Page Turner: Slow Down.

I have been having a slight problem depicting what day it is... It can't possibly be Thursday again already... But it is. How could it possibly have been a week already? This is the question I've been asking myself every week for the last 6 weeks or so.

Lately I feel as though 2017 has hit hyper speed and there is no slowing down in sight. And as I drive to and from Fort Collins on Tuesday, I think about how much the fall of man truly exists. How our bodies are no longer meant to withstand the turning of time. We are not physically eternal.

I've been thinking about how I have been out of high school for 12 years now... 12! I think about how I've been out of college for 8 years now... and I wonder to myself how that much time has passed. I see old photos pop up on my facebook page as a "flashback" but it feels like just yesterday.

We looked so young
Babies
Chubby bunnies
More pure than ever
Gullible
Nieve
Completely oblivious to what the world was...

...At times I still feel oblivious...

My point is this. -Invincibility-. As someone who is humbled by this perceived notion daily with aches, pains, and pride stripped, I see this constant reel in my mind of how 24 hours can pass like it's nothing but indeed as each of those 24 hour incriments pass... Our bodies are being broken down by the harshness of this world.

By the air
By the Elements
By the exertion
By the gravity
By the stress
By the burdens
By the politics
By the improvements
By the busyness 
By the cravings
By the sin
By the guilt
By the love
By the service

All these items that I have listed above can be catagorized in so many different ways by personal example. But again the reel that comes to mind on repeat in my head is like a flip book couple who has been married for 60 plus years and picture them in this picture book as young in the beginning as young, nieve and risilient people.

This is a large picture book. You can choose to flip slowly from day to day or you can flip it quickly as it actually feels while years pass by without even realizing it. Before you know it you're looking at this couple that felt inexperienced in life. Perhaps people wondered if it was even a good idea for them to get married so young. Now, wrinkled faces that have smile lines and crows feet I bet there are still seasons of life where they feel that same inexperienced feeling but still loving each moment as it comes. 

Even now not even a year into my own marriage, I look at my Husband and wonder what it will be like 60 years from now. How much time like that could possibly pass. But it does... More quickly than we could ever believe. We can't believe it. But here we are right now!

Thinking about:
All that we have done
All that we haven't done
All that we've seen
All that we haven't seen
All that we have accomplished
All that we have failed

However...

We mustn't view our lives from a succeeding VS failing point of view. Nor should we believe the lie that just because we are at a certain point in our lives or if we aren't where we would like to be at a certain point in our lives, that there is still time.  But also there is time to reflect and enjoy these seasons of our lives.

Just take a quick look at some of those who inspirational.  Being 30 is a brand new realm for me. There are times when I feel very old... But when you take a look at those who began at an age that is almost an entire life time a way from who I currently am... It has the potential to inspire and blow our minds.

Ernestine Shepherd-The worlds oldest bodybuilder who just turned 80, began her fitness journey at 56.

86-Year-Old "Iron Nun", Madonna Buder- Completed her first Iron-man Triathlon when she was 65!

Joseph Campbell - Didn't create Campbell's Soup Brand until he was 52!

Vera Wang- Didn't make her first dress until she was 40! 

My point is that everyday we age. Even if we feel the youngest we ever have. EVERYDAY we age and get beat down by our surroundings, we live the lives that we have been given! The amazing thing is that we don't need to mourn this continual aging process. 

We need to celebrate more. 

We need more revival out of dead end routines and feelings.

We need to encourage more.

We need to dream more.

We need to live in the moment before the weeks pass by like an hour or a minute hand on the clock and all the sudden we look in the mirror and realize more time has flipped by in this flip book of memories and seasons than we had ever anticipated.

But even if it did... Start today... Or continue today.

-Keep Adventuring.

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photos and article credits: Tumblr, People Magazine, Highsnobiety, Cooks Info, Business Insider and Google

Dreamer

Recently I have been having dreams where I've been back in highschool. Dreams where I am with people I haven't been with for a very long time or have even honestly thought sbout regularly for over 10 years.

Dreams about various events or traumatic events that stir extreme aspects of emotion. Extreme joy, extreme sadness. Extreme anger or extreme frustration.

When I dream about being back in high school it is usually consisting of me trying to get to a math class that I haven't attended all year and I need a passing grade in order to graduate. I haven't done any of the homework and yet I'm thinking to myself, "why am I here? Do I really need to be here right now since I've already gone to college?".

Recently I had a seemingly prophetic dream about my friend Ana and how she was accepted by her church to become a fulltime missionary over seas... I texted her the following day (Monday) and told her about it because it was such an emotionally joyful dream. She told  her final interview to do just that was Tuesday. She texted me Tuesday evening and told me she was indeed accepted into the program and would be leaving in a few months to pursue being a full time missionary through her church!....

