Everyday Sacredness

After moving almost two months ago, 

I think I MAY finally be getting my bearings.

Maybe.

This pattern of feeling out of place and needing to grab at order to try to realign my little life, finds its way into my world more often than I can count.

As a college student moving each year into the dorms, I had to immediately tidy all of my belongings before decor and beauty found their way into my room. 

Whenever I travel and I know that I will be sleeping more than 1 or 2 nights in one place, I MUST unpack all of my possessions to feel AT HOME at once in this space that will house me for even a short while. 

Even on my honeymoon.... 

{I know...my husband truly loves me!} 

The length of the location shift juxtaposed with the amount of worldly goods to be organized is directly indicative to how long the unsettled demons of anxiety will vie for life in my newly transformed season. And sometimes the inner madness is a direct reflection of the lack of control over the natural chaos that change of any kind leaves in its wake.

Simply stated.

I find it hard to focus on the big things if the little things are out of order.

"The little foxes destroy the vines," is another way I have heard it put.

So as I continue to settle into this new {AMAZING} gift of a home, I organize my mountain of review books longing to be read, awaiting the moment when they will find human connection. I prioritize each one from publisher and date received, and while I am a fiction reader by nature, 

I requested this one non-fiction book last year,

Finding Our Way Again,

which I never finished.

I picked it up yesterday, and in the revelation on the pages, reminders to see Jesus in everything leapt into my heart. I have been counting my gifts, taking the Joy Dare, although I have not recorded them here in quite few weeks, I have logged them faithfully, sometimes daily, sometimes weekly, catching up with the day-to-day prompts, causing me to look back and remember, to be thankful.

And Brian McLaren's words take me back to the reason I began counting this year in the first place...

"We need an everyday sacredness."

"Spiritual practices could be called life practices...because they help us practice being alive...They develop not just character but also aliveness, alertness, wakefulness, and humanity."

"Spiritual practices are about life, about training ourselves to become the kinds of people who have eyes and actually see, and who have ears and actually hear, and so experience...not just survival, but LIFE...tuning our radios to the frequency of the Holy, turning up the volume, and then daring to sing along."

So through Project 365 and The Joy Dare springs a desire to not only be present in the moments but also to revel in the goodness and the grace of the One who made it all possible.

Do you crave order in chaos?

How do you handle the the outward and inward pandemonium that life inevitably brings?

Just a few of the 250+ graces since I last recorded them here....

The Joy Dare 2012

256. "Are you a nature photographer?"

270. The "hidden" couch bed - a nice chill place for the weekend

282. My husband's surprisingly persistent calls, 

knowing I was having a bad day

303. Walking with Arno because he always shares things 

with me during that time

317. Pretty, fresh paint on the walls

349. The letter that home study is about to begin

376. The glee on Macy's face as she plays on the playground

392. My love's excitement to see me when I walk in the door late at night

403. Spending the day at the beach with my love

416. Being inspired @ 3rd Friday in the artist world

426. Olivia's protective nature over me

442. "Am I listening to the Voice of Fear or the Voice of Love?"

460. Trying to fool Kasi for her birthday 

and knowing she was figuring out stuff

470. A spontaneous shot of long estranged grandparents laughing together

482. Date night with my bokkie

493. The smell of the new fabric softener on everything

500. The beauty of reaching the half point of counting 1000 gifts!

And MORE PROJECT 365 :: Day 162 - 169

Day 162 :: My current fireplace decor

{A little bit of Africa, Dayspring, and Pier One} 

Day 163 :: Morris "helping" Arno drive 

on the way back from the vet 

 Day 164 :: Enjoying the evening on my front porch

Day 165 :: Patches really loves her Daddy.

She even squeezes in his lap while he play Playstation. 

Day 166 :: Summer Fun with Jake Ray 

Day 167 :: What I Wore :: Sister's brown tank dress w/decorative empire 

waistline beading {Thanks, Kasi!} and 

cute new sandals I got on sale at Christmas time

#FirstTimeOutOfTheHouse 

 Day 168 :: Catching the light on our stairwell

Day 169 :: A Father's Day for just the two of us

{and the kitties, of course!}

I'm on a journey, chronicling my life with a picture a day for a year. I hope to discover the world around me in my day-to-day life in a uniquely different way as well as learn more about my DSLR to better capture those precious moments. 

