In Which I Bid My Twenties Adieu

The clock behind me ticks away each remaining second of my twenties, an audible reminder that I'm inching closer and closer to a whole new decade of life. I find myself in a juxtaposition of wanting to hang on to my twenties, and the seemingly allowed naivete and youthfulness associated with them, while also being [nervously] excited about the years ahead and what unforeseen possibilities and maturity and growth may come with them. Each tick of the clock brings with it a different flood of emotions, yet also the reality that though a part of me may want to remain in my twenties it just will not happen, I will be thirty in a matter of minutes. It seems only fair then that, at a time such as this, a farewell is delivered.

Farewell to the years that solidified lifelong friendships.
Farewell to the years that educated me the most, both inside the walls of a classroom and beyond them.
Farewell to the years that found me living in six different towns, three different states, East Coast, West Coast, and somewhere in between.
Farewell to the years of first "real" jobs, short-lived jobs, active jobs, desk jobs, split shift jobs, and overnight camping kind of jobs.
Farewell to the years that took me up and down and all around in my faith.
Farewell to the years where I learned how to deepen relationships, with family and friends, and to adjust to the changing dynamics.
Farewell to the years that led to being more comfortable in my own skin, more capable of dismissing undue expectations.
Farewell to the years of falling even more in love with simple pleasures.
Farewell to the years where I pushed myself to try new things and experiences, refocused on past interests, and came to realize what captivates me and brings me joy.
Farewell to the years of first experiences with dating (oy vey).
Farewell to the years that bit by bit, shaped and molded me, and matured me as best they could.
Farewell to these years, for all that they were, for who I am as a result of them.
Farewell, my twenties.

And. . . hello, my thirties! Welcome. What should we do together?

29: The Year of Trying

Who am I? What do I enjoy? What am I passionate about? These are all questions that one would hope to have a strong answer to, especially at this stage of life. And yet, I’ve found that I don’t know if I really, truly have concrete answers for them.

I do know that I once loved writing, do I still? My intention is to find out by documenting my new, focused endeavor of discovering who God has designed me to be. Akin to the experience that Julia Robert’s character in Runaway Bride had where she attempts to decipher how she likes her eggs, this year I’m going to try a variety of activities, interests, disciplines to [hopefully] gain answers to the aforementioned questions. I desire to identify the things that make me genuinely excited and fired up, that make me feel alive; to stop doing things due to the dreadful “shoulds.” I desire to step out of my comfort zone unreservedly to experience what God has had planned for me all along that I have been too hesitant, too complacent to step into; to stop telling myself that certain things are intended for certain people, of whom I am not one [lies, I tell ya]. I desire to have a full-on, authentic, real and raw relationship with God that is uniquely my own, figuring out what works best for me, personally, to know Him more and to live a life with Him at the center of it; not falling into the rote religious life. I desire to know thyself . . . and thus, know God better as well as His intentions for fully engaging in life and in community with others.

It may be uncomfortable, confusing, frustrating at times, but it also may be invigorating, joyous, rewarding. I think that 29 could just very well shape up to be my best year yet. Buckle up, here we go . . .

It's Gonna Be Good

Forgive me for the disappearing act. A lot has been happening in my life, and also within me, in these past [too many] months and the words just seemed to be content to reside in my mind . . . until now. I'm a little rusty though, so bear with me as I bumble my way through sharing the latest stirring within me:

 

"Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good." ~ C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe 



Like the steady beat of a heart, the words redemption and risk have been resounding in my mind over the course of the last few months. Redemption. Risk. Redemption. Risk.

Redemption from time that seems as though it were lost, as if whatever it was spent on was all for naught.

Risking my comfort, my contentedness, my plans, in order to live life to the full.

