On having inspirational artwork

I would like to have this needle-pointed on a pillow, tattooed on my forehead, and painted artistically on distressed wood & hung in my home. Thankful for reminders that having honor is worth working for.

"The difference between great and mediocre is follow-through. Faithfulness is of more value than talent or favor and steadfastness is the most rare of all." 

-- Misty Edwards, Worship Leader at the International House of Prayer

On rocks

I like to pick things up when I go places-- nothing weird-- just the occasional rock or shell or leaf.  Call me sentimental, call me strange-- but I love it!  It reminds me of where I've been.  And where others have been.  And it reminds me to be impressed with where I am because of where I've been-- and to grow.  And the reason that I'm sharing this with you is because the other day I was given back my favorite bag which went on some international travels with a friend a few weeks ago.  And I went to put it up, and I felt something lumpy in the pocket.  I unzipped the pocket, and to my delight, she brought me back a rock!

Thankful for holy dirt- in every way and shape we carry it with us!

That's half the battle

{All that dust, you'll find, is really gold}- Carolina Story

Thankful for Saturday

It's raining out.  And for some reason I always think better when it's raining.  Should I be putting all of this productive  rain-brainpower into my Wednesday night Fusion message?  Yep.  Instead?  I'm contemplating how tremendously blessed I am, and how glad I am to have friends who meet me in the middle and who remind me not to take myself too seriously, to sit comfortably in my own skin & to never under-sell beauty. And who always, always remind me that conversations don't have to move quickly to count, because sometimes we just have to let our surroundings speak peace for us.  

And now, to that Wednesday message...

thankful for letters

If there's one thing that I love, it's letters.  I love checking my mailbox; I love finding small, slightly-larger-than-square, colorful envelopes adorned with handwriting. It's my favorite reason to check my mailbox.  Because let's all be honest, bills, and coupons I'll never use are boring and adult, and therefore, super lame. In my brain, a letter represent more than just goodness in my mailbox.  It represents effort.  Someone who intentionally grabbed a pen, a piece of paper or a card, and sat down to tell me about their life, to share a word of wisdom or encouragement, or simply to write something, no matter how silly or stream-of-consciousness.  I love that-- and it consistently fills my heart with gratitude.  I am blessed, indeed, to have friends near and far who know my heart-- and fill my mailbox.

Changing seasons sometimes demand a little facelift

For the past year, this tiny, minuscule corner of the internet has been dedicated to my adventures in Athens as an intern with the Wesley Foundation.  And what a sweet season it was!  But just like the weather, the seasons of life tend to turn.  And mine has absolutely turned upside down!  In both good and challenging ways.  And thus, to commemorate the beginning of a new season {2 months late... but no judgement}, this little corner of my world is going to get a facelift!  And so for at least the next little while, this place will be dedicated to spoonfuls of gratitude-- and how a little can make so much of life sweet.

Don't worry- pictures will still be yours in abundance, and for the mighty few of you who faithfully follow this blog, hopefully I will be more consistent this year!  But, you know, don't hold your breath or anything :).

Carving out a place

So, in the past 2 months, I:  said goodbye to Wesley, interviewed for a job, was offered a job, took a job, went to Israel for 2 weeks, suffered through days of jetlag upon returning to America, packed up my things in Athens, moved, started a new job, participated in a local mission experience, and worked 2 weeks on the job.

What?

My life feels unreal right now, to say the least.  And it is an adjustment (biggest understatement of the century-- and it's only 2013).  I've experienced moments of excitement to be starting something new, moments of panic because I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing, and moments of sadness because I miss Athens and all of the people, places, and comforts that are associated with that place.  There's a lot that goes into starting over somewhere new.  But as I sat in my totally unfurnished apartment this weekend, feeling lonely and overwhelmed, I kept hearing a song play over and over in my head called "Carving Out a Place."  It's by an International House of Prayer (IHOP) worship leader named Laura Hackett.  Besides being absolutely beautiful, it reminded me of the goodness of the Father--- that though I live in a new place, I still call Him "home."  And no matter where I go, He goes before me, travels with me, and hems me in from behind.  And that even in this new, unfamiliar place, He will faithfully carve out a place for me, and make more space in my heart to love a new place and new people along the way.  Praise the Lord, oh my soul.

He's carving out a place in me

That I might contain His Glory

Making a bigger space in me

That I might contain His Glory

Israel pictures & stories coming soon!