Little Miracles {Project 365 & Joy Dare}

The crisp wind catches my breath as I stumble out the front door. I pull my hood on tighter, zipping up to my chin. While spring is upon us, winter has not quite given up the fight, at least for today.

With camera in hand and a zillion thoughts in my mind, I march onward determined to achieve a bit of exercise and fresh air today. I chide myself, "You've walked this same road, camera strapped to your side, three times last week. What could there possibly be left to photograph?" I have barely passed two homes, when I spot the first discovery that I MUST capture on film. I chuckle in my head, realizing that in spite of my skepticism, the habit of looking and seeing and counting and snapping has renewed a part of my soul, the part longing for wonder and discovery. It is amazing really how in a week alone so much is already changing, growing, blooming, and I am amazed.

So it is with this mindset that I come across a group of children playing in a little field. I long to photograph their play from afar but wary of parental angst, I attempt to capture the nature around me with a bit of their revelry in the background.

I see them notice me as I am walking forward and not wanting to be rude nor cause them to break any potential rules of "not talking to strangers," I simply smile as I saunter by and kindly say hello.

As I pass, I notice more beauty -- the bird's nest high above, the large stump surrounded by greenery, the sound of their child's play -- and suddenly I can hear footsteps drawing closer so I turn.

"Are you a wildlife photographer?"

I smile both outside and in, "No, I just REALLY like to take pictures."

Expecting disappointment or indifference on their faces, I receive none. Instead, one overlapping the other, words spill out as they tell me about their naturistic finds and secret discoveries.

"I see a woodpecker come back to that same tree every year."

"I have a secret hideout here in the woods."

"Me too. I have a different hideout over here...."

"I saw ten lizards today. One was brown and black, one was brown and blue...."

"Come here. Can I show you something really pretty?"

I am sharing in their delight, since I myself have retained a mind that never quite grew up, however, my adult "street smarts" warn me to be careful to not cause any fear in the hearts of their parents. I wave to a few moms, introduce myself to a dad, tell them and the children the street that I live on in their neighborhood to calm any potential alarms inside their heads.

They ask me to come back again when they have planted their garden for the season, I assume they hope I will bring my camera-friend along. I smile and wave goodbye feeling full to the last drop in body and heart and soul.

God's gifts are surprising and unexpected every day, both in what we see AND in what we hear. I am truly amazed at His continual mercies and grace in JUST the way we need to receive them.

And I am thankful for how He opened my eyes to new miracles and discoveries today, through the eyes of His little ones.

Project 365 :: Week 12

Day 78 :: Breathing in a picture of His masterpiece

Day 79 :: Walking with my love

{we are working on a new habit of

walking together during the week.

Exercise + Time Together = Perfection!}

Day 80(1) :: Playing with two of my favorite kiddos

Day 80(2) :: What I Wore - Gray & White Striped Dress

from Abercrombie & Fitch, purple tank, skinny jeans,

and brown lace up combat boots

Day 81 :: A path of enchantment....

Day 82 :: Celebrating bff, Alison's, birthday

at Tokyo Steakhouse

Day 83 :: My {current} favorite dessert...

especially the middle lemony one...mhmmm...so good!

(At Olive Garden)

Day 84 :: Jessica Cherrix's bridal shower

The Joy Dare

1000 gifts in 2012

235) Yummy Roast Beef

236) Resee's Peanut Butter Eggs

237) Laffy Taffy {one of my favs}

3 Gifts That Made Me Laugh

238) Being silly with my love

239) Olivia's funny faces

240) Watching Jake Ray swing backwards

A Gift Salty, A Gift Sweet, A Gift Just Right

241) Arby's potato cakes

242) Twizzlers

243) Steak Gorgonzola

244) Mark 10:27 - Nothing is impossible for you

245) Psalm 139:3 - He is acquainted with all my ways

246) Psalm 23:2-3 - He leads me and restores me

3 Gifts found in Women today

247) Annie --> She loves with such a BIG and accepting love

248) Alison --> She loves and cares for the people that I do -- the way she considers Arno

249) Mom's gift with languages

3 Gifts Spoken

250) "Miss Lindsey, there is a seat right here next to me."

251) "Everyone is so happy to see you..."

252) "I really appreciate your help."

