Trekking with Me

It's 2018! A few weeks in now, and it's looking to be a good year already.  Before we focus on the brightening horizon ahead, I want to make some acknowledgements of some significant events of 2017. 2017 was a roller coaster of a ride for me.  It had some breathtaking climbs and unexpected falls with twists and turns.  It was not only this figuratively, I had several opportunities with friends and family to literally ride world-class roller coasters on a few occasions(Yes, I rode The Fury at Carowinds!!); something I had not done in many years.  Obviously the metaphoric parallels did not escape me. 1. Some of my higher, sweeter moments include doing a few rounds of Whole30  - an elimination 30-day diet that can change your life if you embrace it for what it is designed to do!  It's more than a diet, it's a transformation of how you relate to food, opening new understanding in how our body responds to foods.   The results/fruit of going through thi...

My soul is so grieved over the loss of Robin Williams. It seems so odd that I would feel such grief over someone I did not personally know.  I know many grieve this loss, and deeply so. So this morning I stopped and asked, why does this affect me so? He connected with my soul. There was something in Robin Williams , the characters he brought to life, that connected with something in me.  He made us laugh indeed, but his dramatic performances also made us feel, there was such an authenticity in his characters.   Some of my favorite films were Patch Adams , Good Will Hunting , Awakenings .   Some of his roles were not exactly where I stand on my values and convictions, so I can't endorse everything ethically and morally.  Sadly and obviously, the spiritual state and direction of our culture is expressed in the arts.  Yet as an actor, he was able to embody and connect us to the cry of the human soul; he voiced, questioned, made us feel, ask and...

Happy New Year!!! My usual habit of posting something on the new year's day or eve was debunked this year!  I was hit with a heavy malady causing all creative energy and desire to seep out of my brain and body. So, my fresh start has had a little drag!  I am still dragging a bit but almost up to full speed.  I lost my voice in the midst of it all.  Monday I went to work and squeaked my way through: it was a good day anyhow.   I was glad to see my students and get rolling again! No real new resolutions this year, just the typical get healthier and try to make that 10K again this year. I feel like I am on a new plateau of sorts, happy for the recent breakthrough, joy in my work and balanced in my being; experiencing greater freedom, peace and joy.  Like that last lap after swimming hard: it's time to relax and breath a bit before leaving the pool. As I swish through the waters of my memories, I thought it would be nice to remember some of my favorite ...

I don't feel worthy to write this; yet I want to, am compelled to. Today is Emily Kiersten Rund's Birthday - she is spending it with Jesus, dancing before His Glorious Throne. I was not one of her closest friends, I can't share lots and lots of memories but I was one who watched her - and the mysterious joy and fun she shared, inspired... created.  I was simply a mentor of sorts, a boss during the summers and a friend during the rest of the time.  I wish I could have known her more... A few things I did share with her were some priceless conversations over a few home cooked meals, coffee, camp runs and the Florida sunshine on the lake at camp.  Our conversations were deep, full of questions and desire for God, wrestling over life and the things we don't really understand but want to know... I felt I shared her searching Spirit... her longing for Life, hunger for more of what God intended life to be... for clarity... for God Himself. One thing I saw in her was h...

1.  Friendships:  This year was blessed with various people who enriched my life.  To New and Old, Thank You for sharing your life with mine... one can only be blessed when we open our hearts to love. 2.  Adventures:  I can already tell I may have to get more specific - so, we will start broad and move down... From sailing into the sunset on Lake Murray, to my weekend in Ashville with the girls to my first visit to Yoghut and Contra Dancing, each and every adventure was loved! 3.  Family! My whole family were here this year.  "Here" must be defined! HERE in the USA! My brother and his family were home on furlough, so we enjoyed many holidays, parties, and good times hanging out together! 4.  Four Seasons:  Living in SC has it's advantages - I loved experiencing each season: HOT HUMID FRUITFUL summer ;Vibrant, cool Fall, Snow (at least twice!) and a reason to drink lots of hot drinks and make yummy soups Winter, lovely & surprising S...

