Noah and I have had a few discussions lately about how we feel like we aren't spending enough time with the Lord. Our reasons for this are as follows:
1) Our lives have been so busy and stressful with work and school that our brains can't handle anything more than zoning out to a TV show when we get home. Then we go back to study.
2) A lot of our faith comes from doing. We spend time with Jesus personally, in our prayers and talks, but we feel somewhat disconnected from him when we aren't serving. This is harder for Noah since he spends most of his time alone in a lab. I at least get to love on my patients, and minister to them.
I've been thinking about how much time I spend clicking around online too. I click on facebook, pinteest, email and my blog. Such a colossal waste of time. I mean seriously, blogs are great and can reach people but GET OUT THERE AND DO SOMETHING!! I could also be lovin on my husband way more my giving him a back-rub or something than just browsing the internet. I'm pretty ashamed and bummed about it.
I'm not going to touch or open my laptop in the morning until I've spent time in prayer and in my Bible.
I also have to keep in mind than an online community can feel great, but its truly a counterfeit to the real thing. I need to invest in my neighbors, coworkers, church friends and family - not find fellow bloggers to like my page. I need to not fill the holes in my heart with lesser things (like being 'liked' on pinterest) but in Jesus filling those spots. I need truth, which comes from the Holy Spirit.
I need to surrender. I need true contentment. It only comes from my King!!
Friday, November 11, 2011
He answered my prayer - not in the way I sought...
Sometimes life gets me down.
Ridculous I know, I have so many things to be thankful for.
But I forget about being grateful and have moments (ummm, sometimes hours) of I guess in all honesty would be resentment. I get resentful that my hubs has to spend soooo much time in the lab getting his data for his research. I get resentful that we are paying off student loans when others had it all paid for. Sometimes I get resentful that Noah and I are working hard to get degrees that provide us with work to support our dreams of doing missions work, when others don't make sacrifices to build skills that lead to employment and just expect to 'raise' their money for mission trips and ministry. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about giving. I just personally would want people's money actually going to the people I am serving, not to my phone bill, plane flight, food and loan payments. But that's our conviction, and if people take it up with the Lord and they are fine having people pay for those things that is wonderful too. But it is hard for me sometimes. We would love to be heading overseas soon, but we feel strongly about needing to be self-funded. We also feel its where the Lord is leading us, and how he wants to steward our gifts and finances. He has a different plan for everyone, I just have to remind myself of that on the hard days :)
I get resentful that we live in a (TINY) one bedroom apartment, while so many of our friends are starting to buy their own homes. Its especially painful because I LOVE hospitality, and know so many people with big homes who don't even have people over. How I would fill an extra bedroom or two with guests and friends (and lavender sachets on the beds, with welcome baskets....one day!)
I get resentful that other people just have their life all set out. I on the otherhand am constantly trying to decide where God is taking my future - midwifery?medicine? advanced nurse practice?public health? medicine?....then it repeats :) how can I stay home as much as I want? how can I have a profession too? do I want to be in school four more years? do I just want a baby now? will I be ok waiting til I am 28 to have a baby? I really want to be a doctor, can we pull it off? seriously folks, I think about these things at least once a day. on days off, definitely a lot more. I have a 28 page journal document on my laptop that has thoughts on all these issues (that I have been writing for over a year). You have probably figured out by now decisions are hard for me!! whats worse my husband is incredibly supportive and wants me to do whatever my heart desires, oh dear!! Something I am learning is that God's will for us is kinda like a playground. The fence around the playground are his principles - give to and love the widows and orphans, preach the good news, love others, love Me...and if we choose to do that by being on the swings (teacher), slide (doctor), monkeybars (electrician), see-saw (stay at home mom) then we are in his 'will'. For some people there may be a clear calling/direction - but if you think about it only a few people in the Bible were told what to do with their lives - Moses, Paul, Jeremiah (and a few others). I don't think we have to have God audibly tell us what to do with our lives. For me personally, God uses peace to speak to me. I feel very at peace about some decisions, and not others. And I know its the Holy Spirit speaking to me. Jesus is after all the "Prince of Peace."
So right now I am seeking peace about my decision, and I think I am finally able to decide :)
oh and yeah, sometimes I get resentful of not being able to have a baby yet. sigh.
But then when I get all those icky thoughts out, God is quick to set me straight by reminding me that He is always with me. That He has blessed me. He knows my plan and it IS for good. It might not be exactly as I want it to be, which is why I love this quote:
"He answered prayer - not in the way I sought
Nor in the way I thought He ought;
But in His own good way; and I could see
He answered in the fashion best for me."