FREAKY

I've had very few dreams that seem to some what  mention true things about future news, events or approaching seasons of life. Never big events like political or destruction. More the feeling and understanding that perhaps because this persons spirit is kindered or connecting with mine via Jesus and his heart and compassion about the understanding of His compassion and our calling and purpose to seek his heart and pray what He prays, I am compelled and convicted to pray for these people no matter how long it's been and it brings me to connect with them via letter or text or phone call and check in. It's amazing but can also be very intimidating. But as I've said before... God likes when I'm uncomfortable and so it is the continual surrender of my comforts and abiding in what He would like me to pursue. He places these things in me as I rest the tent he has given me.

I am amazed by my brain and my spirit colliding at times. To feel so overwhelmed in that moment by what was seemingly the end of the world or the hardest struggles in life was being IN High school, seems to, now, be a calming mechanism within me to say that things seemed easier back then and honestly if I could get through that, I really could get through anything else...

The underlying message, "you'll come through, God will provide. In another 2 years or so you will be at a different season where you are humbled and thankful for what currently is".


Other dreams I've had recently include heading to the mountain after a seeming long yet short drive and realizing that:
A. Boots are buried in the snow
B.  Boots are missing
C. Not fitting my bindings
D. Boots fit great but I've forgotten my skis.
E. Skis have been misplaced or stolen
F. Poles are lost in a used gear store and people think I'm trying to steal them
G. Stuck on the longest lift ride
H. skiing but not enough snow.

Clearly I need to remedy these thoughts and yearnings with obsessively double checking my packing and get my butt up to the mountain.

What dreams may come... At least I haven't been talking nearly as much as I used to in my sleep. At least that is my hope considering I haven't heard my husband mention anything lately.






-Keep Adventuring.










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Comforts of The World: 6 Pack Abs In Just 30 Simple Minutes!

Just when you think you've gotten used to things. You are thankful everything is going well and that for once in life... Things are smooth and you think that you could and would like to get used to the pace of just cruising.

Often when things get heavy and a bit outrageous in life, I know I've done this but have you?

I think, "Just once it would be nice if things went smoothly and actually fell into place."

I just want things to go smoothly.
I just want things to be easy for once
I just need things to go how I want them to go.
I just...

The beggar mentality that ensues from the "I just" creates a sense of becoming a "victim" instead of a strong son or daughter. How often have I begged God to just give me the easy way. I begged for once that school would actually go well. That financial woes would be no more and that comfort while on the earth would take over.

Reading that last sentence just paralyzed me in thought. I myself know that comfort comes in many ways. However I am reminded often through finances, or lack there of, that God shows his glory through the process as we seek him. If that need was not currently there I would then not be seeking him fully to provide. I am often torn with this thought. I do pray that my trust would not be faulty because of financial roller coasters. My prayer indeed is that one day I will be financially blessed in a way that enables me to bless those who will be in my shoes like I currently walk in them today.

But I do not want to seek the comforts of this earth. That is not my purpose. Purpose is to live every moment while I am on this earth colonizing and spreading the good news but ultimately I can't imagine living with these seeming woes for all of eternity... There is too much of his glory and too much celebration that out weighs the pain, sorrow, worry and stress of this world.

You can have all this world, give me Jesus

This is a real thing...Sauna Pants

To beg for things to be easier or less complicated truly puts our spirits at risk of being strengthened by the trials that God has set before us to grow, strengthen and guide us. We want the tone bodies and strength to climb hard things yet we groan when we need to train and strengthen our bodies to be able to endure these things. Unless you get bit by a radioactive spider that somehow intertwines into your DNA and makes you part spider therefore give you wicked awesome strength... Hmmmmmm

Reality is, if you want it badly enough AND it is in Gods will to make it a part of your life, he will bring it to fruition. But it wont just, poof, happen...
Kind of like these products...Viewer discretion is advised...

If it is worth it to us we will persevere...
If it is worth it, we will fight...
If it is worth it we will pursue...

It's worth it...

However don't forget that in the midst of pursuit, the trials, the hardships, stresses and downright failures will strengthen us...

They will humble us...

They will SHOW us just how present God is in every hour of everyday...





-Keep Adventuring.





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It Was December.

It was December as Austin and I made our way down I-25 that I sat back in the passengers seat and suddenly felt this decompression of my heart and mind. It was December when I departed from a place that still holds a piece of my heart. It was December when I stood in rain puddles and prepared myself for what was a huge leap of faith and complete surrender.

I mean common who am I? I had never had the desire to raise my own salary monthly. I had no desire to reach out to people and ask for their financial support yet my heart was softened to the idea and changed by the opportunity to serve in a new place and for a purpose that He had placed deep within me before the earth was created.

