Whew! When I started this journey I did not anticipate how busy I would get with work, school, ministry...good grief. I'm slowly but surely catching up though...today will be another whirlwind of blogging for as long as I can get it in. So hang tight.
Day 17 is about something that has made a huge impact on my life recently. I don't have a picture...mainly because I'm not creative enough to come up with a way to photograph it. Maybe I should have asked my friend Lynn (photographer extraordinaire...don't believe me? You should go see my engagement/wedding pics. Tell me she isn't a genius. I dare you. ;). Anyway, the thing of which I speak is this: counseling. Yep. It's had a HUGE impact on my life.
Counseling has given me a sense of self back. Well, the tools I've gained through counseling have anyway. I feel like I suddenly have a whole repertoire of resources to draw on to handle any situation. I've started processing my thoughts in a healthy way and acting on them in a healthy way. I've learned how to allow myself emotions without allowing my emotions to rule me. I'm learning so much about communication and boundaries. It has been such a great process for me.
Most importantly, I'm healthy. Mentally and spiritually. (I've gotta start working on that physically part again soon.) I've regained a sense of connection to my community and my Savior. My relationship with Jesus is steadily getting back to a great place. I've never felt more attuned to the Spirit than I do right now either.
And I'm learning to trust Father on a whole new level.
I am so thankful for counseling and my therapist, Lisa. I'm thankful to my husband and Nikki for supporting me in the decision to seek counseling. I'm thankful to my Princess Linda for always being so willing to counsel me "on the side" so to speak and reinforce the things I'm learning from Lisa.
Counseling has been a very good thing. I think everyone should do it! ;)
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Day 16
Day 16 is supposed to be a picture of someone who inspires me. I don't know if I am inspired by one person entirely, so I decided to go a different route with this one. I chose to represent authors who have inspired me either with their lives, their work, or their characters...or all of the above. From the time I was a little girl until now I have been in love with books. I love to read and I have always wanted to write wonderful stories that would come alive in the hearts and minds of those who read them.
"Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White is my all time favorite book. It's the first book that touched me deeply. I think I was six years old at the time. But it changed my life. Not only did I love books, but I suddenly desired to create stories as vivid and heart-wrenching as Charlotte and Wilbur's story. Mr. White's story sparked the first glint of creativity in my little soul.
Next, I ate up the "Little Women" books...I adored the March family and followed them through each of the books. "Jo's Boys" is my favorite. I devoured everything written by Ms. Alcott with such hunger, my mother wasn't sure what she'd do when I ran out. (She introduced me to Lucy Maud Montgomery, who I loved, but always went back to Louisa time after time.)
One of the first fantasy books I ever read was "A Wrinkle In Time". From that moment on I was hooked on fantasy. I wanted more. I wanted to write it. It was the epitome of everything I'd ever tried to imagine and I loved it.
Is it any wonder then that I continue to re-read and draw inspiration from the following authors?
I still have stories trapped in my head and my heart. Maybe one day I'll be brave enough (and less critical of myself) to put pen to paper and dream for a public audience. Maybe. But, I will always love books and the people who write them. Because they inspire me to dream.
 |
| E.B. White |
 |
| Louisa May Alcott |
 |
| Madeleine L'Engle |
Is it any wonder then that I continue to re-read and draw inspiration from the following authors?
 |
| C.S. Lewis |
 |
| Garth Nix |
 |
| J.K. Rowling |
 |
| Stephenie Meyer |
 |
| Neil Gaiman |
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Day 15
Something I want to do before I die is collect the passport stamps from the following countries: France, Italy, and Greece. I have wanted to travel these places for as long as I can remember:
Day 13
My favorite band or artist, huh? I simply don't have one. I love music and art and I love it so much and so many different genres that I've never been able to settle on an all-time favorite. I find the beauty in just about all of it. Kinda boring, but it's the truth. So no picture this time, sorry. (What a waste of a blog post).
Day 12
Something I love. One word: Ministry. I love serving Jesus. I love ministering to teenage girls. I am incredibly blessed to be a part of Bridge416 Student Ministry and I.D. Ministries.
 |
| Converge 2010 |
Day 11
There is no picture for the thing I hate. It is invisible. It happens every day, everywhere. It happens in our own community. Our country, home of the brave/land of the free, has become the number one importer of slaves.
Human trafficking is rampant all over the world, but the United States is contributing to the enslavement of men, women, and children in a huge way. Oklahoma and Texas rank in the top ten of human trafficking high traffic areas. All the major highways run right through us.
It breaks my heart and makes me sick. I truly hate this evil.
