Reflections

Today marks the end of a year. It is amazing to me how quickly the years pass. I think about life ten years ago and it seems like only yesterday. I was a sophomore at Crown College. I was "on my own" and trying to figure out where I fit into this world. Hmmm, ten years later I am still trying to figure out where I fit into this world - go figure!

Ten years ago I was experimenting with life on my own. What did that look like for me? It meant experimenting with the same things most college girls experiment with...hair and make up of course (what did you think I was going to say?!) Yes, I was quite the rebel as I highlighted my hair blond and caked the make-up on. I was really living on the edge! Oh dear. Looking back I can see that it was pretty silly, but it's where I was ten years ago. I would post a picture...but I didn't have a digital camera back then and I don't have access to a scanner at the moment (whew, good thing too)! My life ten years ago also included a trip to the Middle East which changed my life dramatically. Suddenly I was a world traveler and I was hooked. Not just on the traveling part (which don't get me wrong, I loved) but even more than that I was hooked on telling people about Jesus who had never heard of Him before.

Ten years later I feel slightly more mature (just slightly) and a lot more confident in the woman God is molding me into. In the last ten years I have gone through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I have known joy unspeakable as well as pain that goes so deep you don't know how you will ever get through it. One thing that I have learned is that I can get through anything with the help of the Lord and people who love me.

Looking toward the next year(s), there are so many things that I could be anxious about. There are so many unanswered questions. There are so many hopes and dreams yet to be fulfilled. There are so many risks to take and limbs to go out on. So this New Years Eve I am spending some time with the Lord. I am asking Him to help me to not be anxious about anything, but in everything, with prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, I am presenting my requests to God. As I do that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus.

It is with great joy and anticipation that I welcome the new year. I look forward to the ways the Lord will work. I look forward to the adventures I will have, the friendships I will make, and the joys that are to come. I look forward to being further refined and transformed into the likeness of Christ in the months and years ahead.

So as I sit here in my pajamas with my little bottle of sparkling pear juice listening to Switchfoot and trying to stay awake until the new year arrives, I will reflect on the past and dream about the future. Many blessings to you who have had such an impact in my life over the years and hopefully for many years to come!

'Tis the Season!

Hello dear friends,

I hope that you have had a marvelous Thanksgiving with family and friends and are eagerly anticipating the celebration of the birth of our Savior - JESUS! My friend Linda came to visit me over Thanksgiving and it was great to see her! Unfortunately I got sick for most of her visit and completely lost my voice for her last day here...but when you're such good friends who needs to use words anyway?!

These past several weeks since I last wrote to you have been busy, laid back and lots of fun. Let me explain... I was able be at 2 more craft fairs with my photography business Glory Displayed. I have a love/hate relationship with craft fairs which you understand if you have ever tried selling something at one! I have also been busy trying to learn more about photography and Photoshop and running a business. I attended a Dave Ramsey EntreLeadership simulcast that was amazing. I am reading blogs, articles and books and having fun putting into practice what I am learning. I am grateful to have a friend who is very good at giving me the kick in the butt that I need to keep learning and making my photography the best it can be! I have so much to learn that it can be overwhelming sometimes, but I get really excited when I learn something new...I have been getting really excited a lot lately :-)

Work at the church is going well. I love this time of year and it is great to be able to focus on the real reason for Christmas and to give to those in need instead of focusing on what we want! Our church is doing the Advent Conspiracy again this year and we are trying to raise enough money to drill a well in a community in Liberia so that the people there can have clean, safe water.

I have also had some laid back weeks. I have been fighting that nasty cold that has been going around since the first part of October. Just when I think I am getting better, I re-catch it from someone or maybe it just never went away in the first place. So the last couple of weeks have been full of doctors visits and antibiotics. I would appreciate your prayers that I would be able to get and stay healthy...I really don't want to go back to wearing the dreaded mask every time I go into public like I had to do a couple winters ago. I have also been losing a significant amount of weight and might have to do some more testing to figure out why that is happening. Please pray for that too! So yes, there have been some laid back weeks as I was housebound and coughing up a lung. Let's just say I get a little nutty when I'm stuck in our little apartment for days on end!

Let's end with the FUN! I already mentioned that my friend Linda came to visit me and that was lots of fun! My roommates and I went to the International Dinner at UW-Stout and that was a ton of fun! We got to eat yummy food from all over the world and watch a cultural show. It was great and made me think how boring we are in America sometimes! The other amazing thing I got to do since I last wrote . . . I got to go to the Packer/Viking game! That's right, I was in Viking Land to watch them get beat by the Packers and it was a blast :-)

It is hard to believe that Christmas is just a couple of weeks away. I haven't even been able to put any of my Christmas decorations up yet. So these next couple weeks I am looking forward to making giant snowflakes, decorating and listening to Christmas music! I love this time of the year...even if it is cold here! I pray that you have a wonderful Christmas with those you love and that you remember the reason we celebrate. God bless you friend!