This season of life has made me ever aware that God is in fact good. Is a life in pursuit of Him and His will going to be safe? At times, yes. More often than not, no. But in forgoing the guarantee of safety one has the opportunity to step into a life that is much, much richer and fuller. A life that is marked by new beginning after new beginning. A life that beckons us to live beyond our meager ideas of fulfillment, and to step [courageously and trustingly] into God's far grander plans for us.

One of the musicians that I enjoy has a song that reiterates these same kind of sentiments. Needless to say, the song has been adopted as a sort of theme song for this current season of life. The part that resonates the most with me is this:

"I wanna see what you're made of
Get up and fight, you know you should
Try, there's nothing you should be afraid of . . .
This ain't safe but it's gonna be good." [Matt Wertz's Gonna Be Good]

Per 2 Timothy 1:7, God has not given us a spirit of fear or timidity, rather, He wants to see what we're made of, what He knows we are meant to be/do, and He has given us a spirit of power to help us get there.

Will we allow God to redeem us? Will we dare to live unsafely? To trust that God is good? My hope and prayer, not only for myself, but for all of us is that our response to all of those questions will be resounding yeses.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." ~ John 10:10



Si. Ja. Oui. Yes.

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Yes.

It is a one syllable word. And yet, it is one that can be so difficult to spit out at times.

In spite of the fact that it, phonetically, is a simple word, the reality is that "yes" is a complex word due to the implications that stem from its use. Saying yes often times means making a commitment, agreeing with/to something, taking action, or even giving someone else the reigns.

It's counterpart, "no," however, typically suggests refusal to do something/go somewhere, disagreement, and maintaining control. Basically, saying no tends to mean getting to stay put and do whatever the heck you want. Is it any wonder that "no" becomes one of a child's first words?!

Currently, I do a fair amount of hanging out with a one year old little girl. Nearly anything that I ask her receives the response of "no." Even if the question is not a yes or no question, the answer still ends up being no a lot of the time. Go figure. I started to think that perhaps she just hasn't learned to say the word "yes" yet so I set about trying to teach it to her a few weeks ago. After going down the "repeat after me" road, I quickly ascertained that she does in fact know how to say yes, and even knows it's meaning. . . she just chooses to not use it.

How often in life do we act as if we don't know the word yes? How often do we say no at all costs -- staying right where we are because it's safe, it's comfortable, it's controllable; holding tight to our plans, thoughts, and opinions without entertaining the idea of allowing the uniqueness of someone else or other plans to broaden our horizons; more importantly, how often do we say no to God, thinking that we both know ourselves and our plan for our lives better than He does?

I'm guilty of all of the above, more often than not.

Acknowledging that I know the word yes means acknowledging that I choose to not use it, that I choose to remain complacent, and stubborn, and close-minded, and even fearful.

Interestingly enough though, while spending time with my little friend the other day, I noticed that she had started to give "okay" as her response every now and then. Not fully committed to saying yes, and, in essence, not fully committed to committing to whatever she was saying okay to, but, she was at least open to taking that first shaky step out.

Since that first day that "okay" first popped into our conversations, she has used it more and more frequently, and, I have seen her grow more courageous and deliberate in her actions, more sure of herself and more sure of me and our relationship.

You see, while saying "yes" can [mistakenly] feel like we'll lose ourselves, it's quite the opposite, it allows us to learn more about ourselves and see things in a different, clearer light; it allows us to become more relational with others and allows us to truly experience life; but, most importantly, it allows us to partner with God and fully experience Him and what He has planned for us so that we might fully live.

And, you know what, it's alright if we just start with the first shaky step of saying okay. Okay, after okay, leads to growth that leads to surer footing, which leads to being able to say yes more assuredly and excitedly. And saying yes? Saying yes means opening yourself up to a vast world of wonder and relationship, opening yourself up to life.

Live.

Say yes.

1:3

God bless my dad and brother who's lives are inundated with females -- even my brother's dog is a she! The poor guys are quite the troopers when the whole family gets together, given that they're basically tagging along to "girl-time."

