Truthfully, it's been hard to do much updating because I feel like there's nothing new to report.  I'm still without a job and I'm still spending all my free time trying to find one.

Unfortunately, the continuous knocking on closed doors has managed to leave me discouraged and occasionally affected.  The first most obvious result that I recognize is my inability to be creative.  This is particularly frustrating because I have a lot of time right now that I could be using to build my portfolio and try new techniques, but I either don't have the passion or the funds to pursue what I'd like to.  I'm also in a new town where I know less than a handful of people and I'd like to meet more folks but without a job it's hard to find excuses to drive around - especially with gas prices the way they are!

Speaking of which... my car has decided to start grinding whenever I break.  I managed to get an appointment to take it in tomorrow morning, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that whatever it takes to fix it is something I can afford with my remaining funds... so I can drive and continue to pursue a job... *sigh*

Okay - that's all the ranting I'm going to do.  I said all this to paint a picture of where my mind has been for much of the last week and a half... not in a good place.

Then last night I got these:

These flowers aren't going to get me a job or even a temporary source of income.  They won't talk to me or introduce me to new people.  They won't give me the supplies I need to try new artistic experimentation.  And they won't fix the annoying sound that announces my intention to stop.

They just are... and that's enough.

These flowers serve as a reminder that there's still something beautiful to see and to smell - and that I'm not alone in this.  Yes, I have people around me who care and want to encourage me - but more than that, I have a God who's looking out for me and already has this situation worked out.

I've had it rougher than this... a lot rougher.  There are many blessings I have to count right now and I can forget to do that when I'm so busy looking at the next challenge.  But I shouldn't.

After all, "who can be sad when they have pretty pink flowers to look at?"