tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3503211985020856412024-02-19T08:58:04.344-08:00Poems and PonderingsGracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-37798205953038876252014-09-02T18:40:00.001-07:002015-08-21T21:30:24.857-07:00I'm Moving!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxoBikPohUXJQCrcVqf3l2NlCFdc5zmsu4_BeAU-JogA3XELE9yJfCVZkypfcmXYZ_tw8nanoGK8zn7GxGvdi1B3N3iKpwhRa5WoE3THgOgtat2wRKE2yiNBb-WLhhRciTF_xd-4dKh9k/s1600/Face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxoBikPohUXJQCrcVqf3l2NlCFdc5zmsu4_BeAU-JogA3XELE9yJfCVZkypfcmXYZ_tw8nanoGK8zn7GxGvdi1B3N3iKpwhRa5WoE3THgOgtat2wRKE2yiNBb-WLhhRciTF_xd-4dKh9k/s1600/Face.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After much debating and waffling and procrastinating, <b>I finally did it</b>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm thrilled to pieces to share with you my new blog: <a href="https://miscgrace.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Miscellaneous Grace</a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's purpose is slightly different than this one - a little more lifestyle, a little more authenticity, <i>a little more often</i>. (Yay!)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But I so hope you decide to hop over and check it out! :)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-55993760706677033152014-07-27T19:54:00.001-07:002014-07-28T11:20:46.941-07:00Skimming vs. Delving: What it Means to Live to the Full<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've done a lot of wrestling lately - particularly with the future and what I think I want and whether or not I should want it or is there something else... At the heart of it, I just want everything to turn out right. Whatever <i>right</i> looks like.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"God, just tell me what Your plan is for me and what I should do and I'll do that. It doesn't matter what I want."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Over and over I prayed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">His silence unnerved me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Every worship service would end with, "Okay God, I don't know what you're doing but I trust you," and "You are good." </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Over and Over:<i> You are good.</i></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1868929862"><i><span id="goog_1868929863"></span></i></a><i><span id="goog_1868929871"></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy9nwe9_xzw" target="_blank">"You call me out upon the waters</a></i><br />
<span id="goog_1868929867"></span><i>The great unknown where feet may fail<br />
And there I find You in the mystery<br />
In oceans deep<br />
My faith will stand...</i><span id="goog_1868929868"></span><br />
<i>Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders<br />
Let me walk upon the waters<br />
Wherever You would call me<br />
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander<br />
And my faith will be made stronger<br />
In the presence of my Savior"<span id="goog_1868929864"></span> </i><br />
<span id="goog_1868929872"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Refining and redefining trust, resting in His goodness, remembering His faithfulness.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEaYbmlrxhdztqdczmjzm1Ws6n2CQQ4AOco0mtcD1V4XiWBZWWbChd3dN62sQILqmxuuJtQLhbng1AkbOYu4qsNDzEAqJkvintJg6a3gQ3xhF4tOf3HjKtDr5hYQdr2KS5umXgoMZ5wje/s1600/aperture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEaYbmlrxhdztqdczmjzm1Ws6n2CQQ4AOco0mtcD1V4XiWBZWWbChd3dN62sQILqmxuuJtQLhbng1AkbOYu4qsNDzEAqJkvintJg6a3gQ3xhF4tOf3HjKtDr5hYQdr2KS5umXgoMZ5wje/s1600/aperture.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I described it in faltering words, how He was narrowing my focus like a camera lens, widening my aperture-eyes to His very presentness, blurring the future to bring what I see here into concentrated focus.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A line from my devotional struck deep the other day:<i> "Delight yourself in Me, for I am the deepest desire of your heart."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Revelation followed. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Life is not about what I <i>do </i>for Him, it's about who I am in Him. It's not about what college I go to and what classes I take and who I invest in and who I should marry someday and if I should spend my free time writing novels or studying Ancient Greek, or playing Skip-Bo with the little brother. It's about pressing into the heart of God, seeking to know Him deeper and trusting Him to work out the details. <b>The greatest thing I can do for God is find my delight in Him.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I spend so much time running around looking for what I'm supposed to be doing for God, that I forget to stop, slow down and look for <i>Him</i>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's times like these, sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea and the sunrise, heart brimming with revelation and God, that I remember this <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2010:10&version=AMP" target="_blank">life-to-the-full</a> I've been striving after is not about how many things you can fit into your life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's not about scheduling and planning and to do lists and productivity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's about living <b>full of God</b>. It's about slowing down and "sucking the marrow" out of every moment. </span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf77igf_DkgmUGjxuHYvewVth4BE14sDIqBGRBYgSYieRHdjI8f3XLspwVCV1y6dAlH7gUwglLoU4moqZGLMqzFssZYMJzeTTRa-2yOUnZVbkzI3iLobWyjYtuQbcu_oi3f6sA_zw7FWmz/s1600/thoreau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf77igf_DkgmUGjxuHYvewVth4BE14sDIqBGRBYgSYieRHdjI8f3XLspwVCV1y6dAlH7gUwglLoU4moqZGLMqzFssZYMJzeTTRa-2yOUnZVbkzI3iLobWyjYtuQbcu_oi3f6sA_zw7FWmz/s1600/thoreau.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size: small;">"I went to the woods because I wished to live
deliberately...I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow
of life." ~Henry David Thoreau</span></span></span></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When we get so caught up in the next thing and </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">what still needs to be done and </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">what everyone else is doing, we lose something invaluable.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/how-to-make-your-days-feel-longer.html" target="_blank">Neuroscientist David Eagleman</a> suggests, "The more detailed the memory, the longer the moment seems to last. This
explains why we think that time speeds up when we grow older, why childhood summers seem to go on forever, while old age slips
by while we’re dozing. The more familiar the world becomes, the less
information your brain writes down, and the more quickly time seems to
pass."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Life is not a race.
When we skim through our days, we are emptying our lives of gratitude
and awe. We miss out on the glory of delving into the little moments, of
lingering slow and drinking deep the wonderment of living fully
present.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This has been my growing desire these past few weeks and perhaps even months - to love deeply, ever grateful for this life I've been given, to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+33%3A13&version=AMP" target="_blank">know</a> the Father's nearness in every moment with childlike faith, to live simply and mindfully and intentionally and to the very fullest of my ability. And this...this feels more right than anything.</span><br />
<br />
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Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-81568842490879428772014-05-05T19:51:00.000-07:002014-05-05T19:51:46.602-07:00Impossible Things<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hello. They call me
Grace. This is my life and I am both the happiest and the saddest I have ever
been.</i></span>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I keep trying to figure this out, how to make the most of
the time I have.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So much life yet to be lived, so many dreams.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But most times I’m just tired.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Tired of waiting – for life to slow down, for the heartaches
to resolve, for the texts that don’t come, for the warmer days to stay – tired.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Tired of balancing all the responsibilities and goals and
dreams and what do I focus on right now?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A new friend asked what I want to do in the future and I
named a few things then half shook my head, half shrugged,</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">“I just want to do everything.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He grinned, “You can do everything.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I laughed at the impossible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And yet I want to do impossible things. I want to live a
dozen lifetimes and write a hundred books and travel the world with my camera
and make great food and write songs and get married and have a family and live
fully and be content and loved and how do I start now?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">How do I start now when the living room still needs vacuuming and dinner has yet to be made and there is another article due at work and I haven’t
worked on my photography class in two months and I can’t seem to write
regularly and oh I forgot to reply to that text and where does it end?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At what point does life slow down so I can start living this idea in my
head of what it should be?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What should life be?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When will I figure out this strange and wonderful thing called living?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I still have so many questions and few answers. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">All I know right now is that to live is Christ and Christ means anointed and I will spend the rest of my life finding out what it looks like to live that kind of anointing.</span></div>
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Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
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<i>Hi, I’m Grace and I've fallen in love with this life I've been given.</i><br />
<i>The future both terrifies and excites me. But there is nothing more beautiful than the fullness of this moment. </i><br />
<i>And I don’t want to wait until tomorrow to start living.</i><br />
</div>
Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-4945412760004027562014-04-29T19:00:00.000-07:002014-04-29T19:00:07.045-07:00Goodbyes Aren't Forever<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've spent far too much time these past few months trying to decide where I belong.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And I've been paralyzed trying to figure out what's next. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But some things fall together more perfectly then I could have dreamed and one last minute trip to Latin America has left me dizzy happy and I'm still not sure what it all means.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboOih9P5lz9v6YDC3uWspU1GwdBMUiVkCAy4NBT-TKoarY0V54URax6hDWupfn8KSz0atxjWelJleR_efIMOeopcgeAbKLU6cqj1Ni8Jf7ZL3vQwTzHARaUnHXB4f5OmMfp8pQKGPDwwM/s1600/DSC_0117e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboOih9P5lz9v6YDC3uWspU1GwdBMUiVkCAy4NBT-TKoarY0V54URax6hDWupfn8KSz0atxjWelJleR_efIMOeopcgeAbKLU6cqj1Ni8Jf7ZL3vQwTzHARaUnHXB4f5OmMfp8pQKGPDwwM/s1600/DSC_0117e.jpg" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">San Jose was beautiful and I fell in love with mountains and cloudy skies and rainbow cityscapes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And these people. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2W52oJZtSCjFougjhXBTmXANua5C5UAUCwIPeFOS_R274KvM57y9ZQwbDLN2v_BZgnHDAe5wgyQpGtSFdLvvncNy07G0pUIu-VWJEpXtEK_Tvrlvee_L7V1pjMTLpqUjhKWvzs-KDlsx/s1600/IMG_3197e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2W52oJZtSCjFougjhXBTmXANua5C5UAUCwIPeFOS_R274KvM57y9ZQwbDLN2v_BZgnHDAe5wgyQpGtSFdLvvncNy07G0pUIu-VWJEpXtEK_Tvrlvee_L7V1pjMTLpqUjhKWvzs-KDlsx/s1600/IMG_3197e.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/luketurleymedia" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">© 2014 LT </span></span></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7I6Lhop3g4XCI0CIoWVZVTczvdA7m4kUALunt-rZoQAFVRbygtY4r0UJtgX_AYBalX8XN8W1i-nsGkNaP04RDdMz8PrGMUoPTzskXujPAFRh-4ho1G5lDsaswCCK-vO6wMXZng05IyF8y/s1600/1978369_768207599859072_4307762271676999933_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7I6Lhop3g4XCI0CIoWVZVTczvdA7m4kUALunt-rZoQAFVRbygtY4r0UJtgX_AYBalX8XN8W1i-nsGkNaP04RDdMz8PrGMUoPTzskXujPAFRh-4ho1G5lDsaswCCK-vO6wMXZng05IyF8y/s1600/1978369_768207599859072_4307762271676999933_o.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">© 2014 Alex Kautz </span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When card games and silly commentators make you laugh so hard you can't breathe there is no such thing as losing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And there is nothing like singing to the Father with a group of people who know better than most that this world is not our home. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I didn't know it was possible to feel so at home in a new place and goodbyes are hard but they aren't forever.<i> </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>See you this summer</i> became my song and it carried me through the exhaustion content.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This heart is stretched thin from loving those so far away but pictures are four-cornered time capsules and my mind treasures words I will never forget.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLvfIfTb3-RkOR3AK72nvOKcHH8hPBUaDjJn4-u6X00IcNS9AGrGxbFOJtoM1vF8Tbh0C4iKXWdNxv6Vyj4aas35c5cUGi8yapchmE9WN8dRVPsq4jPPKefkJjLGfdQkkTabhlByNMhTy/s1600/DSC_0013e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLvfIfTb3-RkOR3AK72nvOKcHH8hPBUaDjJn4-u6X00IcNS9AGrGxbFOJtoM1vF8Tbh0C4iKXWdNxv6Vyj4aas35c5cUGi8yapchmE9WN8dRVPsq4jPPKefkJjLGfdQkkTabhlByNMhTy/s1600/DSC_0013e.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm not sure what's next but more adventures are near and adventures mean new friends and more hellos and goodbyes really aren't forever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-47458677691672863772014-03-02T15:21:00.000-08:002014-03-03T10:44:51.335-08:00Where I Learned to Rest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0PSEDA6HTspItSDxQDuNke1OxDJYJ1AVrCevas31_PHFkAvz1tQzfFcdaLwz4sg4Pw-9FAB_ob2SRhFcOAUyUcmp_hQPNRcyU3EN2GlMOhSAh6QM3hDxGm9TXy-UFrUDIAUclnz2CSnL/s1600/DSC_0336er.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0PSEDA6HTspItSDxQDuNke1OxDJYJ1AVrCevas31_PHFkAvz1tQzfFcdaLwz4sg4Pw-9FAB_ob2SRhFcOAUyUcmp_hQPNRcyU3EN2GlMOhSAh6QM3hDxGm9TXy-UFrUDIAUclnz2CSnL/s1600/DSC_0336er.jpg" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_979272671"></span><span id="goog_979272672"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There is a place where the world falls away; where worries die with cell phone reception, and the business cannot touch you.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There is a place where silence drowns out the noise and peace suffocates the lies society tells us about who we are.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_za2hqkZpPuuk43UecvfTQscEHUN3O8ti6mIKJXHHdv2NJsM1hhIJj03tsMlvoYhv89AxiRmBqTzThTzzx92_LHFDjD72FotjEm-1VCKe3nGBoixue_MWl1dmkyHlGiRmMgNJ5umE3aKG/s1600/DSC_0329er.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_za2hqkZpPuuk43UecvfTQscEHUN3O8ti6mIKJXHHdv2NJsM1hhIJj03tsMlvoYhv89AxiRmBqTzThTzzx92_LHFDjD72FotjEm-1VCKe3nGBoixue_MWl1dmkyHlGiRmMgNJ5umE3aKG/s1600/DSC_0329er.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There is a place where all you have been and all you want to be intersects.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There is a place where it is safe to break because the trees bend closer to listen and the water falls so your tears don't feel alone; where the river sings to soften the ache of newly recognized longing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And there is a drifting guitar melody and ice cream waiting for you when you can stand again.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHQSjkdYAJdNO6-BtyWy_r8GVIqoAiiLD8ri3X-W2FmWsVW7il-KdNRTL9DKHuuHdGHUqLaILAOiGqUz0szAHRkKDJeTxOWVvCbZzOy9YtjluhkL9kyQ9BuEsHLE41HRSQkhtK_I1B7xA/s1600/DSC_0382er.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHQSjkdYAJdNO6-BtyWy_r8GVIqoAiiLD8ri3X-W2FmWsVW7il-KdNRTL9DKHuuHdGHUqLaILAOiGqUz0szAHRkKDJeTxOWVvCbZzOy9YtjluhkL9kyQ9BuEsHLE41HRSQkhtK_I1B7xA/s1600/DSC_0382er.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here is where we sing together when one forgets the words. Here is where our prayers and the psalms collide and become one. Here is where we hold each other up.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here is where the tea is as endless as the conversation and tears are welcomed just as tenderly as laughter.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLps-MWlUIPefknfbZ1ziwWbJX8rAEqSWV4k1IZIN_oEsM3uhsyd-dS9oS4ExtVeiXCeQVPPG3aFm4KkqRifE6p2apfd6y0oKjNQvp1NBsVCO_eNzaxMkJYIjmiNL3a-LOQmtE4-RW55V/s1600/1900056_10152226247967528_1262352988_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLps-MWlUIPefknfbZ1ziwWbJX8rAEqSWV4k1IZIN_oEsM3uhsyd-dS9oS4ExtVeiXCeQVPPG3aFm4KkqRifE6p2apfd6y0oKjNQvp1NBsVCO_eNzaxMkJYIjmiNL3a-LOQmtE4-RW55V/s1600/1900056_10152226247967528_1262352988_n.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">© 2014 Topher Ayrhar</span></span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And now is when I learn to cry, to stop hiding from the things I feel, from the ones who ask. Now is when I stop trying to be too strong, stop pretending when I doubt.</span></span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHqSy-Oa_1z2qLXtfnm854zbEDX5VBF8dAPWhVUB5re6Jm-viEEjjOQ2iG87mk1yhag4Ma_9X-KEaP220wj1IjTWeZ-iKQTfnQ3NnEBRrhbxWPXwraYD_EBdH5zNdKHIsPu8JFtkhhX39/s1600/DSC_0352er.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHqSy-Oa_1z2qLXtfnm854zbEDX5VBF8dAPWhVUB5re6Jm-viEEjjOQ2iG87mk1yhag4Ma_9X-KEaP220wj1IjTWeZ-iKQTfnQ3NnEBRrhbxWPXwraYD_EBdH5zNdKHIsPu8JFtkhhX39/s1600/DSC_0352er.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There is a place called now where we start to live fully here, in this moment. And we return home to the people who wait for what we have just tasted.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So I carry it home with me, this little taste of rest, not only for myself but to share with those who need it most:</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]"</span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <i>Matthew 11:28 <span style="font-size: xx-small;">AMP</span></i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJCGYCCLRiFBMeerQstxzcprpVGvCsWP8gQC2RuZ_s6cOKBMDgrEitaUzrroMMd8Exrh0ky4djcZFfhW7fSGKmFzTE4TEWC7OAFf88rCD9qJuUlxJ7rxntEazdaBxZqJhNEFc6ruLY_2H/s1600/1780914_10152226247507528_1888892785_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJCGYCCLRiFBMeerQstxzcprpVGvCsWP8gQC2RuZ_s6cOKBMDgrEitaUzrroMMd8Exrh0ky4djcZFfhW7fSGKmFzTE4TEWC7OAFf88rCD9qJuUlxJ7rxntEazdaBxZqJhNEFc6ruLY_2H/s1600/1780914_10152226247507528_1888892785_n.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">© 2014 Topher Ayrhar</span></span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://graceseverydaymiracles.blogspot.com/2014/02/hutchmoot-retreat.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">You can see a few more of my pictures from the retreat here.</span></span></a></div>
Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-66518351385169604912014-01-16T19:23:00.002-08:002014-01-16T19:23:54.734-08:00Apathy and The One Thing to Get Right<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It seems to me that oftentimes God pulls us out of the comfortable, out from where we are content. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've asked why. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sometimes I see things, read things that tear me open.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I feel deeply.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I cry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm bled empty for pain I can't touch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I write blog posts that I never publish because they're too vulnerable, probing where I have no answers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've gone places I never thought I would, met people that floored me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sometimes I understand why.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sometimes the reason is not so obvious.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sometimes I ache for things that I can't change and people I can't reach.</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Sometimes I want things for people that I can't give them.</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This was my aching lament to a friend awhile back and our eyes brimmed with grief over loss of depth in this generation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And God's hearts brims and aches over His children's apathy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We are so blind to His presence, to His goodness in every, <i>every</i> moment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I just want to grab them by the shoulders and look into their eyes and beg them:</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>"Lift up your eyes... He is here! Don't you see?"</i></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And yet I know their blindness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I know what it is to stumble in the dark, to see no answer, no goodness.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_SEnOb_LKCI8HGrSNtf94rK7vI9IlsQA-NfN5Cnilz7NteCQe7ZOcwVx9NaonDGX6OpkxjnTPl1Rxy2fr8XM_Xi54Zn6NUGDxMLQdzWUgkXKgas0UdymwfvbruiFdmFY8pdSfs7ileYi/s1600/IMG_1755.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_SEnOb_LKCI8HGrSNtf94rK7vI9IlsQA-NfN5Cnilz7NteCQe7ZOcwVx9NaonDGX6OpkxjnTPl1Rxy2fr8XM_Xi54Zn6NUGDxMLQdzWUgkXKgas0UdymwfvbruiFdmFY8pdSfs7ileYi/s1600/IMG_1755.PNG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I struggle to remember when exactly it changed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Because pain fades slow and self-forgiveness comes slower and sometimes it's one step forward and two back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've fought healing too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But the Word is the eye by which I see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He is my anchor, my hope, my light.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">His Word is power and it breaks every chain.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjeYpD1wVYBTt1O8xsU83uHqx6Ed4aHKsMiXok8xL1sBto2b7K6EMnuycjSgHUQXH28xb-3Ps9lJ6HESdtP9KC619kbe9eh-jr13Ypg-hQkOOk-dlxlXBXjOVOTcpKfiiUCCVAolg0pfn/s1600/DSC_0660er.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjeYpD1wVYBTt1O8xsU83uHqx6Ed4aHKsMiXok8xL1sBto2b7K6EMnuycjSgHUQXH28xb-3Ps9lJ6HESdtP9KC619kbe9eh-jr13Ypg-hQkOOk-dlxlXBXjOVOTcpKfiiUCCVAolg0pfn/s1600/DSC_0660er.