Aside from my hope for male companionship for my own personal gain someday, truth be told, I also hope for that so that the men in my family can have another guy to add to the ranks [read: enjoy a good brew with and talk sports].

Dad and Jeff, I'm doing what I can -- while still being a lady, of course -- to get the ratio more in your favor (let's be honest, it's mutually beneficial). Thanks for your patience in the meantime, both with the elongated period of being the only males. . . and with putting up with all of us gals and our shenanigans.

SWING AWAY

Fear of failure can be crippling at times in one’s life. It has the ability to introduce irrationalities into our mindset, to awaken anxiety within us, to hold us hostage . . . if we let it.

After failing, miserably, the potential to fail again may send someone running in the opposite direction, running to a safe haven where no risks have to be taken, where one can just float comfortably along the lazy river of life. But, is that truly living? If we don’t have to put ourselves out there ever again? If we don’t push ourselves to try new things, not knowing whether or not we’ll be good at them, if we’ll succeed?

True, it can be frightening, really, really frightening, to step out into the unknown, to dare ourselves to move out of our comfort zone, especially if we’re still raw from a recent failure . . . and yes, I won’t sugarcoat it, we may in fact fail [again] . . . but, we also may find ourselves reaping the abundant rewards of success and/or, if nothing else, relishing our newfound strength in ourselves after conquering our fear. 

The great Babe Ruth is cited as saying these two quotes that I believe can go hand in hand: “Don’t let the fear of striking out hold you back,” and, “every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”

So, whether our endeavor itself results in success or failure, the truth of the matter is that it is still a success regardless since we stepped up to the plate, gave it our all, and swang away instead of just hiding out in the dugout. 

Loosen failure's hold on you, and don't let fear hold you back -- even if you do stike out be emboldened by your resolve, and keep swinging away until you hit your home run.

IMITATION IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY

Recently, I had the pleasure of dining at Lot No. 3, and, while the whole menu was filled to the brim with mouth-watering dishes, I wound up ordering their Goat Cheese Toast. Let me just tell you, it was DELICIOUS!

Seeing as I couldn't savor it enough while there, I decided to pay homage to their fine creation by recreating it in my own kitchen:

Ingredients:

Candied pecans
Sliced french baguette
Goat Cheese
Thinly sliced apple
Balsamic vinaigrette
Directions:

1. Lightly toast french baguette, until slightly crispy.

2. Spread goat cheese over baguette, placing one slice of apple atop cheese. Depending on size of baguette slice, add either one or two candied pecans on top.

3. Drizzle small amount of balsamic vinaigrette over middle of the concoction.

4. Enjoy to your heart's content!

PARTY TIME

This is a little late coming, but, not only have I been making good on my assertion to be a "doer" instead of just a "Pinner," I took it one step further and made myself a short-lived [very short-lived] party planner/helper in the last couple of months. With baby showers to be had I set my novice, crafty self to work and concocted these items:

(handwriting attributed to the best friend, since my own handwriting, arguably, resembles that of a child. . .)

There were a few other items that went undocumented, but this is the gist of what my new found craftiness has led to recently. I think that I'm starting to like letting that part of me live a little! We'll see what other projects I can tackle in the future.

BECAUSE I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF

Today's post is brought to you by the letter G. As in, "G" for The Gabe Dixon Band. . .
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"The new day dawns

and I am practicing my purpose once again

it is fresh and it is fruitful if I win

but if I lose

oooohhhh

I don't know

I'll be tired

but I will turn and go

only guessing 'til I get there

then I'll know. . .

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. . . And all will be well

even after all the promises you've broken to yourself

all will be well

you can ask me how

but only time will tell . . .
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. . .  And aaaalllll will be well

even though sometimes this is hard to tell

and the fight is just as frustrating as hell

aaaallll will be well . . .

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. . . You've got to

keep it up

and don't give up

and chase your dreams

and you will find

all in time. . .

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. . . All will be well

you can ask me how

but only time will tell

you can ask me how

but only time will tell."

