Goals

Here are the goals I set for myself to accomplish by the end of September!

• Set up and format my new computer
• Edit and post photos from my trips
• Better document about what God is showing me
• Continue to keep life organized and find opportunities to serve and love on others
• Share Jesus with the people I meet
• Encourage other in their strengths
• Spend time building on the special relationships I have with family and friends
• Purchase heart-shaped sunglasses

I did not list these in priority order, but I intend to address my progress in this fashion.  Here goes another list!  I like to go back and evaluate lists and goals I've set for myself.  It is so encouraging to see how God continues to work through all things.

1. Share Jesus with people I meet: God has definitely honored my desire in this area.  I have continually asked Him to open my eyes to the opportunities to share Him with others around me.  Through this process my trust in Him has increased, and so has my confidence.  Though I do not always execute every opportunity with perfection, nor do I always seize every opportunity, God is faithful and has provided, just as He promises He will.  He extends forgiveness and grace, and with it new boldness and courage.

2. Spend time building on the special relationships I have with family and friends:  This has also been an area that has increased vastly.  I have been able to have special time with family and friends and getting to share the love of Christ with them!  I've been blessed to have a front row seat to a couple of my family members give their lives to Jesus and accept Him as their Lord and Savior!  SO AWESOME!!!

3. Encourage others in their strengths:  This is a great goal, yet I feel I cheated by placing this on my list.  One of the spiritual gifts God has given me is encouragement.  I guess placing in on here has been more of a reminder to continue doing so!  One of the things I love doing the most is being able to encourage people and remind them of our great and mighty God, and how He sees them.  It brings my heart great joy to be able to spur others on to continue holding fast in endurance in perseverance to pursue Christ!

4. Better Document What God Is Showing Me: WOW!!!  Boy, did I ever get what I asked for.  A course that I enrolled in, called Equipped Disciple, at my church has completely blown my world in this specific area that I wanted to improve.  Daily I spend time with the Lord in His word, then in prayer, and then journaling what He shows me.

5. Continue to keep life organized and find opportunities to serve and love on others: Since I thrive with structure and organization I find spreadsheets or lists really help keep me organized and on task.  However, I have to rely and pray to God on a daily basis to bring true balance.  It is important to be organized and on task, but not if it causes me to miss the opportunities to share Christ's love and truth with others.  Of course, one could argue, "That could go on the to-do list!!"  But God works in His timing, not my schedule.  So no matter what I think I need to accomplish for the day, it is far more important to know God and make Him known!  Trusting Him fully with my choices, motivations, and priorities has been the only way to strike balance in my life.

6. Set up and format my new computer: CHECK!!  It took weeks for me to finally find time to get my new computer all set up the way I prefer.  There is still a bunch of information I need to transfer over from my old computer.  This will just have to wait.  As you see, this specific task isn't high on the priority list.

7. Edit and post photos from my trips: NOPE!  I have sorted my photos, but haven't had a lick of time to edit.  Maybe during the holidays when I'm not at work 8.5 hrs a day. :)  We'll see.  This will stay on the to-do list until I've chipped away at some of the editing.

8. Purchase heart-shaped sunglasses: If I don't have the time to edit photos I'm pretty sure I'm not worrying about purchasing sunglasses.  BUT Christmas is coming up!  It might happen to make the list!

The Redeemer

Today marks a day in our history that we will never forget.  My heart is heavy for every single person who lost someone on 9/11, whether it was an acquaintance , friend, or relative.  My heart grieves for you and with you.  Nothing leaves a scar quite like death.  It is a loss that is indescribable and almost unbearable.

I did not personally lose anyone on 9/11 but I have lost someone to a tragic unexpected death.  So I know that feelings of confusion, frustration, and the humming stillness that comes from that person's absence.  And one thing is for certain...you never forget that day!  It's seared into your mind as if it was yesterday and time moves equally fast and slow simultaneously.

But even in the great sadness our country experienced on this day, either by personally losing someone or watching these events transpire, I am thankful for each person who willingly sacrificed their life to help serve and save as many others as they could.  I am thankful for every man and woman who continues to wake up each morning and give up everything he/she has so we can keep everything we have!

Whether knowingly or unknowingly these very men and women are a reflection of Christ's own sacrifice and courage.  I am deeply grateful to God for how He uses people and situations to remind us all how we are called to live daily in sacrifice and humility, counting others better than ourselves; serving to the fullest even if it requires our own life.  And it gives me a deep conviction by the Spirit that I should be reaching out to everyone and sharing Christ with them regardless of my own circumstances because we NEVER know if we will be afforded another day!