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The ink carves through the lies I believed for so long.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If anything, that's the one thing I've gotten right.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I shake my head and whisper it half to myself, <i> </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>read the Bible. Memorize it, repeat it until it becomes your oxygen.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And I pray a little harder and learn to trust a little deeper.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Patience</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">God will work it out in time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Breathe the Word.</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He can penetrate the most apathetic heart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Trust. Hope.</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I know because He did it for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-69391645434836349212014-01-01T18:04:00.000-08:002014-01-01T18:04:57.095-08:00Everyday Miracles<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This year one of my goals was to start a 365 photography project and well, here it goes!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I would love for you to follow along as I capture the little moments that make up my life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You can click here to pop on over: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://graceseverydaymiracles.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>Everyday Miracles</b></a></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBDG2BvLlwau0BgcUoz9nFbZGOw1KFRjn_Hwi_48DTZtN-zadaSyFo_LtAh6XLkekLSzt9_r_VES6Pl_OSHDw995FIZdyZ06fB1z_yTuoyKIPyl-_SBcvOwPMAR1fSeP8ip2w7jKyDZuV/s1600/DSC_0574r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBDG2BvLlwau0BgcUoz9nFbZGOw1KFRjn_Hwi_48DTZtN-zadaSyFo_LtAh6XLkekLSzt9_r_VES6Pl_OSHDw995FIZdyZ06fB1z_yTuoyKIPyl-_SBcvOwPMAR1fSeP8ip2w7jKyDZuV/s320/DSC_0574r.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-35072913923202405012013-12-08T18:02:00.000-08:002013-12-09T11:27:39.370-08:00The Thing About Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxl-IVTvR6VQ50T_PDYU_09EvkM5hH19UgcUZm02cxGGN8qbMv1brUIpWXlSCSmuSTi5N6fFKkHTN_5M-pguetlnQS30QTUOOpOzk034kgttQxjy5oHSpdk_XFXfM42oM15rQiREYggyF/s1600/DSC_0328er.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxl-IVTvR6VQ50T_PDYU_09EvkM5hH19UgcUZm02cxGGN8qbMv1brUIpWXlSCSmuSTi5N6fFKkHTN_5M-pguetlnQS30QTUOOpOzk034kgttQxjy5oHSpdk_XFXfM42oM15rQiREYggyF/s1600/DSC_0328er.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">I decided I didn't want presents this year. And I've shook my head firm every time I've been asked, "What do you want for Christmas?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Nothing. I'm content. Really.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">But it's not just that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">I'm tired of practicing Christmas.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMO7-MRVoRmw6N_XjWgvcekanj9o2raz4gPCb3bn8M3rZAL79Jb6suM4jop0gg2Are1fWmezgKzhiHUY9Vur6If2nLCK2x_wJ1psQQ7Dks7Fbkjr_Q2-NHFL2QHyttLGn_HkpL3xSd5dWm/s1600/DSC_0230er.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMO7-MRVoRmw6N_XjWgvcekanj9o2raz4gPCb3bn8M3rZAL79Jb6suM4jop0gg2Are1fWmezgKzhiHUY9Vur6If2nLCK2x_wJ1psQQ7Dks7Fbkjr_Q2-NHFL2QHyttLGn_HkpL3xSd5dWm/s1600/DSC_0230er.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm tired of the rush and the stress and the last minute shopping, buying, wrapping that defines the season.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"It's not about stuff," we claim as we pile packages under the tree. "It's about giving..." and worry if we gave the right thing, if we spent enough, if they'll like it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The day comes - with
mountains of torn wrapping paper and plates of food and too much dessert
- and goes - with recycling and leftovers and avoiding the scale. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We return and exchange the gifts that weren't just right and we return to normal life, unaware that we've exchanged the most valuable gift of all for something less.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Nothing has changed in us and we return just like the rest of the world.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTyq7-q3SypuA0ImEfdt2TLGX_cs805tfE_1j9PwveQCh6I_zDFTXaB4k0WPPr_JIw2F9IMuTsFXwanAtK5bsU5mF_BWSD8m0lGQLY2Wxe9JmaK2U7Xyo2iOmCbnGc6nmp5mahtUGuFQw/s1600/er.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTyq7-q3SypuA0ImEfdt2TLGX_cs805tfE_1j9PwveQCh6I_zDFTXaB4k0WPPr_JIw2F9IMuTsFXwanAtK5bsU5mF_BWSD8m0lGQLY2Wxe9JmaK2U7Xyo2iOmCbnGc6nmp5mahtUGuFQw/s1600/er.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>"H</i></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="text Exod-33-16" id="en-AMP-2490"><span class="text Exod-33-16" id="en-NIV-2490"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>ow will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? </i></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="text Exod-33-16" id="en-AMP-2490"><span class="text Exod-33-16" id="en-NIV-2490"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" </i></span></span></span><span class="text Exod-33-16" id="en-AMP-2490"><span class="text Exod-33-16" id="en-NIV-2490"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Exodus 33:16 NIV</i></span></span></span><i> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Tired</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's not enough this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This year, I'm taking my gaze off of what's under the tree and resting my eyes in the direction it's pointing.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApJaYpXYGgW7-TvQLvSkC0F_0yOf8m83AyFejlQJBvlhApA8B5dC7OkNo2nqEw1fEQWDbIGg6gw_iRRGXhDoT4hJxh2Rb5y8XzfDA2XB-C0m9IpdnTAn7ZIKR9UhroRMG1N9rKXJlkPNM/s1600/DSC_0335r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApJaYpXYGgW7-TvQLvSkC0F_0yOf8m83AyFejlQJBvlhApA8B5dC7OkNo2nqEw1fEQWDbIGg6gw_iRRGXhDoT4hJxh2Rb5y8XzfDA2XB-C0m9IpdnTAn7ZIKR9UhroRMG1N9rKXJlkPNM/s320/DSC_0335r.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkQmAt4fbC4JrQhf4e3U3rniTRWprHAYdiuDGKd7TY-jpl7iGlcd1AMe8BASooyokoJjvDRwM-Q-gdv3w5_UdeI7oGnDoHVMi-MxbNzG16tJTc4peyGZmxOmi0TINliZ1DJwLTaeCOuAH/s1600/DSC_0337r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkQmAt4fbC4JrQhf4e3U3rniTRWprHAYdiuDGKd7TY-jpl7iGlcd1AMe8BASooyokoJjvDRwM-Q-gdv3w5_UdeI7oGnDoHVMi-MxbNzG16tJTc4peyGZmxOmi0TINliZ1DJwLTaeCOuAH/s320/DSC_0337r.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This year, I want to be as empty as my stocking so I can be filled with the solitary gift this is all about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Emmanuel. <i>God with us.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>The God that created man squeezed all His fullness into one so we could be full of Him</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And as I offer him my humble moments of gratitude and receive His gift, I embody all the fullness of God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Emmanuel now dwells in me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>"He who brings an offering of praise and thanksgiving honors and glorifies Me; and he who orders his way aright [who prepares the way that I may show him], to him I will demonstrate the salvation of God." Psalm 50:23 AMP</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Christ-mass. The gathering of grateful hearts to celebrate the Christ-child.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The learning to empty ourselves to be filled with His fullness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That's the magic of Christmas. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3uzxIe4j_XLLVBLI2LlLl2DATrAS8GMwr6xgFSwZv25tScILveEfKxS832kZWgwJ6b1AT0KsszFUVxCahyC_sWS_rwzqtVEL25A0DFIVSdqJ5UgNBi9hIWlKkGQ8Awv2QZGciK9Y7jkz/s1600/DSC_0349r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3uzxIe4j_XLLVBLI2LlLl2DATrAS8GMwr6xgFSwZv25tScILveEfKxS832kZWgwJ6b1AT0KsszFUVxCahyC_sWS_rwzqtVEL25A0DFIVSdqJ5UgNBi9hIWlKkGQ8Awv2QZGciK9Y7jkz/s1600/DSC_0349r.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>"I have come that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." John 10:10b AMP</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">"And He said, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'" Exodus 33:14 NIV</span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Christmas is not about the hustle and bustle. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's about His gift. It's about His presence in us; It's about rest.</span></span></b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>"You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy..." Psalm 16:11a AMP</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The greatest thing you can do this Christmas is <b>slow down</b>. <b>Linger </b>in His presence. <b>Rest</b> in Him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Come empty. And He will fill you with Himself - the greatest gift of all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"See to it that no one carries you off...following human tradition (man's ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teaching of the universe and disregarding [the teaching of] Christ (the Messiah)." Colossians 2:8 AMP</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) <b>continues </b>to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature]. And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ <b>you too are filled with the Godhead</b> - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and reach full spiritual stature]." (emphasis mine) Colossians 2:9-10a AMP</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-68324791207796489782013-08-30T10:46:00.000-07:002013-08-30T10:46:21.480-07:00Thirsty Ground<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocFh1xLQh0azCn05iAxZq807aLIJoB2gkGuiA7eFxHOtq8ZEhU11WDuyHcxszJEkVw96IWoa8FmQv-bMVk58_Q0Pa3d3VYYckjgQlrF9tXbJ4TIXTBCOpX6LwSIKuq84zbybMfakxNIzD/s1600/blog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocFh1xLQh0azCn05iAxZq807aLIJoB2gkGuiA7eFxHOtq8ZEhU11WDuyHcxszJEkVw96IWoa8FmQv-bMVk58_Q0Pa3d3VYYckjgQlrF9tXbJ4TIXTBCOpX6LwSIKuq84zbybMfakxNIzD/s1600/blog1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here we are again - at this great body of water <a href="http://poemsandpondering.blogspot.com/2012/09/reckless-abandon.html" target="_blank">where I once learned how to truly live</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And I was excited to be coming back...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But the drought is over now and the rocky shore where I tasted wonder is submerged under feet of water.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4I10v7TzOOBTtGEKy51hOZoQZdw0_RG9TdLkpGLwbE_YXuRkRzMbZZMZW2tPuN0xc20EIVVUwg0WyvqBnOD8U7I_93sskDS_5GlL1xxaOS7maKHs61BcTgaOtJOsIdvTQkKg2wppXzFEP/s1600/blog3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4I10v7TzOOBTtGEKy51hOZoQZdw0_RG9TdLkpGLwbE_YXuRkRzMbZZMZW2tPuN0xc20EIVVUwg0WyvqBnOD8U7I_93sskDS_5GlL1xxaOS7maKHs61BcTgaOtJOsIdvTQkKg2wppXzFEP/s1600/blog3.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And a small part of me is angry at the rain that covers my holy ground.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But I need the rain. And it wouldn't be the first time I refused to embrace the very thing I need most.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My feet dangle from the edge of the dock - my makeshift shoreline - and the surface of the deep blue-green rises and falls beneath me.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERrZ2knRnzwUUpWbQQJKnnBQWGb-RdvJGlFwjyrRBh3bGi0o9WH03vGnrRBF2OxwKngeNIi5LyoiGK1ozRzBu03OknfToaCQ8JbrG-n5lM7T_M9V7OpSYWRiiNT43btbEGFew57DseVWz/s1600/blog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERrZ2knRnzwUUpWbQQJKnnBQWGb-RdvJGlFwjyrRBh3bGi0o9WH03vGnrRBF2OxwKngeNIi5LyoiGK1ozRzBu03OknfToaCQ8JbrG-n5lM7T_M9V7OpSYWRiiNT43btbEGFew57DseVWz/s1600/blog2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The sounds of wind chimes and water lapping against boats soothe the inner chaos.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But the sounds and the coolness of the water against my skin cannot quench the thirst in my soul.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Cause I am forever tasting other water and it only leaves me more empty than I was before.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"My soul thirsts...when can I go and meet with God?" Psalm 42:2 </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I remember that night - that twilight symphony on the porch as the others slept. Me, far too restless, troubled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My heart cried with the cicadas.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One lone cicada's song rose with a mournful crescendo and I joined in silent harmony.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Together we serenaded the Creator.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He smiled.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And I remembered why I'm here. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge." Psalm 19:2 </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Be still and know that I am God....I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"And I - in righteousness will see Your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness." Psalm 17:15</span><br />
Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-28395544334058027412013-05-28T19:43:00.001-07:002014-04-07T08:47:27.762-07:00Poetry and Apologies<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I keep telling people that I'm going to start blogging regularly and I write half a post and then get busy and forget.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sorry about that.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sometimes my good intentions don't turn out to be reality.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Anyway, here's a little poem I wrote a while ago.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When words won't say the way you feel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And music can't drown the pain</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When you can't see anything that's real</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And all you hear is rain</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When your thoughts elude until you run from them</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And it wastes away the soul</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When the heart hurts deep and fierce again</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And the source is still unknown</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You've been aching long through days and nights</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's left you weary and worn</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You have no strength to stand and fight</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">With every muscle torn</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You reach up through the bitter darkness</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And find no hand to grasp</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You can't remember not feeling like this</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Any breath could be your last</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh hope so small, so fragile and weak</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What good can you do?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It doesn't matter what words I speak</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My faith has been torn through</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My love has left me wasted, empty</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As I gave it out all wrong</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And I shame myself for not stopping to see</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What I knew all along</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">'Cause I try to run on my own strength</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Chasing dreams not mine to hold</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When I've been told to stop and wait</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And see what He'll unfold</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sometimes I think I know my heart</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And all the things it needs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But He loved to life its every part</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And it's Him who knows all things</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-56889205610075687532013-05-06T19:27:00.001-07:002013-05-06T19:27:27.045-07:00Change...<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My tea mug is empty and I'm eating the last piece of graduation cake.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The day came and it was interrupted with trips to the hospital and blood tests and x-rays and worry and wondering whether Mom or Dad would make it to the ceremony.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But I walked the aisle and Mom was there to make me cry and everyone was praying for our sweet baby girl with the fever of 105.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our God answers prayer and she is laughing now and all is well once more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now back to life and figuring out what this new normal should look like.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Change</span>.</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm not sure I like it this time.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Friends are leaving to go to college and an old friend is moving across the country and I'm not sure I like being the one left behind.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">They talk dorms and classes and boyfriends and I'm just standing here wishing time would slow down a little cause I'm not sure I'm ready to grow up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I still wish for the long afternoons of exploring the woods and riding bikes with the kids down the road and when my biggest worry was about the boy in children's church who had a crush on me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But now the boys are older and relationships more complicated and no one can be "just friends" cause someone always gets hurt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And deep down I just want to hide away in my room and write stories where everyone wins in the end and risks don't have to end in heartache.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And deep down we are all just broken, hurting people who are too terrified to admit it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>If they really knew who we are, what we did, how we think...</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yet still we long deep inside to be seen thoroughly, known deeply, and loved inspite of and perhaps even because of our faults. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At least I do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And I forget sometimes that I am, really.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I struggle to remember that I have One who knows me deeper even than I know myself and He loves because He <i>understands</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm left breathless all over again at the thought...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is what sustains me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And I pray for it, plead for this hunger for the things of God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That His mystery will leave me wonderstruck and satisfied, like that manna in the desert.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And I pray in earnest that I never grow weary and loose my appetite for this mystery I've been offered. (Numbers 11:4-6, 31-34)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Because in the end, He is the only one who will never change and I need that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I need to know Him as my Constant One.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-23633842827240011852013-02-21T18:48:00.001-08:002013-05-05T14:41:35.284-07:00Empty<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I come home and weeks pass.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I publish a post with no words.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My notebooks sit untouched. I haven't rhymed since <a href="http://poemsandpondering.blogspot.com/2012/12/when-world-asks-why.html" target="_blank">that day of tears and innocent blood and questioning why</a>. Except on my guitar.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I pick it up and finger the strings. Lyrics come and I lay them in lines then turn the page and forget because some songs only need to be sung once.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But I read and I study and I take notes and I dig because <i>I have to know.</i></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm missing something.</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now I'm back from Africa where ever<i>y</i>thing was new and exciting and an adventure and I'm back to dragging myself out of bed in the morning and studying American government so I can graduate high school and <i>this is it</i>? This trying to push on to the next thing in life so I can really start living?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Why am I here again?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I unpack and cry for two days straight and I sleep off the jet lag. But something has changed in me again and I'm not satisfied with going through the motions because <i>I need to live for something</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What am I living for?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I talk deep to one friend about true faith. His passion for the Word of God brings it to life.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I can't stop reading it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm tossed back and forth between reveling in this deep Love that I have fallen into and wrestling with my nature of so quickly losing sight of the One who has so thoroughly captivated my heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Wrestling, always wrestling - like <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+32%3A22-32&version=NIV" target="_blank">Jacob with the angel of the Lord</a> - and waiting weary for my stubbornness to give and Him to teach me more of the name I've been given.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'" </i>2 Corinthians 12:9</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And it is in my weakness that He is strongest in me because I have no strength of my own to turn to.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUnlVIsCU3k" target="_blank">"There is nothing else I need anymore..."</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This deepening desire to <i>know </i>Him<i>,</i> to truly know the heart of my Father.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My prayer has been that of Moses: "<i>If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so that I may know you and continue to find favor with you." </i>Exodus 33:13<i></i> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">No matter what it takes, God, teach me Your ways because I want to <i>know </i>You.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Oh, this great Love that soothes and calms and heals. To know this wholeness in Christ as He breaks me deeper to heal the hidden, broken places. To know that every ache and disappointment in this life only serves to draw my heart back to Him and remind me that <i>nothing else satisfies</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Break me, if that's what it takes. Because in the brokenness, I find You.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I come empty and I find Him there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."</i> Matthew 11:28-29</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."</i> Jeremiah 29:11</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-76085710365013464472013-02-02T17:51:00.000-08:002013-02-02T17:51:37.866-08:00A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a d3d45ef4f68a9b5d30e1="true" f6b01f4cd708cf="true" fec145ecf="true" gb8aeec04d="true" h04b4a7923740b1="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQXrzCBatQ3G6yP6mPk8N_DzE76AVkcuIZqYknYF2xL6CpadeCs5SLeo4yJ6O6hn1-Zy8Si6-s3V_9QziWTOGzwo4HoieKNqK1XzvbE1LPLLQ6QmRRU5mEdfkeI5tExLn_IlGwzc-atIU/s1600/Kenya+009er.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQXrzCBatQ3G6yP6mPk8N_DzE76AVkcuIZqYknYF2xL6CpadeCs5SLeo4yJ6O6hn1-Zy8Si6-s3V_9QziWTOGzwo4HoieKNqK1XzvbE1LPLLQ6QmRRU5mEdfkeI5tExLn_IlGwzc-atIU/s1600/Kenya+009er.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sunrise on the Mara</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The valley at Mount Suswa</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise over the tea fields</td></tr>
