Radio Silence

If you are looking for me- i've been writing over at our other blog- lassoingthemoon.com

Please come on by and see what has been going on- I'll be back here someday, but probably not for awhile....

sarah B

Treasures

A few years ago, a friend suggested that I subscribe to a weekly email written by a woman from her church. I read a few of her pieces and immediately knew I wanted to read more of her writing. Leigh McLeroy sends emails out every Wednesday titled "Wednesday Words" and today's was especially powerful for me. (http://www.wednesdaywords.com/)

She was writing about her new book entitled Treasured. She shared that treasures are continually being revealed in our lives and how these particular treasures are reminders that represent not only where we have been, but how God has revealed himself at various times when all seemed lost. Treasures can be a word, a song, a passage, an object...whatever. It is whatever significantly reminds you of your journey's twists and turns with God.

Toward the end, she posed the question, "So what is in your treasure box? What keepsakes or objects tell the story of your experience with God?" This really got me thinking. Do I even pay attention to the treasures that have been dropped along the path for me to discover? Have I bothered to collect them? Treasure them? Cherish them for what they represent to me about my journey? I fear that I have not been very diligent in my treasuring and not for lack of treasures, but for what appears to be a complete lack of gratitude and heart appreciation.

So I decided that I'm going to retrace some of my steps and begin collecting these treasures- While some treasures are but memories, others are tangible. Leigh's words reminded me that it's so important to hold onto these "mile markers" from our lives to help us remember where we have been and how God revealed himself along the path. Everyone has these treasures in their lives. I'm interested in learning what you cherish and why. So as I begin this personal journey of excavation and unravelling, I wish thank Leigh for her words that continue to inspire me- and not just on Wednesdays! Happy treasure hunting!

PS.

All of this waiting was the major reason for my blog absence. It was too much for me to wrap my brain around for a long time- that and I'm learning that growing a baby makes you really, REALLY tired!

Waiting

It's ironic that waiting is one of the most difficult things in life to do. To just be patient, sit still, have faith, be quiet and wait. Usually whatever it is you are waiting for is all consuming for your brain, so sitting still and being quiet about it feels even more impossible. God has a lot to say about our waiting...and even though He's pretty clear, I still seem to struggle and wrestle with its dichotomy: so simple and yet SO HARD!

It feels like I've been waiting for a lot of really big things lately. Things over which I have had no control, power, sway or say. For example, I've been waiting for summer to go by (its my absolute least favorite season). I've been waiting to see which direction my life will go in creatively, professionally, personally...you know, just waiting to see what unfolds or inspires. I've been waiting to see how the long job search journey my dear husband has been on will unfold and wondering what the outcome will be, wondering how long the wait will be and how this search will impact our futures. I've been waiting for my mom's heart ailments to get better and for those all important answers to the seemingly endless medical questions we had been asking. But most of all I've been waiting to tell a really big secret we've been keeping.

It's amazing how just when you think you are at your absolute limit and can't handle any more, you may actually be right because things begin to change and shift allowing a glimpse of light at the end of the seemingly endless tunnel of waiting which is exactly what happened for me at the end of June.

Even though summer was still upon us, I began imagining a new life for myself- nothing concrete or absolute at the moment, but it took on a shape and form that brought excitement, inspiration, energy and joy to my heart that has felt heavy and stuck for a long time. My sweet husband was offered two wonderful job opportunities and was able to choose what he wanted to do and what would make him feel most alive. (HUGE answer to my prayers!) My mom's heart situation began to improve and while it's still something that is being monitored, she was allowed to leave the confinement of tubes and beeping machines at the hospital and return home. She's feeling better than she has in months and that in and of itself is a tremendous relief. While we don't have all of the answers, I certainly feel like I have my mom back!

Experiencing all of these lovely resolutions to long pressing problems, I began to feel comfort and ease about sharing our other news; news we had been warned and told to wait to share....but cannot wait to share any longer- here it is: WE ARE GOING TO BE PARENTS!!!! We are due in January 2010 and could not be happier about it! While we were busy doing all of this waiting- God it appears, was not.

I heard a quote one time when struggling through a difficult season of my life that said: "God works where he asks you to wait." How comforting and in my experience time and time again, how true.

My cup runneth over.

another good one

I spend a lot of time wondering what is ahead. Where I will be, how i will be, what i will be doing, wishing i was doing all of these fun, creative, adventurous things. think think think- I am just at the cusp of actually starting to 'do'- its a thrilling place to be and a beautiful vista to behold- I came across this quote on one of my favorite blogs 'The Lettered Cottage' (see side for a link)- a blog that ALWAYS inspires my heart and brings a little bit of restoration for my soul. thought i'd share the quote with you too. enjoy!

Predicting the future.

The most accurate way to predict the future is to get busy creating it. T

hough you cannot guess what's going to happen, you can know for sure what you intend to do.

Do you wish to be in the right place at the right time? Then commit to creating real value in every time and place where you find yourself.

The most reliable way to get in on a good thing is to put forth the effort that makes that good thing real.

A surefire way to have good luck is to create your own luck through the actions you take.

It serves no purpose to wish for what you don't have. Use that energy to fulfill, express and expand upon all the great possibilities you do have.

The more generously you participate in life, the more it will go your way.

Always see the positive possibilities in the way things are, and things will work to the benefit of you and those around you.

The future belongs to those who act with commitment, persistence and positive purpose in the present.

Use this now moment to make your best predictions for the future come to life.

-- Ralph Marston

Quotes

I've always been a fan of good quotes and the little boost you feel after reading something inspirational. I've recently had several conversations with a dear friend about optimism and how it can be present in one situation and be gone in the next...it's something we've been pondering. Anyways, she mentioned "The Optimist's Creed" and I googled it and found it to be brimming with little bits of wisdom I'd like to say I bring into every circumstance. I honestly cannot say that I do, but I can truly say that I'd like to try and do better! Here it is:

The Optimist's Creed

Promise yourself

to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

to talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

to make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

to look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

to think only of the best, and expect only the best.

to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

to wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

to give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

- C.D. Larson

Blink

just like that and its summertime. blink. its crazy. my apologies for being radio silent for over 2 months now. i really have no excuse other than plain being lazy. i have so many things i want to write about, but somehow have not made it a priority to capture here- which is annoying. i aim to remedy that here in the near future. i also struggle with how plain and somewhat 'blah' i feel my blog is- so i've been researching ways to make it a little more fancy and eye-catching and creative....so stay tuned. no big promises, but hopefully some baby steps of progress.

i have also been lax about being intentional about being present in my life- about recognizing the blessings and joy around me, the simple beautiful moments, the happiness that is all around me and i aim to be better about that too. starting....now. ready......go. 1.....2.......3.......go! seriously- this part especially means a lot to me....i'm in a rich season of life right now and dont want to miss it because it would be the easy thing to do.

thats the beauty of this life- you can blink your eyes, click your heels, say a prayer (not necessarily all three, but you know what i mean) and begin again. New. fresh. clean.

a thank you for fresh starts does not seem like enough to say, but i'm thankful all the same. here i go- starting over again- --again!