Strong roots

SBP has become a summer resident at our house.  SBP (Summer Botany Project) is a gorgeous plant that belongs to a friend who does not want to leave her at school all summer.  She graced our dining room this year until she got knocked off of her perch.  Uprooted, dirt everywhere, plant parts covering the floor...recovery seemed hopeless for SBP.  I picked up the salvageable parts, put them in water, and headed to the nearest greenhouse for some root stimulator.  When I started asking questions of one of the employees, she quickly took me to see the same kind of plant and told me exactly how they propagate it.  Cut it into 4 inch sections, dip the cut end into root stimulating powder and stick it in the soil, and water it.  I followed her directions and held my breath hoping for the best!    My son commented the other day that SBP looks better than she did before she fell...and he is right!  What does this have to do with me and words that I want to live by???

The past year has been a rough one for me.  I felt like a plant that crashed to the floor...uprooted and broken into pieces...at times, hopeless.  Jesus picked up my broken pieces and trimmed them up.  He brought people alongside me to pray and speak words of life to my heart (if you are one of those people, I will always be grateful!)...awesome root stimulator!  And then He stuck me right back into the soil of my life to form new roots and grow.  He waters me with His Words...my Bible is filled with them.  I am sinking my new roots deeply into God.  And I am growing and looking better than ever...at least I think so!  :)

Embracing 45

I am going to be 45 years old next week.  Traditionally, ages ending in 5 have been hard for me, at least 25 and 35 were.  It isn't so much the year itself, but the "big one" that follows.  And now I find myself almost on the "downside" to 50.  When did that happen???  Anyway, I've decided not to let 45 get to me.  I am choosing wisely (maybe that comes with age!) to make this year the best year of my life so far.

This year I will live victoriously...overcoming fears and doubts that have plagued me my entire life.
This year I will be wife and mom wholeheartedly.
This year I will live in an attitude of gratitude.
This year I will run a half marathon and be healthy.
This year I will be a teacher who is older and wiser and better.
This year I will make time for things that bring joy to my heart...writing, piano, guitar, singing.
This year I will love fully without expectations.
This year my faith will grow and I will become more dependent on God.
This year I will let the light of Jesus shine through me like never before.
This year I will live one prayer at a time, one choice at a time, one moment at a time, one day at a time.

Yes, 45 is going to be amazing and I am embracing it!

Reconnecting

If I could describe this summer in one word, it would be reconnecting.  I hate feeling disconnected, and when I say that, I mean from people.  Staying connected and maintaining relationships takes time, energy, effort, and choices.  It's a price I will gladly pay, but not everyone will.  Since I've been anemic this past year, my energy has been low and my relationships have suffered.  The summer has been spent reconnecting...with God, with myself, with people. 

Unfortunately, my relationship with God is usually the first one I let slide.  I purposed in my heart to aggressively dig into my Bible and intentionally spend time praying and listening.  I was struggling emotionally, believing lies about myself, and needing truth.  I still desperately need truth to keep me from struggling and falling for the lies.  I will actively pursue this relationship as my first priority and choose life!

I had lost sight of who I was.  I forgot my roots, my heritage.  I overlooked my God-given gifts and talents.  I forgot that I am fearfully and wonderfully and intentionally made.  I am reconnecting with the truth of who I am.  I am a child and a friend of God.  God has given me new dreams and goals and ways to enlarge my tent.  (Isaiah 54:2-4)  He is doing a new thing in me (Isaiah 43:18-19) and using the Dawn that He created.  I must continue to remind myself of God's truth about me!

I have been blessed with time to reconnect with people.  The summer has been filled with precious moments of quality time with people who are close to my heart.  I've realized how important it is for me to stay connected.  When I feel disconnected, I will make the effort to reconnect.  It is worth it!