Nature

I'm thankful for the beauty of nature and just wanted to share it. Because even when everything feels like its too much I can be in nature and feel alright. It calms my troubled soul and reminds me that life is good and I am blessed.

Thank the heavens for nature.

"Love is not looking into each other's eyes; it is looking in the same direction"

-Antoine de Saint-Exupery

This semesters for one of my electives for my grad program I am taking a class on Marriage & Family Counseling. So far my reading for it has been pretty basic and pretty obvious information. But the quote written above really stood out to me. The interpretation that the authors of my textbook give for that statement is that couples in healthy relationships share a bigger goal or mission in life beyond themselves. And I have to say that I completely agree. I realize that this is a pretty simple concept that is most likely ingrained in most peoples' heads. And some might read this and think "well duh Carolina." I'm not saying this is a new thought to me either.

Honestly though, I think that there our a lot of people that forget this in their relationships. Everything is so romanticized in movies and books. Relationships are made to look so easy. The movies make it seem like love is care-free and simple and based off the initial starry-eye feeling. They make it seem like love is just focusing on the other person. But really there is so much more!

I realize that I have no right to be discussing this topic because I am no expert in the area. I am only just beginning to learn what love is. But I have observed others who are truly in love and have noticed that the couples that appear to be the healthiest and strongest share a bigger goal in life. They share values and beliefs that are much bigger than they are, and they help each other work towards that goal. One isn't going one direction while the other moves another direction. I think that continually helping each other towards that bigger goal or mission in life shows more love for each other than any kiss or words of adoration could ever show. I only wish that more couples in the world thought that too.

Love

I was reading NieNie's Blog and this quote really caught my attention. I love it and so I'm stealing it and putting it on my blog.

"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two."

Louis De Bernieres

I want to love like this someday.

Things are Good....

Well things are pretty good right now and I am really happy. School is good. Work is good. Family is good. And things with this guy are GREAT!

This is my Logan boy. Turns out I like him kind of a LOT.

We went to Temple Square to look at the Christmas Lights. We both agreed that there are not near as many lighted trees as there once was. But I still love going.

The best part was probably just being with him. Mushy I know. But I like him. Can't help it really, I just do.

My Family

My familiy is pretty unique. We're definitely not the standard Mormon cookie-cutter family. And even though some family members stress me out beyond belief sometimes....I like them. I enjoy being with my family. They make me happy.

This last weekend I flew down to Las Vegas to have a girls weekend with my sisters and stepmother. Turns out they're pretty amazing women. Okay I actually knew that fact before this weekend. But I was reminded how amazing they truly are. I'm proud to be their sister and daughter. It was nice to take a break from my school work to just play and do girl stuff & talk girl chat. I've decided that it's very healthy for girls to just take a break from men and get together every once in awhile. Girls just understand each other on a different level.

I also got to see my Dad and brothers for a short time. I've been missing my dad a lot lately so to finally see him and get that much needed hug from him was so rewarding. There's something about a hug from your dad that makes everything seem okay. That even though he can't take your troubles or stress away, he can hold you in his arms and give you a sense of security. That's what I feel when my dad hugs me. I love his hugs. I love that even though I'm an adult and on my own, I can still cuddle up next to my dad on the couch like a little girl. I love that I'm still his cutie. And I love that I know he loves me without even having to say those words. I'm pretty lucky to have him as my dad.

The weekend with my family was short. Very short. And very little sleep was received. But it was so worth it. Because I got to be with some of my most favorite peopole. I'm grateful to have a family that loves me and supports me so much.

Not So Ideal

I've recently realized something and thought that I would share it. I am not the ideal graduate student. I'm okay with it too. I don't like research all that much; its rather boring. I don't like doing homework until all hours. I don't particularly enjoy having to spend all my time in the library. And I don't have an urging desire to publish my research paper.

It's a good thing I like to learn at least. And I think the end results will be worth it.

Thank goodness my program is only 2 years.

Not So Simple

My friend just pointed out to me that my blog title says Carolina's Simple Thoughts and that my thoughts aren't exactly that simple. They're kind of complicated. I think that's my problem though. I take simple thoughts and concepts and over think them until they are complicated thoughts. At one point they were simple.