Run

           As a kid did you ever play on one of those giant bouncy things with the bungee cord? The one where you got strapped to a bungee cord harness and than ran as far as you could before getting snapped back and bounced? Well, this morning, I was thinking and I realized that in many ways we walk through life strapped into a mental version of one of these things.
          I was thinking and praying this morning about how I want to be able to grow in my relationship with the Creator. And I realized, that I often get discourage in this because so often, when I attempt to pour out my heart to the One who knows the deepest part of me, I feel as though worries and fears put a vice grip around my heart and tell me that I can't move forward. Time and again I have felt this way. I begin to let my spirit soften and my heart desires to seek His face, and then that fear snaps me back. Just like that bungee run, my mind has become harnessed to fears and doubts that prevent me from running forward. They have worked to cripple my faith, squelch my joy and stunt my growth. And sadly, I'm the one who has allowed myself to stay here, to be strapped to these fears that won't let me go. But you know what, The One who put that desire in your heart, The One who fills your heart with joy and makes you want to sing, He wants you to be free.
          So today, I challenge myself and you. Unhook the harness, let go of the fear, doubt or whatever it is that is holding you back, and run with the freedom of knowing that He is running right beside you.

Galatians 5:1
"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." 

“Man is free at the moment he wishes to be.” ~Votaire

Moments

        Have you ever had one of those moments. A moment when everything seems so perfect and beautiful and comfortable. A time when love abounds, dreams seem possible and everything seems magical. I was driving home with the love of my life at my side and I was struck with the simple and graceful beauty of the town as millions of Christmas lights twinkled and sparkled against the fresh, white snow. A song played gently in the background and the world seemed at peace. Look for those moments in your life. You may think that you are too busy or life is too hard or that your dreams are impossible, but just look. The One loves you more than you could ever know has filled your life with these moments. Like a gently falling snowflake, these moments may seem small and unimportant, but if you allow yourself to look a little closer, you will see the beautiful lacy craftsmanship. So tonight, snuggle up with the one you love, enjoy a cup of cocoa, listen to the music and watch the snowflakes. Goodnight.


“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”
  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time. Then your time on earth will be filled with glory.”
  ~Betty Smith 

Thanksgiving

      I'm sitting here on a cozy Friday morning thinking back to the many Thanksgivings that I have had. When I was 12 my family was involved with a ministry that reached out to the kids on the street. So that year we spent Thanksgiving at the Church with friends and a whole bunch of people that my parents had met through this ministry.
     Then there was the Thanksgiving I spent in Namibia Africa. This was my first Thanksgiving spent away from home and it was a wonderful time. We were a mix of British, Irish, Canadian and American's celebrating together.
      Then last year, was the first Holiday spent with the love of my life. We got to fly down to North Carolina and spend it with Luke's sister and her family. Looking back over these Thanksgivings, and the countless ones spent with Grandparents and family. I have much to be thankful for.
       Last night, as I was helping in the kitchen to get the feast ready, I was surrounded by feelings of wonder as we bustled around and gentle strains of music and conversation floated about. Life is good. I have been blessed. Memories are sweet and new adventures are waiting in the wings. Have a wonderful day.

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving."
~W.T Purkiser

“Memory is the diary we all carry about with us.”
~Oscar Wilde

The Blessing

        This past weekend was fun because my some of my family was able to come up for a visit. When it came time to say goodbye, I felt a heaviness of heart. It is always hard for me to say goodbye and I often wish that my family lived closer. But as I was thinking about all of this, something occurred to me. Though goodbyes are hard, I am blessed enough to have people to say goodbye to. This then got me thinking about all of the amazing people that God has blessed my life with.
         I have not one, but two sets of wise and godly grandparents who have always been a part of my life. I have a Daddy who reminds me of the love that my Heavenly Father has for me. A Mom who has been my mother, confidant and friend. I have a whole slew of brothers and sisters who are there for me. But it doesn't stop here. Not only have I been blessed with the family who raised me, but I have had the privilege of marrying into another amazing family. I have a Mom and Dad-in-law who treat me like a daughter, and a group of amazing brother and sister-in-laws. And the best part of that family is the amazing man that I am married to. The love of my life who is with me through the ups and downs of life and in it for the long-haul.
       But wait, there is more. I have been surrounded by friends both old and new. The one's I grew up with and the ones that I have met along the way. People who have made me laugh and listened when I cried. And so today, I realize that I am truly blessed. And to top it off, I am loved by the Creator of the Universe.
        So, my challenge for you today is to count your blessings. And most importantly, remember, regardless of what your going through right now, that you too are loved by the One who counted the stars. Happy Monday.

