(It's been so long since I've looked at my blogger dashboard, that I'm only now realizing that I had never published this. If anyone is still reading, so sorry for the delay. Here's how this story ended:)
I'm the worst at goodbyes, for so many reasons...
Sometimes I think I should have titled this blog Intentional Living.
That's how I spent each day last year. I would wake up early and research what was going on in my community and beyond. I would plan for the day and days ahead. I would venture outside of my comfort zone, and try some terrifying (and not so terrifying) things. Not everyone would label my activities an "adventure," but they were to me.
I had to stop worrying and wondering how others were living, because I had to start living myself. I couldn't be concerned with what others thought of me. It was freeing.
My husband still comments on our magical 2014. All the fun we had, the trips we took, the ways we invested in our community. In fact, I've repeated a few things, and he's been joining me. It's been more than delightful to have him enjoy life with me and journey by my side.
You have been a joy to journey with. Many of my now most cherished memories have been a privilege to share with you, and your kind comments and well wishes kept me pressing forward through some of the most difficult days of my life.
I hope that you were encouraged to try something new and exciting. I hope that you, too, stepped beyond your comfort zone and into your own "uncharted territory." If not yet, it's not too late. I would love to follow along on your adventures and cheer you on, should you decide to start a blog of your own. Until then...
The LORD bless you, and keep you;
The LORD make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
The LORD lift his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
With so much love,
xoxo - sharon
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Thursday, September 3, 2015
...updates to end the year...
Picture proof of some remaining adventures:
December 13 - 14 Hot Chocolate Expo and Run
December 15 Took Buddy to see Santa (he was way more interested in the other dogs)
December 23 Made our Christmas jammies
December 24 Christmas Eve services and time spent with family (baby bump)
December 26 Game Night
December 31 - First Night St Louis New Year's Eve Party
Scattered in between these pictures were dinners with dear friends, Christmas parties, shopping, and other end-of-the-year festivities, like my yearly Lord of the Rings trilogy viewing. Christmas Day was spent Skyping with family, eating junk food and...sleeping. No lie, we went to bed at 5:15pm, and that was after I had already fallen asleep watching a movie. It was a wonderful day!
I hope your year ended just as well!
December 13 - 14 Hot Chocolate Expo and Run
December 15 Took Buddy to see Santa (he was way more interested in the other dogs)
December 23 Made our Christmas jammies
December 24 Christmas Eve services and time spent with family (baby bump)
December 26 Game Night
December 31 - First Night St Louis New Year's Eve Party
Scattered in between these pictures were dinners with dear friends, Christmas parties, shopping, and other end-of-the-year festivities, like my yearly Lord of the Rings trilogy viewing. Christmas Day was spent Skyping with family, eating junk food and...sleeping. No lie, we went to bed at 5:15pm, and that was after I had already fallen asleep watching a movie. It was a wonderful day!
I hope your year ended just as well!
Monday, December 22, 2014
...sillouettes of Christmas...
December 12, 2014
Last year, I attended St. John's Lutheran production of Sillouettes of Christmas. It is an hour long dramatization of the story of Christmas, with spoken word, song and dance. I had never seen anything like it, and was so moved by it, that I wanted to see it again this year and take some friends. So my sister-in-law, Heather, and her friend, Courtney, spent this evening with me enjoying a fresh take on an old classic.
The musicians and singers were wonderful, and I was surprised to hear some new songs. Do they redo the program every year? Seems like a lot of work. But what sets this apart for me is the dance. The dancers are behind a giant screen which is lit from behind. That means, all you see through out the story, are the sillouettes of the dancers. It is beautiful, and leaves quite an impression.
Here are some photos:
Have you ever seen anything like this? What draws you into the spirit of Christmas?
Last year, I attended St. John's Lutheran production of Sillouettes of Christmas. It is an hour long dramatization of the story of Christmas, with spoken word, song and dance. I had never seen anything like it, and was so moved by it, that I wanted to see it again this year and take some friends. So my sister-in-law, Heather, and her friend, Courtney, spent this evening with me enjoying a fresh take on an old classic.