~ from their song All Will be Well

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Give it a listen sometime.

              

REMEMBER WHEN

I may or may not be 'staying' with my parents, yet again, at the moment [okay, I may be -- but, at least I'm not alone].

I thought that at this point in my life any roommate/s that I'd have would be a husband and/or children . . . not my parents. But, life is humorous and I love nothing more than to be a prop in its comedy act. You're welcome, life.

Being that my parents recently moved, aside from the general fun of a new home and town to make memories in, the icing on the cake is that I get to help them unpack their boxes! You think I'm being sarcastic? Oh no. That's genuine excitement there. Need I remind you of my deep love for cleaning things out? The only hiccup is that my love isn't necessarily matched by the other parties involved. We'll get there.

Since it's a process to get the others on board with sorting through the endless mass of boxes, I dedicated some time the other day to going through my own boxes of belongings that they've been holding on to for me. What a walk down memory lane!

In between laughing at the ridiculous stories that I wrote as a child, wondering what's become of certain people while looking through yearbooks, or trying to decide if it was worth keeping the platypus stuffed animal that I sewed in 9th grade home ec., I found myself being transported to a different time. A time when messages between friends looked like these,

a time when imagination ran rampant,

(okay, the masks may be a little creepy, but don't worry, it's just my brother and me)

and a time when going to an adult event made you feel so special and mature [even if you did look a little on the silly side]:

It was a good time, a real good time.

And, while it's largely the memories themselves that I cherish, it's also the child-like mindset of those years that I think of fondly. The mindset where everything seemed more simple, more understandable, more possible. When friendships and relationships were less complicated, when creativity was less stifled by the demands of everyday life, when being an adult seemed like a lot of fun.

Youth may be gone, but why does that frame of mind have to vanish as well? It may be a bit more difficult to cultivate in the midst of this stage of life, and it will probably look a little different than it did as a youngen, but, I think that it certainly is possible to see the world through child's eyes once again, with adult prescription lenses.

Life can be simple if we slow down and take the time to pay attention to the things around us. Life matters can make more sense if we strive for knowledge and clarification. Everything can be possible if we have the courage to take action and step out in faith.

Friendships and relationships? Love others as you, yourself, would want to be loved. Speak up, speak the truth, speak from your heart. Send 'notes' to let someone know that you're thinking of them, or just to say something funny to put levity and life back into the relationship.

Creativity put on the back burner? Whip out a camera, a pen and paper, heck, a coloring book. Take twenty minutes out of your day to let your mind run free, even if it just means spending the time staring out the window and daydreaming.

Being an adult can be fun, it SHOULD be fun. The years of childhood were the good 'ol days, but these days now, these are the great days! See them for what they are, enjoy them, and use them wisely.

I MAY BE ADDICTED

I nearly have my whole wedding planned . . . though I'm not engaged (much less even dating anyone). I keep forgetting that I'm NOT an interior designer . . . in spite of the fact that I have countless amounts of housing and decor items picked out. I think that I should have my own craft room given all of the cool craft ideas that I've collected . . .  although I've only made roughly three 'crafts' in the past year. And, I find myself feeling like quite the chef due to the tasty recipes I now have access to . . . when, in reality, I tend to make the same thing over and over again [aside from this apple, peanut butter, and granola sandwich -- yum!]:
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Truth be told, my name is Megan and I am a "pinning" addict.

Whew. That feels better now that I've admitted it.
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And, since accountability is key, I'm stating here and now that I intend to overcome curb my addiction by becoming a "doer" instead of just a "pinner." Hold me to it.

Perhaps then my love for all things Pinterest will be justified. Perhaps. . .
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COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT.

