fall y'all

If there is one thing that F. Scott Fitzgerald had, it was a way with words.  And there are few things I love in this world than words.  And when words talk about my favorite season, I am totally on board with it.  This quote from The Great Gatsby is a beautiful little reminder.  And I truly do believe that autumn gives you the chance to turn over a new leaf - no pun intended.  So, have a Pumpkin Spice Latte today.  I know I will.

1998

This week, I parked at the only open meter spot on UT's entire campus.  This was it's number.  1998. National Champions. Go Vols.

Last night, I watched the ESPN Film "The Book of Manning".  For anyone that knows even a little bit about me, I love me some Peyton - and the whole Manning clan for that matter.  And although this story was centered around the glorious sport that is football, it was more about family.

I've been blessed with an incredible family: parents who love and support me unconditionally, a brother who makes me laugh harder than any person on this earth, grandparents who never miss a single part of my life, aunts and uncles who offer listening ears and wise advice, and cousins that are more like siblings than anything else.

Today, I am feeling tremendously blessed.  Because God has used unusual things to remind me how fortunate I am.  Because, even on rough days, I have more to be thankful for than to complain about.  Because smiles can come in the most unexpected places - like a number on a parking meter.

It's gonna be GOLDEN.

Today, I reflect on my first couple weeks of 23-dom.  I must say, I'm a fan of this age thus far.  A few days ago, I celebrated my birthday in the best of ways - simply.  People all day long made me feel loved with gestures that were thoughtful and kind.  Nothing was extravagant, but they were the type of things that I will talk about to anyone who will listen for years to come.  Here's to a year full of chasing sunsets and dancing the night away on boat docks.  I mean, really, what more could a girl ever want?

P.S. 23 on the 23rd - aka golden birthday. aka it's gonna be a good year. aka go vols.

Sometimes...

Sometimes, the floor outside your office is getting waxed, so you have to work from home.  It's a rough life. So, on such a day, you have coffee and a vanilla macaroon for lunch. And then, you find out The Civl Wars released a new album...that is available on Spotify.  Sometimes, great days happen. Today is one of those days.

Thoughts on a Tuesday

It's Tuesday.  A day of the week that more times than not I find more sluggish and difficult than Mondays.  You see, Mondays are like a fresh start - who knows what the week might hold on a Monday.  But Tuesdays...they are sneaky.  They hold challenges that are hidden as regular tasks and weekly meetings and Monday night leftovers.  Even so, I don't mind Tuesdays.  I just like some of the other days a little better.

As I've mentioned before, You've Got Mail is one of my all-time favorite movies.  It is the film equivalent of comfort food, like macaroni and cheese or chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.  I like it because of it's quotes and conversations.  Have I mentioned I'm a words person?  In it, Kathleen Kelley writes to Joe Fox about her life:
"Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So good night, dear void."
I think we have a tendency to buy into the fallacy that a life that isn't full of daily adventures or extreme fortune or household-name-fame isn't a life that amounts to much. I don't believe that is true in the least.  Sometimes, the brave thing to do is embrace a new dream, follow a different path, answer a new call.

I found this quote recently. It has served as a good reminder to me - that life is valuable, no matter the scale.

The Neighborhood

On this glorious summer day with unusually comfortable temperatures, (79 degrees...in July...in Knoxville, TN. Come on!! That never happens.) I find myself exceptionally thankful to be living this Downtown life.  So, as I went on a casual stroll this afternoon, I caught myself saying a little prayer of thanks - for the very real reminder that I am blessed far beyond what I deserve.  I can say with pretty reasonable certainty that the place I find myself today is nothing like what I imagined when I moved to Knoxville 5 years ago, but - good grief! - it is way better than whatever the 17-year-old version of myself had in mind.

So, here's to you, Monday, July 29.  You've been a day full of little blessings, and I like you.
-JD

Oh hey there.

Remember me? Yeah, I've been away from the blogging world for a little while. And by "little while" I mean half a year.  A whole lot has happened in that bit of time - some big-time life changes - but there are some resounding truths I have come to know during this time.  Allow me to expand.

1. Change is inevitable. Change is constant. Change is not a bad thing. If you know me at all, you know that my admitting that last statement is true is a big, honkin' deal.
2. Talking to your parents is always a good thing. They're gonna give you a fresh perspective and lots of love.  And if you're blessed with parents like mine, you'll get more encouragement than you deserve along with a healthy dose of hearing what you need to hear - even if you don't like it.  I couldn't be more grateful for Mama and Papa D these days.
3. The Lord speaks through relationships.  I can't tell you how many times a friend, colleague, family member, youth group kiddo, mentor, or random human has been used during the last six months to help me see what the Big Guy was wanting me to understand.
4. Patience is good for the soul. There. I said it. Sometimes it stinks, but good grief - it makes the end result so much sweeter.  I'm not very good at being patient just yet, but I'm working on it.
5. I still love words.  Everything from scripture, to text messages, to You've Got Mail quotes have been used in big ways in my life.  Don't worry - I'll share some of my favorites below.

To make a long story short, I've been blessed beyond measure in 2013.  It hasn't all been easy, but we are not called to live an easy life.  2 Timothy 1:7 says, "for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control."  It boils down to this for me right now - live boldly, listen well, love always. If that is too corny for you, that's alright. It works for me. And uses alliteration...so all is well.

It's good to be back.
-JD

P.S. All images are from Pinterest.