"What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High. Trust ME in your times of troubles, and I will rescue you, and you will GIVE ME GLORY!" Psalm 50:14-15 "But giving thanks is a sacrifice that TRULY HONORS me, If you keep to my paths, I will reveal to you the salvation of God." Psalm 50:23

It's New Years eve and my favorite thing to do on this "holiday" is to reflect over the past year and journal what I see. I like new beginnings, I like clear turning points, I like to see the footsteps behind me and even though some of the ground I covered was rough and jagged, I discover that I did grow, God was faithful and Good through it. My heart is always encouraged. So, tonight I thought I would journal some of the highlights of 2008: One of the top most things that I experienced was the best teaching experience I have had in my teaching career. I remembering trembling with fear as I approach the last teaching assignment in a new, rough school and asking people to pray for me. The whole experience was phenomenal. Everything from God providing me a place to stay as the commute was really far and the gas was really expensive, the students I taught, the subject I taught, the friends God put around me, the beautiful mornings driving to school and the new friend...

Yesterday I enjoyed almost a whole day at home. Now, that may not sound exciting to some but when your schedule is in "weird" mode - no rhyme or reason, a day to just be at home is such a gift! I love being at home; I love traveling as well but the womanly part of me that is a God given domestic side is alive! Being that clouds were rolling in, eventually bringing rain made it even more a "stay at home" kind of day. I had plenty of studying to keep me busy; one great thing about being in seminary is that 99% of my school work is geared toward studying about God and His word! What can be better than that? I have to admit I wasn't really doing well on focusing on my school work but i was enjoying God! So as i was doing this, and pondering (and procrastinating) some projects I took some time to look back over this past year on my blog. I found some unexpected encouragement. Last spring I wrote about what God was doing as I taught school, worked and lived the...

It has been a wonderful week. I SING His Praise! Do you ever feel that God has you in HIS CLASSROOM? That is how i feel. So many thoughts have passed through my head this week - so many little tidbits i felt the Lord whispering into my Spirit. Some of those thoughts were.... My sweet friend Emily...she was killed last year on April 20 in a car accident. She was only 23, vibrant, loving Jesus and just such a unique person. She touched MANY...her death seemed (still seems) so untimely...and she comes to mind lots. My heart is heavy for the grief i know her family is still experiencing....missing her so badly. I miss her too. Thoughts of her....lead me to think of Heaven...and what she may want to say to us. Heaven is our home...i prayed with more fervency this week that I would be more heavenly minded...Seeking first His Kingdom. All else will burn, fade, die...disappear. I also had thoughts of marriage...and the mystery that it is....i am still on the single side of re...

Thank the Lord for New Mercies every morning! I don't know who is actually reading this blog of mine but maybe it is simply something God will use to encourage someone (maybe only me?!) to remember His faithfulness... This morning I ran across a wonderful article from the LifeWay website, entitled "Walk On: Five Characteristics of Christlikeness" written by Victor Lee. One verse he brought out really encouraged me.... Romans 15:4-5 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.” Several passages come to mind that spoke directly to me - a Rhema word to my heart! The two that come to mind are Psalm 37 and Genesis 42:36b (how often have i said this - yet we see the bigger picture in this OT story that God is all over the details to ...

Italy was an adventure! Genova is breathtaking...a challenging community clinging to the cliffs of mountains on the edge of the meditteranean sea....we spenta week there - about three days it was sun shiney and one beautiful day we walked along the edge of the world taking in the sights of rugged cliffs and the incredibly beautiful water...it was the coolest color! Deep green blues...clear as crystal....GORGEOUS! If you give me your address i will send you one of the post cards i picked up. We spent a week in Genova meeting the team working there - they are just getting settled in and each family/single took us for a day or two and showed us around the city. the public transportation in Europe is wonderful and after getting use to the technique i so enjoyed it....and it is so feasible being like $2 a day to get on and off trains, busses and subways...the history of the cathedrals and piazza's(sp?), the cobblestone streets, the archectiture and way of life there is cool. I enjoye...