Change, Stretching, & The Like

The more of life I live, the more convinced I become that I am not meant to, nor do I truly enjoy, living a life that is comfortable. I love busyness, stretching, and taking steps when I can't see the firm concrete in front of me, yet I would never consider myself a thrill-seeker. I love schedules, routines, and having productive systems. I'm one of those crazies who after a vacation looks forward to going back to the day-to-day life. I'm also really terrible at exercising and pushing myself physically. If I can't play a sport, I don't mind, I just don't do it and entertain myself with making jokes and laughing on the sidelines. I am totally okay with my lack of athletic ability, I really don't care enough to try. (However I do very much admire those with athletic skill and drive).

When life falls into a steady rhythm and the weeks go by without a burning need to write or leave the country I ask myself where I'm slacking and where I should be pushing myself. I 100% believe in enjoying life and taking vacations, but there is also a part of me, that is becoming bigger all the time, that loves setting goals and achieving them.

My current obsession has been home improvements. We repainted our living room in January and I was so amazed at the effect it had on my mood while at the house, it kickstarted me into other projects. I won't tire you with my incredible list (because it's really boring), but I have loved getting things cleaned and rewarding myself with a new picture frame here, a plant there, and hallelujah we are getting a new furnace!

While those are all fairly insignificant and non life-impacting changes, I'm working on a few more that have yet to surface, and others that never will. Sometimes it's just a shift in mindset, perspective, or priorities. Lord knows there are so many undercover areas of my life that need to be extended out beyond my comfort zone. I'm so thankful for the grace that fills-in where I fall short, until I am stretched to that place, and then I get to stretch myself further on to the next thing. The Lord also knows that I need help (usually in the form of a tasty treat and some QT with my husband) in order to feel ready to push out from this dock and venture into new seas. The temperament of those waters may be tempestuous or calm, but the feeling of adventure never fails to be thrilling, and the end-result of conquering new territories is so satisfying.

So with my tiny little blog-nook settled somewhere in the vast world-wide-web I would like to declare that stretching and challenge are good. There is a small voice taunting that I have set myself up for something catastrophic, but there is also a loud shout that CHANGE IS GOOD!

Sweet Saving Grace

Today I am thankful for saving grace. And that saving grace can look different all through the day, every day. In the morning it's my mug of coffee, and at night it's my wonderful temperpedic bed with lots of blankets. But throughout the day it's encouraging words, cheesy toddler smiles, and enveloping husband hugs. Saving grace takes me from my loneliness, frustration, and despair, and lifts me to see the vast goodness of The Lord and this beautiful life that I have.

It's so easy to feel the strain of being pulled from circumstance to circumstance, need to need. But it is also so easy lighten our loads; to let all those worries worry themselves and enjoy whatever little detail shines its bright little self our way. That was a resolution I made, to find something little every day to make that day special. I forget most days, but I'm trying to make it a habit that I don't live day to day, annoyed that big goals are being met and I'm not saving enough money. But I can meet little goals, get a cup of coffee to sip while I do my grocery shopping, or I style my hair a new way. Something to set the experience of today apart from the experience of a hundred others. Note: the special things are 100% about what blesses you and not what sounds nice that other people do. For me coffee is always a blessing, FYI.

Maybe my mind calculates everything around me to be saving grace, and I'm too much of an optimist. Or maybe I just see myself in constant need of being saved, and am therefore a pessimist. Who really cares what I am?

I'm learning all the important hugs about not stressing the small (or big) stuff, enjoying, and being true to who I have been created to be. That is absolutely satisfactory for me.

Shaped Into Being

By default or design I am living each day.

Millions of things touched and seen,

Tools in my hands to use as I please.

Sharpening or shredding, into who I will be.

A million pieces of dreams, hopes, and wants

Collected from the millions of places I have been.

From a grand cathedral; crowded hall; crisp ocean breeze

Simple treasures that are shaping my being.

Like an arrow I desire to be cast,

Pointed straight ahead, with power and grace.

So the exhale of my life would bring to this world

The warmth of true Light, Love, and Peace.

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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.