Reflections

There has been heaviness to this month, which I think is mostly tied to spending it so so far from Rob, my husband.  That weight is part of what has propelled me into the New Year with some very concrete goals.  My motivation is twofold; the first is to pay attention and reflect on the small and amazing workings in everyday life and the bigger picture.  I think there is so much significance to what God is going in and through me that I often miss because I don’t take the time to notice.  The second is to put myself there a little.  I love being the quiet one in the back of the room- especially when feeling vulnerable, but I think I am out growing that corner of the room and am ready to try a small act of bravery.  Now- let’s not get crazy- just having a blog feels like a step in that direction… But I plan on shaking things up a bit and telling people about it. 

I expect the execution of these goals will be messy, and that I will fall “off the wagon” at least a dozen times, while cursing up a storm.  But I also want- perhaps even need- to do these things.  There is a part of me that looks forward to struggling through the muck- the depression, the bitterness, the hopeless exhaustion and all the other barriers- while doing it.  Masochist?   Maybe…  But looking forward to the adventure.

The other side of the coin is that 2012 has been a BIG year.  In so so so many ways.  I can’t quite move into 2013 without paying proper tribute to what has been one of the most amazing and most difficult years so far. 

The highs for this year include:

1.       Lucy Dog!  A new addition to our family!

2.       Building an ottoman from a palette.

3.       An awesome road trip to Santa Barbara to celebrate Rob coming back from a month in Bahrain.

4.       Hosting a wedding at my house for very dear friends.

5.       Various Photo booths… I can never pass up a chance to make funny faces.

6.       Not feeling cheated at all over my birthday without Rob. I felt so tenderly loved in such small and simple ways.  So so blessed. 

7.       Butternut Squash.  43 of them from the garden!

8.       New and growing friendships from all sorts of large and small places.  Probably because of giving them squash...

9.       Dancing Gangnam Style in the kitchen with Rob in October. 

10.   Starting a book club without the faintest idea of what I’m doing.

11.   Countless trips to the dog park. 

There are so many more things I could include.  It was a fantastic experience to look back through old photos and remember the funny/sad/ridiculous/hysterical moments from this past year.  I shed so many tears, and have laughed a lot.  My cup truly over floweth.

I look forward to sharing goals and first steps this week!

Hello Blogging!
This has been a “loose” aspiration of mine for some time. One of those things that sounds nice, but not sure when I’ll get around to it…especially with so much laundry piling up… But now- if I am honest- I am taking this plunge more out of necessity than anything else. Have you seen that quote saying “you’re too busy not pray?” Well I think what is going on for me is that I am simply too scattered not to write about it. So many significant balls are flying in the air that I have to deliberately set aside the time to process- and a blog seems like the avenue that fits my personality the best. There is some accountability, a way to connect and link up to blogs that I am already enjoying on a regular basis and, of course, it is an easy way to share with those who are not sitting and enjoying coffee with me on my couch. Lastly, writing, although I don’t claim to be that great at it, is also something that I have always enjoyed and found cathartic.

So, a few things about me:
I have horrible grammar (feeling the need to note this as a disclaimer and an apology right up front). I promise to work on this… Someday.

I have been married to a wonderful man for a little over a year. I look forward to sharing our story. :)  Currently he is deployed for a year and we are just about half way through. Bleh…. Thankfully I have two adorable pups and a cornucopia of family and friends that make life at worst bearable, and overall hilarious.

I work as a therapist/social worker at a local homeless shelter, and I love it. I have the privilege to witness a level of healing that can only come from the Lord, and it is amazing.

I love crafts, cooking, the dog park (one of happiest place on earth- seriously!), and taking pictures.  Overall I just believe that you really do have to cultivate and nurture life-in both little and gigantic ways. New projects are always exciting to me and I look forward to chronicling them here often.

Finally, above all else, I am a Christian. Working out my salvation in daily life- whether it is dealing with emotions, conflict, or whatever comes up in this crazy world- is something that I continually work at and contemplate. I know that independently of Him, I am useless.

So, that's me in a nutshell. I aim comitted to posting at least three times a week through January, and shall see where things go from there.  I plan on starting off with sharing some of my resolutions for the the next year. 2012 took me to places I couldn't haven't imagined, and so I have nothing but high hopes for 2013. 
Thanks for stopping by! Please, introduce yourself!!