The musicians and singers were wonderful, and I was surprised to hear some new songs. Do they redo the program every year? Seems like a lot of work. But what sets this apart for me is the dance. The dancers are behind a giant screen which is lit from behind. That means, all you see through out the story, are the sillouettes of the dancers. It is beautiful, and leaves quite an impression.
Here are some photos:
 |
| Angels dancing |
 |
| Mary and Joseph heading to Bethlehem |
Have you ever seen anything like this? What draws you into the spirit of Christmas?
...the last date of the year...
December 11, 2014
For Christmas last year, I followed this Pinterest post and made Andy a special gift of twelve dates for each month of the year. We loved being reminded each month to spend some quality time together, and tonight marked the last one for the year: Go see Christmas lights.
St. Louis has so many places with wonderful light displays, but this time around we chose Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park. It was so impressive! Here are some pictures.
Afterward, we drove to our favorite house off Ladue Road which sets it's lights to music. We haven't been in several years, and we were delighted to see that it has grown to include the surrounding houses. I love when people work together toward great things.
Have you seen any amazing light displays this season?
For Christmas last year, I followed this Pinterest post and made Andy a special gift of twelve dates for each month of the year. We loved being reminded each month to spend some quality time together, and tonight marked the last one for the year: Go see Christmas lights.
St. Louis has so many places with wonderful light displays, but this time around we chose Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park. It was so impressive! Here are some pictures.
 |
| So many lights! |
 |
| Carolers! |
 |
| The toy company |
 |
| Wishing it would...(but only for Christmas) |
 |
| Look!! The Christmas Hippo! |
 |
| Yes, please... |
 |
| XOXO! |
Afterward, we drove to our favorite house off Ladue Road which sets it's lights to music. We haven't been in several years, and we were delighted to see that it has grown to include the surrounding houses. I love when people work together toward great things.
Have you seen any amazing light displays this season?
...advent...
December 10, 2014
Several years ago I bought this advent wreath in the hopes of using it as a way to draw closer to God during the holiday season. This was the first year I took it out of the box. I've got good intentions, but my follow through needs work.
I found some daily scriptures on Pinterest, and so Andy and I have been spending a bit of time together remembering why we celebrate Christmas. Some days we end up doing a few at a time, since we tend to forget as it's not a habit, but I'm glad we've started this new tradition, nonetheless.
Truthfully, my faith over the past few years has not been the fire that it once was. Struggling with all this personal turmoil, it has been difficult to know how to approach God. Most people run to God in their time of need, I tend to hide, wanting to work out all the issues and then present them to him neatly packaged. I know that's not how it works...
Several years ago I bought this advent wreath in the hopes of using it as a way to draw closer to God during the holiday season. This was the first year I took it out of the box. I've got good intentions, but my follow through needs work.I found some daily scriptures on Pinterest, and so Andy and I have been spending a bit of time together remembering why we celebrate Christmas. Some days we end up doing a few at a time, since we tend to forget as it's not a habit, but I'm glad we've started this new tradition, nonetheless.
Truthfully, my faith over the past few years has not been the fire that it once was. Struggling with all this personal turmoil, it has been difficult to know how to approach God. Most people run to God in their time of need, I tend to hide, wanting to work out all the issues and then present them to him neatly packaged. I know that's not how it works...
As I'm faced with this new chapter of being a mom, I'm terrified, and I've been driven to my knees more than once over the past few months. Prayers that this one will survive. Prayers that I can be a patient, loving, and selfless parent. Prayers that my baby will love God. Prayers that my child won't die.
I wonder if Mary had any of these thoughts as she carried her own child.
With each passing day, I feel less in control, and it's been causing me to turn to the only one I know who can provide a peace that passes understanding.
Which was probably his plan all along...
Where are you in your relationship with God today?
I wonder if Mary had any of these thoughts as she carried her own child.
With each passing day, I feel less in control, and it's been causing me to turn to the only one I know who can provide a peace that passes understanding.
Which was probably his plan all along...