I stepped outside this morning and was met with the most absolute silence that I've ever heard. Perhaps it's because this is what it looks like out there:

That, my friends, is a nice, thick, wet blanket of snow. In the Seattle area? Yes, yes indeed. And, since it is a bit of an oddity here, and just because I love snow in general, I figured it's a great day to hunker down by the fireplace, with my trusty computer and some good reads, and enjoy the beautiful sight outside the windows.

With the fireplace all aglow, and before jumping into a mindless chick-lit book [what can I say, they're a guilty pleasure] I had a little one-on-one time with God. The devotional that I read this morning touched on God's desire to see fruit in our lives, and prompted me to ask how I might be more fruitful. Immediately following that, I opened up a Bible study book that I had started many years ago, intending to just read back through the parts that I had highlighted before, but, lo and behold, when I opened it up to where it was bookmarked [at the next section I was to read in full, at some point] my eyes fell on the title of that chapter, "To Be Fruitful." Ha! Oh, God, You're a smart one in how You catch our attention in order to provide us with Your answers and direction. Alright, alright, I get it that You want me to have a better understanding of how to bear fruit in my own life. .  .

Gotta love such a start to the day!

I hope that each of you see God revealing Himself to You in some way or another today, whether it's in the beauty of His creation, in interactions with others, or in seemingly coincidental instances, may He pleasantly surprise you -- He certainly likes to do that.

MAY IT BE THE BEST ONE YET

From the headlines that I've seen in the newspapers, to the words that I've heard out of the mouths of friends, family members and acquaintances, it's evident that calling 2011 "a bit of a rough year" may be an understatement. It was a year wrought with all sorts of woes: unemployment, deaths, divorces, health scares, unwanted moves, natural disasters, uprisings, and so on, and so on. For many, it is a year that's end could not come quick enough.

And, while I certainly endured my share of downs in 2011 in my own life, it is worth noting that there were also a considerable amount of ups along the way to be grateful for as well:

- a much needed sojourn to Santa Fe, NM
- visits from (and, subsequently, sight-seeing with) all of my siblings while living in Colorado
- new/lasting friendships that were forged
- marriage and engagement celebrations for dear friends
- indulging in recreational activities, theater productions and rock concerts
- surprising my sister for her 30th birthday
- a week with family at our beach cabin in the summer
- the chance to dote on some of the world's cutest kids
- precious, farewell moments with my Colorado buddies
- a pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving dinner with my closest friends once back in WA
- being able to spend the holidays with my family
- a temp. job to put some money in the bank
- the most adorable new addition to our family, my beautiful, one month old niece, Paislee
- AND, the continual emotional, mental, and spiritual growth that is a direct result of everything that I've endured/experienced this past year

So, for me, I look back at 2011 with appreciation for everything that came with it, both the ups and downs. And, I look forward to 2012, knowing that whatever may come with it is all a part of the adventure of this life.

May 2012 be a year of unexpected surprises, of increased fortitude and of fulfilled hope for us all. May it be the best year yet!

Happy New Year everyone!

LOOK WHO'S BACK, BACK AGAIN

(that last one's a little hard to make out but, although it looks eerily similar to the picture before it, it does in fact say Washington)

What's in store now? A different, new type of adventure in life. That's what. What that looks like? That is yet to be seen. Here we go, again.

