With Eyes that See

I am thankful now for all I see-- for friends and for family. Where do I belong? Wherever I am. How will I be strong? The Great I am.

This thanksgiving was a huge blessing to be with my eldest brother, his wife and his mother-in-law. I helped cook the turkey, mashed potatoes, green beens and we had a marvelous feast. I felt reminded over and over of the abundance of God's provisions for me. I will never want for anything because God provides for me. The only time I will ever feel lack is when I seek provision from the wrong source. Such as happiness from a wallet or joyfulness from having a friend. Instead when my joy and happiness rest on the Father-- He never disappoints or fails me. Not that life is easy because it isn't. Life hurts sometimes and it is hard, but I learn so much from the hard days and from the pains of life. I realize what I am truly made for isn't all this.

The holidays are always rough when away from family. I remember getting physically sick when I was little when my parents left me at friends for the night. I'd always end up with an earache and fever or something... Now my heart just gets sick.

My strength and hope must be in more than relationships, friends and even family. It must be in the Lord and my hope will be on solid ground.

I am thankful that I have faith that God is mighty enough that even my lack and my failures cannot ruin the destiny and purpose He has for me. :D

Thankfulness

Memphis

Fall Creek Falls

Niki and Rich's Wedding

Minneapolis

Mall of America

Music and Molasses Festival

Ellington Agriculture Center

Seasons come and go, but life always has its challenges :) I am so thankful for that.. especially after last weeks emanate message by Chip Judd. He spoke on being passionate for life and not settling into a slump of habit and coasting. I love the idea of how God challenges us and helps us to continue to grow throughout our lives no matter how old we are. I feel like I shouldn't struggle with coasting yet as I am still in a great part of life where there is a lot that is new and exciting... but I often find I still need to give myself a new challenge or step into a new situation or try something new. One of my current goals is to work on self discipline. I often want to be with friends or go out of the house to events, but I still need to keep things at home in order and do first things first :) Another goal is to be more positive about life and about where I am and about the struggles that come with that...

I'm excited about what is to come... The summer is long gone and autumn is ending... What will winter bring?

Fly Away

Somedays I repeat one of the last things I remember my grandma saying to me "I just want to fly". I sometimes think I wish for it too... Then I realize I'm not ready for that just yet- at least not in the way she meant it. I have to live out my dreams, chase after the wind to find the sunlight and discover there are too many mysteries in life to ever have all the answers.

This week I was blessed to be able to visit my sister, Cecelia. She shared with me the secret of 750words.com... but to be honest, I still prefer my paper journal-- but now I feel challenged to put something on there each night to earn the badges. What is it with the secret of the amazing amount of motivation we all get from gold stars?

Last night, I went through Celia's house with her... and I discovered several treasures I get to bring home with me :) Yippee! She is so generous, plus she is moving so it's a win win kind of situation anyways. She was able to pack up some of her things to be used at my house so she doesn't have to haul it all in her cross country move in a few months.

Currently her cat, Ninja Kitty, is curling up beside me and purring... Haha. Such a funny cat, I guess she's decided she likes me despite the fact we both ignored each other all yesterday. I'm secretly glad (I guess not such a big secret ;) ) that I only have an avocado plant at home.. and no animals. Pets are expensive! At least for me right now..

I wonder sometimes at how it came to be that I am where I am today. I have been blessed to go many places and I still run off in the chances I get for some sort of exploration. If only I'd been born before so I could be one in the number of those who travelled across the seas from England to give life a try on American soil.. or in the times of the Oregon trail and walked those dusty paths and bumpy roads all the way to the beautiful Northwest. I wasn't born in those times though... I was born in 1987. This is a different kind of world to discover. Amongst the pavement, pruned paths and manicured meadows sometimes it is hard to feel as if there is anything left to discover.

Today, I'm going to go discover the old cemetery at the entrance of Celia's apartments. It has a crazy lure about it.. it looks as if no one ever even thinks about it.. I wonder what I will find?