Where are you in your relationship with God today?
...o, Christmas tree...
December 9, 2014
After halting all progress due to a frustrating lights experience, our tree is finally finished!
I come from a clan that appreciates a brightly lit tree. That "rule" stating you should have 100 lights per foot of tree, is completely dismissed in my family. The more blazing, the better!
I'm still trying to figure out the best way to add the lights, though. It is a nauseating process (literally, it makes me a bit sick) as I twist and turn the strands of lights around each individual branch. This year, I decided to take my uncle's suggestion, and I strung the top of the tree separate from the rest of the tree, so that I can put it away with the lights still on it. Make it will make the rest of the process less harrowing next year.
Putting on the ornaments was easy, since I only have ones from my childhood and others that students have given me through the years. My favorite ornament is still the golden cello, that my family bought for me my senior year of college.
As we spoke on the phone before my Christmas break that year, my parents asked me what I wanted for Christmas. Exasperated at all the work I had to do before I could begin to think of break, I sarcastically commented, "Oh, I don't know: I'd like a job when I get out of college. I'd like to know what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. I'd like a car. I'd like a husband. I'd like a cello."
I guess they figured the only thing they could actually get me was a cello, so my whole family pitched in and got me one that year. The ornament on Christmas morning was to let me know that it would be shipped to the school. I did end up taking lessons many years later, though life has since halted that process. Though it currently sits in storage, it is always a reminder of how much my family loves me.
Do you have any favorite ornaments with special memories?
After halting all progress due to a frustrating lights experience, our tree is finally finished!I come from a clan that appreciates a brightly lit tree. That "rule" stating you should have 100 lights per foot of tree, is completely dismissed in my family. The more blazing, the better!
I'm still trying to figure out the best way to add the lights, though. It is a nauseating process (literally, it makes me a bit sick) as I twist and turn the strands of lights around each individual branch. This year, I decided to take my uncle's suggestion, and I strung the top of the tree separate from the rest of the tree, so that I can put it away with the lights still on it. Make it will make the rest of the process less harrowing next year.
Putting on the ornaments was easy, since I only have ones from my childhood and others that students have given me through the years. My favorite ornament is still the golden cello, that my family bought for me my senior year of college.
As we spoke on the phone before my Christmas break that year, my parents asked me what I wanted for Christmas. Exasperated at all the work I had to do before I could begin to think of break, I sarcastically commented, "Oh, I don't know: I'd like a job when I get out of college. I'd like to know what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. I'd like a car. I'd like a husband. I'd like a cello."I guess they figured the only thing they could actually get me was a cello, so my whole family pitched in and got me one that year. The ornament on Christmas morning was to let me know that it would be shipped to the school. I did end up taking lessons many years later, though life has since halted that process. Though it currently sits in storage, it is always a reminder of how much my family loves me.
Do you have any favorite ornaments with special memories?
...deck the halls...
December 8, 2014
I have been slowly setting up our Christmas decorations since the weekend before Thanksgiving. It takes me quite a while to decorate anything, as I have no vision for decorations, I only know when I hate how it looks. So here are a few of the decorations that I settled on.
As each year goes by, I keep adding and subtracting, changing and rearranging. Not unlike how my life moves.
Are you all decorated for the holidays? Any suggestions for my house?
I have been slowly setting up our Christmas decorations since the weekend before Thanksgiving. It takes me quite a while to decorate anything, as I have no vision for decorations, I only know when I hate how it looks. So here are a few of the decorations that I settled on.
 |
| Above the bookshelf. Andy added the Cardinals plush baseball. |
 |
| My sister-in-law, Tammy, makes these snowman families. It's me and Andy! Next year, we'll add a baby and a Buddy! |
 |
| The mantle. A bit sparse, but I'm still working on it. Notice Buddy's stocking! |
 |
| My mom made this for me. It's all hand stitched and oh, so beautiful! |
 |
| A gift from a student. Our Charlie Brown Christmas tree. |
Are you all decorated for the holidays? Any suggestions for my house?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)