Rebuilding our Stained Purity

He who loves purity of their heart and speaks gracefully is the King's friend.

Blessed are the pure in heart

Purity with our actions portrays the way we utilize our heart

Purity in heart is everything.

"Purity of Heart" Creation

Thanks Aaron for the brother time and Susannah for the inspiration.

Some great times in 2011 so far........

I've had a resurgence of faith and
hope and peace within me
so far in the year 2011.

My friends are awesome.
I couldn't make my life be as sane and likable
without them by my side.
They are spread throughout the country
but I thank each and every one of you for your love.

It's been a tough start to 2011 for different reasons.
I guess I needed to grow up at some point in my life.
Boy, did I do that. At least I think I think I took a huge step in
accomplishing that.

I enjoy inspiration. Few and far between, I don't discriminate.
I enjoy the inspiration however it comes.

Smiles get me through the week, even that sounds creepy, but it's true.

Did I mention that I love my friends. They support
me in every way. It makes my heart happy.

I love the new addition to my family. It came at a perfect time
so that our family could rejoice in awesome times.

on a side note.......
Did I mention that I love sunglasses and Golf.
They go really well together

I enjoy painting and putting my thoughts and ideas on Canvas.
I grow with each piece that I complete.

I love my smile.
Its gotten me through all my B.S. that I've been through...

By the way I've come to love happy hour.
Like I said I don't discriminate.

Art is passion.
I've finally figured why my sisters heart is at peace
when in the studio. I am at peace when creating for others.

Branching out is my new goal. Opening up to
whatever is out there.

Here's to more of the smiles in 2011.
Thanks for the good times everyone.
I needed it.

Growing Up

I remember how my mom would sing me my favorite song when
I was needing some motivation especially a song she made up just for me,
especially on days when I had gotten into trouble or was feeling sad.
As many of you know I am not a very mean person and I hate confrontation.
Tomorrow will be very difficult for me. I would like to take all of the teachings and lessons I have learned growing up and just try to be an example for Christ through my actions. I'm sure that I will be singing my song throughout the proceedings in my head,
just to remind me of how my Mom always taught me to be.
Be gracious to others and treat them how you would want to be treated.
If I can follow through with that tomorrow, I will have a lot of JOY
in my Heart.

Jonathan, Jonathan Eric Ruff,

you are my great big boy,

you to laugh and play and sing,

and have a lot of joy.

Jonathan, Jonathan Eric Ruff,

you are my first born son,

and i would not replace you

with any other one.

A few quotes that I've been pondering about lately....

Isn't it great when things come full circle?

Though, it may be the hardest thing to do,

we all must learn to let go..

"I'll be there to comfort you,

Build my world of dreams around you, I'm so glad that I found you
I'll be there with a love that's strong
I'll be your strength, I'll keep holding on.

...Just call my name and I'll be there"



Simply live life..day by day and let the pieces fall in place.

Have a Happy Tuesday
as I root on my boys in Red, Man United
while they battle in the Champions league
against Schalke 04!

Just Check it out.

Pain in Friday brings a fresh Sunday

Good Friday


Today is Good Friday, the day the Christ was crucified for the redemption of the Earth. I chose this photo because a nice clean Jesus on it just couldn't be how it really was. He had been beaten half to death, and a crown of thorns beaten down on His head. I don't think the Crucifixion was a clean event. I hope as we go through this day we will remember the great price He paid for our salvation. Like the old preacher once said "It's Friday, but Sunday's coming". We do have hope beyond the Crucifixion.

Familiar Terms

Just what I needed after an awesome day with Awesome results!!

Do you need help?

Have you ever felt
that sometimes you consume
your thoughts about your own problems
and sometimes you never see or feel the problems or heartaches
that others around you are having?
I suggest taking time out of your day to
think about someone you know and ask yourself
how you could help them out to make their life a tad bit easier for just one day.
I know that I talk a lot and feel a lot of pain in my own life
and sometimes it overtakes my thought process of whoa is
me in its entirety.
I know that's not how I should be living, yet I should
be thinking of others first.
Just a thought at 3:23 in the a.m.
I seem to be the only one up at this hour
these days.

For my Sister

August 8, 1991

Wow, our lives really changed that day. I've never felt so scared as when I saw you in a coma in the ICU, with your head shaved and your body covered with tubes. I remember sitting, holding your hand, talking to you as you lay so still. I believed that you could hear me somehow. Maybe you did and that helped you get stronger. Sometimes it all seems like a dream? I wanted to take your place in that hospital. But you were so brave, and you were filled with courage and I remember thinking, "I could never be as strong as Jonathan, if this had happened to me I wouldn't have survived." I remember talking to you into brain surgery when you were still in your coma. Dad, mom and I prayed for you and I saw tears slip down your cheek because you were so scared. I felt so helpless and afraid, but you were a fighter, and you came out of your coma and got stronger little by little. You never complained about your situation. You have such strong character.