While remembering these times of loss, trial, and grieving today I hope fellow believers are all reminded and encouraged of the hope, healing, and peace that comes from the Author and Perfecter of our faith.  I hope that it moves you to share even more boldly than before where your hope comes from.

Be reminded that God knows, understands, and cares deeply about every single thing we are going through.  God, Himself, experienced the loss of His one and only Son.  His hands and feet, nailed.  His side, pierced.  Jesus...spit on, mocked, beaten, and left alone to die the most shameful death on a cross when He had done nothing to deserve it.  Even something as horrific as this, God used it and turned it into the most beautiful gift of all!!!  How awesome is that?  It's proof that He is faithful and will continue to restore and redeem everything to His good and pleasing purposes.

Upon reflecting on the events of 9/11 my heart is spurred to live even more sacrificially, to give even more sacrificially, to LOVE even more sacrificially, and to follow even more intimately the footsteps of Christ!

I pray for everyone today that your lives would be touched, moved, and marked by God's great love, comfort, sacrifice, and understanding.  He knows you and He loves you more than you could ever imagine!  He knows what we've lost, suffered, and what is in the depths our hearts and He can handle it!  He gave up His only Son just so that we could all freely come to Him in our brokenness and be healed and experience the fullness of His love.  Even when we can't seem to make sense of things He is always right there faithfully patiently drawing us nearer to Him and promises that we are NEVER alone!

9/11 was devastating, but we all saw and experienced God pulling the people of our nation together in a time of great need, forgetting about stigmas and stereotypes.  God enabled people to come forward and courageously serve, share resources, and even give their own lives.  God's love WAS demonstrated on this day!  Let's remember this and be encouraged to live boldly in the truth that He IS the Redeemer of all creation and will continue to restore all creation until His glorious return!

Summary So Far

Here I sit confirmed in the fact that I am terrible at blogging...and I just have to laugh.  As detail-oriented and organized as I naturally am, it is not my gut reaction to blog it all down.  I think it's because I haven't made it habit yet.

Here is what I've been up to in the past several months.  I've taken a couple camping trips with my family and plan to take another one on Labor Day weekend.  I've transitioned into a new community group.  I've taken a core class (5wks long) at my place of worship to learn to confidently share my faith with even more authenticity (so refining!) and enrolled in another course called Equipped Disciple (11wks long) to teach me even more about intentionally deepening my walk with the Lord.  My computer crashed so I've just recently sorted through the last 8 months of photo files that I intend on editing in the near future!!  I started and completed a 30 day ab challenge (sounds silly, but was seriously INTENSE!)!  Learned to play Guild Wars a little bit. Sounds busy, I KNOW!  Some of it trivial and some of it strengthening!  It's all been an amazing journey though.  Growing closer to the Lord and sharing Him with others is one of my favorite things to do and through each of these circumstances I've been given that opportunity.  Busy doesn't seem to bother me when God is involved!  I'm finishing up my Sharing Your Faith with Authenticity class this week.  That will be my topic of choice for my next post!  STAY TUNED!!!

As for craft projects...I've done a few.  I'll get those photos up.  AND the room make-over...well...that just is what it is....nothing fancy.  I purchased a new bedspread and sheet set...that's the extent of it for now.  I finally finished my closet organizing.  However, it still looks crammed full.  I may delight myself to go back through it again!


My goals to complete before the end of September:

-Set up and format my new computer
-Edit and post photos from my trips
-Better document about what God is showing me
-Continue to keep life organized and find opportunities to serve and love on others
-Share Jesus with the people I meet
-Encourage other in their strengths
-Spend time building on the special relationships I have with family and friends
-Purchase heart-shaped sunglasses <3 p="p">
Well that's it for this week faithful blog readers!

Life Happens!

Hello!  I must first apologize for taking my sweet time to publish new blog posts.  Hark!  There is an explanation for my recent absence from blogging.  Of course, all great reasoning has to start with "See..what had happened was..."!  Tehehe.  I have been diligently helping my photographer boyfriend (Joseph) continue organizing his business.  He has entered into most of the local festivals and art markets in our area. Therefore, we are at a show almost every other weekend.  It has been such a joy standing by his side helping him with anything and everything.  I've really been able to have an intimate glimpse at how God is growing him to become and even more Godly man.  Please check out his website: www.formessencephoto.com.  I am humbled that the Lord would place me in the role of helper to such an amazing man of integrity!