Check out these websites:
http://oathcoalition.org/
http://www.mercyministries.org/homepage/
http://www.ijm.org/
I hope you will join me in bringing awareness to this issue and find ways to help stop it. Each of the websites listed above have valuable resources and information related to the cause of ending modern day slavery.
Human trafficking is rampant all over the world, but the United States is contributing to the enslavement of men, women, and children in a huge way. Oklahoma and Texas rank in the top ten of human trafficking high traffic areas. All the major highways run right through us.
It breaks my heart and makes me sick. I truly hate this evil.
Check out these websites:
http://oathcoalition.org/
http://www.mercyministries.org/homepage/
http://www.ijm.org/
I hope you will join me in bringing awareness to this issue and find ways to help stop it. Each of the websites listed above have valuable resources and information related to the cause of ending modern day slavery.
Day 10
Day 10 features a picture of the person I do the most messed up things with. I'm gonna have to go with one April Coates. If I'm doing something goofy, semi-dangerous, or even questionable, you can bet she had something to do with it.
I've wandered the 'hood of OKC with her. I've eaten things I don't even want to know actually are because she ordered it for me. I've seen my life flash before my eyes too many times to count while accompanying her on an "adventure".
In fact, all of these things are why Andrew and I came up with the "April's fault" logic in high school. We figured out a way to always logically blame April for anything, anywhere. It's kind of like the "Kevin Bacon" game only without degrees of separation or positive publicity, really.
She's my BFF and I love her. :)
I've wandered the 'hood of OKC with her. I've eaten things I don't even want to know actually are because she ordered it for me. I've seen my life flash before my eyes too many times to count while accompanying her on an "adventure".
In fact, all of these things are why Andrew and I came up with the "April's fault" logic in high school. We figured out a way to always logically blame April for anything, anywhere. It's kind of like the "Kevin Bacon" game only without degrees of separation or positive publicity, really.
She's my BFF and I love her. :)
 |
| April thinks she's got street cred. |
Day 9
Day 9 of 60 is about the person who has gotten me through the most. I'm going to cheat. Because there are people who have gotten me through it all. And ultimately that's because of Jesus. Since I can't really post an actual picture of Jesus (who was Jewish btw, which means he was dark skinned, dark haired, dark eyed..and a carpenter, which means he was big and strong..I'm just saying!!), I'm going to post a picture of people Jesus uses to touch my life on a regular basis.
First, my husband, Andrew, is there in the thick and thin of it with me. I love this man with all my heart and am incredibly thankful for him. Even when he's ridiculous. ;)
Phoebe Kate Barron has seen my best and worst and loves me anyway. I love every chance I get to spend time with this girl and I LOVE serving Jesus with her. We have shared a LOT of crazy moments together at camps and on retreats. I can't imagine what my life would be like without her.
The Lokeys. I am forever grateful for this sweet friendship. Aaron and Nikki have been there for me in ways no one else could. They supported me and prayed with me through some super dark times. They've also been there to celebrate with me (and even brought the cupcakes!) too. I'm thankful for their love and friendship not only to me, but to my family. They have become my "Jesus family".
I'm incredibly blessed with wonderful friends and family who are there for me no matter what. There are so many others I'd like to name, but these 4 represent them the best. They've known me better than most and been there for my darkest moments.
The past year and a half has been incredibly tough for me. But each of them in their own way have helped me through it. My husband and Nikki were there to urge me on and help me get help when depression nearly took my life. They continued to be there in the healing process, along with Aaron and Phoebe. Each of them have prayed for me and loved me in an unconditional way. I don't think any of them fully understand how wonderful they are or how instrumental they have been in God's plan for my life.
Andrew is the only person I have ever let in wholly and completely. Nikki and Aaron were the first people I'd learned to trust in a very long time when they stepped into my life. Phoebe taught me to love (and patience ;), but mostly love). I love and respect these people. They are my family.
 |
| My husband |
 |
| Oh Phoebe :) |
 |
| Yes, I did steal this from your facebook. But, I needed it. :) |
I'm incredibly blessed with wonderful friends and family who are there for me no matter what. There are so many others I'd like to name, but these 4 represent them the best. They've known me better than most and been there for my darkest moments.
The past year and a half has been incredibly tough for me. But each of them in their own way have helped me through it. My husband and Nikki were there to urge me on and help me get help when depression nearly took my life. They continued to be there in the healing process, along with Aaron and Phoebe. Each of them have prayed for me and loved me in an unconditional way. I don't think any of them fully understand how wonderful they are or how instrumental they have been in God's plan for my life.
Andrew is the only person I have ever let in wholly and completely. Nikki and Aaron were the first people I'd learned to trust in a very long time when they stepped into my life. Phoebe taught me to love (and patience ;), but mostly love). I love and respect these people. They are my family.
