Finding Beauty

[home, a snapshot from my hubby]

Growing up in San Diego, I never imagined moving anywhere else. I had my family nearby, childhood friends around, the beach, the mountains-- what could be better? When I met Joshua (also a San Diego native) and got hitched, it was a "given" that we'd stay in town, enjoyed married life, have some babies and raise them in the same city we had grown up in.

Fast forward to 4 years of marriage, still in San Diego, and the other, better half got his dream job (after a 2 year miserable hiring process) that relocated us here, to Tucson, AZ, in April. At that point in our lives, we were actually really ready for a change. But California to Arizona? Certainly, when I prayed for change, I was hoping God would "upgrade" up to Hawaii or something, not the desert.

[first adventure in Tucson]

[view from our house]

Like I said, I was ready for a change. If you've read our story/testimony, you know why.

But in many ways, I felt like I downgraded when I first moved. It was hard to find the beauty in my new circumstances.

I think most of life can be pretty mundane. 

A lot of time, I feel like it's Groundhog Day. 

Wake up, feed the dog, take him on a walk, do the dishes, fold laundry, make meals, sleep-- and everything in between. Repeat. 

Sometimes I feel completely overwhelmed by life. 

And it's hard to find the beauty in it.

But you know what?
Something changed in me after I moved. It was a "God thing."
I realized that my circumstances were out of my control, and my attitude was clouding my eyes from seeing any beauty that possibly surrounded me. Once the blinders came off and I decided to change my attitude, everything became a little prettier and, in turn, my attitude changed.

I started to love it.

[now I chase cows and don't sit in a cubicle]

I started to see the flower blooms that came out of the tops of cactus, the flicker of white snow on our nearby mountains, and the insanely gorgeous sunsets that light up the desert sky like fire.

And you know what? I wouldn't change a thing about where I live now. I miss my family and friends so much, but I don't think we'll move back. It's great to visit, but we love it here.

This is from my "About Me" page:

"There is so much to be said about living near family, and there is so much to be said about venturing out on your own. We miss our loved ones so much, but we also feel empowered. Change is hard, but waiting on change is worse. And what's really worse is remaining comfortable. So we are happy. Really happy."

A lot of time, I just have to step outside. The outdoors refreshes my soul. It's there, in its simplicity, that I'm reminded that I have the power and the opportunity to make my life beautiful. God has given me life; it's up to me to do what I do with it.

I need to be present.
I need to enjoy it.
I need to find beauty in the ordinary moments.

My new motto:
Finding beauty in your life really is an intentional purpose each day to look for the good in your life and focus on it.

Cheers!!