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."
~Desmond Tutu

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.”
~Elbert Hubbard

The Car

       Today something exciting happened. My husband and I have spent the better part of the last 8 weeks working on re-painting our 1995 Honda Prelude. It used to be and old, man, gold color and has slowly been turning into a sporty shade of electric blue. The reason today was so big was because we were finally able to add the last swipe of polish and drive it home.
        Over these past weeks, both my husband and I have had moments of woebegone despair that we would never get done. Just when it seemed that the project was coming to a close, something would crop up and take time. So many times I just wanted to skim over things and call it good, but Luke would remind me that in order for it to turn out right, we needed to put the time in. And so, we plodded on.
       All of this has got me thinking about my own life. Over the past year or so, I have been in a rough spot. I've struggled with fear, doubts and anxiety about different things. So many times I would say, "God, can't you just make me feel better now?!" And yet, I realize that maybe, just maybe life is like that sporty, blue Honda. If I were to snap my fingers and rush through this growing process, things might not turn out as nice as they could if I sit back and allow myself to rest in the arm's of the One who showers me with His grace. He has plans for my life and yours. No matter what you may be going through right now, don't despair, you will come out on the other end. The one who painted the skies knows exactly what He is doing in the masterpiece that is your life.
     Then, one of these days that time will come. The last bit of polishing will be done and you will realize that you have made it through and you will be ready for the next adventure that God brings your way.
     So tonight, I encourage you to rest in the knowledge that you are in good hands. There are good things in store. And remember, no matter what, you are loved more than you will ever know. Sweet dreams.

2 Corinthians 12:8-9
"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress." ~Frederick Douglass

Life Lived

        This week my Church family lost a member. Ed was 81 years old and died on Monday afternoon. I never really got to know Ed, but he made me smile when I'd seem him motoring along on his scooter with his fedora perched jauntily on his head. From stories I've heard, he was a great man of God who loved to tell stories.
       There is always a weird feeling that comes over you when someone you know dies. That knowledge that you won't see them again.  But then, I was reminded by someone that I will see Ed again. And right now he gets to see Jesus, which is a truly awesome thought.
       So, wherever you are in life, I ask you, "do you know that saving love?" The One who created the stars created you and longs to know your heart. Will you allow yourself to know that love? My hope is that someday when I get to meet Jesus, that my life will be remember for my passion and heart. And for now, and as long as I breathe, I choose to live in the knowledge that I am the daughter of the King. Have a great day.

"The important thing is not how many years in your life but how much life in your years." ~Edward J. Stieglitz

John 3:16 
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."

Progress

       You know how at the end of a tale they say, "And the moral of the story is..." Well I've been thinking of life lately and what one such lesson might be. There are three stories I would like to share and they all share a common "moral of the story."
       First: My in-laws have a puppy named Miss Amos. According to my husband, one of her favorite things to do is sit by the wood pile and hope beyond all hope that the mysterious chipmunk living there will make an appearance. Once I asked my Husband if she has ever caught anything. He said that so far, she has caught nothing, but she's never stopped trying.
       Second: A month ago my husband took on the job of painting our car. That means taking it apart, fixing rust, filling dents, sanding it down and then primer and paint. At first we thought this would be a simple 1-2 week project and now, a month later we are still working. There have been days when my husband has been so discouraged because every where he turned there was something else he needed to fix before moving on. 
    Third: I am in my last year of school and there are days when all I want to do is throw my hands up and forget it all. Especially when the homework comes piling in. It feels like I have a to-do list that has no end and that can be so overwhelming.
     So you might ask, as what do these stories have in common? Well the other day the thought occurred to me that as long as you are not going backwards or standing still, you are making progress. Sometimes the forward movement seems ridiculously slow or even non existent. But, as long as you are trying, you are making progress. Sometimes progress can be hidden because at times you may have to take a step back in order to keep moving forward. But no matter how slow, impossible or hard something may seem, don't give up. Don't stand still and never stop trying.
       So, whether your feat is a car to paint, homework to do, an impossible circumstance or something as simple as making it through the day, don't stop moving. There will be times that you need to take a break, allow yourself to rest or get refocused and that is okay, just don't give up. Never stop chasing your dreams or believing in the impossible. Don't give up hope, because the One who gave you life is right there beside you and He desires that you accomplish your goals, achieve your dreams and live fully. So the moral of the story is, "As long as you are not standing still or moving backwards, you are making progress." Have a great day.