253) "Are you a nature photographer?"

254) The neighborhood kids showing me all of their hideouts and favorite things in nature

255) Why Everybody Needs to Make Art Every Day ~Ann Voskamp

Won't you join me? Take The Joy Dare!

Here is a list of ideas to daily help you

to SEE in the midst of the busy days...

Project 365 :: Week 11 & The Revelation in Counting

Closing in on 80 days into this new year, I find daily that there are new discoveries of His heart for me and new elements of His character developing inside of me. Little did I know that the discipline of taking at least one picture a day as well as counting three gifts from my day-to-day life would launch me into a lifestyle of leaning in, drawing close, letting go, and learning to fly.

As the revelations unfold, I will share more, but needless to say, He is amazing me in how He speaks even through, and especially in, the seemingly mundane, habitual moments.

Here's a little glimpse into this week's unearthings....

Day 71 :: Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Day 72 :: Basking in the Sunshine

Day 73 :: Enjoying Spring

Day 74 :: Goddaughter, Macy Hope, walking on Sunshine

Day 75 :: Beautiful Sunset

Day 76 :: Friday night at FNF learning about the tongue

Day 77 :: Celebrating my pal, Jamie, as she and Grant prepare to welcome

their little lady bug in just a few weeks!

The Joy Dare

1000 gifts in 2012

214) The way the wind sounds when you close your eyes and just soak it in

215) The way the leaf floated at the top of the bucket of water --> random loveliness

216) Filling the pages of my 1000 gifts book (untapped potential)

217) Golden Double Stuff Oreoes

218) The smell of spring --> it is captivating me!

219) How excited my kitties were to spend time outside in the beautiful weather

3 Gifts Found In Silence

220) Time with my friend Alison at her house where they do not own a TV

221) Just sitting together with my love, in comfortable silence, each with our own thoughts

222) The stillness of the quiet house, when I am the last one awake

223) Jake: "But Mommy, Miss Lindsey is here and I haven't seen her in FOREVER!"

224) Listening to goddaughter Macy with her new words and sounds --> so cute!

225) Spending time with my best friend

3 Hard Eucharisteos

226) Finding His mercies in only one hour of sleep

227) Learning to trust Him in the tension of the waiting

228) The beauty of spring only came because of the persistence of the seeds through the cold winter

229) Those buds that have lay dormant for weeks, seeming, like they were going to bloom but now finally ARE in bloom!

230) Working with Wendy & Kasi to hang things to decorate around her new apartment

231) Celebrating with a friend at her baby shower -- She's waited a long time for this!

3 Gifts Red

232) Walking with Arno in his bright red slippers

233) Hot Tamales...Mhmmmm...!!

234) "DON'T WORRY. BE HOPPY." bag with the red lily pad gifted to me from Cheryl

Won't you join me? Take The Joy Dare!

Here is a list of ideas to daily help you

to SEE in the midst of the busy days...

Can I Truly Love?

"You can give without loving,

but you cannot love without giving."

~Amy Carmichael~

These words ping pong off the recesses of my heart and soul. In spite of years of full time ministry and loving people of all ages with the various hats we wore, the challenge to love for me LOOMS larger than life in this season more than ever.

Daily, my desire to throw in the towel before TRULY even embarking on this foster care/adoption journey screams in my mind, and I ask myself that question, "How do I know I will...or can...love the child they give me to care for or even to take in as my own?" Because while I realize that there are cases where, even with adoption, it just does not click for everyone, my heart breaks to think that could be us -- the ones rejecting or maybe the ones being rejected. The reasons are numerous and valid as to why or how this could happen, and I have no desire to add to that statistic.

People talk about taking a risk, leaping in faith when you are falling in love. "Take a chance on love" is a mantra I have heard more than once. Little did I realize that walking down the road of having my heart broken romantically would guide and prepare me to embark on this new adventure of loving the least of these.

And while I will probably continue to ask myself if I am TRULY cut out for this every day for the rest of my life, my real question is do I have the capacity to love like this if I am not loved in return, if they choose to leave and walk away, if they blame us for their sorrows, if..if...if...???

And I know the answer....

A resounding NO.

I cannot love like this.

It is a great impossibility.

I do not have the capacity for this impossible kind of love.

Not on my own anyway....

