Traveling Thoughts

            Jesus was a name I heard the adults talking and whispering about around town. People couldn’t stop talking about the healing and teaching that Jesus was doing around our community. So, I was excited when my mom told me we were going to follow and see Jesus for ourselves. Packing my things quickly for this adventure, we joined the multitudes to search for this man called Jesus.              Once we found him on this mountain, I took advantage of my size as I weaved in and out of the crowd towards the front so I could hear Jesus’ words for myself. He was teaching his close friends but what I overheard was amazing. I had never heard anything like it: “Blessed are the poor in spirit…those who mourn…the meek…those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…the merciful…the pure in heart…the peacemakers.” He promised the Kingdom of Heaven, comfort, being filled, receiving mercy, an...

The countdown is on – there are only a few more hours left before the end of the year! Once again, in the last few hours and minutes of the year, I find myself processing what has taken place and looking toward the future with a spirit of hope. This end of year reflection on the power of words is something that I’ve found to be a helpful and meaningful practice.  One of the quotes that I’ve found meaningful when moving into a new season, year, etc. and not wanting to take the baggage that is the past is this "Yearning for a new way will not produce it. Only ending the old way can do that. You cannot hold onto the old, all the while declaring that you want something new. The old will defy the new; The old will deny the new; The old will decry the new. There is only one way to bring in the new. You must make room for it." -Neal Donald Walsch  2018 – Celebrate In thinking through the word I would select for 2018, I was inspired by Colony House’s “Mo...

Words carry unbelievable power. Words have the unique ability to help, to bring joy, to encourage, to destroy, to cause pain, to shame, or to humble. Our words matter. This not only applies to the words we speak to others, but what we say to ourselves. I strongly believe that we can be our own worst critic and say things to ourselves that we would NEVER dream to say (or think about) to other people.   Knowing my tendency to listen to my inner critic and leaning into the idea of living a purposeful and meaningful life, ( check out the first part of the blog here ) I decided at the end of 2013 to select a POSITIVE word to live into in the coming year. That started a chain reaction of going year to year over the last 5 years as a way live a meaningful story and a practice I plan to continue.  My inspiration in sharing these past words and the word for 2019, comes from a graphic artist friend, Adam Cassidy . Adam created a logo for the Kettering  Before...

As each year comes to a close and we anticipate what is in store for the new year, I have found this period of "in-between" to be a sacred time of reflection.  Looking back to the end of 2013, I was ready to move on and for the year to be over (anyone else experience this some years?). It was a year of tragedy, loss, and grief with the passing of two people I deeply love only weeks apart. I spent the rest of the year reeling trying to make sense of it. For the first time, I grasped how finite life is and felt a deep drive to live my story in a meaningful way. One of the reflections I wrote down during this period was,  “Living an intentional life with purpose and direction isn’t something we naturally do. That part takes practice, commitment, and discipline.”  At the end of 2013, I wasn’t happy with what word I would use to describe my year. While thinking about this, I decided I wanted to start tangibly living out the quote above by choosing a word or ph...

Having a restless, gypsy heart makes for a lot of moving, even if it is within a 30 mile radius. Perhaps it was living in the same house growing up that has prompted this desire to live in different communities, but I have found myself moving 8 different times in the last decade. For me, it wasn’t until I’m packing and physically moving boxes am I finally confronted with the amount of THINGS and STUFF I have. Instead of waiting until my next move to be almost embarrassed with all the unnecessary possessions that I have, I’ve decided to take on the Minimalist Game  this May. The rise of popularity in the Minimalist movement has really intrigued me and gotten my attention. I’ve found myself reading articles and posts on wardrobe capsules , tiny houses , and how some millennials are embracing this revolution . Well, the wardrobe capsule post inspired me to clear out my closet and drawers, which resulted in 10 bags either being donated or tossed, but I highly doubt that I ca...

"When I grow up…I want to be Miss Ohio." This was my first sentence for a writing assignment in 3rd grade.   You see my teacher, Miss Hooker, was in her first year of teaching because she placed third for Miss Ohio.  At least that’s what I thought. I figured that I could win and that would be my career. I had a year of piano under my belt, I loved wearing dresses that twirled, I could walk in a straight line, smiling and waving were no-brainers, and I loved answering questions. How hard could it be? Turns out, making a career out of being Miss Ohio isn’t a thing. I was crushed to learn this fact when I received my paper back with Miss Hooker’s note of being flattered that I wanted to follow in her footsteps, but suggested that I look for something more long term. If I were honest, even if Miss Ohio could be a career, I’m not exactly the most qualified. I stopped playing the piano years ago, I am no longer a fan of wearing dresses, I’m lucky if I don’t trip ...

A friend asked me today how I was feeling. The truth was, I was feeling AND thinking a lot, which is par for the course. However, I have always found myself being much more introspective at the end of the year. I have a feeling I’m not alone. As the year comes to a close and we anticipate the coming year, there is so much to reflect on. I’m not a regular “journaler” – but over the last 10+ years I’ve found myself writing down reflections at the end of the year. It’s amazing to look back at journal entries isn’t it? To see how we spent so much time worrying about something and to see how it all worked itself out. Or how things seemed to unfold in new and unexpected ways, often for the best even if we found ourselves unsure initially. Looking back on what I wrote for the end of 2013, I was ready to move on and for the year to be over. It was a year of tragedy, loss, and grief with the passing of two people only weeks apart. I spent the rest of the year reeling t...