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<a d3d45ef4f68a9b5d30e1="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgsm44EJzCA9pxpyUWc7iyHQ5BEyfJ0YCkKMEh86-Mcgtymaw-R3duulgzNi36kV5zDsN9zJRAOuInTvSaVeF14zeYgcP3cLo-jk_LcaXfdsNQsWldw9r3jdtWhL0ksVKbcUhK2j3-Spk/s1600/Kenya+118er.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgsm44EJzCA9pxpyUWc7iyHQ5BEyfJ0YCkKMEh86-Mcgtymaw-R3duulgzNi36kV5zDsN9zJRAOuInTvSaVeF14zeYgcP3cLo-jk_LcaXfdsNQsWldw9r3jdtWhL0ksVKbcUhK2j3-Spk/s1600/Kenya+118er.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Tea <span style="font-size: xx-small;">leaf</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bart<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ering </span></span>in the market</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Nairobi <span style="font-size: xx-small;">market</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a d3d45ef4f68a9b5d30e1="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSypjBUK-gQqqpqZ_v2Z9rvyg1KFLCEQJqnJpLovKzrxOZkJRjwYVfjjY1bUY2pENfDWl3xLro_ikgJyLRZgITcC6Q4Mafi4BWHmsdTZMohREaFDzHpAONLFjAYYhkbzfNLJYjdoOQVYr/s1600/Kenya2+061er.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSypjBUK-gQqqpqZ_v2Z9rvyg1KFLCEQJqnJpLovKzrxOZkJRjwYVfjjY1bUY2pENfDWl3xLro_ikgJyLRZgITcC6Q4Mafi4BWHmsdTZMohREaFDzHpAONLFjAYYhkbzfNLJYjdoOQVYr/s1600/Kenya2+061er.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Into the Masi Mara</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a d3d45ef4f68a9b5d30e1="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMk6jzb0JPg9jPPLYwPlOFOjvjvuBHu7xkk4Bt6q-WvnZrqilVeNzvBm3tVQ6M5LtWKr4IgxD2OcQt_04bvmtbHEvYx6buaPGxdLlkbFdimA0NwWeOzcW6wvAyEPlVdaW3FJQGzOJM2yun/s1600/Kenya2+046er.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMk6jzb0JPg9jPPLYwPlOFOjvjvuBHu7xkk4Bt6q-WvnZrqilVeNzvBm3tVQ6M5LtWKr4IgxD2OcQt_04bvmtbHEvYx6buaPGxdLlkbFdimA0NwWeOzcW6wvAyEPlVdaW3FJQGzOJM2yun/s1600/Kenya2+046er.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our safari truck</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch on the Mara</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wildebeest </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mudding in the Mara</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Hyena carrying elephant skin</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a d3d45ef4f68a9b5d30e1="true" f6b01f4cd708cf="true" fec145ecf="true" gb8aeec04d="true" h04b4a7923740b1="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8kbD2UbmzAmB7syeFpEtdTOdOFbVK66i-NEGBwRT2-zSiAQgdbqt9CCX2nRvDvssNwMMe8Sg0QQP-nLIFYUk88PTHXSnrd2p1ikU0kN9vaKNd5Y3NU2ouc1xjOkbzokYH-UShF1FisDx/s1600/Kenya+089er.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8kbD2UbmzAmB7syeFpEtdTOdOFbVK66i-NEGBwRT2-zSiAQgdbqt9CCX2nRvDvssNwMMe8Sg0QQP-nLIFYUk88PTHXSnrd2p1ikU0kN9vaKNd5Y3NU2ouc1xjOkbzokYH-UShF1FisDx/s1600/Kenya+089er.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lone cheetah</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a d3d45ef4f68a9b5d30e1="true" f6b01f4cd708cf="true" fec145ecf="true" gb8aeec04d="true" h04b4a7923740b1="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39uAs1HjoJfw4aLabDBZSnt6qGx28gztO_Ix8FCyF-Mw7Q3bPPcA5d0pg8RLNYUbLl19z5hig_XGUbgT87SbnuVZ5eDZOifmI_EirsBhoPBfHP1EFP-ILu1RA79bkpsZKj7lcPkc_LYSw/s1600/Kenya+005er.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39uAs1HjoJfw4aLabDBZSnt6qGx28gztO_Ix8FCyF-Mw7Q3bPPcA5d0pg8RLNYUbLl19z5hig_XGUbgT87SbnuVZ5eDZOifmI_EirsBhoPBfHP1EFP-ILu1RA79bkpsZKj7lcPkc_LYSw/s1600/Kenya+005er.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Azure sunset :)</span></span></td></tr>
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<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-12313059664142801712012-12-26T14:09:00.002-08:002014-04-07T08:39:25.254-07:00Everything is Possible<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This year has been a journey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's been hard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><a b7d606a752baf20ad="true" c25048328f532="true" c26c30375="true" h11ea0ee461a7="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrD-c6xZw3JUtYFYdboICuMbJQOPlvgeZluK6NrrZD-5eqen7DnKPwVC6-7mNDyWRLJgr95MPe__W7kNdtbUGhp1hRrlSd_q0XSW1YCHQn2xKbMYeNOoJchnMckhSbpMoAo618DNrOzoZF/s1600/Fall-Winter+2012+066er.jpg" imageanchor="1" jfd54a2cbdaac74588="true" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrD-c6xZw3JUtYFYdboICuMbJQOPlvgeZluK6NrrZD-5eqen7DnKPwVC6-7mNDyWRLJgr95MPe__W7kNdtbUGhp1hRrlSd_q0XSW1YCHQn2xKbMYeNOoJchnMckhSbpMoAo618DNrOzoZF/s400/Fall-Winter+2012+066er.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've cried more tears and felt more pain then I ever had before.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But I'm stronger now. I love God more. So many times He was the only thing that got me through...Him and music.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I started learning guitar. I love it.</span><br />
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<a b7d606a752baf20ad="true" c25048328f532="true" c26c30375="true" h11ea0ee461a7="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8jmJioJKcTTuEMMoap7-TS7Dr-rAv1ml83e5S0W-3c-JgJlPtPZRAssoP10F4sNiiHAvZ2h15q2JuKv4UwB2FsPHWjwROeGFlEPry9GWEee006gJ5LaQnFiTJPhWOmTeUuKE0hNFTcEi/s1600/Fall-Winter+2012+004e.jpg" imageanchor="1" jfd54a2cbdaac74588="true" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8jmJioJKcTTuEMMoap7-TS7Dr-rAv1ml83e5S0W-3c-JgJlPtPZRAssoP10F4sNiiHAvZ2h15q2JuKv4UwB2FsPHWjwROeGFlEPry9GWEee006gJ5LaQnFiTJPhWOmTeUuKE0hNFTcEi/s400/Fall-Winter+2012+004e.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And yesterday I was surprised with my own. It's blue. :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've been writing music. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I used to have trouble putting my lyrics to music, but with a little help from some friends, I think I've got it down. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes all we need is someone to believe in us to find the courage to try again.</span></i></b></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've made so many great friends this year. God has brought people into my life that I needed. I am so thankful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I don't feel quite so lonely anymore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><i><b><span style="color: #666666;">It's funny how God waits until we realize He is all we need before giving us what we thought we couldn't go without.</span></b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm trying to pick back up photography. Kinda for my blog and kinda just for me.</span></div>
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<a b7d606a752baf20ad="true" c25048328f532="true" c26c30375="true" h11ea0ee461a7="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zafvcdWQSKGIdtxXxAX-Ysk1oYtt85ME0Ph-ShlbiedR2uCFKjcmmv1Uw5JisBmedSF_JOKNNKiVMN-Ex3LTDA-2YcKnF7IhCm9At5KNbsTizbR_Nkz8msYT6v7dfnQuLeAEPWs3RQCk/s1600/Fall-Winter+2012+056er.jpg" imageanchor="1" jfd54a2cbdaac74588="true" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zafvcdWQSKGIdtxXxAX-Ysk1oYtt85ME0Ph-ShlbiedR2uCFKjcmmv1Uw5JisBmedSF_JOKNNKiVMN-Ex3LTDA-2YcKnF7IhCm9At5KNbsTizbR_Nkz8msYT6v7dfnQuLeAEPWs3RQCk/s400/Fall-Winter+2012+056er.jpg" height="301" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Apparently I really like the vintage look.</span></div>
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<a b7d606a752baf20ad="true" c25048328f532="true" c26c30375="true" h11ea0ee461a7="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4a4J-7FL1x_Y0EdnnudXA348sBZ1YyLBcQ2mYs0Ks6hdPfDzPWBP_EMCE1nxaZA6eDj5_bZpFklUu0RRQNX1yUJ2Rb6un6lPL-fUHvg82-5nW0_-Eotq_W49z7X9P03jSTH5qNuhnpd2L/s1600/Fall-Winter+2012+089er.jpg" imageanchor="1" jfd54a2cbdaac74588="true" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4a4J-7FL1x_Y0EdnnudXA348sBZ1YyLBcQ2mYs0Ks6hdPfDzPWBP_EMCE1nxaZA6eDj5_bZpFklUu0RRQNX1yUJ2Rb6un6lPL-fUHvg82-5nW0_-Eotq_W49z7X9P03jSTH5qNuhnpd2L/s400/Fall-Winter+2012+089er.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And vignettes...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><b>Most of the time the only thing that really needs to change is our perspective.</b></i></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I read two books this year that changed my life.</span><br />
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<a b7d606a752baf20ad="true" c25048328f532="true" c26c30375="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_PQbq6DsJy0VhIUneJKxWDJmRFIjjRNsd16a6z3I2IiODmPGgeWIwNHxz0_RcTwUeIoRH25Vm0M6wYJkGJky106nIJMO_W4ylHTk28c6S2ePY7z5HfyPEuThcDr6eOow3uW-x8cFILJ3/s1600/Fall-Winter+2012+115er.jpg" imageanchor="1" jfd54a2cbdaac74588="true" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_PQbq6DsJy0VhIUneJKxWDJmRFIjjRNsd16a6z3I2IiODmPGgeWIwNHxz0_RcTwUeIoRH25Vm0M6wYJkGJky106nIJMO_W4ylHTk28c6S2ePY7z5HfyPEuThcDr6eOow3uW-x8cFILJ3/s640/Fall-Winter+2012+115er.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One taught me how to be thankful - really truly grateful for every moment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a b7d606a752baf20ad="true" c25048328f532="true" c26c30375="true" href="http://www.amazon.com/Practicing-His-Presence-Brother-Lawrence/dp/B000GKCHGE" jfd54a2cbdaac74588="true" target="_blank">The other one</a> taught me how to pray - or rather never to stop praying. I'm still working on that and I'm pretty sure I will never stop trying. It's hard, but so rewarding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><b><i>I promise that once you start, you will never be content with stopping when it comes to prayer. </i></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I found some new poetry.</span></div>
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<a b7d606a752baf20ad="true" c26c30375="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Zv2NGAJEEyZYMN3HmaXHRf5oZ7fVNlHWoXNRYtdDDezG5vhSWdc82EHp8spElOCd1h-nGZw0O5C0cDUdKxQkAjbNCOFbeMmeNtj8Tll_ePsk2p7XiKO5DLgKwsH_9StHNvxan5oTfdBq/s400/Fall-Winter+2012+084er.jpg" imageanchor="1" jfd54a2cbdaac74588="true" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Zv2NGAJEEyZYMN3HmaXHRf5oZ7fVNlHWoXNRYtdDDezG5vhSWdc82EHp8spElOCd1h-nGZw0O5C0cDUdKxQkAjbNCOFbeMmeNtj8Tll_ePsk2p7XiKO5DLgKwsH_9StHNvxan5oTfdBq/s400/Fall-Winter+2012+084er.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And wrote a lot of my own...and started sharing it with people. That was scary, but I've discovered a lot of other writers and poets around me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm learning how to be brave.</span></div>