"I am a slow walker, but I never walk back." ~Abraham Lincoln.
       

First Snow

         Yesterday the snow came. There is something so very magical about the first snow. It makes me feel cozy and reminds me of happy times. I remember as a kid waiting with great anticipation for that morning when I would wake up and find the ground dusted in delicate white.
         Snow is a amazing thing, it takes the ordinary and paints it in wonder. It turns the world into a place where the imagination can go wild. As a kid the snow can transform your yard into a great battle field where snowy missiles fly. It provides endless opportunities for grand castles, mountain climbs and speed of lightning sled rides. Snow also reminds me of the snowy months when I was getting to know the love of my life. Those beautiful, happy, memories that always warm my heart.
         So on these snowy days, stay warm, snuggle up with someone you love, drink some cocoa and have a cookie. Most of all, remember that regardless of the weather outside, you are loved more then you will ever know by the One who sends the snow. Enjoy.


"The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?" ~ J.B Priestely 
 

The Photographs

      I was at my in-laws the other evening and there were old photo albums laying about. Of course I love to look through pictures and so what could I do but pick them up. I couldn't help but smile as I flipped through old pictures of my husband as a little boy and his family and friends who I have come to know and love. Having not know my husband and his family for more than a couple years, it was fun to be able to step back in time and see a glimpse of who they used to be.
     I have always had this infatuation with old photos. I would look through old black and whites and imagine that person. Because they didn't just exist in that second in time, but they lived. What were they thinking, what did they do with their lives and who did they love?
     So often, we take life for granted, because it is so fleeting. It goes by fast and we don't take the time to truly appreciate the beauty of it. Photographs help us to remember. Your baby won't stay tiny for ever, your hair will turn gray, loved ones won't always be there.
     So today let the photographs, those snapshots in time, remind you of the beautiful and fleeting moments of life. Don't take them for granted. Live the moment and cherish time.

“What i like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.”~Karl Lagerfeld 

Autumn Days

       I have begun to notice that Summer is slipping away and Fall is beginning to dance. On my way to school the other day, leaves were scurrying and crackling across my path as the wind swirled through them in a crunchy melody. And the woods are beginning to be painted with brilliant red and orange splashes amongst the green.
       Today is the perfect sort of Autumn day. I have my knitting out and the deep reds and browns of the yarn wrap themselves around me in a cozy cocoon. The wood stove is crackling and smells oh so wonderful. The music is gently playing in the background and the cup of coffee offers itself as a pleasant afternoon respite.
        Oh the simple beauties of a Fall day in Northern Minnesota. I hope you can see the beauty around you today. Stay cozy.

“I loved autumn, the one season of the year that God seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it.”  ~Lee Maynard

Moonlight

     The other night, my husband and I went for a drive. We weren't going any where in particular, we were simply enjoying a lovely evening. There is something so beautiful and peaceful about a warm late summer day as it winds to an end. One thing that I noticed on our little adventure was the lake. As the sun goes down in a splash of purple, pink and blue it spreads its colors across the water. And then, when the sun is gone and the moon rises to the sky it dances across the lake in a magical way that inspires your heart to rest.
     Do you ever have a moment like that. A moment when you just feel a sense of rest wash over you. The radio plays a gentle tune, the wind dances through your hair and the man in the moon smiles down at you. It's like a moment of tangible grace. The circumstances that were trying to drag you down start to melt away and just like that you are reminded what grace truly is. So today, as we end a lovely Sunday, I challenge you to look for it. Let the moonlight dance, the music play, and the wind blow and feel it. Feel the grace of the One who holds you in His hand and says hear it, feel it, know it...My grace is for you. Good night.

"When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator."  ~Mahatma Gandhi

“How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank. Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music. Creep in our ears; soft stillness, and the night. Become the touches of sweet harmony.” ~Shakespeare