Day 8
Day 8 is a picture that makes me laugh. And this one does. In fact, it's the homescreen on my iPhone so that I can get to it in a click when I need a smile. Who wouldn't smile at the antics of Phoebe Kate and Lelia Kate?
 |
| Mean Girls pose |
Day 7
Day 7 of my 60 day journey: My most treasured item. It may not be what you expect. Then again, it may be exactly what some of you may expect ;).
My most treasure item is my Pink Panther.
That's right. He's a stuffed animal. He was also my very first friend. I acquired Pink from my Daddy during a trip to the store (Wal-Mart, I think...). Apparently I was crying and my Dad did that thing that all new parents do and then immediately learn their lesson about. He grabbed the first toy off the shelf and handed it to me.
Now, I was only about as big as Pink Panther at the time, but my Daddy says it was love at first sight, touch, chew, etc. Of course, I quieted down and when they were checking out, Dad unsuccessfully tried to detach Pink from me. Needless to say, I wailed and the checker looked at my Dad like he was murdering me, my mom proclaimed she'd told him so, and I got a new best buddy.
Pink Panther and I have been together since I was just a few months old. That's a long time folks. He's been to a ton of places with me and only suffered a few minor accidents. He's going "blind" and no longer has stuffing in his neck (I used carry him in the crook of my arm around the neck), and there's yellow stitching on his hiney from a small operation Dr. Mom performed when I was about 2 or 3.
I've rescued him from the cat, the dog, an apartment fire, and my "niece" (who I now have to hide him from because I'm afraid she'll love him too much and I won't be able to give him to her). He still goes to Falls Creek with me and just about any other trip that lasts for more than a couple days. And you better believe the second Andrew's out the door on a trip, Pink, reclaims his spot on and in the bed, right along with Sophie-cat (who is still bitter about being banished to the laundry room at night).
I know what you're thinking. Yes, I do realize that he's just a stuffed animal and I'm an adult. That doesn't mean he can't be my very best friend forever or that I'm a grown up. So there.
Besides, I still haven't quite given up on my "Christopher Robin/ Velveteen Rabbit" theory. You know, my Pink must have a little garden with a lovely little panther cave somewhere around here where he lives and plays when I'm not available. Or perhaps when I have loved him as much and long as I can, he'll be granted a real life as a real panther someday. ;)
To tell you the truth, Pink Panther is my childhood all wrapped up in worn, pink cloth. In him are all my hopes and dreams, my tears and fears. He holds my secrets, silly and not so silly. He heard all my childish prayers and stands witness to my answers. He's not just a stuffed animal to me. He's a symbol of who I am and who I am going to be.
And, I am not afraid to admit that I love him very much, that silly old Pink.
My most treasure item is my Pink Panther.
 |
| Pink Panther |
Now, I was only about as big as Pink Panther at the time, but my Daddy says it was love at first sight, touch, chew, etc. Of course, I quieted down and when they were checking out, Dad unsuccessfully tried to detach Pink from me. Needless to say, I wailed and the checker looked at my Dad like he was murdering me, my mom proclaimed she'd told him so, and I got a new best buddy.
Pink Panther and I have been together since I was just a few months old. That's a long time folks. He's been to a ton of places with me and only suffered a few minor accidents. He's going "blind" and no longer has stuffing in his neck (I used carry him in the crook of my arm around the neck), and there's yellow stitching on his hiney from a small operation Dr. Mom performed when I was about 2 or 3.
I've rescued him from the cat, the dog, an apartment fire, and my "niece" (who I now have to hide him from because I'm afraid she'll love him too much and I won't be able to give him to her). He still goes to Falls Creek with me and just about any other trip that lasts for more than a couple days. And you better believe the second Andrew's out the door on a trip, Pink, reclaims his spot on and in the bed, right along with Sophie-cat (who is still bitter about being banished to the laundry room at night).
I know what you're thinking. Yes, I do realize that he's just a stuffed animal and I'm an adult. That doesn't mean he can't be my very best friend forever or that I'm a grown up. So there.
Besides, I still haven't quite given up on my "Christopher Robin/ Velveteen Rabbit" theory. You know, my Pink must have a little garden with a lovely little panther cave somewhere around here where he lives and plays when I'm not available. Or perhaps when I have loved him as much and long as I can, he'll be granted a real life as a real panther someday. ;)
To tell you the truth, Pink Panther is my childhood all wrapped up in worn, pink cloth. In him are all my hopes and dreams, my tears and fears. He holds my secrets, silly and not so silly. He heard all my childish prayers and stands witness to my answers. He's not just a stuffed animal to me. He's a symbol of who I am and who I am going to be.
And, I am not afraid to admit that I love him very much, that silly old Pink.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)