I have to put all this sillyness behind me, and just catch those thoughts before they affect my emotions. Because I AM blessed. And God's plan for me already has been SO SO good, I just can't wait for what the future holds....
goodbye insecurity & resentment, you have been a bad friend to me!!
Ridculous I know, I have so many things to be thankful for.
But I forget about being grateful and have moments (ummm, sometimes hours) of I guess in all honesty would be resentment. I get resentful that my hubs has to spend soooo much time in the lab getting his data for his research. I get resentful that we are paying off student loans when others had it all paid for. Sometimes I get resentful that Noah and I are working hard to get degrees that provide us with work to support our dreams of doing missions work, when others don't make sacrifices to build skills that lead to employment and just expect to 'raise' their money for mission trips and ministry. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about giving. I just personally would want people's money actually going to the people I am serving, not to my phone bill, plane flight, food and loan payments. But that's our conviction, and if people take it up with the Lord and they are fine having people pay for those things that is wonderful too. But it is hard for me sometimes. We would love to be heading overseas soon, but we feel strongly about needing to be self-funded. We also feel its where the Lord is leading us, and how he wants to steward our gifts and finances. He has a different plan for everyone, I just have to remind myself of that on the hard days :)
I get resentful that we live in a (TINY) one bedroom apartment, while so many of our friends are starting to buy their own homes. Its especially painful because I LOVE hospitality, and know so many people with big homes who don't even have people over. How I would fill an extra bedroom or two with guests and friends (and lavender sachets on the beds, with welcome baskets....one day!)
I get resentful that other people just have their life all set out. I on the otherhand am constantly trying to decide where God is taking my future - midwifery?medicine? advanced nurse practice?public health? medicine?....then it repeats :) how can I stay home as much as I want? how can I have a profession too? do I want to be in school four more years? do I just want a baby now? will I be ok waiting til I am 28 to have a baby? I really want to be a doctor, can we pull it off? seriously folks, I think about these things at least once a day. on days off, definitely a lot more. I have a 28 page journal document on my laptop that has thoughts on all these issues (that I have been writing for over a year). You have probably figured out by now decisions are hard for me!! whats worse my husband is incredibly supportive and wants me to do whatever my heart desires, oh dear!! Something I am learning is that God's will for us is kinda like a playground. The fence around the playground are his principles - give to and love the widows and orphans, preach the good news, love others, love Me...and if we choose to do that by being on the swings (teacher), slide (doctor), monkeybars (electrician), see-saw (stay at home mom) then we are in his 'will'. For some people there may be a clear calling/direction - but if you think about it only a few people in the Bible were told what to do with their lives - Moses, Paul, Jeremiah (and a few others). I don't think we have to have God audibly tell us what to do with our lives. For me personally, God uses peace to speak to me. I feel very at peace about some decisions, and not others. And I know its the Holy Spirit speaking to me. Jesus is after all the "Prince of Peace."
So right now I am seeking peace about my decision, and I think I am finally able to decide :)
oh and yeah, sometimes I get resentful of not being able to have a baby yet. sigh.
But then when I get all those icky thoughts out, God is quick to set me straight by reminding me that He is always with me. That He has blessed me. He knows my plan and it IS for good. It might not be exactly as I want it to be, which is why I love this quote:
"He answered prayer - not in the way I sought
Nor in the way I thought He ought;
But in His own good way; and I could see
He answered in the fashion best for me."
I have to put all this sillyness behind me, and just catch those thoughts before they affect my emotions. Because I AM blessed. And God's plan for me already has been SO SO good, I just can't wait for what the future holds....
goodbye insecurity & resentment, you have been a bad friend to me!!
Monday, October 31, 2011
lessons learned from a definitely imperfect wife!!
marriage tid bits from a still newly-wed....
- Just suck it up and be the first to say sorry. even if you don't really feel like it was your fault. for some reason the first one to give grace just causes a domino affect and its so much easier to work things through.
- Your spouse is not your enemy, and is not out to get you. Don't forge the value in remembering good will. Your spouse (even if it doesn't feel like it in the moment) LOVES you, treasures you and probably feels really bad for the dumb thing they did or said.
