Smile!(:

"Try to fulfill each day's task steadily and cheerfully. Be merry, really merry. The life of a true Christian should be a perpetual jubilee, a prelude to the festivals of eternity." 

~ Theophane Venard 

Small Things With Great Love

"Great love can change small things into great ones, and it is only love which lends value to our actions."

~ St. Faustina Kowalska 

The most ordinary actions can be transformed into the most extraordinary when genuine love is applied. I have found that once love is added to the smallest, littlest things about everyday life, they become some of the most beautiful things in the world and mean the most to me. When we make the choice to sincerely add love to each of our conversations with others, the soul is warmed, alive, and molded by that love. When we add love to each of our interactions with others, no matter how small, whether with family, friends, or strangers... The same result rings true... It is the smallest things that warm the soul of the giver and the receiver. When love is added, the souls are set ablaze.

 Con amore in Cristo,

 Bluebird

Just A Bit Of Jolliness!:)

Yes, I took a book selfie!

(Very rare occasion for your viewing pleasure)

The other day I got a call that the book I had ordered had arrived at Barnes & Noble. I could hardly contain my giddiness! "The Hidden Power of Kindness" by Fr. Lawrence Lovasik was introduced to me by a dear friend of mine a long time ago. I am finally making time to read it! I can hardly wait to study it, scribble in it, learn, and grow from it. I'm sure it will inspire many future posts as well! One, of the many, things I have decided to stop doing is failing to make reading books I wish to read a priority. Reading is so important and something I love to do. However, I never make it something I do every day. This bad habit is the cause of the tall stacks of books all over my room. The same friend is the one who has inspired to me to make it more of a daily priority, and I am extremely happy to take the first step! :) So much lies between the pages of good books, why deprive our hungry minds of the beauty and wisdom within them? I wanted to take a moment to encourage you to stop putting off reading that book you've been eyeing. Pick it up and make a commitment to yourself to read it. Or find a book you think will be beneficial to you and your soul. Pass a favorite book along, or even write your own! Who knows what beautiful things will come from it?

 Con amore in Cristo,

 Bluebird

Good Friends & Special Finds...

I am so blessed to have such incredible friends in my life! Earlier this week, a very dear friend of mine who lives in the west was staying in a town about an hour away from where I live. I don't get to see her often, so having her so close was an immense blessing! Getting to go out to coffee and walk around a cute little town with someone I look up to, admire, and consider one of my dearest friends, made me reflect on the beauty of true friendship...

I am a firm believer that you don't need to talk to, or see a friend all the time in order to be close. Some of my closest friends and most favorite persons are those I don't see often and can go a while without talking to, yet start right back up where we left off when we do. Everyone is different, however, that is how it is for me, and I consider it a special blessing. 

I made the drive out and was in disbelief I could see my friend after over a year. In an itty bitty old building in town named, "Romeo's Cafe" we sat and caught up on the craziness of life, discussed the things we have learned the past year, gave advice and encouragement, and enjoyed each others presence over coffee and yummy sandwiches. 

Over an hour flew by and we decided to walk around. We came across what we thought was a little antique store, but happened to be one of the largest I've ever ventured through. It was so fun chatting as we looked through buried treasures of all sorts. I was pleasantly surprised to stumble across the Bluebird of Happiness underneath another poster. For only five dollars, I knew I just had to get it. My friend was also able to find a lace table runner, for just the right price and style. Already almost 3 hours had gone by and we had to go our separate ways once more. It was the perfect day!

Afterward, I was pondering just how incredible friendship is, and just how powerful... The topic of friendship is one I plan on writing quite a lot about in the future. I have learned so much, and am currently reading "The Four Loves" by C.S. Lewis, which should give me even more to contemplate. For now, I just wanted to encourage you to reach out to those in your life whom are some of your closest friends, and even amidst the craziness of life, let them know you are thinking and praying for them. Let them know you love them and are grateful to have them in your life. 

These special people God put in your life, are there for a reason.

 Con amore in Cristo,

 Bluebird

That's What Up

Just thought I'd take a minute to share one of my favorite songs.:)
The first video is an amazing cover done by Lennon and Maisy.
The second is the original by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.

I love everything about the lyrics... So sweet and inspiring! Check it out.:)

"You’ve got my love to lean on darling.

all the days

all of our days

yeah…

love is a shelter.

love is a cause.

love goes on forever.

yeah, love will leads us all.

love! it is our honor.

love! it is our all.

love goes on forever.

yeah, love it is our home. Oh yeah! Yeah, that’s what’s up!" 

                                     

Original.. 

"You've got my love to lean on, darling. That's what up."

 Con amore in Cristo,

 Bluebird

New Beginnings

Bellezza Nascosta

"It is time for new things",

 whispers a weary and wounded heart, 

in search of her renewed self,

waiting to bloom. 

"Is a fresh start always, 

exhilarating, jubilant, filled with sweet serenity?"

asks this sorrowed soul. 

"Not always, my darling." 

answers her Beloved.

"It will cause much woe for Me to remold you.

It will take 

all your trust, 

all your strength,

all your love. 

Only until I finish weeding out the thorns,

and replacing all the tender and torn 

bouquets within the cage of your chest,

will the serenity begin to flow in."

With the hope of a child,

abandoning her lacerated heart,

she joins Him in the gashes of His own heart,

wishing to be of comfort in return.

"There is a hidden beauty in new beginnings,

Whether the means are met 

with tears of joy or tears of pain,

They are needed throughout time,

if you wish to be with Me."