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<a b7d606a752baf20ad="true" c26c30375="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5WA3lO4nRlLKr00zLN7yNZUnXy9UHpUZ4Ju6tXHb2EFcf89FKewFWcVW7R_SAP-nROJXE4xKCs4VneKpZumPbaL9ZhIXXPrhOpivvySlfKPCVzu0omDIUq8E35k7MYk-4oKzRQfW3bqpL/s1600/Be+yourself.jpg" imageanchor="1" jfd54a2cbdaac74588="true" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5WA3lO4nRlLKr00zLN7yNZUnXy9UHpUZ4Ju6tXHb2EFcf89FKewFWcVW7R_SAP-nROJXE4xKCs4VneKpZumPbaL9ZhIXXPrhOpivvySlfKPCVzu0omDIUq8E35k7MYk-4oKzRQfW3bqpL/s400/Be+yourself.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">How to love unreserved.</span></div>
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<a b7d606a752baf20ad="true" c26c30375="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwT47wSPAzBSjm6zfr-0wLLOWKmv4jOm87okcskXyRyKhRRHm854umGT-PVY-4hqTrp9CW8Svl5GyNKyJQjwClvgNoNW0cnLAyRoZQPJEvFRpF9meAKEcN2l5bml0fPbPEqn3v7xQRkQ8_/s1600/thelittlethings.jpg" imageanchor="1" jfd54a2cbdaac74588="true" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwT47wSPAzBSjm6zfr-0wLLOWKmv4jOm87okcskXyRyKhRRHm854umGT-PVY-4hqTrp9CW8Svl5GyNKyJQjwClvgNoNW0cnLAyRoZQPJEvFRpF9meAKEcN2l5bml0fPbPEqn3v7xQRkQ8_/s400/thelittlethings.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">How to open my clenched fists and breathe in deeper and keep my eyes focused on what only the heart can see.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><b>"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18</b></i></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm packing this week. Four days from now I will be on an airplane flying to the other side of the globe...Africa. I can only wonder at what this opportunity will hold and unfold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">2013 holds big things. New beginnings. Adventure. I'm ready.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This spirit is crushed</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Heart stripped to the core</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At a cold, cruel awakening</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And new awareness of war</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The tears they keep slipping</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">From this grief in my soul</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Why so much evil</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">No one seems to know</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Agony on faces</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Strikes arrows in heart</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The world is left speechless</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When one's sense departs</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Black runs down cheeks</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Dark streaks of pain</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One sweet little face</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Bears my name</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">How many mothers</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Are weeping tonight</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Over empty beds</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Wondering how they'll survive</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">How can I catch on paper<br />The depth of a grief</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When no words can comfort</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And no tongue can speak</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Where is the hope</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In a world of such pain</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Where young dreams are crushed</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Because such darkness reigns</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So many questions</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And so much at stake</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The shadows hold answers</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'd rather not take</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Five little faces</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Under this roof</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If something happened to them</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I don't know what I'd do</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I'll hug them all tighter</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Say I love you again</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Because you never know what might happen</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Before the day ends</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">For everyone who was affected by the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary.</span></span></div>
Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-26282670161074157822012-11-24T14:13:00.003-08:002012-11-25T18:58:20.762-08:00Day by Day<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I told you last week that I would post a poem for you and I haven't yet...I'm sorry. There is one that I really want to post but it's not quite finished. I just can't quite get the ending how I like it. But it is coming (I think)! I've also had about a million and one things that I want to blog about and I just haven't sat down and written...my heart has been so full lately. :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thanksgiving is over...sadly. We put the Christmas tree up and I'm ready for the holidays...I think.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I finished a notebook this week and started a new one! It's always strange going back through the wrinkled pages and reading all of my poetry and prose writings and lyrics from the past year - to see the journey I've walked, the things I've learned, how I've grown and changed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a d2d68b204576f65="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFjtNLMqNXq5bOFYbifXR0Mrb-rxTc5af0E8Q3mfgntqs1tgqoXIDoKK5DgCb7Xf5CIJbtAT8vjcYQo8yTv0G-yfshdCVOzyjSWukHjq8iGBZpKKYGgj061yhGzVJZ1PP_edVLqUbn_rv/s1600/Isn't+it+funny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFjtNLMqNXq5bOFYbifXR0Mrb-rxTc5af0E8Q3mfgntqs1tgqoXIDoKK5DgCb7Xf5CIJbtAT8vjcYQo8yTv0G-yfshdCVOzyjSWukHjq8iGBZpKKYGgj061yhGzVJZ1PP_edVLqUbn_rv/s320/Isn't+it+funny.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's exciting starting a new one - wondering what it will hold. I sense change coming and it excites and terrifies me. The approaching end of this year brings adventure and the new one brings graduation and whatever is going to happen after that I don't really know. But I'm ready!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now for a poem...or two.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> A poem of love, a poem of hate</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A poem to try to hide the pain</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> A poem of peace, a poem of war</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A poem to mend what has been torn</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> A poem of hope not yet lost</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To not give up at any cost</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> A poem of weakness, a poem of strength</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A poem of true, undying faith</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> A poem to quench unending thirst</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A poem reminds us what comes first</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Who can understand the poet?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Whose heart beats to rhythm and rhyme</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Whose words out-number the sands of time</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Whose thoughts flow off the end of each page</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Whose pencil catches each one with grace</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Whose lips speak beauty and truth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Whose tongue can soften and move</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Whose silence means deep meditation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Whose eyes relect knowledge and wisdom</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Whose ears listen and recieve</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Whose honest story all believe</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Whose gentle countinance attracts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Whose noble character nothing lacks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But who can understand the poet?</span><br />
<br />
Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-53833946257524613352012-11-17T08:33:00.000-08:002012-12-23T13:50:07.925-08:00Inspiration...and Adventure!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So my lovely friend <a c25048328f532="true" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/05312230152423197018" target="_blank">Caitria</a> asked me to do a guest post about inspiration on her writing blog, <a c25048328f532="true" href="http://storiesinthemind.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stories in the Mind</a>. You can head on over there to check it out if you like! Here's a link to the post: <a c25048328f532="true" href="http://storiesinthemind.blogspot.com/2012/11/guest-post-by-poet-grace-turney_13.html" target="_blank">Inspiration</a>. It's a fantastic blog!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm hoping to post some poetry this week...it's been awhile. So stay tuned!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have crazy news! On Wednesday I found out that I have been given the opportunity to go to Kenya in six weeks. Yes, I said Kenya!!! AHHHHHHH!!! I was invited to help out with a missionary retreat and at the end I'll be going on a two-day <a c25048328f532="true" href="http://encountermara.com/" target="_blank">safari</a>... I'm so thankful for this incredible opportunity and I feel like God is going to do some awesome things in and through me. Be praying along with me, because I've never been so far from home by myself. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm soooooo excited! I will have lots of pictures to post when I get back!</span><br />
<br />
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<a c25048328f532="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxZAbJHadetupy_L8rrzwLUqAoTFE4uYMeMgPLhQ7U1hU9-7rTzVxcDiFVwrdoXC-_6i4WhIl5zTAFM_T2YCSPFCq8XOYYa7aG6fa_l36fee99PNWFxHdtWtFx1LdbR1rFM3ZbMVitiAn/s1600/Quill+Pen+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxZAbJHadetupy_L8rrzwLUqAoTFE4uYMeMgPLhQ7U1hU9-7rTzVxcDiFVwrdoXC-_6i4WhIl5zTAFM_T2YCSPFCq8XOYYa7aG6fa_l36fee99PNWFxHdtWtFx1LdbR1rFM3ZbMVitiAn/s400/Quill+Pen+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Inspiration.<br />
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
It’s a silly, wild, elusive little thing, isn’t it? So necessary to art and writing and life, yet so often hard to catch.<br />
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Catch? Hmmm. No, that’s not quite right...