- if you are like me, you struggle with knowing when to be 'constructive' and not to be. Do I tell him he left his clothes on the floor again and it bothered me, or do I pick them up and just let it go? but what if that just enables irresponsibility? haha the thought went through my brain our first month of marriage. The best action - the next time you are having a marriage pow-pow to evaluate how things are going, have a conversation about things that you love and things that you would like your spouse to work on (come on people, we live independently for a long time and our hubbys are very different from us - we need to spell it out for them as they aren't mind readers). I told Noah in one of these pow wows "babe you are so awesome and I love this time of coming together and sharing our space. But I would really appreciate it if you could drop your clothes in the hamper I left beside your side of the bed, instead of the floor. Does that sound ok? I know it probably isn't a big deal to you but it is for me. My home is my sanctuary, and if it feels chaotic then I feel chaotic." Instead of a big angry conversation about the bad habits of your spouse it can be a great opportunity for them to learn the reasons about the request and more about YOU. (if your hubs is like mine he needs to know the WHY do understand the HOW)
- recognize your strengths and weaknesses. Trust the other in them. I am really, really bad with the finances thing. I will totally deprive myself of anything and then not be able to handle it and spend way too much. Then freak out. Plus numbers and my brain just are not friends. But my husband is a physicist. He thinks in numbers. He is great with money. So he is in charge. It was hard for this independent miss to hand this over to my hubby, especially when I know how big finances is. It can make or break a marriage. But it is so comforting to know it is in his hands. I know my budget, and I stick to it. We meet regularly (at least once a month) to talk about how our budget, how things are going and our financial goals. I still feel like I am part of it, but I don't feel the weight.
- make time for eachother. We have been so grateful for distance from family and friends (ok, well I wasn't at first). For the first few years of marriage we just have time for eachother. It has been so good. I would definitely any newly married couple to leave and cleave for a while. Some friends of mine moved to a different country for a year just to do this together. Its so great and causes you to hold to eachother in a way you just can't do if you live in a safe and comfortable community.
more thoughts to come!!
enjoy the ride people, its sweet, hard, painful, beautiful, heart wrenching and incredible. And most of all so, so good!!!
- Just suck it up and be the first to say sorry. even if you don't really feel like it was your fault. for some reason the first one to give grace just causes a domino affect and its so much easier to work things through.
- Your spouse is not your enemy, and is not out to get you. Don't forge the value in remembering good will. Your spouse (even if it doesn't feel like it in the moment) LOVES you, treasures you and probably feels really bad for the dumb thing they did or said.
- if you are like me, you struggle with knowing when to be 'constructive' and not to be. Do I tell him he left his clothes on the floor again and it bothered me, or do I pick them up and just let it go? but what if that just enables irresponsibility? haha the thought went through my brain our first month of marriage. The best action - the next time you are having a marriage pow-pow to evaluate how things are going, have a conversation about things that you love and things that you would like your spouse to work on (come on people, we live independently for a long time and our hubbys are very different from us - we need to spell it out for them as they aren't mind readers). I told Noah in one of these pow wows "babe you are so awesome and I love this time of coming together and sharing our space. But I would really appreciate it if you could drop your clothes in the hamper I left beside your side of the bed, instead of the floor. Does that sound ok? I know it probably isn't a big deal to you but it is for me. My home is my sanctuary, and if it feels chaotic then I feel chaotic." Instead of a big angry conversation about the bad habits of your spouse it can be a great opportunity for them to learn the reasons about the request and more about YOU. (if your hubs is like mine he needs to know the WHY do understand the HOW)
- recognize your strengths and weaknesses. Trust the other in them. I am really, really bad with the finances thing. I will totally deprive myself of anything and then not be able to handle it and spend way too much. Then freak out. Plus numbers and my brain just are not friends. But my husband is a physicist. He thinks in numbers. He is great with money. So he is in charge. It was hard for this independent miss to hand this over to my hubby, especially when I know how big finances is. It can make or break a marriage. But it is so comforting to know it is in his hands. I know my budget, and I stick to it. We meet regularly (at least once a month) to talk about how our budget, how things are going and our financial goals. I still feel like I am part of it, but I don't feel the weight.
- make time for eachother. We have been so grateful for distance from family and friends (ok, well I wasn't at first). For the first few years of marriage we just have time for eachother. It has been so good. I would definitely any newly married couple to leave and cleave for a while. Some friends of mine moved to a different country for a year just to do this together. Its so great and causes you to hold to eachother in a way you just can't do if you live in a safe and comfortable community.
more thoughts to come!!
enjoy the ride people, its sweet, hard, painful, beautiful, heart wrenching and incredible. And most of all so, so good!!!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Sweet moments.
