Like Sands Through the Hourglass

... No, this is not an episode of DOOL. It is however a night of reflection for me. I love New Years... I always have. I used to keep a scrapbook of sorts (not like what people do now) of everything that went on in a year. It would contain movie passes, awards, tickets to events, newspaper articles, etc. I'd tack as much as I could to the tack board behind my door and then on New Years Eve, I'd take it all down and put it in the book. I love how it is a time of year that makes almost everyone slow down for a second and take a look back at things... and if they want, set goals for the year to come. I love counting my blessings and taking a moment to reflect on everything. So, tonight I did...

I mentioned in the last post that I used to have a Xanga blog (2 actually). Tonight I took some time to re-read some of my old ramblings. I laughed at a few of them; cried and some too. I have changed so much since them... and the most shocking part was to see the areas that I haven't grown in. Those were kind of a slap in the face, but I'm going to choose to see it as God gently reminding me of areas that need attention. ha.

Reading through some of them I was instantly transported back to a place in time. I could see myself slumped over the keyboard in my old Dallas apartment, or the same keyboard, but in Phoenix. It was wild to experience memories I had forgotten I had. Feelings I once felt as I typed those words came back and I just soaked them up. At the other end of things, there were some posts that I don't remember posting at all... and some that had meanings far beneath the surface of the words. It was fun and crazy all at the same time. The one thing I noticed that hadn't changed is my love for quotes. They were everywhere.

Anyway, the point is... I had a good time remembering the past tonight... and an even better one determining how I was going to learn and grow from it.

"Never be afraid to ask a question, especially of yourself..."~ Brian Kates

The First of Many

Well, the time has come for me to begin this journey. I had originally started this blog as a way to document Shannon and my first year of marriage living separately. Hoping that someone out there might be able to draw encouragement from our struggles, etc. However, as is common, the Lord had other plans. Shannon and I were apart for less than a month before He closed the door in North Carolina and opened one in Michigan for me to come be with my husband. Praise the Lord for ALL He does!!!!

So, that left me with a blog and nothing really to write about... until now. Let me first say, I still don't have anything to write about, but while thinking of resolutions for 2010 I kept getting the feeling it was time to start writing again. I had a Xanga blog for many years and I LOVED being able to just get all of the rambling out of my head... mainly for my family to read and keep up with me. Now there is Facebook and Myspace and I just fell away from it all. So, why now? I'm not really sure, but I'm willing to take a step of faith to find out.

I've been following a lot of blogs lately. It started out with the Kaysers, a family from my LNBC Church in North Carolina. They set out on a journey to adopt two amazing children from the Ukraine, and I just loved (and still love) reading how open they were to what God was doing in their lives and in the lives of these children all the way around the world. Then, there is my old sorority sister and her husband that are adopting two children from Ethiopia. It has been such a joy to read about how many ways the Lord is working in and through her. I just get so excited every time I click on their blog and read a new post that just oozes of Christ and His will in their lives. I love, love, love reading about her relationship with God and watching it bloom in front of the whole world. I admit, sometimes it makes me step back and do a self-assessment of my own relationship... but that is part of the beauty of it for me! Through her blog I've started following other families that have, or are in the process of, adopting. I don't know half of the people in the blogs I read, but it has been amazing how God has used their words to touch this stranger. Plus, I've always been fascinated by adoption... ever since my Uncle Charles adopted two of my cousins. I was so excited to have them in our family and have had the desire ever since to adopt myself.

Anyway, Shannon just got home... so I'm going to go spend some time with him for now. Resolution for 2010... blog and watch what the Lord has in store.

I end with one of "our" Bible verses (it's the theme for the blog too)

"We live by FAITH, not by SIGHT!" 2 Corinthians 5:7