Laughter...
#30 Turkey sex
Hard Eucharisteo...
#37 Grandpa's death
At work...
#39 The innate ability to process the details
The love of God...
#41 Getting to connect with JD while she is in Cameroon
Loss...
#44 Hurting from the death of a loved one means there was great love
In shadows...
#47 Sleep finally coming
Serving and Giving...
# 50 Cloud animals, games and laughing with my cousin Austin
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
More Joy Dare Gifts
Gifts this week from Outside, Red Things, Broken, Fixed and Thrifted, and Surprises!
#16 - Sunshine & warmth in February
#18 - Beautiful bare trees glowing in golden sunset
#19 - Freedom we are blessed to have
#20 - Yummy tomatoes in my salad
#21 - Liquid energy (at least psychologically)
#22 - Subtle reminders
#25 - 2nd hand clothes - the exciting new feeling without the spending guilt
#27 - Date with good friend planned
#28 - Feeling better and having energy
#29 - Feeling skinny in my new corduroys
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Joy Dare Day 3-5
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| Personal insight and affirmation (found in writing) |
 |
| Cold water in the frig (found while bent down) |
 |
| Unexpected gifts & meeting new people (something woven) |
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| Reminder of how rich I am and that I can bless those less fortunate (something hammered) |
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| Unique talents of others (something stitched) |
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Day 1 & 2 of the Joy Dare
Day 1 - Gifts at 11:30am, 2:30pm and 6:30pm
I was excited to see what gifts I could uncover this day. Just before 11:30 Kelly and I were discussing how each of us would keep track of our gifts. I realized it was a gift to have her to share this journey with each day.
Finding a gift in some easy conversation with a friend whom I had been feeling distant from, which helped some depths thaw.
And on my drive home from work, a solution was found for a difficult situation.
Day 2 - Overhearing gifts
When you are looking for and waiting for certain kinds of gifts, it may be harder to see them. Today's gifts were hard. Most of what I overhear during the day is work-stuff and most of it is either neutral or negative. What I do overhear is people trying to help other people and offer an experience that is professional and knowledgeable. No automated menus to go in circles through - but people who generally like what they do. It is a gift to work with people like that.
I also found out today that JD was asked by Compassion Intl. in Colorado to write an article for them as they have gotten wind of how awesome a sponsor and advocate she is. She was so excited it. Seeing her obedience and dedication bringing blessings makes me so proud to be her friend.
While I haven't "overheard" a third gift yet (the day's not quite over) I discovered that when you are on a search for a certain type of gift that is harder to find, you stumble across many more that don't fit the category but are worth acknowledging all the same. I have good hearing that allows me to listen for blessings. I have wonderful friends to spend my working days with and technology at my fingertips to help the customers I speak with, just to name a few.
I was excited to see what gifts I could uncover this day. Just before 11:30 Kelly and I were discussing how each of us would keep track of our gifts. I realized it was a gift to have her to share this journey with each day.
Finding a gift in some easy conversation with a friend whom I had been feeling distant from, which helped some depths thaw.
And on my drive home from work, a solution was found for a difficult situation.
Day 2 - Overhearing gifts
When you are looking for and waiting for certain kinds of gifts, it may be harder to see them. Today's gifts were hard. Most of what I overhear during the day is work-stuff and most of it is either neutral or negative. What I do overhear is people trying to help other people and offer an experience that is professional and knowledgeable. No automated menus to go in circles through - but people who generally like what they do. It is a gift to work with people like that.
I also found out today that JD was asked by Compassion Intl. in Colorado to write an article for them as they have gotten wind of how awesome a sponsor and advocate she is. She was so excited it. Seeing her obedience and dedication bringing blessings makes me so proud to be her friend.
While I haven't "overheard" a third gift yet (the day's not quite over) I discovered that when you are on a search for a certain type of gift that is harder to find, you stumble across many more that don't fit the category but are worth acknowledging all the same. I have good hearing that allows me to listen for blessings. I have wonderful friends to spend my working days with and technology at my fingertips to help the customers I speak with, just to name a few.
seeking jewels of joy...
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The Joy Dare
So far it’s been a gracious winter. Yesterday it was sunny
and a spring-like 50+ degrees. Once again I am chasing the fading light on my
evening drive instead of racing the moon. Yet, sometime the winter dark days
are harder to thaw on the inside where the frost goes deep.
So then…
I’ve decided to participate in the Joy Dare for the month of
February. Actively seeking and anticipating daily gifts is like throwing open
the shutters to let that sunlight stream in and warm the frozen places. The
gifts are always there, but I don’t always take the time to acknowledge them.
