"This is not the end of everything. This is the beginning of everything." - Ronald Reagan

Little by little, words like those help at a time like this.  My family is currently experiencing the fiercest hurricane of emotions, issues, insults and changes.  Deeper than my negative emotions, I have a strong feeling that, someday soon, this will make more sense.  So I fix my attention on the words and actions of those wiser than I.

And whose words or actions could be wiser than God's?
While perusing the ever-uplifting blog Chatting at the Sky I read this passage, to which I truly relate...

"The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words.  I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.  Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends!  His mercies never cease.  Great is his faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.”

Lamentations 3:19 – 22

(Look here for her complete article.)

For all of you who've thought of me, prayed for me, or encouraged me in any way during this time... I am eternally grateful.  I send you a virtual *hug* now and hope to give you one in person soon!  I've always longed for friends like you.  You have good hearts, whether you realize it or not.

David Bowie's "Changes" is an excellent song for my life lately... and many other people's lives, of course.  That's why the song's a classic (besides its musical quality and David's adorable bizarre... ness).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVYbwpe99MM

Yes, moving on because change is inevitable... 

I may come to enjoy life much more now that things are different.  All this could be important for my personal development.  I admit I felt like a stagnant character before.

Today I start my new job.  Can I just express how immensely GRATEFUL I am someone offered me employment for the first time??  THANK YOU!!!  ♥  Yay!!!  Even if my energy wears off at some points, my thankfulness will remain!

Okay, so despite what's happened with my parents, I'm still a romantic.  It's just how I was made.  In some ways I'm very old-fashioned, too.  However, I keep up with the trends when it comes to weddings.  Some of my favorite blogs to follow are wedding-centered.  Take Snippet & Ink, for instance.  It's lovely and always inspiring.  Do I stop there?  Not a chance... I'm particularly fond of wedding shows on t.v., which are equally inspirational to the blogs, only more dramatic.  
Lately I've been extra-inspired when it comes to wedding bands.  As I watched one bride pick hers (and her fiancé's) on the event-makeover show My Fair Wedding, I realized what kind I might love to have.  For years I've randomly doodled an infinity-chain design, which looks like DNA without the bases.  It suddenly hit me that wedding bands did exist in that pattern.  Here I've compiled some of my favorite examples.

I also love how this pattern can be interpreted as an Ichthus chain.  Symbolism is grand.

Then there are more elaborate designs...

... many of them being Celtic (which I am).

This is my current favorite of the Celtic bands.

Speaking of Celtic bands, who's a U2 fan?  It seems like people love them or hate them.  I, on the other hand, like them... I have my moments of loving them, but I'm not always in the mood to hear them.

Well, I digress.

I'll close out this entry with a Celtic engagement ring.  I love the trinity symbol, as you might have guessed by now.  =)