A Plan in Motion

I’ve been in a complete funk lately, y’all and it’s frustrating as all get out.

This move we made a few months back really through me for a loop and I feel like I’ve been upside down ever since. Off-kilter is probably a more accurate way to say that nothing seems to be right. 

Maybe it’s the fact that I know we’re living in limbo until next summer. Maybe it’s because most of our personal belongings are still in storage a few thousand miles away.  And maybe it has something to do with the fact that after months of pounding the pavement I am still out of work.

I’m sure it’s a combination of all of it however I don’t like this feeling of being unsettled and not making progress. I like knowing where I’m going and plotting out how to get from point A to B.  (absolutely drives The Hubs crazy! Poor guy!)

Nonetheless while I’ve been living in la-la limbo land, I’ve spent time evaluating my next step in life. You see, my life right now is one big upheaval in so many areas. Which on the one hand is completely mind boggling and on the other it’s rather freeing as it is giving me time to give careful consideration on what I’d like my next step to be.  To do a little day-dreaming if you will.

Enter my Vision Board. Now some of you may know them as dream boards but whatever you call them, they’re simply a fun way to take the items off of your bucket list and put them on a board so you can constantly be reminded of the things you’d like to do/see/accomplish in your life.

Here’s mine.

You’ll notice it’s a bit crazy looking at the moment and that’s because I’m in the cutting, clipping and organizing stage. I’ve broken the board into areas of personal health goals (like running a 5k and kayaking), professional goals (entering writing contests and finishing my book) as well as relationship goals with my family and friends.  You’ll also notice that I’ve got a handful of encouraging quotes, pictures of my mentors and bible verses tucked in to remind me that God is with me every step of the way.

I’m loving this HUGE reminder of what I can be working on while I wait for other areas of my life to change, like the job situation. The Vision Board is a constant reminder that there’s more to do, to enjoy and to develop as I progress through life and it’s not about simply waiting for that phone to ring. I can be productive in other areas of my life and accomplish other goals as I’m looking for work and talking with The Hubs about our goals for next summer.

Ya know what I love about this board so far? It’s working. Simply taking the time to define new goals, cut and clip out pictures has given me the courage to join a women’s running club which starts after the New Year. I’m excited but I’m also a bit scared, sports have never been my thing and frankly I have a very unsavory image of me running which I liken to a cat with socks on…horrible form and feet flying every which way…oh heaven help me!

Taking this first step towards a new goal has done wonders. I’m not so solely focused on why the phone isn’t ringing with prospective employers and it’s a gentle reminder to stay on track in other areas of my life like my writing.

So far, so good! Now, as they say, it’s back to the “drawing” Vision Board so I can finish this and post it above my desk.

How about you? Have you ever created a Vision or Dream Board? What were your results? I’d love to hear from you!

Until then,

Blessings and Best Wishes for a safe, healthy, prosperous and most adventurous 2016!
 photo signature_zpsb12c9ce6.png

God, I'm Running for Your Heart



Soul on Fire by Third Day has been playing in my head all day. In fact, as I type this I've got my headphones on, this song cranked up and on repeat!


I woke up this morning humming this tune and simply can't get the melody and the lyrics out of my mind. In fact, the good Lord gave me an image that I'll need to figure out how to put image to paper using my art supplies to bring it to life. Until then, I wanted to share the lyrics so we can give this much needed food some thought.



God, I'm running for Your heart
I'm running for Your heart
Till I am a soul on fire
Lord, I'm longing for Your ways
I'm waiting for the day
When I am a soul on fire
Till I am a soul on fire
[x2]

Lord, restore the joy I had
I have wandered, bring me back
In this darkness, lead me through
Until all I see is You

God, I'm running for Your heart
I'm running for Your heart
Till I am a soul on fire
Lord, I'm longing for Your ways
I'm waiting for the day
When I am a soul on fire
Till I am a soul on fire

Lord, let me burn for You again
Let me return to You again
And Lord, let me burn for You again
And let me return to You again

God, I'm running for Your heart
I'm running for Your heart
Till I am a soul on fire
Lord, I'm longing for Your ways
I'm waiting for the day
When I am a soul on fire

God, I'm running for Your heart
I'm running for Your heart
Till I am a soul on fire
I wanna be
Till I am a soul on fire
Till I am a soul on fire


This Christmas season has been hard for me to focus on Christ. I'm out of my element, with decorating habits being thrown to the wind because everything I've used in the past to decorate our home sits 2,000 miles away in a storage unit. I waver between wanting to buy things to replace everything sitting in storage and knowing that it's not the “stuff” that's important, but it's hard.


I find that I'm struggling with the need to find firm footing in this unknown territory. I want this place I'm in to feel like home when at every turn I am reminded that I'm not home. Where we live is temporary and I don't know when our lives will permit permanence.


The irony of what I've just typed isn't lost on me. I know physically this is only a temporary home and the “stuff” that I'm seeking to make me feel at home here has been stripped away for a reason. God is looking to create a permanent home in me.


Being uncomfortable creates an opportunity for me to focus more clearly on God than on the “stuff”. He's right. I know that. It's been at least 6 months since I really spent time with God, focusing on Him and His will for me. Sometimes it's like that in my life. I get busy, succumb to the responsibilities of life and lose my way with Him.


But in His gracious love for us all, we are never forgotten by Him. In fact, He seeks to draw us closer to Him every minute of the day.


For me, today was the day He so gently reminded me, through a song to come back to Him. Reminding me of the hunger and joy I have when He is my focus, my guiding light, my reason for the day.


I read the words of the song and my heart hurts at their truth. I need His joy for I am spiritually lost. I feel like I'm in the dark and I know the only way to see the light is to pick up my running shoes and run back to Him. He waits for me, for you.


There's a Christ-hunger that's been dampened by the trials of this life but if I were to be honest, I want so desperately to be in a place with God that supersedes everything else, a hunger that can only be overcome with His love. I know I've been distracted, my soul is empty and my days have lost their joy.



But there is hope.


God.


Almighty, loving Father Above.


He will restore all that has been taken by this world. He will give us joy and His love. All we need to do is to run back to Him.



Until next time, I am off to recreate the image He gave me earlier in my art journal.

Blessings & Best wishes,


 photo signature_zpsb12c9ce6.png