Susannah Eloyse Prinz
8/99


Sooz. I love you.

I need Courage

Well, it is no news flash for those of you that keep up with this blog that my life has been depressing at times lately. I figured that i somehow become excited about the small things in life and overblow them beyond proportion because I haven't been happy in a long, long time. and i want a ticket to somewhere that will make my heart content and can make me smile all of the time. My vacation was a case in point. My trip was amazing, however I always seem to overdue it and then fall back into my (depressing sea) of not so happy after the fact. However, I think that I should celebrate the good times along with the enduring bad times as well.

I've been thinking about my life lately and how if I could do it all over again, what would I have done to impress others with my actions, make my family prouder, and really not turn out as such a disappointment(in my own eyes). To tell you the truth I'm upset with myself at the strides I've taken in this life. It seems as I look back at it, I viewed my life as an open book with so many avenues I could take for success. At first I wanted to be a Doctor. I know, I know doesn't every middle school student want to be a lawyer, or a doctor at some point? Well in my mind I wanted to be a pediatrician. I also wanted to work with children in some aspect of work. I chose to go to school to become a teacher and it really hasn't panned out like I had planned.

I contemplate daily where I am headed. The one thing that I love to do with all of my heart is teach. I give my all in my classroom. I want to be in that spectrum and it kills me that I have to settle for day to day work in another teachers classroom, when I've done the work to have my own. I'm not being selfish, I just want a chance. I want to be able to look back at my life and stare at my accomplishments through and through. So far, I have done nothing.

I have been trying to do other things to open the line of opportunity for my heart to feel happiness again. I want to love what Jonathan is doing in his life, so that I am impressed with myself. That might sound weird, but I am just trying to do a self check on my tattered journey in this lifetime. It's hard for me to see my nieces sometimes, knowing what is my future with children. Will I ever get the chance to have them, do I open my tattered heart for another relationship? I know this sounds depressing, but these are questions I ask myself each day as I continue to live this daily roller coaster called life.

I know a few things for sure and that is I love being Jonathan. As hard as it is I would not have wanted to be a different person. Maybe have a different life scenario, maybe a different relationship scenario, maybe a different prospect. But I still love being Jonathan. Still love being Jonathan.

My Bucket List

I made one about 4 years ago but I lost it so here's the new and improved version incapable of being lost:

Bucket List circa 2011

* Take dance lessons
* Go on an Alaskan cruise
* Learn how to drive a stick
* Meet Bono
* Kiss in the rain
* Play golf in Scotland (completed!)
* Revisit Peaks Island, Maine
* Go paintballing
* Play Golf at Pebble Beach
* Go backpacking
* See a bear at Yosemite
* Visit Australia
* Visit the Carribean
* Visit South America
* See U2 Front row (5 times....Completed!)
* Write a memoir
* Rent a studio for my artwork
* Go to a sporting event
* Go snorkeling in Bali
* Push myself to really believe in myself
* Go see a game in Happy Valley, Penn State
* Sell a painting
* meet my soulmate and take her on a walk
* Watch my nieces get married

What I am listening to right now

Radiohead..... High and Dry
William fitzsimmons...... so this is goodbye
La Roux..... in for the kill
Angus and Julia stone..... big jet plane
Azure ray..... sleep
Shawn lee’s ping pong.... kiss the sky
Danna/Devotchka.... The winner is
Edward Sharpe and the magnetic zeros.... Home
Bedouin Soundclash..... St. Andrews
Xx.....Heart skipped a beat
Peter Bradley Adams..... the longer I run

Have you listened to anything lately that interests you?

Look at me Now

Tired.
Worn Down.
Wished I was back on Vacation.
Enjoying Pandora Radio.
I love to paint my shadows and my soul.
Not enough hours in the day.
Trying to be a great person.
Quiet nights stretch on.
Ordinary days that move slowly...
"Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Another long Saturday night waiting for
the clouds to push up the day.
Enjoy these Videos.
They are amazing.
Have a great Sunday.

Sometimes I just hate my situation sometimes

Photo Montague of Los Seattle

And the photos begin.

Some people look like studs on the pier.

While some just looked eloquent.

Some like the cheesy, touristy shot.

and some like the ice cream 3 head hole shot.

Pricey Mistake.....

Time to think, and recollect how nice it is to be away for a while.

Tea with Company

My new best friend

Heart adorned bench at a pier northern WA

Same spot 20 yrs. later

Smiles

I had to visit it....Not really worth 18.95 PP though

Yes I really enjoyed this trip.

I really did enjoy it.

Philly Cheesesteak in Seattle with Cheez wiz?
So So Good!!!

Statue Art

Very Peaceful

Fish throwing time

Red Hook Brewery
Great Company, Great Beer, Great Day!!

Whoopie Pie looked good when I bought it.
Wasn't around for me to taste it though.
Thanks Sav..... Hope it was good :)

The three amigos made it a great break from hectic reality.
Until next Vaca, which will be probably in three years, we'll see.