Simply a Happy Birthday Kind Of Month!

I love birthdays because I love any reason to celebrate (perhaps why I'm always so joyful?). Anyways, April is bountiful with birthdays in my life! Many of my friends and family members celebrate birthdays this month and I feel so blessed to have them in my life for another year! I thought I'd showcase these lovely people on my blog today!

Happy Birthday to this sweet world traveler friend! 

Happy birthday to the most encouraging lady in the world! My beautiful mother! 

Here are three happy birthdays in one picture! Happy birthday to my step-sister Alyssa, my best guy friend Nick, and one of my oldest friends, Kelsey! YAY!

Happy Birthday to my lovely step-mom! 

Happy birthday to my baby brother! I love you, guy!

And there are many more so don't be offended if you weren't listed!

xoxo, polka dot gal!

(Wishing you all the dreams that can come true!)

Healthy Heart

This week was, well, not the greatest.

After waking up Tuesday morning and having some sort of stomach flu which then turned to massive headaches that have lasted up until this day, I can hereby say that I, polka dot gal, am not a fan of the flu bug! Although, I can definitely be a witness to the fact that sometimes being sick allows us a period of slow down time. I spent much time in my bed, reading, and dreaming up dreams. Through all of this being sick, I really took time to reflect on my blessings.

I decided in my somewhat clouded mind that I would start a list of blessings and try to add to it every day because I certainly am not thankful enough for this beautiful life. So here it is, an immature list of ten items I am thankful for out of the uncountable many. 

• Health, Health, Health, Health, Health (can I say it any more?) I am so thankful for being able to wake up every day able bodied and ready to tackle the world because I was born so darn healthy. 
• My jobs. I am so blessed to have jobs that even in financial stress I can still be thankful that I have a job to work at. 
• Iced Coffee! (umm..yes, no explanation needed)
• Quiet Time- Seriously, between journaling and reading, I am so blessed to be able to fill my heart, head, and soul with bountiful knowledge. 
• Strawberries on sale! 
• The feel of a brand new book, pages not bent and words just ready to be soaked in. 
• God's timing--because, well, every time I try to plan something it ends terribly wrong.
• The beautiful new fabric I snagged to sew up some skirts before the summer. 
• A Friday off! 
• My wonderful roommate who seems to constantly be encouraging me!

What about you? What are your blessings!?

xoxo, polka dot gal

Something to be Said About a Dreamer

So I've always been super bummed because I don't have these vivid, detailed dreams. I've always wanted to, but I just don't. Wait..I should clarify. When I sleep I don't dream. When I am awake, my brain is on dream overload.

Up until last year I never really knew what I wanted. Of course I wanted the husband, kids, house on the lake, and to teach lively elementary students. Further than those basics, I had no idea what I wanted to do, what I should dream, or what I should think about in order to equip myself for future dreams. Over the past few months, though, I've realized how important it is to set goals and dreams for myself. I don't have too many, but here are a few that I've been dreaming up (currently, and I'm a gal so I change my mind a lot)..

1. One day, I really want to open a shelter for women to come to when they are victims of domestic abuse. I would buy a home for them to come with their children and provide them tasty meals, comfortable beds, and help them get on their feet.

2. I want to travel out of the country. Maybe just once, but maybe more than that. I've never traveled out of the country and frankly, I'm quite scared.

3. I think I'd like to write a book. I have no idea what about, but maybe just some encouraging words or daily thoughts (think blog on steroids..).

4. I guess I'd really like to get sewing so much that one day I could put my projects on Etsy (not now of course..).

5. This one is fake (kind of), but one day I'm dreaming there will be more hours in the day so that I can possibly squeeze in a few more things into my chaotic schedule.

Well, that's all I guess. Sorry if this wasn't the most exciting post! I'll leave you with these three things! First, tomorrow I register for my senior year of college (can you believe it?) and I'm so excited for next semester. Next, what are some of your dreams/goals/plans? And lastly, this quote from Shauna Niequist is one of my favorites--live it, dream it!

"To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or your dancing shoes. Pull out your camera or your computer or your pottery wheel. Today, tonight, after the kids are in bed or when your homework is done, or instead of one more video game or magazine, create something, anything.

Pick up a needle and thread, and stitch together something particular and honest and beautiful, because we need it. I need it."

Why We Need Breaks..Really.

So if you haven't noticed, I've been slacking on this blogging thing hardcore. I want to blog and I have a lot to share, but I just haven't found the time or motivation.

I've certainly been bit by the slump of wintery mix and cold temperatures here in Wisconsin. I've wanted so badly to see sunlight and a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to. The reasons for my absence from blogging are many, but one of the top ones is that I went on Spring Break to Virginia and North Carolina for almost a week. The week before, I was so excited to go, and the week I got back, I crashed (last week). I missed my friend, the happy times, the blessing of being on vacation, and everything in between those really fulfilling days.

Last week I found myself crying or thinking about crying more than ever before. No matter what I did, I couldn't find my happy, wholesome self. I didn't know what was up, but I knew I didn't like it. I've been in this sort of rut ever since.

One thing my parents always emphasize to me is the simple few words, "Don't wish your life away". I, like many people I know, am so guilty of this. Today I wish it was tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll wish it was next week. Next week I'll wish it was summer. Summer I'll wish it was graduation. Graduation I'll wish for a job. And the wishing goes on and on and on. We get caught up in this vicious cycle of wishing for things that will eventually come on their own good timing. We worry about the next thing when we have wonderful things right in front of us.

So here's the uplifting half of the post (at least I hope)..We don't have to do this, gals. We don't have to live every day waiting for the next greatest thing. Instead, we get offered small blessings day in and day out that we should cherish. That drink you're drinking is never going to taste the same as it does right now. Those rain clouds in the sky are never going to look exactly the same. The way your sweater is fitting perfectly may never actually fit the exact way again. We say we want to enjoy life, but we're doing everything in our power to actually control life.

We need to remind ourselves every day that we are simply to enjoy God's plan for our lives, not control it.

While taking a break from life I was reminded just how fragile life is. Maybe that's why life is so hard- because it's so fragile.

I challenge you to step back today and simply breathe in the situation you're in. Remember that this day is never going to be here again. Those happy or sad tears are never going to fall the exact same way. You're never going to get today back. Praise God for these low times so that you can have a serious rejoice when you're enjoying the high times.

Xoxo, polka dot gal.

p.s. I'll share some VA/NC pictures in the near future! :)