Enjoying some of life's simplicities.

Drinking tea on my overnight shifts.

My favourite tea "Read my Lips"

Getting excited about a feather on a walk with my best friend.

Reading the Bible on the Island before the wedding.

Stealing a snap shot of my friends candle holder

Driving on my favourite place on earth.

Our little Golf.

Best present ever from my Husband

My Best friends bun. Love this.

The roofs in Quebec.

Reading some of my favourites on the dock

Island treasures.

This shot.

Sharing a drink with my love

scarves from my missionary cousins (this ones from Azerbaijan)

Thread braclets

Journaling on the beach

Fall leaves under my feet

My Islander friends

Tattooed feet

Can't get over these buildings.

One of my favourite trees

Bright african dresses

Hair feathers

Another lovely simple pleasure from the honeymoon

A barn in an open field

A birdy inspired outfit

Arm tattoo

Reading this book ^ while my friend Mon's is traveling the world
(she told me it was a must read)

And of course, the starting of a new painting

oh,and my puppy sleeping like this...

Dreamers must carry such sorrow.

He told me though I must carry my cross now, He has already brought it Home, where I will never have to feel the burden of its weight again.

Journal Entry

Written After work one night:

Oct. 4, 2012

So we need places, laboratories, the creation of places which could be each one of our homes, where we invite people who are different, and we listen to each other...Tell me your story. Where is your pain. 

- My hero; Jean Vanier

God, you reside in their innocent view of the world, in the infectious laughter that comes out when playing tag, in the many loud happy noises, and through many of the sweet spirits. These kids scream your love and grace. They are vessels of your beautiful spirit. it hurts me to see them hurt, it breaks me to see a fatherless boy starve for affection, a son being so misunderstood, and to not be able to interpret cries for help. They long to be understood and unconditionally loved, just as we all do, but their lives are constantly and ever changing.

I look at them and not only see You and not only want to love them like I know You do, but I also need to thank You.

I get so caught up in the grand scheme of things. Trying to figure it all out, trying to be thankful for it all, when all I need to be thankful for, all you ask of me, is this moment; this breath.

All the little things really mean something, thank you for the ability to communicate, to talk and share my desires, share what I want, say if I am not feeling well. It breaks my heart so many I work with can't. That I've seen some get so angry we can't tell what they want, or seeing tears flow because they are unable to communicate that they are sick.

I just dont want them to feel stuck within themselves. I want them to love and to be loved; to be a part of a community. 

I know one day they will see you face to face and they will be restored. They will be as you always saw them; perfect, innocent, and whole. I want them to finally feel "home," as the anxiety and physical burdens they carry melt away in Your raw presence.

They are not a burden. They are Abba's children.

Radical, simplistic and sacrifical

I have decided to start a journey. One that is starting with the goal of a year, but one I hope will continue a lifetime. I decided to blog about it for two reasons. First: So I can look back on my growth and Second: So I may be held accountable to continue on in strength.

I decided to put this into action because a friend of mine is heading on a journey for the next eight months to destinations all over the world. She is exchanging her work in these different countries for shelter and food, among these different places is L'Arche. I couldn't help be a tad jealous.

I knew I needed to do something for myself over this next year. Something that would connect me with the Divine and allow me to live a radical, simplistic, and sacrificial lifestyle while still in this culture and society. Yes, I want to go out into the world, but God has me here and He has a work to do in me yet before that can happen. I don't want to waste the journey before the journey. 

"Love can forbear, and Love can forgive...but Love can never be reconciled to an unlovely object....He can never therefore be reconciled to your sin, because sin itself is incapable of being altered; but He may be reconciled to your person, because that may be restored." -Traherne 

God can still restore me. I will here admit I am guilty of sin; guilty of selfish consumption on a daily basis. I consume while a world of people go without. The world maybe ugly, but it is far too beautiful to ignore. Jesus makes it clear we must not ignore the world and the poor and continue life richly and selfishly.

So step by step I am taking away; it had become so clear to me that it is assuredly useless for an eternal being to be clinging to anything less than eternal. 

I have written out my priorities and some of the things I feel keep me from moving forward and I plan on blogging as I continually take away the useless and take hold of the eternal. 

My first goal is to not shop for 1 year. I have found I have mistaken the meaning of beauty over the years. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says; your beauty should not come from outward adnorment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewlery or fine clothes. Rather it should come from your inner self, the unfading beauty of a quiet and gentle spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

It seems so simple; but, I am going through my closet to give some away and I will not replace or buy anything new for 1 year. I have stopped following all the style pages on pinterest to help me not want an unneeded. 

So please feel free to comment along the way on this journey for more ideas on what I could sacrifice or what you have found fruitful to give up. I have a small list that I will begin implementing and feel free to join me, even if it is just in one area. I cant wait until the clutter is no more, so I may hear his voice.

In Acts 2, when people truly meet with God and ignore all else, an onlooker exclaims; Their hearts were hushed and subdued as astonishment filled their souls.

That is what I am searching for; astonishment.