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Inspiration may elude or even run from us, but it is not something that
can be captured. It was not made to be caught and tamed, put on display
and wondered at.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Oh, but it certainly is something to be wondered at. It is quite possibly the very life-blood of a writer’s existence.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1352828502889_92">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
So why does it seem so hard to come by sometimes? That we can sit and
stare at paper or screen for hours and have nothing to say, no words to
describe, no ideas to present... </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><em>Ahhhhh, writer’s block!</em> We moan. We doodle. We daydream. We
poke around on Pinterest. But nothing comes...must just be out of
inspiration. It must be hiding again...hmmm.<br />
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Well maybe it’s not quite so rare as we might think.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div align="center">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What if we could open our eyes to see that inspiration really is in and
all around us – the people we know and the strangers we don’t, the
world we live in and the places in us that we no longer visit? What if I
told you that inspiration is all about how you see the world around
you and yourself and the things you write or sing or draw about?
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
(Because let’s face it, we’re all artists whether our tools are paint
and canvas or pen and paper or keys and computer screen...but you knew
that.)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Our task is to capture the wonder of people and life and emotion through
story and words, to inspire our readers, to find it for ourselves...<br />
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a c25048328f532="true" href="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/upload/235946467947242368_QgFjLdrA_c.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Wait
what? Write to be amazed ourselves? Oh but don’t we? Isn't that the
first reason we write – to discover for ourselves the wonder of a
beautifully described character, a perfectly conveyed emotion, a scene
so clear you can see it, a line of poetry so pure it gives you shivers?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
We write ourselves into other lands and other people and other times. We
write ourselves in and out of emotions and joy and pain.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
And inspiration fuels it all.<br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
What is inspiration really?<br />
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</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
I looked it up and one resource defined inspiration as “the act of drawing in.” I like that. It’s so true.</span></div>
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</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
When we open our eyes to the little things around us – the way the sun
catches the autumn trees, the mischievous grin of your favorite
two-year-old, the friendly twinkle in the eye of that old lady in front
of you at the grocery store, that song that comes on the radio at just
the right time – drawing in all those things that make it worth
climbing out from the warm covers into the freezing room in the
morning...that’s where inspiration flows freely from the world and into
us and then out of our fingers onto paper and screen.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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</span><div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
That’s when you realize that all the inspiration you need is right there
in your backyard and your house and yourself – like that funny quirk
your neighbor has of standing by the mailbox and throwing away half his
mail without opening it, or your little brother’s habit of singing
while he does the dishes, or the way you turn to writing when you’re
trying to figure something out.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div>
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It’s all right there. We just have to learn how to see...</span><br />
Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-88457189870405228092012-10-21T15:09:00.002-07:002012-10-21T15:14:23.453-07:00Sunday Ramblings<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I decided to join a link up! It's called Stream of Consciousness Sunday. Basically you have five minutes to get whatever is in your head onto paper, or screen, or whatever. Let's just say five minutes is not long enough for me...but I shall limit myself and only do five minutes. Enough said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The prompt this week was a quote by Effie Trinket from the Hunger Games: "It's going to be a big, big day!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here goes:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A big day, huh? Says who?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What makes a day big or small, good or bad?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Do we decide when we go to bed the night before whether
or not the next day is going to be a good day?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What about when we wake up in
the morning and hit the snooze button five times before we drag our sorry,
sleepy self out from under the warm covers? Do we decide then?</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Does the “size” of the day depend on the schedule,
or our attitude? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hmmm. Yes.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Perhaps we shrink our days with our puny, grumbly,
discontent attitudes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least I do.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I need to get my eyes off of everything that is
not going right and focus on all the little things that are.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I need to fill my days chock-full of gratitude.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Well there you go, short and sweet! I will get the hang of this...</span></span></span><br />
</div>
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(Thanks to my brother who helped technically-challenged me to get the button working...)<br />
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Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-13055976771625471102012-10-14T13:29:00.000-07:002012-10-16T20:51:02.193-07:00Wrestling...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a b6cd7bc2="true" e50c866b18d="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bJa91qSY9N4iVEhYzO2NvfLEweffOB4QX3E9-MRoaLBleiNhiAp-hMUHqXQAMQocCg1e7oJXqpm_15hHuzEk9On2s8Nqh0jGxZMXzBMMqDYK-fn8y4deYToHmfnirIvbbXa85DJwCk6T/s1600/Cloudy+Sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bJa91qSY9N4iVEhYzO2NvfLEweffOB4QX3E9-MRoaLBleiNhiAp-hMUHqXQAMQocCg1e7oJXqpm_15hHuzEk9On2s8Nqh0jGxZMXzBMMqDYK-fn8y4deYToHmfnirIvbbXa85DJwCk6T/s1600/Cloudy+Sky.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I sat on our deck in a blue fold-up lawn chair and the cloudy sky reflected my clouded eyes - heart weary from searching and heavy with unanswered questions.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The ballpoint pen in my hand stumbled across the page, desperate almost, until my unspoken questions stared back at me in blue ink:</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">I've been wrestling lately. Wrestling with myself, with God, with what I believe.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">What do I believe?</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">I've asked myself that question a lot lately.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">I've always been taught that God love us unconditionally, that nothing we could possibly do would ever separate us from the love of God.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">And I've always believed it. I never had a reason not to.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />But what about now?</span></span></i>
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />What about when simple childlike faith fades and focus is lost and promises forgotten?</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></span></i>
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">What about when wise counsel is scorned and selfish desires are pursued?</span></span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">What about when choices are made and people are hurt and the heart is hardened against what is right?</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />What then? Does He still love us then?</span></span></i>
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />When we purposely turn from His love to chase temporary fulfillment and earthly passions?</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></span></i>
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Does He take back the broken, rebellious heart without hesitation, without some kind of cost?</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I knew - that we are forgiven by the sacrifice of God's Son on the cross, that we are not longer bound by sin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But I was still so heavy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I had asked the question in Sunday School: Why is it easier to believe in a judging God than a forgiving One? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Odd for me - to voice my uncertainties.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I wondered again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Is this not the enemy's greatest tactic? To cut us off and get us alone, to weigh us so heavy with our own guilt and condemnation that we believe there is no hope...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So we buy the lie and in doing so, hide ourselves away from the only hand that can save us.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"Our task is not to get up but to admit we are dead." -Max Lucado</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a b6cd7bc2="true" e50c866b18d="true" ecb19141abb0c9e="true" href="http://www.amazon.com/Max-Lucado-Grip-Grace/dp/B004T4EY1O/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1350098117&sr=1-5&keywords=in+the+grip+of+grace+by+max+lucado" target="_blank">The book in my hand</a> spoke deep. In the Grip of Grace.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved." Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV</i> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sitting weary on that blue flowered lawn chair and stumbling for truth, but not really expecting to find it, God-truth sinks deep and penetrates layers of troubled heart.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Something clicks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i> </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>"God has a way to
make people right with him without the law, and he has now shown us that
way which the law and the prophets told us about. God makes people
right with himself through their faith in Jesus Christ." Romans 3:21-22
NCV </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">By grace. Through faith. Because of His love.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">That's it. Have faith. That's all I have to do: Believe.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>"Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved..." Acts 16:31 NIV</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So simple.<i> </i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Long suppressed tears threaten to spill.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sometimes we cannot truly know until we truly need. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">With <a b6cd7bc2="true" e50c866b18d="true" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+9%3A24&version=NIV" target="_blank">the plea of the boy's father</a>, "I do believe: help me overcome my unbelief!" I thank Him in faith.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As grace falls and permeates every sorrow and every guilt, peace creeps in slow and spreads warm from the heart for the first time in too long.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>"Though we were spiritually dead because of the things we did against God, he gave us new life with Christ." Ephesians 2:5 NCV</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">New life. It's time.<i> </i></span>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-91304065291029316772012-09-06T18:57:00.003-07:002012-09-06T18:59:25.917-07:00For a Friend<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I wrote this poem for a friend - at least that's what I tell myself.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">She is the very first person outside of my family to read my poetry and it was her love for it that made me brave enough to share it with others.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I wrote this poem for her, but I also wrote it for me, and for every girl who is a little bit quiet and a little bit withdrawn sometimes... </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Her eyes are deep chasms</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> They hold profound secrets</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> They reveal her soul</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> But one glance does not suffice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">She has learned to hide well</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> From those who do not seek</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Who do not care to look twice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> They see nothing past her smile</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But not all is hidden too deep</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Her door is not bolted</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Nor her walls too high</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> For those who desire a deeper look</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Those who linger discover, uncover</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> A beauty, a treasure</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> That is not immediately apparent</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> In her color-flecked irises</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">She has secrets to reveal</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> And wisdom to share</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> With those willing to stay</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> And wait for her to speak</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But not all flows from her lips</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Her eyes speak just as loud</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> From the fresh springs of her heart</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> To quench the thirst of many</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Her face radiates beauty</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Though many know not why</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Her lips speak truth and wisdom</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Love and warmth flow from her eyes</span>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-48138831912846843462012-09-01T20:01:00.001-07:002012-09-01T20:01:28.366-07:00Reckless Abandon<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There comes a time when it is no longer enough to sit on the rocks and watch from the shore.