying to hear God speaking to me. Well, He did through this movie. What it doesn't offer in thrilling suspense or lots of sex scenes, it more than makes up for in spectacular shots of the sweeping Spanish countryside, the quaint little towns and their people and sends a message loud and clear that speaks clearer than any scripted talking scenes can offer. I especially loved viewing the church Tom and his group reached towards the end of the film, named the Santiago de Compostela. (Be patient with the video-the frame is corrected shortly after it begins and is a real treat to view.

It made me think of how something as simple as spending time with a stranger and enjoying a meal can give you a glimpse into your own soul (if you look hard enough) given the setting and the circumstances. Aaah, but the key is being able to recognize it and appreciate it, because these windows are few and far between.

It makes me realize just how small we all are in this vast, spectacular world full of all it's stories about her places and her people.

After all, it's all about the journey, isn't it? I believe I am going to add Santiago de Compostela to my bucket list. xoxo Andi

A Girl's Dream...The Jacob Kime Farm

Some of you might have read my post about this beautiful spot some time ago-it's funny how life can take a turn down a road you never thought you would go. But I suppose it's all about the journey. My oldest daughter, who is now in 9th grade, has decided she wants to save this place. Every time we would drive down Tablerock Road in Gettysburg, she would have a sad look on her face, and say how terrible it was that history was slowly slipping away there. "Soldiers died there, mom." she would say. "No one is going to remember this in a few years when a housing development is here, or worse."
I would nod in agreement, like parents do-with a million other things going through my mind, like calling my mechanic to set up an appointment for an oil change, or what I was going to make for dinner that night. I knew she was right, but I didn't know how to go about helping her. I thought it was a very noble and worthy cause, but again, where do you start with something like this? And besides, I had way too many other things going on. Between work and helping the kids with their regular school work and trying to get my own little business going-(I want to start making and selling one of a kind equestrian crafts and art work that blend history with a love of horses,) I had my hands full. I was actually kind of hoping that my daughter would forget about that farm and let me focus on trying to get through each day.

Well....of course, that didn't happen. A few days later, I recieve an email from the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. from a young gal who thinks my offspring has a fantastic idea, and while it is a huge undertaking, it can be done. She suggests the first steps to take.....Apparently, my child had written hearfelt letters to everyone she could think of that might be able to help her, including Bill and Melinda Gates. (We did recieve a nice note back from someone at their office stating that this project was out of their realm of what they allocate funds for, but good luck.")

Voila-my daughter makes friends with a very special gal in the Mapping Department at the Courthouse in Gettysburg, and has a consultation with Mr. Eastman, a prominent real estate attorney and Gettysburg's town solicitor. All of a sudden things are catapulting forward. It has become like a National Treasure Hunt right here in Gettysburg. This young lady who is my daughter secures the address of the owner of the property and writes a letter to her. The owner, who lives in Wichita, Kansas, writes back and they begin a dialogue about her family's time growing up on the farm, the child hood memories,and some of the surrounding history of the buildings and what happened to them. It was absolutely fascinating!

What I have found to be the most wonderful thing of all is the kindness and generosity of people to take time out of their busy day to help a young lady realize her dream.

The most valuable lesson I have learned from this for myself is that I need to have more faith in people, and that the Good Lord will make sure it all works out.

Will she save this farm? I am thinking it is a very good possibility. It may not be in the capacity of her vision, (she wants to make it into a natural history museum to share with everyone) but by George, I think it just might be saved to be preserved as farm land, at the very least. Maybe even something more.

To follow along, you can find her on Facebook, or at

SavetheJacobKimeFarm

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Something to Think About This Week...

"Life is sentimental. Why should I be cold and hard about it? That's the main content. The biggest thing in people's lives is their loves and dreams and visions, you know."
-Jim Harrison, born in Grayling, Michigan in 1937

“I want to live other lives. I've never quite believed that one chance is all I get. Writing is my way of making other chances.”
—Anne Tyler,born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1941. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1988

Think.....Bubbles!

I'm giving myself permission today to indulge in something that I have a great love for doing, and don't often find the time to do these days; writing!

I recently had the opportunity to reconnect with a dear, dear friend with whom I'd lost touch and speaking with her reminded my of why I have always enjoyed her company so much. Not only is she a strikingly beautiful woman inside and out, she always had a special gift of being able to describe places she'd been or people she had spent time with in amazing detail-so much so that I would feel like I was right there with her. She always did it in such a beautiful and eloquent way, sharing the most endearing and captive features about a particular individual, place or thing. I always cherished her special gift for this, and reminded myself constantly to make every effort to celebrate my friends, family and people I met and places I traveled to in the same manner at every opportunity.

Why? Well things can get so mundane, in our daily routines, overwhelming schedules and all we need to do. It helps to center oneself on what God really intended; for us to love and help each other and our neighbors and take time out to appreciate all that is good and right with this world.

Everything seems so hectic and rushed these days-it's so refreshing to take one minute to savor something-really enjoy it-something as simple as cuddling with one of your children or your significant other, (listening to an uplifting program on the radio-NPR has alot of those and I am especially enjoying a program called Midday Connection these days),enjoying a walk in the park with your dog or having lunch with someone whose company you enjoy. It is important to surround yourself with as much positive energy as you can and just as important to pass it on.
I always like to visualize a huge bubble I fill with a bunch of good karma that I gently send on its way to touch someone, often times quite unintentionally. I try to send one of these out daily, and I find that whatever I send out into the world always comes back two or three fold to me sometimes in a simple form, other times, in full fanfare. I don't do this expecting to receive anything; I do it because it feels right and I suppose it is one of the laws of the universe-you can't reap what you don't sow, right? It's just getting your mind to think in a more purposeful way-which is harder than you think, but so worth it if you can do it. I'm a Christian, so I know it is God's power that is behind all of this-but you can put your own spin on it.

Try sending a quick email (a hand written note would be spectacular, but do what you can) to someone you haven't talked to in a while and let them know you are thinking of them.
Another thing that always puts a smile on people's faces if you have the time is going anonymous,and putting a small treat on someone's doorstep. Try doing it when they aren't home, or at night-not too late, obviously and knock on their door or ring the bell. I know some of the neighbors on our street took part in this around Halloween and my children really enjoyed it. What surprised me most is that my kids took more pleasure in the giving than in the receiving.

There are so many ways to spread the love-I'm sure you can come up with tons of ideas on your own. Would love to hear your stories if you have time to share-but I completely understand time is at quite a premium these days.



Now go blow those bubbles!

XOXO Andi

What I'm Listening to Now....One of the Most Fantastic Voices I've Ever Heard

An excerpt from her bio reads like this: "Growing up outside of Detroit in a family of musical evangelists, Worden studied multiple instruments (her father is an acclaimed accordionist and mother an organist). She became equally passionate about classical and Motown, later pursuing a degree in Opera at the University of North Texas where she wrote and recorded original material for the first time. After moving to New York by way of Moscow, Worden recorded three albums before joining the ranks of Sufjan Stevens‘ Illinoisemakers. She then expanded her musical education further by studying composition under Padma Newsome (Clogs, The National), and turned out several scores for off-Broadway productions."

I hope you enjoy listening to her as much as I do! Again, I would have never known about this gal without the fantastic programming at NPR.