Ya know what? My life is full of sweet little moments. So many sweet moments that I didn't even know I would have when I dreamed of my future as a child. Life isn't too exciting for us right now - at least its not full of the adventures I dreamed I would have in my early twenties when I was 12. Noah and I are in school. I work full time. I graduate in 5 weeks (yay!) and will be busy studying for my medical school entrance exams. We go to church (when I don't work sundays) and we have a few friends. Its definitely not kayaking down the Amazon river, providing health care in the jungle, doing photojournalism and speaking at conferences - like I thought it would. But I know that time will come. We are well on our way as we meet each goal we make. But life definitely isn't boring. Marriage is such an incredible adventure, even better than the amazon! And I'm pretty sure its because of God's greatest gift to me - my husband. We hold tight to eachother in these rather lonely, hard times. On the weekends he drops me off and picks me up at work, just so we can see eachother a little more. I drive down on the weekdays so we can have lunch together at the university. we love to grocery shop together, cook together, fold laundry together. He knows even before I do when I am feeling stressed out. I love these precious, sweet moments. We have been married nearly 18 months and we still could spend every minute together and not get sick of eachother. Cuddling in bed together is just as amazing as it was on our honeymoon! Maybe TMI but I haven't taken a shower by myself since the day I got married (hehe). When we don't get enough cuddles we tell eachother, "we need cuddle time" and we just relax in eachothers arms. It may not be exploring the amazon, but I just love these moments together. And I know in the future we won't have the time we do now to spend with eachother. So I'm grateful for this slow season, even for the lonely season. It would be nice to have more friends, but I know when I look back at this time I will be so thankful for all our time together.
I had better go....my love has baked us cornbread and it smells sooo good, I can't ignore it any longer!
and cuddles await.....
Thursday, October 13, 2011
I am a nurse. Sometimes it sucks. But I love it.
My job can be tough. I think the public knows that about nursing in general. The hours. Being on your feet. Having to work weekends. Having to wake up in ungodly hours of the morning. Being crazy busy for 8 to 12 hours. yeah, yeah, yeah that stuff is hard. But not the hardest. The hardest part is the continual emotional energy you give out. You realize at work that beyond your task of duties {dressing changes, IV fluids, medications, pulling out drains, charting, doctor & family calls, assessments and teaching} you are inherently called to care for your patients. To care for their spiritual and emotional needs. T be available to listen. To be aware of their grief, loss, fear, anxiety and the unknown.
To be honest, many days I feel like I failed my patients. Oh I did all my work. I did all my charting. But was I able to take the time to BE with them? did I spend enough time talking with their family? was I gentle and kind enough? That is the weight of the burden. It is the drain I feel when I come home. My body can handle the physical exhaustion, but my heart can't. I have learned to lower my expectations, and make the most of the moments I can. I don't have just one patient. Most days I have four. Sometimes my day has to be just task oriented, and that's ok. But I have to make time to be there if they really need it. Its why I went into nursing, and its what I would want for my mother, father or husband if they were in the hospital.
So last night I entered my patients room who had cancer, knowing that I had to make the time. She has no immune system (WBC count of 0.4) so I had to wear a gown, gloves and mask when I was in there to protect her from me. I had just spoken to the doctor who shared he was concerned she was going septic (which would be a death sentence for someone with leukopenia) and she was really upset about it. So I went in there and did my nursing thing...assessment, fluids check, IV site check, pain check etc. Then I sat on the edge of her bed, clasped her hand and asked, "I know this must be scary.How are you doing." Then tears just came forth. No words, just tears. I think there was a mutual knowing between us. We knew what was going on. Her body was losing the battle against itself. Those horrible cancer cells were taking over, and at some point she had been exposed to bacteria. Which had gotten into her blood (sepsis). Her blood pressure was continuing to fall, and her temp continuing to rise. So I just sat there. Whispered a prayer and was what we call in nursing a 'therapeutic presence'.
After some time she said she was ok and thanked me for sitting with her. She told me I was kind, and she was grateful. I knew I had to go tend to my other patients so I told her I would be praying and would be back to check on her soon.
But I went and locked myself in the bathroom. And cried.
That's whats hard about being a nurse. You have to make yourself available. You have to go to those deep, down, scary, hard places with people. And its draining. I am thankful for a Jesus who experienced these emotions too. Who can give me His strength and love for His patients, when I can't muster up my own. Who sends me gentle reminders about his beloved children, and how He has placed me in theirs lives for a reason. I can do what I do because I have Him. He is my rock.