I can only surrender.
My life into His hands
Trusting His heart
To love through mine, in mine, in spite of mine
Believing that somehow, someway, He will make a way through the tumultuous storms -- past, present, and future.

So I suppose the even deeper question is, "Am I ready to give of myself, of my heart, my time, my energies?" because "...you cannot love without giving," right?

And quite honestly, I do not know. Those answers are not yet clear to me today.

So....

I put my hope in Him...

God has chosen to make known....this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

I Corinthians 1:27

...that the Christ IN me may shine His glory, His hope to the world around in the way He sees fit.

{Heaven, help me!}

Thank you for your continued prayers as we walk out

our faith with fear and trembling in these life-changing decisions....

The Joy Dare

1000 gifts in 2012

196) A job where I get MAJOR discounts on all things skin and beauty

197) Though my body felt a bit "broken" by the end of it, I actually enjoyed my 12 hour work day.

198) That precious little one and her little one who came across our path

199) Yummy ham steak {I forgot how easy it was to cook!}

200) How quickly the cheese melts onto the broccoli...mhmm...perfect!

201) Her words, straight & true to the heart, "I think you guys will make awesome parents."

202) My thoughts of His plans & His love {ring LOUDLY in my heart}

203) "It's A Boy!" -- My bff's text after she found out her "girl" was really a BOY!

204) Talking to my pal, Annie -- 2 extroverts at play! ;-)

205) Time with my love, just being together, watching our current favorite TV show reruns

206) Time to read and catch up with commenters

207) Space to share my dreams and fears online

208) His reminder of how beautiful love is when He writes your story

209) His never ending patience with me

210) The way He loves me {Oh, He loves us...oh how He loves us....}

211) The quote by Hugh Macleod about crayons and creativity

212) "You can give without loving, but you cannot love with giving." ~Amy Carmichael {inspired this post today}

213) Emily W's hard yet encouraging words on foster care

Won't you join me? Take The Joy Dare!

Here is a list of ideas to daily help you to SEE in the midst of the busy days...

Look at the Birds

"They don't know it's not yet spring," I think to myself as I look out the window.

They are everywhere. These creatures of the air. In the trees. In the neighbors' yards. In my yard. Bobbing their heads up and down in search of food or branches or who knows really...They chatter loudly amongst themselves busying their little bodies with their important mission.

And somehow, I feel sorry for them. I know that winter is not truly over and they may have emerged in vain thinking their bleak winter season was done for the year. But I cannot pull my eyes away from them. I am drawn into their song, their work, their labor, their efforts, their freedom.

"Lord, what can I learn here?

Why am I drawn into this mesmerizing reverie?"

And my thoughts go to these words..HIS words....

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?"

Matthew 6:25-26 {NLT}

The birds are not worried about whether winter is REALLY over or not. They are living in the moment, finding what they need for today, from a Heavenly Father who generously pours out His love, attention, care, and even affection on these little ones....


So why do I worry so much? I, who, Scripture says from the mouth of Jesus on earth no less, am "...far more valuable to him..."

I worry about my health.

I stew about the future.

I long for children, and I am terrified at the prospect all at the same time.

I want freedom with my time, but I brood that I will be wasteful of that gift.

I desire community, in my "back yard," and yet, the fear of rejection & pain paralyzes my forward momentum to that end.

Oh! The list could go on and on...I fear. Ha! I think I even worry ABOUT worrying. I know it is wrong. I know I need to trust. And how I struggle with that!

I go back to His words again....

"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things,

but you know both God and how he works."

Matthew 6:30-32 {The Message}

Even as I write, I watch the snow beat down upon the these seemingly fragile sprouts, who have not fully realized their potential this year, and they, yet, stand firm, not withered or shaken by the unrelenting frozen flakes falling fast from the sky...

I look deeper into His heart here..."Don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you....YOU {who} Know both God and how he works."

I feel the challenge beating in my heart.

Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:33-34 {The Message}

So sing, little sparrow, fly on.

Bloom, precious hyacinth, let your colors show.

Your constant faith and trust in the One who created you reminds me that His relentless love for me knows no bounds, finds no limitations in circumstances...or weather, spans even the greatest of divides to bring healing and restoration to a heart who longs for Him.

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow.

It empties today of its strength.

