Life moves fast...

Maybe I'm getting too personal here and in considering my last blog, but I'll just go out on this limb and keep talking regardless. I feel like I need to get it out of me... Sort of going off of where that last entry is rooted, today you find me somewhere between ok and well, something much better anyway. Short of just bearing my soul to the world wide internet, I'll just say standing under stark light before my Creator is nothing short of revealing and humbling. But just to be clear, I must impress it is in no way a condemning or chastising experience. I will admit, however; that I find myself still glancing around for my fig leaf multiple times throughout the day though. (I'm "naked" here, remember?) Anyway, the collective experience of God in my life recently is truly something. Even to the point where any and all "mirrors" I've held before my face are lovingly smashed by the One who is replacing them. I hope where that last sentence stoppe...

It's been a while since I've written. There's reason for it, of course. But for now I'm just going to talk... Not entirely sure where to start though. I don't care to give much background to my life's recent events and I don't want to hold back from my point either - which will be short and direct. So I guess I'll just begin by sharing where my often renewed sense of self comes from. There are times a short daily devotional hits home, perhaps a scripture that I come across or even some other person expressing a thought that I may identify with. It certainly isn't from self righteous behavior or thought. More often than not, it's through music and lyrics that I find both myself and my identity in Christ. Recently I was listening to one of my all time favorite bands so needless to say their songs themselves are familiar. But as I'm working on seeking God's perspective in what I'm doing (as in life), which is a painstaking task to be...

I wonder if it's really possible for one to accurately guess where they will be in 10 years from now. And should they be correct, it's still only a guess...Should a hint from the One who knows better than be seen as a clue? Even so, I wouldn't know. Like most, I often live too far into the future instead of one day at a time and thus often miss what He's showing me in the present. But I am learning-granted it's at a slow rate-to live by those words in the book of Matthew.  "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."            ...

Isn't time a fascinating thing? It's is constant yet deceitful in its pace. Literally, time can be two things at once in spite of its consistency! So much so that I wonder if we really are in some sort of twisted time warp that only goes unnoticed due to the daily activity of the world. And these days of mine are no doubt catering to that idea. Even my dreams are rushing images of fast paced commotion I can't quite remember while simultaneously lasting for what seems like the entire night. Que that waiting room effect. I wake up only to find it's already the end of the week and where in the world was I when the pendulum started ticking? Nevertheless, it is important for one (me) to find comfort in this mental waiting room of sorts...so I did what any other zombie-like person would and started to read...   "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run ...

Here I sit, on the brink of a new year wondering how quickly I got here...naturally reflecting on times long past. Yesterday I was eating Popsicles in Florida's summer heat on the curb of road with my neighbors across the street...no, wait-yesterday was Christmas morning when I was gifted my very own mountain bike!...ugh, hold on-yesterday I graduated college?...or was it the day Jeff and I crossed the threshold into our very own house?... It's amazing how the mind can take you from your earliest childhood memory through to the present in nearly an instant. Presently I feel that even the minutes currently passing are about as tangible as the stars in the sky. Fleeting and unyielding they all add up too quickly. But I suppose the sum of it all makes for the comforting atmosphere surrounding the discovery of a long lost memory. To stumble upon those from time to time is something that makes me happy. As for the times not so long past, I hold tight to lessons they've provide...

As I may have mentioned in previous posts, or not, I have made it a goal of mine to make friends. And it has been one of the best decisions I've made since we've moved. I have come to know my neighbors and some other ladies well. They are all around good people that just make me happy to be around. And then I catch myself thinking, "when will they move or not be around me anymore"? I suppose it just comes with the territory. And while I don't know how long I'll be able to see these new friends of mine on a regular basis, I find comfort in knowing that at least one or two are willing to always make the effort along with me to keep the friendship connected. Be it near or far, I do not want to not know those whom I've met that make me smile and feel the way I do. Like I said, just good good people. Through them, I have had the opportunity to be silly, creative, real, and me without feeling judged. And not that I normally feel judged with my "old friends...

Oh, where did I leave off? The summer has officially ended with Saturday marking the first day of fall. While a lot has happened in the past few months, I'm eager to dive into some holiday cheer! There are pros and cons to our plans this year; nevertheless, Jeff and I are both looking forward to the next few months. Unfortunately, we won't be making our yearly trip to WV for Christmas. However, we were able to recently visit a couple weeks ago (although the circumstances were less cheery than the holidays imply) and that was such a blessing to be around family. Of course, there's that bit of drama that comes with the territory. But I was still reluctant to leave. Especially at 4 am!! Ugh, that was rough. We went to WV to celebrate the life that Grandpa had long lived. He was such a sweet man in the few years I knew him and became such an influence in mine and Jeff's marriage. What he said was always so genuine. He NEVER let us leave without reminding us of how precious ...