THE MEANING OF HOME

Awhile back I found myself meandering through an apartment parking lot here in Denver while taking some dogs for a walk. As the dogs and I sauntered on, I started looking at the license plates of the cars that had been parked there. . .cars from Wyoming and Nebraska, Michigan and Louisiana, and as far away as Maryland and California; in total, I counted at least 16 license plates in that singular, small parking lot that were from places other than Colorado.
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Whether by choice or circumstance (i.e. job placements, etc.), "home" seems to be more and more in flux for a large number of people these days. And while I may think that my nomadic life is an oddity, the truth is, several of my own friends and acquaintances have made their home in a different city, state, or country at one point or another [for some, multiple times as well]. I think that it's fair enough to say that, in this day and age, "home" is a bit more of a subjective term and may apply to a variety of places.
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Which, in turn, reminds me of the fact that our true home is not to be found here on earth. As I, and others, have experienced, it can be easy to find things that we love about the places that we call home here. Even then though, it would seem that there's still something within us that is inclined to search for OUR place, where we feel like we fully and truly belong. Well, folks, as C.S. Lewis once said, "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." Or, in other words, "But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven!" (Philippians 3:20a [from The Message]).
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We may wander from place to place, building community, creating a home environment, but will we also cling to the reality that we were created for something, somewhere, even more? Will we remember that the homes we find ourselves in here are only temporary, and that another one that is permanent, and exponentially better, is awaiting us? More importantly, will we find solace in the fact that if we feel as though we haven't found where we belong here. . . it's because we don't belong here, we belong somewhere far more amazing?! I don't know about all of you, but I look forward to the day where I can settle into my one true home!
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Until then though, I will keep on enjoying my other homes here that God blesses me with. I hope that you do the same, wherever that may be.
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BECAUSE EVERYBODY LOVES ANALOGIES (OR ATLEAST I DO)

"What if what I think is great really is great, but not as great as something greater?"
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[Yes, I did in fact quote The Wedding Planner right there. I'm not even ashamed]
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What a thought to ponder. . . what if we're destined for even greater things than the greatness that currently surrounds us? Should we just remain where we are and enjoy the good stuff that we have, or should we take the risk and step out in faith to see what else there might be? Perhaps something even more wonderful?
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This past week I ventured out on a small-scale hike in the foothills. The particular trail that I was on led to two different ruins' sites: one being the mountain home of John Brisben Walker, and the other being what was left of the humble beginnings of Mr. Walker's attempt to build a summer home for the U.S. presidents. After hiking in and surveying the bits and pieces that remained of Mr. Walker's former residence, I headed back out on the trail for the nearly mile-long walk to get to the summer home ruins. But as I started heading further away from where I had originally come from my mind caught up to me and started formulating thoughts along the lines of: 
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"Am I really going to go that far just to see a cornerstone of a place that never got built and no one really cared about?"
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"I know that there's a closer view of Red Rocks all the way out there, but I think that I can see them pretty well from here. . ."
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"Is it going to be worth it?"
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In spite of my questioning I decided to trudge on with hopes that my effort would not be in vain (even though I did consider stopping along the way at a couple of places that had decent views of the metropolis area or the surrounding foothills), and, you know what? It was most definitely worth it!
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The cornerstone and the rubble themselves weren't anything too spectacular, but that didn't matter because I was overjoyed at the location that I found myself in! A location that boasted far better views than those which I had second-guessed passing by, and that provided the most perfect spot to sit and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and feel God's presence!
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Had I turned back when I first started questioning whether to continue on or not I would still have had a great experience. Had I decided to stop at the other inviting places along the way, I'm sure that they would have been great. But if I hadn't pushed on as I did I certainly would have missed out on something far greater, something that felt as though it was created just for me and that moment in time. True, there was the possibility that it wouldn't be anything too special, but even if that had been the case, at least I would have taken the risk . . . and could always return to one of the great places that I had passed in the process.

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Why does this seemingly simple hiking experience elicit such an elaborate explanation from me? Because the reason that I ventured out to this spot in the first place was to take the time to weigh out a life decision -- of the "should I stay, or should I go?" nature -- and I can't help but liken the experience to my decision-making process.

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Life in Colorado is good, really good. It's beautiful, has the amenities of city-life and nature, and I've made some quality friendships here with wonderful people. But is it enough to keep me here? Or is there something greater that I need to step out in faith to walk towards, not knowing what lies ahead?

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The hours that I spent thinking and praying, lofted above the earth on my personal, rocky precipice while looking out to the snow-capped mountains provided me with my answer . . .

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I'm moving back to Washington.