"My heart longs for the happiness 

I once had" she murmurs in silent tears.

"Ah, My love, 

veiled within My Heart is more

than all the happiness 

you will ever need. 

If you stay with Me, you will 

always be renewed,

always be loved,

always be consoled 

amidst the battles of life."

Her Beloved begins to pull and replace

what had begun to cause her wounds.

"Please stop, do not take 

my old flowers away!" she cries in heartache.

"My darling, it is the only way 

for new ones to bloom.

It will hurt, but I must cut 

to the deepest burrows of your heart.

If there is no room for me, 

you cannot bloom again,

nor be your renewed self.

I cannot give the happiness I have for you,

unless you do one thing that I ask."

Clinging to her Beloved, she pleads for Him 

to reveal this divine wisdom.

Drawing her into Himself,

He answers,

"Love."

"True happiness is found once you have found Me.

Once you have found me and stay within My Heart,

your heart will be in love.

In love with Me,

In love with others,

a heart that is in love.

A heart that is in love, bears the most pain, 

like My own Heart. 

It will not be an easy life, yet,

I shall be in you, and you in I."

Through her tears she smiles

 giving Him all of the lifeless bouquets 

tangled within her,

as well as her blistered and tattered heart.

In return He hands her

His own wounded and weary Heart.

Holding this precious gift,

She whispers with a new found voice,

"I am in love with You."

E.L.

 The Sacred Heart of Jesus is an inexhaustible fountain and its sole desire is to pour itself out into the hearts of the humble so as to free them and prepare them to lead lives according to his good pleasure. 

- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

~ Pregnancy Help Clinic Video ~

Almost two years ago, I had an idea placed in my heart to help a local pregnancy crisis center in any way that I could. I had this great yearning to help, not only because one of the founders of this center was my grandmother, but also because I am so touched and inspired by the hard work the women at these pregnancy crisis centers do. It is the backbone of the pro-life movement...And I wanted to do my part. 

All of the work these women do changes lives, they truly do help young women when there is no one else to help them. Two years ago, I began to have an immense desire to be there for young women seeking help in which ever way God was calling me to do so. With the encouragement of my mother, I jumped right on board, pondering how I could be of help. I knew for certain I would love to be a volunteer, particularly a receptionist volunteer. However, I wanted to help even more. I wanted to use my interests and vocational path to help as well. While discussing this with my mother, I realized what I could do. I wanted to make a video for Pregnancy Help Clinic. I wanted to make it possible for frightened young women to see what an incredible place and refuge Pregnancy Help Clinic is. I wanted them to see the loving women there ready to help them. I wanted them to know about it all, and encourage them to seek the clinic for help. 

I got straight to work writing out the basic storyline and all my ideas, then emailed Pregnancy Help Clinic saying that I had an idea and would love to meet with someone about it. 
Not long after, I met with the assistant director, who was just as ecstatic about the idea as I was. We discussed the video in detail and I had my first day of training to be a receptionist at the front desk. 
I will never forget that day. I had no experience behind film making, until this point it had always been an aspiration and hobby. This was my first goal.

Over the course of a couple months, I wrote out the script, searched for actresses, and prepared to shoot. I was so blessed to have found the perfect actress for the project, a friend of mine from youth group. She was a dear and accepted the challenge! It was so wonderful filming and seeing the script come to life. During this time I would volunteer as a receptionist whenever I could. 
Amongst summer and other commitments, the editing became prolonged and the project was slowly coming to a completion. I wanted to get the video finished as soon as I could, knowing the longer it wasn't published, the longer young women went without important information. In my lack of experience, it never occurred to me to have the project saved on an external hard drive. It was just on my computer. 
Within days of the video's completion there was an accident regarding a spill and a younger sibling, resulting in a computer crash. 
I had lost the project. 

I could hardly believe my worst nightmare had come to life. I had been wise about moving the footage of the film to an external device, however I would have to start from square one piecing it all back together. 
It seemed as though the devil was trying to discourage me from ever finishing this already long-drawn-out endeavor. He was doing all he could to keep me from completing my mission. 
Two Bible verses stood out to me... 

"Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand."
-Psalm 37:24

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." 

-Galatians 6:9

As soon as I could, I began again, determined to make the second attempt even greater that the first. Not long after I started again, I was grateful and could see that God knew what He was doing... 
Right away, I perceived new ways in which I could improve my work. 
College commitments, work and other life happenings made it difficult to go as quickly as I would have liked. Fortunately, my second semester was much less hectic and draining than my first, providing me the time and focus I needed to make it to the home stretch of the project. 
After a week of little adjustments and improvements here and there and asking for opinions, the video had finally come to an end. (This time it was backed up!)
It wouldn't have become a reality without the constant help of friends, volunteers, Apple Service calls, late night "watch this" and "what do you think of this?" nagging with family members, prayers, encouragement, and the grace of God. 
I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to work with such amazing women of God, who helped make my vision a reality. 
I learned so much along the journey. 
God willing, more video projects with Pregnancy Help Clinic will come to life in the near future. (And won't take nearly as long!)

If God has placed an aspiration on your heart, don't be afraid to go after it with all that you are. There will be battles and struggles with yourself, Satan, unfortunate events, but if you persevere and always seek God, you will allow Him to use you for the unimaginable. 

Please take a moment to watch the informational video for Pregnancy Help Clinic and share! It will be on their official website soon as well. 
I would love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to leave a comment. 

                           Con amore in Cristo,

                                 Bluebird