I also spent some time evaluating my own life. How badly I want to make a difference and live each day to the fullest. I don't want to put everything off to a more 'convenient' time. Because it may turn out that I might not get that time.
So today I'm grateful for a reminder about living life. I'm grateful for the privileged I am afforded by being invited into painful & private moments. I am grateful for a healthy body. I am grateful for an incredible life I have been given. I am grateful for an incredible profession and skillset. Sometimes it sucks because it is hard and painful. But I love it.
Monday, October 10, 2011
A little bit more of my story...
So I know I stopped blogging there for a while (graduating nursing school, getting married, moving across the country...2010 was a busy year!!), and I realize some of you might feel a little bit out of the loop with everything...where we are headed, whats in our hearts etc. So here I go!...
Unless you were my husband, family or close friend you might not know that I am OBSESSED with babies. and pregnancy. and new mums.
With that being said, I have always loved babies. Not only that, but I have found I am just naturally really good at it. When I was 14 I took the official Red Cross babysitters course, and finally got to get PAID for what I loved doing...looking after the little ones in the neighborhood while their daddy's and mamas went out on long needed date nights.
Then at 15 I read the book "The Hospital By the River" by Dr. Catherine Hamlin, and felt a strong call for medical missions work on my heart. The story about women in Ethiopia who developed obstructed labor, lost their babies and then were left with fistulas broke my heart.
Then in nursing school I helped deliver a baby. And fell in love. Noah always tells people, "when Amy would come home from a clinical in labor and delivery, she glowed. Seriously, she would be glowing". I would help mama after mama through her delivery, then get to go sit in the nursery with all the newborns and rock them. Seriously people - HEAVEN ON EARTH.
But I couldn't shake the sad experiences I had. Women who didn't have any prenatal care and would deliver dead babies. Women who started to hemorrhage and their babies would become hypoxic. In those cases, my nursing skills failed me...and we would hand these scared women over into the skilled and compassionate hands of the obstetricians.
All of these experiences, skills and memories were tucked away in my heart. God just needed to connect them all. And he did....in the car, 13 hours into the drive between Arizona and Texas.
--->
Noah and I were listening to a podcast by Kris Vallotton. We love listening to anything that comes out of Bethel, so we downloaded a bunch onto our ipod.
We started listening to one titled, "Women - God's secret weapon". It rocked my boat man. Then all of a sudden, tears started to pour forth. I felt stronger than almost ever before the presence of the Lord. And I heard him say to me, "This is what I am calling you to. Hurting women. Their children. Their unborn babies. Love them, empower them, encourage them. Care for their babies. care for their health."
So I know that my husband and my children will ALWAYS come first in my life, but I also know that God is calling me to make the time and space in my life for women. and their babies.
I know it will look different in different seasons, but right now I feel strongly that God wants me to do further training. Right now I am praying about what that looks like, but I know I want to be able to deliver babies. I want to host a playgroup in my home for single mums. I want to work in public health policy to advocate for improved maternal and infant health outcomes.
It is daunting, thinking of what lies ahead. But also, so so exciting. I am so blessed to have an INCREDIBLE husband who encourages me on this journey. He is my biggest supporter and fan. He pushes me on, reminding me of the intelligence and ability God has gifted me, and how I need to use it for the glory of God and what God has called me to do.
So folks, I hope you will pray for me. Pray God shows us the next step in the journey.
Also, I'd love to hear about what he is calling you to, and what YOU are passionate about!!!!
mmmm....babies....
Unless you were my husband, family or close friend you might not know that I am OBSESSED with babies. and pregnancy. and new mums.
With that being said, I have always loved babies. Not only that, but I have found I am just naturally really good at it. When I was 14 I took the official Red Cross babysitters course, and finally got to get PAID for what I loved doing...looking after the little ones in the neighborhood while their daddy's and mamas went out on long needed date nights.
Then at 15 I read the book "The Hospital By the River" by Dr. Catherine Hamlin, and felt a strong call for medical missions work on my heart. The story about women in Ethiopia who developed obstructed labor, lost their babies and then were left with fistulas broke my heart.
Then in nursing school I helped deliver a baby. And fell in love. Noah always tells people, "when Amy would come home from a clinical in labor and delivery, she glowed. Seriously, she would be glowing". I would help mama after mama through her delivery, then get to go sit in the nursery with all the newborns and rock them. Seriously people - HEAVEN ON EARTH.
