I love this picture.

I took this photo at the Oregon Coast a few years ago. I love the light in it. The sun was just about to go down. I love how setting sunlight gets caught by things. . . like this dandelion. . . it's like the objects on earth want to hold on to the last precious moments of daylight as long as they can. I love it.

Hope

My husband teases me about the way I am always wanting to plan fun things and have something to look forward to. I know I should probably live more in the moment, but having fun plans written on my calendar is one thing that really does make me happy. 

I was thinking about this the other day and wondering if something was wrong with me or if I should try to change this. No. I finally decided that this looking forward to things is my way of showing that I have hope.

I hope for good things to come in my future, and I believe that they will. I think it's exciting to think about how things will turn out. That's definitely hope!

With the new year here I can't wait to get a calendar and write out all the good things I'm hoping will happen this year. Since I keep forgetting to buy one, let me spread some of that sunshine I'm feeling for some of the things I'm looking forward to in 2013:

• My baby boy will be born sometime at the end of February or beginning of March! If that isn't happy, I don't know what is!
• I will be able to quit my job and won't have to drive an hour to and from work every day! I know, having a job is definitely a blessing. But I'm ready for a change. I've never been somebody who wanted a career. I studied marriage and family in college after all, so I'm thinking being a fulltime mom and being in charge of the little company at my house is going to be grand....plus a much shorter commute. :)
• SUMMER! WARM WEATHER! I'm totally looking forward to that as temperatures have not been above freezing for a while now. Can't wait to use the pool that came with our new condo and possibly get a pass to a waterpark so I can spend time with one of my best friends and her new baby boy too.
• DISNEYLAND! Yes. I'm hoping and hoping for that. My family is planning to go in August, and my husband doesn't really understand the excitement (especially with a new baby), but I can't  help it! 

While I know the future will hold good and bad, I love looking forward to those fun times that I can try to plan for. I like the feelings of hope that this looking forward brings.

Spreading Sunshine

There is so much negative out there. On the web and in daily life, I hear complaints and sarcasm constantly. In my line of work I get to deal with unhappy people quite often, and it wears on me.

I won't deny that I'm a complainer and a "Negative Nelly" sometimes as well, but part of the reason for having this blog is for me to try to change that. I need more positives in my life! I need to start spreading more sunshine instead of raining on those around me.

Spreading sunshine is basically being more like Christ. Helping others be happy and sharing your own smile is one way of blessing others. I can imagine that the Savior walked the places he walked with a smile on his face, looking others in the eye, and truly sharing his light with them. There are moments when I remember to try to do this. There are moments when I search out others who act this way towards me. As of today, I'm going to start trying again!