Photo Cred: Carl Costas

Before that it was July and I felt these heartstrings being tuned to a different genre. The same God who softened Pharaoh's heart to let his people go, was in the process of changing my heart. Stripping bitterness, exhaustion and staleness away from the various crevasses that I had come short of maintaining in my season of numbness. He began to awaken this soul in transitional directions.

It was December when I put all of my possessions into a car and drove toward something unknown while leaving something so known that it startled my depths as it sank in that I wouldn't be returning to the normalcy that I had known for nearly 5 years.

It was December when I had made a decision. The decision was to follow, obey and commit the entirety of myself to go wherever He led me. That was on a brisk night in a coffee shop/ used book store in Pennsylvania that had one of the best Roasted Red Pepper spreads I had ever experienced. It was December when I walked out of that coffee shop and the weight of my burdens, sins and past had rolled off my back as I hopped on my bike through snow and night sky. It was December when my life truly began when I was 23...

Being born is a hard uncomfortable situation. I wouldn't know physically because I was too young to remember. But spiritually comes in the same type of context.

It was December when I came home after moving west to follow as I had promised and I couldn't wait to get back. It was December when I couldn't wait to leave the place I had been called to for so long. Returning after 2 bike tours cross country and reluctantly obeying and seeking faith that He was faithful in what He asked of me.

Across America 2013

Across America 2013

It was December both times when I returned from South Africa with a wrecked yet joyful heart of the friends I had made and the work of Gods hands that I witnessed in his children and his creation. It was December when cultures collided from warm to cold. From welcoming to personal bubble patrols in Cities I had never really explored on my own before. Grace soaking into the empty feeling spaces and redeeming his love as I conversed with loved ones.

South Africa 2013

It was December when I departed permanently from the establishment I had thought I would be at forever. It was December when I drove up the road with the windows down to smell the air that the canopy provided and let the dampness of the duff seep into my skin and soul for the last time to rejuvenate and bless me for the last time until we meet again.

Redwood Forest

Giant Sequoias

Redwood Forest

Spring 2011

It was December 2 years later as I sat next to my Husband headed to New Mexico for New Years and suddenly the decompression of my heart, the continual healing of time and His grace and mercies renewing again and again who I am and reminding me of who I was. It was December when I how incredible that season of my life under the canopy really was. It was December when I finally let go of the door knob and began to take steps away from the closed door FULLY into this season I now currently stand...

It is January and I stand with a thankful heart and new perspective. Humbled by His faithfulness and thankful for His Grace, compassion and mercy on my stumbles.

It is January.





-Keep Adventuring.





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Reasons For Seasons.

"5 He (Joseph) went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger because there was no guest room available for them.

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David the Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13 Suddenly a great company of heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his  favor rests."

15When the angels had left them and Gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told to them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived."

 

The reason for the season!

I love gifts and I love giving gifts. But honestly NOTHING can be as great and Gods gifts to us. The gift of salvation and the continual blessing of redemption, mercy and saving grace that He washes over us. 

I used to believe in Santa, it's true, I admit it. But now I see the joy in giving rather than receiving. Receiving is nice (by all means don't feel like you shouldn't gift me if it is on your heart to give!). It just gets me really pumped when others follow Gods promptings in their hearts. To trust, to give and to love without holding back and without reservation! My prayer is that it would expand past November-December and turn in into an every day life mission!

To see Gods miracles and provision on lives of loved ones around you is such a beautiful gift in its self. As my friend, Becky, would say at the beginning of exciting news or an intriguing story,

"OK, so..." I've got some exciting news just as it was exciting 5 years ago when all of my closest friends were getting hitched! Now they are all beginning to have babies!

Families are growing and it's but an absolute joy to see this growth in so many different ways. New little hearts, minds imaginations and little laughs. It's been really amazing to see my friends fall more and more in love with their spouses and grow in these ways as we continually put more experiential life under our belts. So, so thankful...

Christine and Trevor Block: with Emma and little brother Reese!

 Ryan and Sam Scavo: With #TheBabyForest

 Stevie and Ben Hegge: In expectancy of a little beloved baby girl.

 Emily and Tim Hall: In expectancy of a radical beautiful little bundle of joy!

All these beautiful ladies becoming beautiful Mommas!!

 Except me currently... Not pregnant people. NOT Pregnant...

Beyond stoked!

-Keep Adventuring.

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What Are These Things You Speak Of?

Last night I was sitting in bible study with some amazing ladies in my church community. We have been studying the book of Philippians. It was our final study for this specific book. and there was a lot of inspiration and memory jostling that took place.

Now I'm not saying we were the best at staying on task through this entire study. We would VERY often go off on different tangents and circle back around to realized we had only gotten through 3 out of the 20 questions we had to answer during the week.