But I couldn't shake the sad experiences I had. Women who didn't have any prenatal care and would deliver dead babies. Women who started to hemorrhage and their babies would become hypoxic. In those cases, my nursing skills failed me...and we would hand these scared women over into the skilled and compassionate hands of the obstetricians.
All of these experiences, skills and memories were tucked away in my heart. God just needed to connect them all. And he did....in the car, 13 hours into the drive between Arizona and Texas.
--->
Noah and I were listening to a podcast by Kris Vallotton. We love listening to anything that comes out of Bethel, so we downloaded a bunch onto our ipod.
We started listening to one titled, "Women - God's secret weapon". It rocked my boat man. Then all of a sudden, tears started to pour forth. I felt stronger than almost ever before the presence of the Lord. And I heard him say to me, "This is what I am calling you to. Hurting women. Their children. Their unborn babies. Love them, empower them, encourage them. Care for their babies. care for their health."
So I know that my husband and my children will ALWAYS come first in my life, but I also know that God is calling me to make the time and space in my life for women. and their babies.
I know it will look different in different seasons, but right now I feel strongly that God wants me to do further training. Right now I am praying about what that looks like, but I know I want to be able to deliver babies. I want to host a playgroup in my home for single mums. I want to work in public health policy to advocate for improved maternal and infant health outcomes.
It is daunting, thinking of what lies ahead. But also, so so exciting. I am so blessed to have an INCREDIBLE husband who encourages me on this journey. He is my biggest supporter and fan. He pushes me on, reminding me of the intelligence and ability God has gifted me, and how I need to use it for the glory of God and what God has called me to do.
So folks, I hope you will pray for me. Pray God shows us the next step in the journey.
Also, I'd love to hear about what he is calling you to, and what YOU are passionate about!!!!
mmmm....babies....
Grateful
Life is Beautiful. I was reflecting on this, this morning in my quiet time with Jesus. He has blessed us so much by surrounding us with so much beauty. Beauty in love. Beauty in children. Beauty in the ocean. Beauty in sadness. Beauty in growth. Its interesting how much beauty in life is the result of hard work, of grief and of pain.{delivering a baby - I mean, seriously?!?!}. It comes back to the idea of being refined in the fire I think. How coal brings about diamonds. So in these hard times, how do we remember to focus on the beauty that is being formed?
These thoughts all got me thinking about being Grateful.
A photographer I know (the amazing Hailey Bartholomew) was one of the first creators of the 365 grateful project. Several years ago she had a severe period of depression. She had two beautiful girls, a loving husband and an incredible photography business. But she just couldn't shake the depression. So she decided to take a photo of something she was grateful for, for 365 days. Her project not only lifted her out of depression, but added a richness to her life that she could never have discovered (see it here: http://365grateful.posterous.com/ & here: http://www.youcantbeserious.com.au/blog/ )
One day I would love to do this project, but I think for now I think I will post something I am grateful for whenever I blog. or write in my journal. or say something even in a conversation.
I am grateful for....
- good health
- a loving husband
- a God who treasures and cares for me, and knows what is ahead when I don't
- my passion for babies and mamas (because I know my calling & direction!!)
- caramel soy lattes (because I am sipping one right now!!!)
- friends & family who love me, for me.
- the opportunity to get an education, so I can help others
I am sooooo blessed!!!!
These thoughts all got me thinking about being Grateful.
A photographer I know (the amazing Hailey Bartholomew) was one of the first creators of the 365 grateful project. Several years ago she had a severe period of depression. She had two beautiful girls, a loving husband and an incredible photography business. But she just couldn't shake the depression. So she decided to take a photo of something she was grateful for, for 365 days. Her project not only lifted her out of depression, but added a richness to her life that she could never have discovered (see it here: http://365grateful.posterous.com/ & here: http://www.youcantbeserious.com.au/blog/ )
One day I would love to do this project, but I think for now I think I will post something I am grateful for whenever I blog. or write in my journal. or say something even in a conversation.
I am grateful for....
- good health
- a loving husband
- a God who treasures and cares for me, and knows what is ahead when I don't
- my passion for babies and mamas (because I know my calling & direction!!)
- caramel soy lattes (because I am sipping one right now!!!)
- friends & family who love me, for me.
- the opportunity to get an education, so I can help others
I am sooooo blessed!!!!
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