~Corrie Ten Boom~

The Joy Dare

1000 gifts in 2012

175) That the worst of the sickness did not hit us both at the same time

176) Grace from bosses as the flu continued

177) His faithfulness to sustain me even when my health fails

178) Cranberry ginger ale

179) A blessed nap -- b/c my body RARELY allows me to take one, even when I need it

180) Fresh sheets, blankets, pillow cases {I LOVE that!}

181) The delight of a stomach that works normally after 5 days of fighting the flu

182) A new monthly job {extra income! yay!}

183) The pretty hyacinth blooming on March 1st --> early spring

3 Green Gifts

184) That ugly old green camera bag that carries my DSLR friend

185) The green carpet -- reminds me of the other job that I truly enjoy

186) The pretty green buds poking through the soil

187) Mom's tan booties she left behind for me to wear

188) My army green jacket {one of my favs}

189) My fairly-new black sheer flowery dress/shirt

3 Hard-To-Give-Thanks-For Gifts

190) An empty womb

191) A chronically aching body

192) 4 months {and counting...} of waiting to move into our home

193) The way the fresh snow blanketed the earth for a few short hours

194) The beauty that my OLD zoom lens captures photos with the new camera brain

195) A Sunday evening "pizza run" with my sister

Won't you join me? Take The Joy Dare!

Here is a list of ideas to daily help you to SEE in the midst of the busy days...

Broken Dreams & Shattered Hope

So it was kind of a yucky weekend. I woke up Saturday morning with what I know now is the "infamous" stomach flu that has been "going around" although somehow I seemed oblivious until it crashed into my immune system full force knocking me off of my feet for almost 36 hours and still in rebound mode today.

But I sat down last night to recount my weekend gifts anyway, and I was amazed at how thankful I felt....

For my sister who came over Saturday night with supplies AND gave up her Sunday to sit with me.

For my husband who loves me at my worst -- both in body and mood. For the fresh realization that while I do struggle daily with chronic pain, I AM thankful that I do NOT daily have the stomach flu. #ShesNotInvitedToMyParty

And for the little things...that in the midst of being overwhelmed, overwrought, and overtired...the Lord's still quiet voice could break through.

I feel that I should explain further....

Please do not get me wrong.
I am not some Christian hero.
Finding joy easily.
Drawing laughter in all circumstances like a paid clown.

Delighting in the most hideous of moments.

I'm real.
I'm raw.
I get mad.

I fight...

No. Really. I do...
...myself
...my husband
...my family
...my friends
...God
...the changes

And every time that I get "sick," even if it is with a 24-, or 48-, or whatever-hour flu bug, a silly cold, or a monthly setback, I wonder if I am slipping back into the worst of days, if I will ever be "myself" again - the girl I was before chronic pain became a daily partner - if I can do the things I want to do, if my dreams will actually come true.

So I cry
and thrash
and rage.

Yes. Even this weekend.
My pride is wounded.
I need help,
but I DESPISE that need.
I want people to swoop in and help me, to magically and instinctively just KNOW
but I HATE the fact that their help proves "I can't handle it...."

You see....I'm a fighter.
Not like punch-you-in-the-face or have-to-win-an-argument fighter
but you know that fight-flight instinct people have...??
Well...9 times out of 10, I will come out guns blazing, ready for action...

EVERY.
SINGLE.
TIME.

{Imagine me as a mother...I might be a raging lunatic...but that's a story for another day....}

I fight the REALITY of this unknown silent predator stealing away parts of me bit by bit that I do not want to surrender.
And it's lonely.
And it's scary.
And sometimes I just want to be a little girl again.
I don't want to face broken dreams,
scattered hope.

So...it is in THAT place....THAT season....THAT sheer agony of life where I count my gifts, shifting my focus, reminding myself of what IS real, what IS possible, what IS still promised, what....or rather IN WHOM my hope continuously rests...

In Christ alone, my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song


This cornerstone, this solid ground
 Firm through the fiercest drought and storm


What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease


My comforter, my all-in-all

Here in the love of Christ I stand

The Joy Dare

1000 gifts in 2012

154) Netflix -> Arno and I just recently jumped on the bandwagon

155) Little bits of leftover snow hanging on

156) Fluffy popcorn

157) Safety in an "almost" fire -- Thank you, Jesus!

