the eyes are the window to the soul :: learn to see

image via pinterest

I ran across this quote recently and thought it was so good. It is so cool to have people in our lives who can see and hear beyond our words. People who see that the light has gone out of our eyes, people who can hear the difference between what we are saying and what we really want to say.It is also really cool to be THAT person. To be the person who can see and hear when those you love need extra hugs, words of affirmation, extra time, permission to be sad, a bag of groceries, a cup of coffee.......the truth spoken in love.....the days are fleeting, and only what we invest in others will truly last. Take the time to truly see others....to hear them...and to love them.xo,Barb

Etcetera

I wanted to share just a few photographs from our lake vacation this past week. It was four days of complete relaxation {minus my phone being gobbled up by the lake...but once I buried my head in my husbands chest, cried about the stupidity of it all, and got mad at myself for being careless, I was over it} and we had the most fun we have had in a while. The weather was so beautiful..... it was mid 60's to low 80's the entire time and very low humidity, which is a dream for this time of year here in the south!You know how you have those awesome trips where everyone gets along great, weather is perfect, the food is delicious, and the friendships and memories just nurture your soul? Well, that was this trip. We jet skied, went for many boat rides, tubed, wake boarded, kayaked, and water skied. You name it, we did it....and we did it until the last bit of sunshine peeked below the horizon.I tried something new on this trip! I was challenged by my friend "J" to try wake boarding and I literally had butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it! Every muscle in my body hurt from my very first wake boarding experience...but it was so worth every muscle pain. I was so afraid to try, and almost defeated myself before ever trying because I knew it was going to be tough. I have never snow boarded before because I don't like the thought of both feet being strapped down, so the thought of not only having both feet strapped to a board but then also being yanked up by a boat just had me questioning my sanity. I lived to tell about it, and I got up not once, not twice, but THREE times! It was so great to conquer that little nagging " you can't do this" voice in my head.....and to hear my friends and family cheering me on from the boat ahead. My husband and my son also got up on the wake board for their first time as well! Woot!One of my favorite things has to be the tubing though......that moment of sheer panic when you hit the "vortex wave of death" {created by crazy boat driving friend!} and go airborne.....yeah, it's pretty dang amazing! It was such good times. I am so thankful for the beauty of these memories that were just written across my heart forever.Have a great weekend you guys!xo,Barb

Found Goodness

 The older I get, the more I value genuine friendships and true friends. I think all of us have experienced those times in our lives where we realize that people we thought were our friends....really were not there when times got tough, hard, or uncomfortable. It is through the hardest of times that we realize how thankful we are for the friends who are willing to stick by us, support us, and love us no matter what.  

There is a quote that I love... "friends pick us up when we fall down, and if they can't pick us up, they lie down and listen for a while"...

I am so thankful for my friends, how they have surrounded me and overwhelmed me with love and support .....especially these past several months during the book writing process. I am well loved.....and this little note that I found in my mailbox when I got to the studio on Monday made my heart .......melt.

Here's to the having the best of friends, and being the best friend that we can possibly be to others.

xo,

Barb

Etcetera

 My sweet friend Jennifer just got back from a trip to Australia...and while she was there, she spotted this beautiful magazine.....Frankie. Jen told me that as she started looking through it, I came to mind....so she brought a copy home for me, and dropped it off at the studio yesterday. 

I loved it from first glance...and the paper....oh my word it is matte perfection, and the photographs and styling are gorgeous. It was super inspirational for me to leaf through, and I am so thankful yet again for the thoughtfulness of others. This week has been so full....so full....and I can't even begin to thank all of you for your support and love.

Have a beautiful weekend!

xo,

Barb