Up, Up and Away

The lovelies at (in)Courage prompted a challenge to find a coloring book page and explain why you chose it…here goes:

I’m all about “happy” and in terms of coloring that means lots of bright colors so when I saw this picture I got excited.  More than that, the page speaks right to where my heart is at.  See, I’m on this journey with God where I’m finding joy and letting Him do some deep heart work to break those ties that hold me to the ground.  He wants to take me to places that I can’t get to alone or would even choose.  Up, Up and Away to beyond all that I can ask or imagine because He is working ALL things out for good 🙂

What would YOU color??

Quotes that go along with this:

“Life is a work of art. You have to keep mixing the colors, creating new blends,and seeing things in fresh ways. You must be willing to get paint all over you.” -Erwin McManus

“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.”

“I would have never chosen that place to go…”

“It had opened her eyes to the fact that right down in the depths of her own heart she really had but one passionate desire, not for the things which the Shepherd had promised but for himself.  All she wanted was to be allowed to follow him forever. “Nothing else really matters only to love him and to do what he tells me.” -Hinds Feet in High Places

Full

My heart is full.  Saturday proved to be a perfect, full day.  I woke up thinking and tweeting: “sunny saturday and no plans as of yet. not sure how I feel about that…”

I started out by staying in bed for a bit and then going outside to embrace the sunshine.  I read and got a tan while laying on a combo of a sleeping bag, blanket, towel and three pillows with music playing in the background next to six different books (Wide Awake, Out of the Salt Shaker, Her Name is Woman, Christ In You, The Bible, Inner Healing).  I even had a blank canvas, paints, a journal, pens, and of course sunglasses.  I like to be prepared/going inside and up the stairs to get something is not an ideal interruption.

Somewhere along the way I decided to pile all my stuff on my stairs in case I decided to return to my spot on the porch after I made delicious sweet tea.  Sweet tea makes my heart happy and feel like summer.  Though, I never did make it back to lay on the porch.  Instead, I helped (Josh–a volunteer here for 10 days) make a sweet video in iMovie.  I am so using that to make some fun stuff.

Then I intended to go on a walk (with Jace), which was delayed due to hanging out and chatting.  Eventually, we (Jace, Allen, and I) made our way to the pond where we saw some poor, sad, dead frogs while discussing how dirty the pool looked and how we needed to get gloves before trying to shimmy down the zip line.  After the walk, we (Jace, Allen, Jen, and I) jumped into a game of Settlers, which made my heart happy since we hadn’t played it yet.  Then dinner, hanging out (most/all of the interns plus the volunteers), playing guitar on an adorable little guitar, talking about life, laughing, time for prayer (for Tara’s family–pray for them too!), and then we ended the day with watching Wolverine.  I even stayed awake and got in some discussion about how some characters have some bitter roots!

Thus, the day ended with the thought and tweet: “what an awesome full saturday that is ending with a full heart 🙂 praise God!”  I am so thankful for the people God has put around me during this time to walk with me and build me up during this time of re-learning, un-learning, and learning while embracing who I am in Him!

Decisions

“You get to decide what you do today and what you do tomorrow, but you will be accountable for your choices….Quit blaming your indecisiveness on God.” p. 174 Wide Awake by Erwin McManus

Quotable

Life is not a color-within-the-lines project;

life is a work of art.

You have to keep mixing the colors,

creating new blends,

and seeing things in fresh ways.

You must be willing

to get paint

all over you.

Life is about growth. Growth

demands change. Change

requires humility.

ht: Wide Awake

10 Places I Want to Be

1. Eating yummy food in the states (i.e. Panera, Chili’s, Trader Joe’s, Chinese food, etc.)

2. On top of a mountain

3. Curled up in my bed at home with my book and my puppy (Wide Awake by Erwin McManus)

4. Sitting on the deck with Amy G.

5. Walking with Carrie on the beach

6. Time Square with Liz

7. Target with Mom

8. At the library or a bookstore

9. A hot tub

10. Out on the lake

I want to blog, I want to blog, I want to blog!

But “Life got in the way.” I am working like crazy trying to tie up loose ends and soaking up quality time with those around me. Plus, I refrained from using the internet too much while in Florida. I leave “next” week. Ah! To top it all off, I have all these great blog ideas rolling around in my head and I’m reading an awesome book that brings even more (Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus). So….maybe tonight?

The Weekend!!

Wow, I am in SO need of this weekend!  So thankful that the weekend has finally come too.  I’m looking forward to some down time, homework time, working out time, and whatever time.  I’ve been rocking out the podcasting while working out. Love it.  I’m on an Erwin McManus kick and got really giddy when he started talking about Africa the very same day I turned in my application.  Other than that, here’s some quotes to ponder before bed or breakfast depending on when you read these:

“This is your life. It doesn’t wait for you to get back on your feet.” 

-A Lot Like Love

“Love is our response to our highest values”

“See I thought love was black and white
That it was wrong or it was right”
-Missy Higgins