Five...ahem TEN....Minute Friday :: Thank You

Thank You!

I woke up yesterday, looked out the window to Thanksgiving world, and felt a burst of gratitude well up in my soul.

It surprised me really because thanks in the hard seasons, the hard journeys that have no easy answers and no quick outcomes, finds me more often breathless than thankful.

So I am learning to choose.
It has been a-several-year-pilgramage.
One in which I am still traveling.
Probably always will.

But on this day where we remember the day our ancestors broke bread with the original Americans, I pause in my heart and draw thanks, bubbling up like a well in my soul.

Thank You!

....Sis, for spending this Thanksgiving with me. It has been so long and I forgot how much fun it is when you are around. I had learned to accept "the way it was" and thankful this year for the gift of you.

Thank You!

....Family, for an amazingly, beautiful, NO-DRAMA day. The pleasant vibe throughout the meal, the easy conversations, the feeling of REAL connections...wow...just blessed my heart so much! I left thinking, "That was really lovely!"

Thank You!

.....Cousin, for hacking into my Facebook page as we planned our Black Friday shopping outings. I do think you are "the best." At least one of the best in my world anyway. And I love that you "include" me in the planning of the shopping day, even though I have never actually attended before today.

Thank You!

.....again, Sis, for being there, because going Black Friday shopping without you would not have been the same. C'mon, let's face it. I would probably never have gone. I love that I got to share that first experience with you and auntie and cuzzie and cuzzie's girl. The NFL corner of Wal*Mart may never look the same again. Hopefully the people that shopped with us were too delirious at 3 a.m. to even remember our turkey-druken stupor of nonsense and loudness...okay, okay...MY loudness!

Basically....it was one of my favorite Thanksgivings ever.
And that was a treat, a gift, a surprise.

So, Jesus, thanks for that gift.
It was super special.

What I Am Into These Days :: Fall 2012 Edition

Listening ... I haven't been listening to any one thing consistently recently. A few months ago, I purchased Deluge's latest album, Swell, and my favorite song there that stirs my heart is He Rose. Mandisa JUST released a Christmas album this year which I place to break out after Thanksgiving. {Review on that coming soon!}

Watching ... I absolutely ADORE The Voice. I will admit that I am quite often teary at a beautiful performance or watching an artist be praised for their efforts. I love to see a dreamer see some of their dreams coming true. Arno and I have been watching Alias together as neither of us saw it during its 6(or 7) season long run. Gotta love Netflix! I have also been catching up with Doctor Who on Netflix which I truly love. And of course, I could not wait until Downton Abbey was released in the U.S. in January, so I all caught up along with my U.K. friends in the current season. Love Mary and Matthew and I can honestly say shot that I STILL get a thrill of excitement every time I hear the musical intro. #MustDownload My interests are teasingly diverse...yes..that's me!

**Photo Credit

Reading ... I really did a lot of fictional catch up over the summer but seemed to have paused in that endeavor as of late. However, I am in the middle of Ted Dekker's {my favorite Christian fiction author}latest release, The Sanctuary. {Review on that coming soon too!}.  I am also really excited to be a part of the launch team for Graffiti by Alene Snodgrass. Stay tuned on my Twitter feed for more details about this amazing book from BOTH sides of the street. So amazing!

Pinning ... I recently bought Pinterpretation by Holly Gerth and Stephanie Bryant at Squee. I haven't written down all of my answers yet, but it was SUPER fun to go through my boards with all of the questions that they have AMAZINGLY come up with to figure out more of how I am wired! {I totally recommend it!}

Eating ... Um. Salted Caramel. EVERYTHING. The end.

Drinking ... See above. {Thank you, Starbucks, for this --> Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate}

**Photo Credit

Wearing ... Bought some fun random items recently :: sleeveless tuxedo dress, three-quarter length sleeved sheer white top with ruffles, a red ruffled skirt with blue flowers, a polka-dotted scarf, a maroon cotton dress, oh..and..two new pair of jeans. {Taking cute & comfy shoe suggestions for boot cut jeans. Criteria :: Must be able to wear "cutely"WITH socks and MUST be flats...no tennis shoes...comment below PLEASE!!}. Fall is my favorite clothing time of year with tights and boots and scarves. #SoFun

Feeling ... Winter weather is a bit tough on my body with recurring chronic pain flareups and insomnia issues. Thank you for your prayers on my behalf that it would be an AMAZING winter and not a painful one. Scared a bit about our foster care journey...some technical issues have put a pause on the progress but more on that at a later date.

Weather ... This week the forecast is sunny and high 50's -- just beautiful! Should make for perfect Thanksgiving weather!

Wanting ... A new telephoto lens for my DSLR. My current one is twelve years old and is slowly "giving up the ghost." Also for my oven to be fixed soon...looking forward to baking some yummy things this season...hopefully!

**Photo Credit

Needing ... to learn balance in my schedule, in my personality, in my goals, in my approach to life {creativity vs practical}

Thinking ... Christmas! Yay! My absolute favorite season and with this great room, I plan to have the BIG tree of my childhood dreams. #WhoSaysYouHaveToGrowUp

Enjoying ... fireplaces in our new-ish home, visits from long-time college pals, photography classes with my sister, time to learn and grow and process, and as always...His never-ending grace.

What about you? What are you currently up to?
Would love to hear your life-song in this season.

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. 

Five Minute Friday {And Then Some}: Together

Some seasons are lonely, hard, filled with anxiety and pain.
Sometimes people do not know how to be there for you.
Sometimes it is because you just do not let them in.
A lot of times.

We have been in flux, a holding pattern for a few years now.
Infertility. Chronic Pain. Changing countries, jobs, careers, life direction.
Waiting for the Lord to reveal the whys and hows of this next season.

And even waiting to buy a house.
Searching for a year.
Finally making the best choice {in our price range}
Putting in an offer
And then
more waiting
and waiting
and waiting.

One month
Two months
Three, then four
And sometimes you wonder will it EVER, EVER, EVER change
This waiting.
This holding.

Five months and finally, key in hand, we walk through our front door.




And suddenly, friends flock to help, parents fly across the water, people give up their evenings to paint and to clean and to make meals to help us transition this house into our home.

You see, I realize now, they have been waiting too.
Hoping.
Praying.
Sorrowing in the shadows.
Wishing they could move the hands of time for us
And make our dreams come true.

And knowing that words often hurt more help in the rawest of places, they silently waited supporting...
And now, as we hold one promise in our hands, we find many arms gathering around us
rejoicing FOR us
Loving ON us
Seeing WITH us.
Finding the courage to know that God is not slack concerning His promises.

That together, in the shadows or in arms, we stand stronger.

We have been busy all week preparing to move

{this weekend}

into our new home!

Yay!

More words and pictures to come next week as we settle in.

I CAN'T WAIT to share it with you lovelies!

Thank you for all of your faithful prayers

and beautiful words of support and encouragement.

You SO Rock!

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...

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...