N is for...

     is for needy.



It's much past my bedtime, yet I can't go to sleep.  I'm not sure if it was the half hour nap I took late this afternoon or the espresso covered gelato I enjoyed for dessert at my favorite restaurant.  Probably a combination of the two not so wise choices, so here I am writing and hoping that I will soon drift off into dreamland. 

I was thinking about my word for the letter "n".  I've chosen the word needy because it's something that I'm realizing I need to embrace.  Over the past few years, I have found such empowerment in being self-sufficient.  I have a job I love, I have many friendships and activities to fill my time, I have a wonderful church, and I have goals that I'm working on such as attaining my master's degree or training for mini marathons.  I'm proud that I'm becoming the woman that I wanted to be as a young girl, yet I must acknowledge that this self-reliance isn't completely all that it's cracked up to be.  You see, this has another side to it, a very ugly side.  When God is blessing me in these areas of life and allowing me to succeed, I often forget to give Him the glory for it.  Sadly (and very honestly), I also often become more focused on me and less focused on Him. 

I recently began attending a different church and got connected through a young adult Bible study group.  I've been so encouraged by these godly men and women who are seeking to grow in God and to live lives pleasing to Him.  It challenges me to slow down, to prioritize, to fellowship, and to become more of a Christ-centered woman instead of a self-centered being.  I find that as I focus more clearly on Him, I realize how truly needy I am.  When I let Him fill me, I thirst for more.  I want to feel needy for Jesus, to be humbled and aware that I am nothing without Him.  In Christ, I can stand tall and be a woman of God who does good things for Him.  May my pride be squelched when it arises, may I be needy rather than self-reliant, and may I continually desire more and more of my Savior.     

M is for...

is for knowing you matter.


Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and I have to throw it out there that it's one of my least favorite holidays.  Guys, I know you all hear me on that one.  Seriously though ladies, isn't it just a recipe for disaster?  I'll blame it on Disney princesses and The Notebook, but by golly I really want someone to go all out.  Go ahead and write me a year's worth of letters.  I won't be mad.  In all seriousness, though, these girly wishes quite frankly just aren't very realistic or a fair expectation all in all.

Love this.  (Source: someecards.com)

 

I feel like it's a bit sad that we have to set a day aside each year to let people know how much we care.  I want the people in my life who I love to know how much they matter to me each and every day that we get to live this beautiful life.  I want to talk to them, spend time with them, work with them, and play with them.  I want to make them laugh and let them cry.  I want to be honest and absolutely not perfect and will expect the same from them.  When Valentine's Day rolls around, I guess the commercialized aspect of it just doesn't mean that much.  I think my expectation, though, is a much greater thing.  I think we owe it to each other to go out of our way all year round to let one another know how much we matter and make the lives of others brighter.  It's not always easy, it's not always convenient, but I'm convinced that it's always worth it.  

This February 14, spread the love.  I just hope we let it roll on over into all the other 364 days this year too!  Because you and others matter.

L is for...

   is for learning.



I truly admire the men and women in my life who are excellent cooks.  I have such an appreciation for impeccable flavor and presentation when it comes to food.  I've come to realize lately that to become such an individual, it's going to take some more time rolling up my sleeves and getting down and dirty in the kitchen.  Cooking isn't something that one will instantly be skilled at; it is most certainly a learning process.  Therefore, I've been trying one new recipe a week in 2012.  Thanks to Pinterest and my friend H, I found an amazing food blog called Annie's Eats.  In addition to a wide variety of recipes, I love the fact that Annie is a hard-working wife, mom, and resident physician right here in Indianapolis.  I figure if she has time to take care of her family, work/learn in the medical field, and to share her talent with the world, then I sure can give her recipes a try!  (I'm secretly wondering, though, if she is Wonder Woman.  I'm impressed to say the least.)

So far I've tried out four recipes three of which have been amazing.  One was a bit of a disaster, but let's not talk about it.  It happens.  Today I made her recipe for Mom's Goulash.  As I was preparing the dish, it reminded me a little bit of lasagna, but much to my pleasant surprise it is unique in its own right.  It was very easy and really reeeealy good.  Head on over to her blog and check out the food love she's sharing!  Bon appetit!
   



“I think preparing food and feeding people brings nourishment not only to our bodies but to our spirits. Feeding people is a way of loving them, in the same way that feeding ourselves is a way of honoring our own createdness and fragility.” 
-Shauna Niequist, Bittersweet

K is for...

    is for kettle.



Something slightly momentous happened today on just another seemingly ordinary Sunday afternoon.  I finally buckled down and purchased a tea kettle!  Seems like no big deal, right?  One would think...   Nonetheless, I have been incredibly indecisive as I've browsed on and off for about a year now in search of the perfect tea kettle.  I know I was being a bit picky, but it seemed pretty important as far as I was concerned.  Call me crazy, but a tea kettle is one of those extremely classy items that every woman should own along with a perfect strand of pearls.

She's a beauty.  Silver, dainty, classy.  Spot of tea anyone?

J is for...

   is for journey.



