Summer Reading

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I have quite the extensive Summer reading list this year.
The words "Wow she has a lot of reading to do" and "Gosh she'll be busy..." followed me out the library door the other day.
Also: "Hope she doesn't fall going to her car"
Yep.
I also just added One Thousand Gifts which I've heard is really good.

What's on your reading list this Summer?

Friday's Letters

Instagram of Edinburgh Scotland

Dear Scotland/England,
I really miss you an awful lot lately.
Your beauty, in all its many forms, is something I will never forget.

Dear Summer,
You are officially here! 
Welcome.
Now if you could just go easy on the bugs and the sunburn I think we could have a smashing time.

Dear Stack of 12 Books I Checked Out From The Library,
I can't wait to read you.

I've been re-obsessed with you lately. Your photos are just breath taking.

Dear 7-11,
Thanks for making slurpees.
Especially wild cherry and grape and pina colada ones.

Dear Everyone Who Ever Drives Through A 4-Way Stop,
It's not that hard. 
Really.

Dear Words With Friends,
I forgot how fun you are.
Apparently everyone else did too cause I can't find anyone to play with...

Dear Larissa,
I'm seriously loving your regular outfit posts.
You're the cutest my friend.

Dear Readers,
Don't forget to check out my giveaway!


Photobucket



A Giveaway With [a.w. photography]

Today I have a wonderful giveaway to share with you all from [a.w. photography]!
Alexandra is a marvelously talented California based photographer and is offering up your choice of one of her gorgeous 8x10 prints.
Visit her shop to choose your favorite and be sure to check out her blog and Facebook page to see more of her beautiful work! I seriously cannot get over the beautiful images that she creates. You really don't want to miss out on the opportunity to have one for your own!


{Mandatory Entries}
Follow [a.w. photography] via GFC
Like [a.w. photography] on Facebook
Follow A Girl Named Leney via GFC

{Additional Entries}
Like A Girl Named Leney on Facebook
Follow Alexandra on Twitter
Follow A Girl Named Leney on Twitter
Tweet about giveaway and leave a link
Facebook about giveaway and leave a link
Blog about giveaway and leave a link


Giveaway will end on June 28th at 12:00 a.m. EST 
Be sure to leave an email address in your comment so that Alexandra has a way to contact you if you win! 
Giveaway is for U.S. residents only
.......................

Good luck everyone!



My Summer To Do List

Today is the official first day of Summer.
And though I've kind of been in Summer mode for a few weeks now, in honor of the first official day I am sharing my Summer to do list!
Some things I've already been able to check off.
Signs of a good Summer.

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What's on your Summer to do list?

A Thing of Beauty

Went camping this past weekend, which is one of the reasons I've been a bit absent here this past week.
While away I saw some gorgeous sunsets. 
I could have spent the whole night just watching them in their various stages. 
These photos don't even do them justice.
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How was your weekend?


My Daddy

On this day designated to Dads all around the world, I want to give a shout out to mine.
He's truly the best.
For always believing in me, telling me I'm great and I can do whatever I aspire to do, for introducing me to music in all its shapes and forms, for thinking even the ugliest things I make are pretty, for noticing my new dresses (even if it's a few months late), for loving me for who I am and many more endless things.
I love you Daddy, Happy Father's Day!


Learning

I've been learning a lot lately.

I've been learning to trust.
Trust God with what He has for my life and the plans He is revealing to me.
And those He hasn't yet revealed.

I've been learning to be patient.
With my family and friends.
Especially when that's not so easy.
And with time and opportunities and circumstances that I have to wait for.

I've been learning to love.
Again, my family and friends. And all the small little habits and quirks that they have and the many things they do for me. And all the many different ways they each need to be loved.
Which is not always the way I would want to be loved.
And even people I don't know, but I have small interactions with in my every day to day. Whether it's the cashier at Target or the teller at the bank. Asking them about their day and smiling goes a long way sometimes.

I've been learning to appreciate.
All the wonderful blessings I do have in my life.
My dreams. My relationships. My abilities. My opportunities.
Even when I'm tempted to think that there's nothing, it's just a lie the enemy is trying to feed me and I look around and realize how much I have to be thankful for.

I've been learning to see.
See people's true emotions and thoughts even if they try to hide them sometimes.
And how I should react to them in the right way.

I've been learning to listen.
Because more often than not it's just not about me.

I've been learning to lead.
When it's asked of me.

I've been learning to follow.
Because I don't know everything.
Even if sometimes I think I do.

The dictionary defines learning as: The acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, practice, or by being taught.
So needless to say I am not claiming to know how to perfectly do any of these things.
In fact I'm not that great at a lot of them.

But I'm learning.


Week In Review #7

This week I...

-Updated the shop!
-Got back into drawing/sketching a little bit
-Treated myself at Anthropologie one day
-Went to see The Artist again! Still love it.
-Had a few adventures with some good friends
-Came up with some new jewelry designs
-Worked on a neat project for The Gray Haven
-Started training for The Gray Haven. So excited about it, it's going really well!
-Ate at Don't Look Back again! Still need to post about it...
-Became more obsessed with this song
-Missed my long hair