1.03.2011
Hello 2011
To be honest, 2011 hasn't brought me an optimistic, excited feeling. I don't feel like it's a new season or a "fresh start". And maybe that's ok. Maybe I just need to keep going with right where I am. That said, I do have some goals for 2011 (still working those out in my heart) and I am looking forward to this new year. God has always been faithful to me in every year so I have nothing worry about. He has always been in the challenging times, given joys, and revealed more of Himself. And I have no doubt this year will be any different in that regard. I guess my biggest "goal" for the year is to be more attentive to all things God - which in essence is all things life, as He is Life. I want to be a better lover, giver, listener... a better version of the me I was created to be all around. A lofty goal? Selfish? Not really, because if done correctly and in the Lord, He shall be the most exalted One. Perhaps that is what my blog will focus on this year too... hmmm....
12.14.2010
The Weather
Well, when you don't know what to say, reverting to the weather is always a good way to go... thus, this post may be about the weather... ahem, it is. We had our first "real" snow this past wknd, although overall we didn't accumulate alot. It has, however, gotten quite cold here. In keeping with my recent love of lists, here is my list of:
Things I Think About When Winter Comes
- How much I wish I had an automatic starter for my car
- Gingerbread lattes and peppermint mochas
- Traveling to someplace much warmer, preferrably with a beach (or moving there??)
- Sitting in front of the fireplace
- The way we used to play outside forever in the snow in WI and then come in and have hot cocoa
- Snow angels
- Christmas (of course)
- How much I despise driving on ice, but ice skating is a delight (I used to figure skate actually)
- How pretty the snow looks on the trees right after a fresh snow fall
- Wisconsin and how much I actually really do love the midwest - it's a huge part of who I am
- (and sometimes simultaneously with #10) I think to myself, "What on earth were you thinking leaving AZ??"
And there you have it!
12.05.2010
Almost That Time Again!
It's December! Hard to believe since we don't have any snow here yet. It completely snuck up on me. The last month of the year. The end of 2010, one of the most difficult and amazing years of my life. I won't go into a recap just yet (look for that at the end of the month), but wow!
This particular December also marks the end of something else I've been doing. 1,001 days ago (well, 1001 days ago as of the end of this month) I wrote a list for myself called "101 Things To Do in 1001 Days". It was a challenge some of my friends and I took on. I have no idea if they kept their lists, but I did. And over the last 3 years (well, 2 years & 9 months approximately), I have looked at my list, been intentional about it, and followed thru on some things. I will admit that I set, what I now see was, too high a standard for myself for this list. There was no way I was going to accomplish everything in the amount of time designated. Alas, of the 101 things, 42 of them were accomplished. What made the list, you wonder?? Here's a small sample of some of the things I accomplished:
10. Go to Disneyland
12. Submit pictures to National Geographic
14. Eat at 10 new restaurants
20. Run a half marathon
25. Renew my passport
39. Pay off my car
44. Go to Mexico
55. Attend a state fair
62. Go golfing
87. Become a board certified behavior analyst
92. See someone healed
As you can see, there was a wide variety of things on my list - some things much easier to accomplish than others! Some things (#92) were more like hopes or things I wanted to witness the Lord do.
So, its time to write a new list! This one will go from January 2010 - September, 2013. I'd love for you to join me! I may or may not move some of the things from the old list to the new one. I haven't decided yet. I learned a long time ago that if you write things down, you are more likely to accomplish them. I absolutely believe there is truth to this. Who's in??
This particular December also marks the end of something else I've been doing. 1,001 days ago (well, 1001 days ago as of the end of this month) I wrote a list for myself called "101 Things To Do in 1001 Days". It was a challenge some of my friends and I took on. I have no idea if they kept their lists, but I did. And over the last 3 years (well, 2 years & 9 months approximately), I have looked at my list, been intentional about it, and followed thru on some things. I will admit that I set, what I now see was, too high a standard for myself for this list. There was no way I was going to accomplish everything in the amount of time designated. Alas, of the 101 things, 42 of them were accomplished. What made the list, you wonder?? Here's a small sample of some of the things I accomplished:
10. Go to Disneyland
12. Submit pictures to National Geographic
14. Eat at 10 new restaurants
20. Run a half marathon
25. Renew my passport
39. Pay off my car
44. Go to Mexico
55. Attend a state fair
62. Go golfing
87. Become a board certified behavior analyst
92. See someone healed
As you can see, there was a wide variety of things on my list - some things much easier to accomplish than others! Some things (#92) were more like hopes or things I wanted to witness the Lord do.
So, its time to write a new list! This one will go from January 2010 - September, 2013. I'd love for you to join me! I may or may not move some of the things from the old list to the new one. I haven't decided yet. I learned a long time ago that if you write things down, you are more likely to accomplish them. I absolutely believe there is truth to this. Who's in??