One of my favorite country songs blared out of my car speakers just the other day.  Life's a dance you learn as you go.  Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow.  Don't worry 'bout what you don't know.  Life's a dance you learn as you go.  So true.  Life really is a little bit like going on a trip without knowing the exact coordinates of the next stop or destination.  At times I get excited to see a path laid out before me while in other moments I simply must follow along.  I'm learning as I go.

Taking a journey makes me think of adventure, and this is a word I'm beginning to connect with more and more.  Ask my dearest friends and adventurous might not be one of the first words they'd use to describe me.  Nonetheless, I think that adventure boils down to so much more than backpacking around the world or jumping out of an airplane.  Adventurous is taking risks and trying something new when God calls your name.  Our life journey can certainly be mundane, yet we're given the opportunity to go on a thrill of a ride if we simply take God's hand and let Him lead the way.

I visited a new church today with one of my friends.  The minister really challenged me to begin this new year not with a list of resolutions and a list of accomplishments to attain.  Instead, he reminded us to be still and to listen to God's quiet voice whispering into the corners of our lives.  Quite frankly, it excites me and scares me at the same time to think about the adventures that God will bring my way when I quiet the world around me and listen more clearly to His voice.  I believe that anything He brings me to, He will also equip me with the tools and abilities to fulfill His works and purposes.  I don't want to miss out on a moment of the greatest journey and adventure that God has planned for my days.

I leave you with a thought that I heard about a year ago that has continued to impact me even until today.  Are you willing to make this your surrender to God?  Whatever You want even if what You want isn't what I want.  It's really frightening to surrender our desires and wishes, yet I know that His ways and His plans are far greater than my hopes and dreams.  May I be given the privilege to be used as His hands and feet.  What a blessed journey it will be.    

I is for...

    is for imperfection.



As I approached the letter "I", I began to wonder what word I might choose to represent this alphabetic character.  That it so happens to fall as the first post of the new year gives it that extra added importance.  In fact, I'll admit that I even turned to Google and searched for a list of i-beginning adjectives.  I really wanted to find just the right one.  A bit of disappointment washed over me as I glanced through the lists on various sites.  Believe it or not, "i" words in general don't tend to be so fancy and happy. Icy, irritating, impolite.........no thanks.  Then my eyes fell upon yet another that could be added to this list of negative words: imperfection.  Quite frankly, it was just right.

In the middle of a several hour drive home from visiting a friend recently, I found myself browsing unfamiliar radio stations.  I came upon a show that was hosting Christian artist Laura Story and featuring her music.  She shared a really poignant quote that touched me in such an honest, real way.  She quoted Timothy Keller who stated, "We are more flawed and sinful than we ever dared believe, yet we are more loved and accepted than we ever dared hope at the same time."  Can we all just let out a sigh of relief?  I'm not the only imperfect one.  In fact, truth be told, I'm much more sinful than I am aware of or I acknowledge.  That's a humbling thought, but it's true isn't it?  It's so easy to tout our accomplishments and focus on our talents and strengths.  Recognizing our weaknesses and ugliness is difficult and scary.  But the story isn't over; to the degree of my imperfection, I am cherished by my Savior more than I ever could have hoped or imagined.  It's overwhelming and so undeserved, but I'm humbled and forever grateful.

It's January 1st and people all over the world are beginning to work on their New Year's resolutions.  I'm all about self-improvement, but I think we have to accept the fact that we can never completely fix ourselves all on our own.  Only through Jesus can we become more like Him.

So with that, this January 1st, I admit my imperfection and my heart fills with gratitude that in spite of it, I am loved, accepted, and made anew again and again through His grace.

Happy New Year!

H is for...

  
   is for hope.



It's hard to believe that Christmas is over and both December and 2011 are nearing an end.  I'm in the middle of Christmas break right now and I have to admit that I am enjoying every second of it.  I'm sleeping in and snuggling back into my warm blankets instead of getting up to my alarm.  I'm sitting on the couch for hours enjoying the friendship of characters who greet me in the books that beckon to me.  I've been losing myself in lesson planning and getting excited about returning to the classroom next week.  I'm savoring the deliciousness of meals with dear friends and the even more sweet conversation that we have time to share.  Christmas break and December most certainly rank as one of the best times of my year.

December is a month of hope.  It's greatest sense of hope comes in remembering the arrival of our Messiah that very first Christmas.  I can only imagine the great expectation that Joseph, Mary, the shepherds, and the wise men felt as they gazed lovingly at the Christ child.  Jesus chose to step down from His throne in heaven to come live amongst us: the broken, the sinners, the needy, the weak.  Immanuel, God with us.  Such hope he brought to humanity with his birth.

December is also a month of hope for so many who begin planning changes in a new year.  2011 was a year filled with both happiness and sadness, hard work and play, and new beginnings and endings.  I am ready for the fresh start that 2012 will usher into my life.  I'm not too keen on making specific New Year's resolutions anymore.  Instead I'm setting some flexible guidelines for myself and a philosophy to live by these next twelve months.  I'm going to push myself to explore, to grow, to succeed, to fail, to love, to live with fullness, and most importantly to rely on God.

(www.pinterest.com - source unknown)

2011, thank you.  2012, I'm ready.