My friend, Kelly is joining me in doing this. As we share
our captured gifts, our daily joy will double. I hope you will take this
journey with me. Some days I will share my gifts with words and others with
photos. This is a re-discovery of joy and creativity.
Standing at the starting line.
Ready to run with joy…
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Great!
The ants have moved back into my bathroom. Where do they come from??? And why do they keep choosing my bathroom every year?
Oh and these ants... they are apparently great swimmers. My several attempts to simply send them down the sink drain seems to just give them a nice little ride around in the basin which I am sure afterword they look up at me and say in their ant voice, which I can't hear... cause I'm not insane yet, "That was fun, can we do it again, please?"
It's time to get the big bug man with his killer bait to come and rid my bathroom of these buggers.
Sorry ants, but if you would just stay out of my living space, your life might have lasted longer.
Oh and these ants... they are apparently great swimmers. My several attempts to simply send them down the sink drain seems to just give them a nice little ride around in the basin which I am sure afterword they look up at me and say in their ant voice, which I can't hear... cause I'm not insane yet, "That was fun, can we do it again, please?"
It's time to get the big bug man with his killer bait to come and rid my bathroom of these buggers.
Sorry ants, but if you would just stay out of my living space, your life might have lasted longer.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
A West Coast New Year
Usually the thought of meeting a group of people I don't know and staying at a stranger's house makes me anxious. As I prepared for my trip to Washington state to spend New Year's with Stephen and his family I didn't feel nervous at all. I hadn't been to Washington before so I was excited about being able to cross that state off my list. When I arrived I was so warmly welcomed it was as if I had always just been around (sorta).
Spectacularly, in a city known for it's cloudy, rainy weather I seemed to have brought the sunshine with me. Other than the day I arrived, we had no rain and beautiful sunshine.
I didn't take many photos except when we spent the day in Seattle. Stephen had bought City Passes as a surprise. After he, his mom and dad cooked up an elaborate, stick to your bones breakfast we headed out. Our day started at the Space Needle and the Experience Music Project Museum.
On New Year's day, we played games. Stephen's brother and his family came over for some Bananagrams and Apples to Apples fun. I'm not sure whether the fruit theme had any significance...
It was during the intensely competitive game of Apples to Apples that just how much I had assimilated right in. Questioning a choice that was about to be made - as it wasn't my card that was about to be picked, Stephen's mom looked over at me and said, "Would you just shut up!" Stephen's 10 yr old niece was mortified that her grandma would tell me to shut up. She replied, "Oh she knows me." And we all had a really good laugh about it. We continued to laugh and enjoy many more moments through the rest of the game.
All too soon it was time to fly home. As I reflected on the weekend and how well it went, I was encouraged by how far I have come in just being able to enjoy people and let them get to know me. That was a great way to end one year and begin another.
Spectacularly, in a city known for it's cloudy, rainy weather I seemed to have brought the sunshine with me. Other than the day I arrived, we had no rain and beautiful sunshine.
I didn't take many photos except when we spent the day in Seattle. Stephen had bought City Passes as a surprise. After he, his mom and dad cooked up an elaborate, stick to your bones breakfast we headed out. Our day started at the Space Needle and the Experience Music Project Museum.
If I ever get lost in Seattle - I decided I will simply find this car wash and stay there until someone finds me
From there we drove down to the waterfront for a picnic lunch in the car (it was decent weather for December, but still chilly). After lunch we took a harbor cruise. Now I don't want to brag (but I am) but I stayed outside on the deck for the whole hour cruise while Stephen stepped inside twice to get warm. Ok... in his defense I did have on more layers than him and a warmer coat. We finished up the evening at the aquarium.
 |
| Mt. Rainier |
The aquarium was really nice. We watched them feed the octopus, which was a whopping 50 lbs! And the feeding of the sea otters which was fun. The last piece they even shared. I've been to many aquariums and it amazes me that I can still find things I've never seen before. God's creativity is never exhausted.
On New Year's day, we played games. Stephen's brother and his family came over for some Bananagrams and Apples to Apples fun. I'm not sure whether the fruit theme had any significance...
It was during the intensely competitive game of Apples to Apples that just how much I had assimilated right in. Questioning a choice that was about to be made - as it wasn't my card that was about to be picked, Stephen's mom looked over at me and said, "Would you just shut up!" Stephen's 10 yr old niece was mortified that her grandma would tell me to shut up. She replied, "Oh she knows me." And we all had a really good laugh about it. We continued to laugh and enjoy many more moments through the rest of the game.
 |
| Stephen and his parents |
All too soon it was time to fly home. As I reflected on the weekend and how well it went, I was encouraged by how far I have come in just being able to enjoy people and let them get to know me. That was a great way to end one year and begin another.
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