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I may find myself wanting to be complacent, to dig in my heels and just stay here, [aside from the lack of a job] it would be easier on one hand. And yet, I feel the same stirring within me to trudge on, leaving behind the good, and pushing on until I see what the adventure before me holds, whatever it may be. And maybe, just maybe, I'll find myself faced with something even greater than I thought. I think that it may be worth it. . .

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"A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." ~ Proverbs 16:9

JUMBLED THOUGHTS

While rooting around in my closet the other day I caught sight of my "colder weather clothes" and I couldn't help but lose a few seconds of my day staring wistfully at them and imagining myself all bundled up in their cozy glory . . . and then I snapped back to reality as a drop of sweat rolled down my back due to the 90+ degree heat. Ah, Colorado summer. Perhaps a little too hot for my liking.

Speaking of summer, it seems as though I unintentionally took a summer vacation of sorts from putting my thoughts and words here. I can assure you that I was thinking and speaking (for the most part) outside of this medium but I just needed some time to 'be' in the midst of life's current adventure.

I find it ironic that last year I reflected on Augusts of years' past , and questioned what August of this year might hold. Did I foresee that I would, yet again, be looking for work? And/or be considering venturing into uncharted territories? Most certainly not. Is that where I do find myself currently? Most certainly.

"Well I keep on coming to this place
That I don't know quite how to face
So I lay down my life in hopes to die
That somehow I might rise

Yes I will rise
Out of these ashes rise
From this trouble I have found
And this rubble on the ground
I will rise
Cause He who is in me
Is greater than I will ever be
And I will rise."

~ Rise, by Shawn McDonald

I will rise. I may be back in a place that I've experienced a few times before, but I've changed. Who I am, how I see things, what I perceive my "path" to be, how I trust He who is in me, they've all changed. And I will rise because of them.

August 2012, I'll be ready for whatever tricks you might have up your sleeve . . .

DON'T STOP BELIEVING

While driving around town the other day I happened upon this sight:

I almost blew right passed it, but as fate would have it, the not-so-normal sign caught my attention, leading me to put my car in reverse and find a spot along the street to park so that I could snap this shot . . . and ponder a bit.

I'm sure that the criminal artist who rendered this masterpiece was largely paying tribute to Journey's infamous "Don't Stop Believin'" but I chose to perceive the phrase in its most basic sentiment. Don't stop believing.

When you're not where you thought that you would be at this point in life, don't stop believing. When life hands you lemons, time and time again, don't stop believing. When others let you down, don't stop believing. When you let others down, don't stop believing. When you make mistakes, don't stop believing. When God and His plans don't make sense to you, don't stop believing. Whatever the case, don't ever stop believing. It may seem easier to doubt, belief after all can be trying and may call for us to move out of our comfort zones (and/or pity parties), but belief breeds hope, and hope paired with action is the gateway to changed perspectives/circumstances.

Keep believing and have hope my friends!

COME AWAY MY BELOVED

"O my beloved, abide under the shelter of the lattice, for I betrothed you to Myself, and though you are sometimes indifferent toward Me, My love for you is at all times as a flame of fire. My ardor never cools. My longing for your love and affection is deep and constant. . .

Tarry not for an opportunity to have more time to be alone with Me. Take it, though you leave the tasks at hand. Nothing will suffer. Things are of less importance than you think. Our time together is like a garden full of flowers, whereas the time you give to things is as a field of stubble . . .

I love you, and if you can always, as it were, feel My pulse beat, you will receive insight that will give you sustaining strength. I bore your sins and I wish to carry your burdens. You may take the gift of a light and merry heart, for My love dispels all fear and is a cure for every ill. Lay your head upon My breast and lose yourself in Me. You will experience resurrection life and peace; the joy of the Lord will become your strength; and wells of salvation will be opened within you." ~ The Call of Love, from Come Away My Beloved

NEW MEXICO, THE "LAND OF ENCHANTMENT"

Now, only 22 states left to see . . .

Hasta luego Santa Fe!