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When observing from the sidelines - held back by the fear of the unknown - does not satisfy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When the mystery of the deep and the calm of the waves beckon.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Come," they say. "Dip your toes in our coolness."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Adventure is calling...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My soul is heavy with the unknown burdens I've grown used to carrying.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Oh, how my spirit yearns to be free of all that holds me back.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To let go may kill me, but the hurt of standing still is greater than the pain of moving forward.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So in a surge of desperate hope, my bare feet seek the water's edge.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I wade in, slowly, to my waist.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The initial iciness of the water's touch cuts deep and surges life through my veins.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I remember comfort out from the cold - of sun on rocks - forgetting the unrelenting heat and harmful rays.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I glance down to see looming shapes hiding deep beneath the murky water and fear touches me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It is not too late to turn back - to give in to the pull of going back to what is safe and known.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But longing pulls harder than complacency.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I step out tentatively, until I stand further out on a smooth, flat rock.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In front of me the rocks end and all I see is the cloudy darkness of deep water.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">All at once I am terrified.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I stand half-submerged, half-dry in the untamed calm of the water.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Glancing back, I see where I came from - the dry rocky land - and though I sense the appeal of security onshore, I know that there is no joy to be found there.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Where there is no danger and no risk, there is no place for victory and no appreciation for life.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Though I am terrified by the unknown of the deep water and what it holds, I know that to turn back now would require me to stop living, because it would mean giving up the very purpose for which I was made.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I realize that I have been standing here - half in the water, half out - for far too long.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There is no committing myself halfway.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The choice awaits me: dive in or turn back, yet I know there is no choice.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I laugh in the face of my fears - they will not hold me back any longer - and in a moment of reckless abandon, </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I dive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The rush of cold shocks my senses and I swim, kicking and twirling in the deep calm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I break the surface, delighted and laughing at the simplicity of it all.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The sun shines warm on my dripping face.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The sky reaches limitless from coast to coast above me, cloudless and perfectly blue.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am all alone in the vast water that stretches out to the distant shore.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I wonder breathlessly at my smallness in the greatness of the One who created the water deep and the sky unending.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Who am I?</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yet here I am in waters beyond my depth, singled out and wooed in alone to taste the sweetness of surrender and trust.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Who knew that one could feel so out-of-control and yet be so at peace?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But isn't that the mystery of the deep?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>"Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above - what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below - what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea." Job 11:7-9</i></span>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-88636502552723280352012-07-25T19:31:00.000-07:002012-07-25T19:31:59.393-07:00Just a Poem<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am so sorry that it has been two weeks since my last post! My life is insanely busy at the moment. I've hardly had time to sit down and think, let alone write. Maybe that's why I've felt so higgledy-piggledy lately...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Anyways, I have a poem to share. I wrote this back in 2010 before I really started writing poetry like I do now. It is still one of my favorites. Maybe because it came out of a season of brokenness. Or maybe because it defines my passion for words and music and rhythm. Or maybe just because. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A poem is a song without the tune</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> A silent melody</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Softly to the heart it sings</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> A quiet remembering</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A song is what you would hear<br /> If the heart could speak</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That's where rhythm comes from - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> The quiet heart's beat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Listen to the rhythm</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Emotion's purest form<br />The heart beats strong in happiness</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> And shallowly when torn</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Feeling not expressed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Stay bottled up inside</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This results only in heartache</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> And caused us to hide</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So release your inner struggles</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> And in your joys stand tall</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The best way to open up your heart</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Is a poem after all </span>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-19121393305392449622012-07-04T09:01:00.000-07:002012-07-04T09:01:12.797-07:00Everyday Patriot<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Car door opens and heavy boot hits pavement.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He steps out and stands up straight. The tan camouflage uniform contrasts his ebony skin.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Inspiration.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I pick up the worn, spiral-bound notebook from the passenger seat beside me and flip to a blank page.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I put pencil to paper and words come.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As I write, he returns. Dressed in plain clothes - just like any other man - uniform folded and tucked into the duffel bag on his shoulder.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Perhaps if the poem had been finished, I could have crossed the parking lot to meet him, to smile into his tired eyes, to tuck folded paper into his hand - a humble thanks for his service.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But I didn't. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And he went on his way, unaware of the girl watching from a distance, writing of bravery and honor and truth.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Dear Soldier, this one is for you:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Slow swing, steady step</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Easy stride and lifted head</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Camoflauge of green and tan</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sure of purpose, strong of hand</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Dreams and goals of patriot true</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">May many take hat off to you</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Fight and defend our country brave</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Not knowing what rights you may save</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> And youth look up with open awe</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Aspire to be the man you are</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Atand unashamed in uniform</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For it displays all you stand for -</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> The flag that waves with colors bright</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Over eagle's wings and future-sight</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Over independence, hope, and dreams</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Over second chances and standing free</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Over family values and morals pure</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Over innocence and justice sure</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Though gradually we've turned away</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">From founded goals and dreams once made</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> From guidence good men gave to us</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We've let it go and turned to lust</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> For money and power and glory and fame</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We've come up empty and lost the way</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> And so we need men such as you</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To stand up strong and fight for truth</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> To go out brave with head held high</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And pave the way for future bright </span></span></div>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350321198502085641.post-45999816777078553812012-07-03T10:09:00.000-07:002012-12-23T13:46:01.518-08:00Beauty<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a c25048328f532="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcF5GPxh3Vk0ZPgU33JliXwuRJo5seLMU4VJJJNK0RVMst1Ju97XG40SB8dtXz2Ol7Iyz8ruorx2z4SizBzJwTJ-ArzE8Qfklz1j6379Tt4MHpjmWw1GBYAcnPynmnPc9kFhlCZTkmYjE/s1600/Rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcF5GPxh3Vk0ZPgU33JliXwuRJo5seLMU4VJJJNK0RVMst1Ju97XG40SB8dtXz2Ol7Iyz8ruorx2z4SizBzJwTJ-ArzE8Qfklz1j6379Tt4MHpjmWw1GBYAcnPynmnPc9kFhlCZTkmYjE/s400/Rose.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And this is my dream, my vision, my life's goal...<span style="color: #cc0000;">beauty</span>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To capture it, to hold it in the palm, to retain and remember it, to share it. Because there is nothing, not one thing, like beauty. And we long for it, thirst for it, risk everything we have (and everything we are) for it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Because why?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Because beauty is life; because it heals. And ever since the Fall, our crippled fragile hearts have yearned to see beauty whole and unscathed by sin and pain.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But there is still beauty. Even here, in this lost broken world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Beauty heals and eases the ache. Like when our hearts are shattered on the floor and we turn up the music to drown out the sound of the heart's cries. Because music is beautiful and the beauty calms the raging pulse and clots the blood flowing from a broken heart.</span><br />
<div style="color: #cc0000;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="color: #cc0000;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Beauty.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Perhaps this is why some wear so much make-up. We make our face up to be beautiful to hide the pain and the hurt in our eyes and our hearts. As if the outer mask of finery could possibly soak through and permeate our fragile facade. We hide behind crude self-built walls, not believing that we could ever truly be beautiful, whole, okay.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So we pretend. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Pretend to be okay, at peace, happy. But the plaster mask is holding up our feeble bones, wet noodles limp in the soggy mess of our deep heartache.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">If only, <i>if only</i> we would crack the soul-wall and allow beauty's raw enzyme to seep in, to eat away at the scar tissues and lies that bind and render immobile, to teach us to shatter the glass cage of our pride and see the beauty in pure raw vulnerablity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Because beauty is not tough. It is not invincible. It is not impenetrable. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Beauty is vulnerable.</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It is tender and gentle and fragile. It will be broken, but it is open to healing. It will be hurt, but it does not stay bitter. It will be rejected, but it is not discouraged.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So where can we find this beauty? For it is surely not found within us.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">There is only one source of pure beauty untainted by sin...<span style="color: #cc0000;">God's beauty</span>. His glorious, wondrous, majestic Beauty.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Beauty that poured Himself out for us, sacrificed all splendor, laid down all power to give us eyes to see and the opportunity to behold.<i> </i></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><i>"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in His temple." Psalm 27:4</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><br /></span></div>
Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00566073250551841536noreply@blogger.com2