158) Falling asleep before 10, even if only for 1 hour

159) Change in schedule meant productive and fun time to myself

160) The way the sunset brightened with that special setting

161) The shadows from the tree and of me on the driveway

162) My mom's words, "I'm just as proud of you now..."

163) The starry night -- makes me feel closer to Him

164) "Thanks for the encouragement, Lindsey. It's always a pleasure to write what I love and have people read it ant to really get it. Thank you for that. What a gift!"

165) Newly colored hair

166) My quilt

167) Peppermint tea while sick

168) My sister bringing me "supplies" & fixing me things while sick

169) Arno's nursing me even though it isn't his forte

170) One of those good heart-to-hearts with Arno

171) Catching up on some of my favorite shows

172) The stomach flu - hitting both of us - letting us both be home together on a Monday

173) My ugly sick picture from Saturday - the beauty of real life

174) The way the light hit the ugly old wood paneling in the smoke filled house

Won't you join me? Take The Joy Dare!

Here is a list of ideas to daily help you to SEE in the midst of the busy days...

Happiness Is Overrated....or is it?

Happiness is overrated.

I found myself not only uttering these words to one of our spiritual children two years ago, but fully convincing myself of their merit in my soul.

I guess I should explain.

I was ALWAYS a happy child. In fact, my grandmother even called me her "joy" because she said it radiated from me. It was like that for years and years. Honestly, in spite of the minor tragedies that every child faces as well as the constant goodbyes of the life of a missionary kid, happiness pretty much defined my life.

That is until I turned 30.

I was not worried about turning 30 like a lot of people I knew who had hated it. I felt like Jennifer Garner in 13 Going on 30....Thirty, Flirty {with my husband anyway}, and Thriving. I enjoyed my birthday bash and stepped into the new decade with a full vigor and passionate embrace of the future, leaving stupidity behind, according to Bill Wilson, ready for all that "adulthood" would now bring me.

Little could I know that in the three and a half years since that day, my life would hold more sorrow than the 30 years before combined -- sickness, longings, heart break, loss, and even death.

And while I have never believed that happiness and joy were synonymous....happiness depends on what is "happening" around you and joy is from peace with the Father and His plans for you....I had taken for granted how easy happiness had come before.

Before adulthood came full force.

Before I embraced being a grown up.

Before...LIFE....happened.

And so....happiness is overrated....became my motto.

I figured. God never promised us that we would be happy, just that He would be with us. And He was always with me. Of that, I am sure.

But lately, as life has calmed, as His healing balm has moved into the deeper recesses of my soul, I have been pondering this happiness thing, what makes me happy, and what His role is in all of it.

I find myself understanding Paul's words a bit more....

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content...

Philippians 4:12

There thumps restless longings in my heart.

There thrashes unfulfilled desires in my soul.

Still.

However....

I am learning, yet, to be content

in the gifts He gives to me

in the grace He showers upon my life

in the happiness that He breathes into my spirit.

And so maybe happiness is a bit pompous and pretentious.

But maybe, just maybe, in spite of that, BECAUSE OF THAT....

she might just be one of my best friends after all.

"Some days there won't be a song in your heart. Sing anyway." ~Emory Austin

*****

The Joy Dare

1000 gifts in 2012

133) His love through friends who do not have to love me, but do anyway
134) His love through His daily grace
135) His love through the man He gave me who kisses me with passion still
136) In losing some of my independence, I am finding art.
137) How my heart can break over children I have yet to meet
138) Turkey burgers
139) The look on Morris' face as he snuggles close for some love
140) A job with the ability to come and go at my own pace
141) The satisfaction of organized office space

142) Pretty Art Show
143) Enjoying photo shoot with my sister

144) Taking pics at Jake Ray's party
145) Time with my love -- just being together

146) The Vow -- OH! What a beautiful story!
147) My pretty Joy Dare book
148) Getting to pack a little at a time because of the short sale wait

149) Health stuff that brought forced changes in my life as well as the artist in me
150) Lots of free time for myself and with my love because of the infertility wait
151) My favorite NEW show this season, Once Upon a Time
152) Tweeting thoughts and loves about another favorite show, Downton Abbey
153) TWO job opportunities to use my love of photography -- coming soon!

Won't you join me? Take The Joy Dare!

Here is a list of ideas to daily help you to SEE in the midst of the busy days...