8.22.2010
A Beautiful Life
I haven't written in a long time. And even now, I'm not sure how to put my thoughts down. I want to. I want this to be on "paper", in writing, so that I can (and you can) remember and learn from it.
So much has happened since I last wrote. I passed my board exams and officially grabbed title of Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst. I was promoted (kind of) at my job and became an assistant program coordinator. I visited my friend Lanita in Wisconsin. I went to MN multiple times to see my grandpa & grandma Vetsch. I joined a small group with some ladies and studied the life of the apostle Paul (again - I've studied this before). My grandmother passed away. A dear friend passed away. We moved into the new (and highly anticipated) building at work. I went to AZ and CA to visit friends. I turned 30. I went to Disneyland. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. To say that it's been an uneventful last 5 months would be a lie. To say that it's been an easy last few months would also be a lie. To say that it's been a bad last few months would be a lie too. Yes, you read that correctly.
It hasn't been great in the earthly sense of the word, but life has been beautiful in so many ways. The power of God has been working in tremendous ways in my family, my heart, my friends, my life overall. I still can't articulate all of that, but one thing I know is this - I have never been more certain of the grace and comfort of God than I am right now. Do I trust Him more? I'm getting there. Do I understand his will better? No way. Do I believe He has the best in mind for me? I'm a work in progress. One thing I know is this:
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
-2 Cor.12:9
I'm not sure I still understand grace or how it works. I just know it does, and somehow it makes my life beautiful.
So much has happened since I last wrote. I passed my board exams and officially grabbed title of Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst. I was promoted (kind of) at my job and became an assistant program coordinator. I visited my friend Lanita in Wisconsin. I went to MN multiple times to see my grandpa & grandma Vetsch. I joined a small group with some ladies and studied the life of the apostle Paul (again - I've studied this before). My grandmother passed away. A dear friend passed away. We moved into the new (and highly anticipated) building at work. I went to AZ and CA to visit friends. I turned 30. I went to Disneyland. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. To say that it's been an uneventful last 5 months would be a lie. To say that it's been an easy last few months would also be a lie. To say that it's been a bad last few months would be a lie too. Yes, you read that correctly.
It hasn't been great in the earthly sense of the word, but life has been beautiful in so many ways. The power of God has been working in tremendous ways in my family, my heart, my friends, my life overall. I still can't articulate all of that, but one thing I know is this - I have never been more certain of the grace and comfort of God than I am right now. Do I trust Him more? I'm getting there. Do I understand his will better? No way. Do I believe He has the best in mind for me? I'm a work in progress. One thing I know is this:
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
-2 Cor.12:9
I'm not sure I still understand grace or how it works. I just know it does, and somehow it makes my life beautiful.
3.31.2010
Ramblings of Mine...
I'm so excited/ refreshed to have beautiful weather here. It often baffles me, after living in much more "weather-friendly" places, how people in Iowa can live here and think its the greatest place ever. Clearly, they are missing something. But after having a winter like we did, the feeling of Spring/ Summer is almost ... dare I say, surprising! It's no wonder people believe they live in such a great place. They have never known anything different. The last couple days I have remembered what it feels like to live somewhere sunny and lovely... and I have missed Arizona dearly. I can smell the orange blossoms without even being there!
Speaking of blossoms, the only part about this season I don't like is how my allergies kick in. The thing is, I'm not entirely sure which things I'm allergic to, but my eyes itch like no other this time of year, and I'm pretty sure I always look like I've been crying. But I will gladly suffer the itchy/ watery eyes for the chance to be outside biking/ running... playing, really. Which leads me to another topic.
One of the greatest things about my job is that I get to play all day! Today I played hopscotch, drew with sidewalk chalk, jumped rope, played on a playground, swung, and loved every minute of my time with these precious little ones. On the other hand, I often wonder where this job will lead me/ what God is doing in my life. And that is an entirely different topic... one in which I will address in my next post.
Stay tuned.
Speaking of blossoms, the only part about this season I don't like is how my allergies kick in. The thing is, I'm not entirely sure which things I'm allergic to, but my eyes itch like no other this time of year, and I'm pretty sure I always look like I've been crying. But I will gladly suffer the itchy/ watery eyes for the chance to be outside biking/ running... playing, really. Which leads me to another topic.
One of the greatest things about my job is that I get to play all day! Today I played hopscotch, drew with sidewalk chalk, jumped rope, played on a playground, swung, and loved every minute of my time with these precious little ones. On the other hand, I often wonder where this job will lead me/ what God is doing in my life. And that is an entirely different topic... one in which I will address in my next post.
Stay tuned.
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