BUT there are certain parts of conversations and words, Gods words that stir up some pretty incredible thoughts and words that he speaks through us as we bring our perspectives of understanding.

The main scripture that really began our discussion was Philippians 4:8.

"8Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things."

What even are these things?

True- Conformable to an essential reality, being that which is the case rather than what is manifest or assumed.

Noble- Possessing outstanding qualities, of high birth or exalted rank, possessing, characterized by, or arising from superiority of mind or character or of ideals or morals.

Right- Being in accordance with what is just, good or proper, conforming to facts or truth.

Pure- unmixed with any other matter, free from harshness or roughness and being in tune, free from what vitiates, weakens, or pollutes.

Lovely- Obsolete, Delightful for beauty, harmony, or grace, eliciting love by moral or ideal worth.

Admirable- Deserving the highest esteem, obsolete: exciting wonder.

Excellent- Very good of its kind: eminently good.

Praiseworthy-  Deserving of Praise; laudable, deserving approval and admiration.

Now I have come from a mental background of performance. To do each of these things and these things only can be a very hard goal to set for ones self. I mean who can really be excellent, praiseworthy, pure? Jesus can. But as life goes on we do get our clothes dirtsy and blemmished and that is where Jesus comes in as we repent and lift these stains to him that he continually washes away. Yes when we have choosen to follow Jesus, we are indeed once and for all forgiven. But it does NOT make us perfect individualts. No where up there does it say "what is perfect". Why? because we will never be able to attain what God is because we are currently human.

But my how we are so noble! Possessing outstanding qualities. Of high birth. God has created us in his image and He himself has outstanding qualities. We are his sons and daughters. We are royalty and we were reborn into the most royal family of all.

There is a mixture of all of these things within us. However, nor does it say in scripture that we need to perfectly execute each of these examples. We are to THINK upon these things and move forward accordingly. There are many times our flesh will fail us. Our heart will fail us. But when we are within a like mindedness of Christ it is possible to work continually towards the finish line. 

Fight the good fight, Finish the race and keep the faith. (Reference Acts 20:24)

In all of this though there must be grace upon our selves upon each other and perspective of Gods mercy and Grace upon us and we strive for each of these things listed above but the grace comes in the stumbling and weakness as God lifts us back up and continually teaches incredible things.

Things that are lovely in my mind: 

Big fat snowflakes that fall in mass amounts that create a deafening bubble while gliding across his majestic snowfall. Lovely is the rest you feel God bringing to you on a Saturday morning while you are drifting between asleep and awake. Lovely is that feeling you get when all of the sudden you see someone you've know forever in a completely different light or perspective and the beauty of God through that person.

-Keep Adventuring

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Are You All In?

Are you ever in the middle of trying to focus on a task or detail and your physically falling asleep? The way your eyes go all cross eyed and they go out of focus while the eyelids get heavier... This is what my brain feels like this morning.

As I begin to focus on tasks my brain floats elsewhere. To places that I couldn't even disclose the location because it feels like my feet and body are going, going, going and then instantly slowed and stilled until I come to find myself standing or sitting still. Where did my brain go?

Often I think about the ways in which our bodies function and how sleep or lack there of can really bring about odd things and feelings. Nothing is wrong with me, just tired today. It's an on going trend as I am currently in the midst of detoxing from sugar and wheat.

Because of this detox I have been finding it profoundly interesting for many reasons. Our bodies or addicted continually to something. Sugar, Coffee, Nicotine, carbs, bad habbits, nail biting, sex, pornography, TV, Technology, the list could go on. Even when we are with in good self control and personal discipline. The reasons it is a constant practice is because our bodies constantly crave something.

When we cut our bodies off from something it loves and has grown dependent on, they begin to rebel. Your body begins to feel different and the cravings are higher and harder than ever. Even things as simple as sugar can bring out withdrawl symptoms that can throw you through a  loop. Headaches, stomach aches, insomnia...

But your body recalibrates its self to look to what it truly needs. Just like we take pain meds to cover up the pain instead of fixing the pain we become distracted. Instead of solving we self medicate to simply live with the problem instead of dealing with it head on. The worst part? When we make a decision to pursue healing it is often times harder in the beginning of the healing process to continue forward to full restoration because of body rebellion and discomfort.

"13Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only few find it."- Matthew 7:13-14

A few of the differences that I have observed of these 2 paths is the commitment to these things. Are you all in? or are you in but not wanting to give up this or that or do something but under your terms and not Gods...

In order to see change and exercise growth and progress forward we need to work at it. Have the profound discipline and obedience. If you want to become a better skier you must ski a lot , practice and be OK with falling alot. You'll never be perfect.

But to trust the process come what may...

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

God is present.

-Keep Adventuring.











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