2010 photo love

Somewhere along the way in the last few years I started categorizing my photos by what month they were taken…so without further ado here are the photos and a few posts that sum up each month!In January, I started off thinking I could run outside…the snow was beautiful with sunshine, but WAY cold! I said hello to subbing in the schools and to a new church.

In February, I fell in love with *my* tree. I still frequently drive by and try not to look too crazy taking pictures of it and I thought about why I write…

In March, I colored…and so didn’t know how true this quote would be throughout the year: “God wants to take us to places we can’t get to by ourselves, but we will never get there if we hold onto where we are.”

In April, I got my dog to take cute pictures with me even while I veered on the path.

In May, I looked cute even though my heart hurt for Africa and so much more…

In June, I held tightly to faith and peace as I stood up for myself and learned to say no…

In July, I celebrated weddings, played softball, loved on kiddos during VBS, and found myself loving well.

In August, my heart burst with joy at kids camp, as I finished a triathlon, and as I accepted a staff position at Thrive Africa.

In September, I marked a year and wore the shoes risking to share the joy of a testimony amidst a heart break…

In October, my heart broke again in a new way as I learned Thrive Africa was closing…

In November, I camped out at REI, drank Starbucks, saw God provide and bring joy in unexpected ways all while finishing bible sprinting full of  “yes ands“.

In December, I dressed up and wore mascara even when the tears fell, I took a deep breath while taking the steps before me, started a journey toward learning boundaries, and found myself in awe at how God orchestrated so many details to bring together the things that I love.

p.s. 2011…you’re coming awfully fast.

 

teacups and love

since i’m in the mood here’s a little picture fun….

my lovely tea cups from my church’s teacup & cookie exchange. the red one is from this year and the blue and white is from 2009. i love a little competition and opening presents. though, i must say i get so indecisive and stressed about what one to pick when it’s my turn!

cute cute hat that i got for my birthday from a dear friend for my birthday

my little man holding my sunglasses and being all cute. love him and love the randomness of this picture.

someday. hopefully soon. i will own a papasan chair. i don’t know what the cushion will be like yet, but it will be grand and i will curl up in it and read my bible. i might just even put it in my office.

speaking of bibles…i am quite seriously pondering buying the maxwell leadership bible so that i can use it for the little 6 month chronological read through (starting january 15th!! more details to come…but you should ponder and then totally join me and others in it!). any thoughts on it or bible versions?

ohhh and speaking of doing the chronological read through…did you know that i’m PUMPED to go see my lovely friend who did sprinting the bible in 90 days with me?! because, um, well, i am. so yes, this is going to be an amazing end to 2010 and hopefully starting 2011 off with a little sparkle.

and with 2010 coming to an end…so does my word for the year (joy).  well, not that it ends! but i get a new word for 2011. i’m a bit scared of my word but i just know god has BIG things in store and wants to use this word in an eye opening way…come back on 1/1/2011 for the official reveal. are you going to pick a word to focus on for the year?

p.s. it’s almost christmas =)

2010 in 10

joy
transitions
kids
africa
broken
good-bye
sprinting
church
truth
unexpected

what is your 2010 in 10 words?

*from this post

truth…roaring like a lion

“It seemed good and desirable to me [and so I have determined] also after having searched out diligently and followed all things closely and traced accurately the course from the highest to the minutest detail from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus (whose name means “lover of God”).

[My purpose is] that you may know the full truth and understand with certainty and security against error the accounts (histories) and doctrines of the faith of which you have been informed and in which you have been orally instructed.”

-Luke 1: 3-4

hey heart

hey heart

did you forget already?

i see you running your own way

chasing desires not meant for you now

lusting after things that are not what they seem

what looks like honey will go down like poison

so, please, heart

start falling forward

crawling

stretching out your hand

giving yourself grace

He’s already given it, so receive

stand on His promises

bind yourself to Him

fix your gaze

remember, heart

He’s holding you

molding you

calling you lovely

so, heart

let Him

believe Him

trust Him

wordless wednesday

 

too quick

sometimes i’m too quick to run to my people.

sometimes i’m too quick to cry tears over half truths.

sometimes i’m too quick to drown myself in questions.

 

i want to be quick to run to my Person.

i want to be quick to hold fast to the Truth.

i want to be quick to let Him be the answer.

your fault.

“Most of you thought the things that have happened to you were somehow your fault—that you deserved it. If only you had been prettier or smarter or done more or pleased them, somehow it wouldn’t have happened. You would have been loved. They wouldn’t have hurt you.

And most of you are living with the guilt that somehow it’s your fault you aren’t more deeply pursued now….The message of our wounds nearly always is, “This is because of you. This is what you deserve.” It changes things to realize that, no, it is because you are glorious that these things happened. It is because you are a major threat to the kingdom of darkness. Because you uniquely carry the glory of God to the world.

You are hated because of your beauty and power.”

–Captivating

you belong.

One year ago, I made the snowy drive on the right hand side of the road to church. My heart felt like it had slipped out from underneath me and fallen onto the icy ground.  I cried my eyes out and held the steering wheel tight.  I blared the music and sat in the car for a good long while before getting up my courage to walk inside.  I wore my “I love Africa” shirt. Part of my heart displayed for all to see.

I wiped my tears. Laughed at how I still wore mascara even though I knew the tears would fall.  Took a deep breath and walked up the steps.

Worship had already started.  I am not the best at getting to places on time especially when my heart is oh so tender.  I slipped into a seat.  The ache for the presence of my Thrive family and the people who I went everywhere with for a year weighed down on me causing the tears to flow yet again.

But, I did it. I made it. I went. To this church I had never heard of before. That my June had suggested and found for me.

In the midst of the tears and love, God met me. With one of “our” songs, with a brilliant display of the church’s heart for missions, with a hug, with kiddos.

And today. I look back and see that God is faithful.  He’s still with me.  Scooping me up in His arms and reminding me “you belong.” You’re not misplaced. I set you in this family.  You’re here for such a time as this.

Trust me.

friday book fun

what are you reading right now?

–boundaries by cloud and townsend, the cry of the soul by allender & tremper longman III, the glass castle by jeannette walls, the bible (psalms, proverbs, james 1, and john)

what do you want to read?

—here are just a few from my ever growing wish list…..the grace of god by andy stanley, a call to die by david nasser, next generation leader by andy stanley, a million miles in a thousand years by donald miller, ruthless trust by brennan manning, a life unleashed by christine caine, and so so so many more.

what books do you recommend i read?

—ohhh, i’m so bad at this because i read so many and have a hard time picking a few. so let’s see….. passion and purity by elisabeth elliot, redeeming love by francine rivers, hinds feet on high places by hannah hurnard, strengthsfinder 2.0, and so so so many others =)

what book did you want to like, but just didn’t?

–captivating by john and stasi eldredge…i really did want to like it…but i just have yet to love it.

 

your turn!!