In the midst of art show preparations I came down with laryngitis and a terrible ear infection.  I was sick for about a week.  I usually get sick once a year during the winter due to weather shifts back and forth.  This year we really didn't have a winter so I thought I was in the clear.  I was WRONG!  Luckily bed rest and tons of hydration was all I needed.  Also, I lost the card for my camera.  I went to transfer the photos from the card to my computer, but was distracted by all the spring cleaning, organization, and craft ideas for my room.  I carelessly left my camera card sitting on a shelf and forgot I placed it there.  I found it less than a week ago and will be posting photos of several projects I've been working on and a few photos of my room transformation.  It's been coming along slowly but surely.

Even with all the ups and downs and influx of activities since the weather has perked up the Lord has graciously still given me time each day to rest in Him and His word.  I try most diligently to see these opportunities and make the most of them.  *Insert sigh of contentment* He is so gracious and faithful and I am ever thankful of His provision, timing, and love everyday.

Something that's even more exciting than all of the recent busyness of life is an upcoming road/camping trip.  My parents and I will be traveling to Colorado Bend Texas State Park this Friday morning.  Joseph will be joining us too!  I love landscape photography and have been attempting it for a couple years now, but Joseph is such an amazing landscape photographer.  We haven't had the privilege to go on a shoot together since we've known each other (almost a year).  Landscape photography is something we are both passionate about and sharing this particular passion has brought us closer together.  That makes the anticipation of this trip even more exciting!  I'm excited to see what we come up with!  I'll be methodically taking notes throughout the trip as well.  Hopefully I'll have some tales to share upon our return!

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/colorado_bend/

Colorado Bend is a photographer's paradise!!  It's the home to Gorman Falls, little birds and many other critters, and some very interesting caves; which I feel with every fiber of my being that I MUST explore!!!  Back around the end of February Joseph and I took a day trip to scout the scenery.  All the trees were still half bare and it was a tad chilly once the sun went down, but the falls were amazing!  We decided that it was definitely an area we'd like to go back and visit.  This time we'll be geared up for some serious shooting (with cameras, of course) and intense hiking.  I'm hoping all the recent rain has caused Gorman Falls to gush even more robustly over the edge of it's cliff.  I'll post some comparison shots from this trip and February.  If you've not visited this park before at some point it should go on your "To Visit" list.  When I was reading the reviews online for this park several websites reported that a person would experience nature exactly how the first explorers coming through the CO River would have experienced it.  I wasn't sure if I believed this particular review but upon arrival on our February day trip the surroundings seemed to be true to the aforementioned statement!  It's remote, has no electricity, a variety of trails ranging from easy to difficult, absolutely no road noise or light pollution, and camping right along the Colorado River.  If you are a person who LOVES an authentic camping experience Colorado Bend is a place for you to try.  WOW!  I just sounded like a commercial there...hahaha.  Sorry about that.  I just love this place am so elated to share an entire four days enjoying God's creation with my family and the love of my life.

I hope everyone has a most blessed week and I promise to post photos of a variety of things very very very soon!

Spring Make-Over Update

I finally started my spring cleaning room make-over projects.  However, I do not have any photos to post yet.  I just haven't been able to find the time to upload them to my computer.  In between art shows/markets and landscape photography trips each step is coming together piece by piece and slowly but surely.  I started with purchasing brand new crisp white bed sheets to soften all the bold dark browns in my room, courtesy of my furniture.  Then I went out and bought some fancy clearance drapery material to make decorative pillows.  My walls are already a light green which makes accessorizing much easier.  I have also started constructing soft delicate paper flowers to make an arrangement that will fit the season.  I can hardly wait for Easter weekend.  I hope it brings forth a lovely balance of rest and craft time.  I have a wonderful plan for some custom art that I'll be bringing into my new space.  My talented amazing boyfriend (Joseph Taub) is a photographer and made a couple extra large prints (36x48) of some of his work.  He's not planning on using one of them and may allow me to use it as I please.  If this arrangement takes place I'll be making some sort of collage with it.  At some point I'll be writing a blog post on his work.

Alas, I still have not started on my beastly closet.  I am basically going to take everything out and rearrange all of it.  I always seem to procrastinate taking action on this particular chore. Every time I glance in my closet I just keep telling myself, "I'll do that another weekend.  I want to do the fun projects now, then maybe I'll feel motivated to clean my closet."  FALSE.  This cycle of thinking is the reason for the current condition of my closet: total disaster!  I'll definitely be taking some photos of this project!  How embarrassing!  Ahhh!

Okay this is all for now.  I'll be posting updates of this rather large project from time to time.  Hopefully with photos sometime soon.

OH one last thing.  I'll be taking a trip in a couple weeks to a State Park in Texas for some wonderful Spring shots!  I am extremely excited!  I'll be camping and hiking with my parents and Joseph.  He'll be taking the time to teach me a few extra photography techniques.  More on that another time!  Have a wonderful week!

Sharing Time.

Everyday we are faced with having to make choices.  Prioritizing responsibilities and time are a part of this and can be a challenge.  When I am making my list for the day I like go back over it and check my motives behind the tasks I want to accomplish.  Yes, I am a list person!  It helps to hold myself accountable and helps to maximize efficiency if there is a time crunch.  As an introvert and only child I, more often than not, have the tendency to schedule my desired tasks to be completed above other things that are more important.  I plan such an array of tasks for the day that I don't always see opportunities that Christ has set before me.  This is not to say that lists are not important, but the tasks I've listed are not always time sensitive or supremely necessary to set as priority.   Discernment is key for me when I'm up against my to-do's and sharing my time.  Here are some questions I usually ask myself (of course, in list form):

-Is it necessary for the whole list to be completed today!?
-Does it allow for opportunities to help others, if a need arises during the day?
-Am I trying to distract myself from dealing with/thinking about something?
-Am I using this list as an excuse not to spend time with others, including God?
-Even though I may have many things "to do" is this really the best choice for the time the Lord has given me today?
-Is there something that needs my time and/or attention more than my list today?
-Does my life reflect Christ regardless of the tasks I feel I need to finish?

Depending on how I respond to these very important questions I usually have to pray, re-prioritize, and shift my perspective to be less self focused!  I am thankful during these times that God shows His forgiveness and faithfulness in that while I can sometimes be selfish with my time He still loves me, forgives me, and guides me even in the small day to day tasks.  In the end it's not really "my" time, it's God's!  He has given me time so that I might live for, reflect, serve, and glorify Him.  I strive to make sure my relationship with Christ is never just a checklist.  I love spending time with Him, learning from His word, and just resting in His presence.  Something I press toward each day is to purposefully make my life count for Christ in the choices I make.  Of course, not from my own will or strength, but acknowledging that all comes from Him.  He gave me life and continues to give me life each day so that I can make Him known.  Am I stewarding His time well?  Trusting the Lord with my time, talents, and treasures is something He is continually working on in me.  By sacrificing "selfish" time I have a front row seat to God's work in the lives of those around me and also in my own life.  Full submission to Him with my time brings such a sense of peace and joy, even if it is sacrificing something as small as time between tasks.  Again this is not to say that lists aren't important and that proper down time isn't needed.  I'm simply sharing how I go about prioritizing time, tasks, and responsibilities by letting God lead in something as small as my to-do lists.

Organization

It is almost officially spring time!  I'm definitely ready.  I have decided to start on some traditional spring cleaning and some new craft projects.  As a woman I look around my bedroom and still see remnants of my college dorm days.  Everything is storage sized and I still have my hodgepodge sheets and quilts that don't quite fit my bed.  I recently rearranged my room, brought in a new bed, and reused some old shelves I had to make a new headboard.  However, I am interested in a new bedspread, pillowcases, and adding some delicate soft touches to make it feel more like spring in my humble abode than a college dorm room!  The first victim on my list for some much needed organization is my beastly closet!  I have a system in place, but I'd like something a little more...streamlined?  Yes, that's the word I'm looking for.  The organization will just take time while the makeover may take some extra cash that I just don't have.  I've recently joined Pinterest to help come up with some delicate sophisticated designs in addition to my own ideas.  I am already excited just writing about it!  I am challenging myself to makeover my room with less than $100!  So I'll have to use materials I already own and do lots of scouting at resale and craft shops.  I'll be sure to post progress photos along the way :)  Yay fun!

Blog Use

I can't decide what to use my little blog spot for. My thoughts, crafts, photography, art, interests, or faith. Maybe I can just fit in a little bit of everything. I am deciding on a style and format for this blog. I have experimented around a little, but I'm still not learned on all the designs and styles. I feel like I may not be a great candidate for blogging. I tried journaling when I was a young girl and I've picked it back up again. After a few months I always seemed to fall away from the routine. However, I was pretty extreme about the expectations of myself during the journaling process. I thought I was supposed to journal EVERY day. Ugh...how demanding. It was when a close girlfriend of mine explained that it was more of a free flow idea, rather than an everyday demanding task, that I realized I could let go of that expectation for myself. I guess I only had to go on what I'd seen, which was mostly from movies, which was to journal nearly everyday. I'm not using the blog as a journal, but I plan on carrying over the same principle. That way I'll blog when I have something of interest that I'd like to share. I know, I know...this is a pretty elementary concept that when saying it out loud or typing it brings on a "duh!" moment. However, you'll have to forgive my naivety on the topics of blogging, content, and frequency.