Outside our comfort zones

One of the things that I have been challenged on, especially over the past couple of years, if learning how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Yea, I know...kind of a weird thought but give me a min. here.

We are taught our whole lives that we should be working towards more comfortability in every aspect of our lives- with money, our material possessions, in our relationships, our faith journey, our jobs, etc. However, I do believe that becoming too comfortable can be quite damaging in the long run. It is not that being comfortable is all bad, it's just that when we stay in a state of comfort we tend to become complacent. And believe me, I am not saying that I necessarily enjoy being uncomfortable; it is just that I think we become too complacent when we become too comfortable therefore I believe that become uncomfortable is important. It is important because it pushes us, challenges us, makes us learn new things not only about ourselves but about the world around us.

I am currently in a state of uncomfortability and this is the first time in the past couple of years where I don't like it. Life has changed so much during the past 10 years alone that I started getting comfortable with being uncomfortable but now that I am in the middle of a new season of being uncomfortable I don't like it. I feel lost and fairly lonely. I get that this too shall pass, blah, blah,blah...but I want to be through this season. Being at a point where I feel as though I cannot gain much ground at all is getting old. And I can't really explain to anyone what it feels like. I want to be in a better space with everything where I know what I am doing and what to expect. Don't get me wrong, everything (for the most part) is going pretty well but I guess that it why feeling this way is even more frustrating. I feel lost and lonely but I feel as though I have no reason to feel lost or lonely...it's weird.

So, while I still believe that being uncomfortable is an overall good thing...I am frankly sick of it right now. I know there is something to be learned and trust me, I waiting to figure out what that is. In the mean time though I need a space to retrieve to that makes things seem as though they are not so lonely. I need a conversation with someone who knows me and can just relate to what I am going through; I need time with friends or family where things are normal and I feel connected and not lonely or lost - that I know what to expect.

Here's to being in the middle of an uncomfortable season...I guess

At it again

Wanting to try this again, as life is truly chaotic and I want you all to be as up to date as possible since we can't talk to everyone individually.  This of course makes us sad, but we understand the reality of life.

Today, we are looking forward to going either to the zoo or the country fair.  We will see however since it is a little wet and rainy outside..boooo...oh well!  I would much rather have it be a little chilly than incredibly hot.  Does being hot wear anybody else out?  It drains me SO quickly.

Recommendation for the day:  start reading the book Bittersweet by Shauna Neiquist.  FANTASTIC book.  I am only about 1/3 of the way through it, but it is already THAT good.

Not sure what we are doing (other than the zoo or fair) for the rest of our labor day.  What cool plans do any of you have out there??

2 days after ramblings

As I get older, it seems as though the "magical" feeling of Christmas lessens with each passing year - and to be perfectly honest, it makes me sad. I keep asking myself, what has changed? And then it hits me....everything. Since husband and I got married almost 4 years ago, things have shifted for one reason or another. So the following is my list of the things that I don't like that have changed followed by those things that I am grateful have changed.





Crappy


1. No more going home to my parents house for our typical Christmas day festivities


2. No more Christmas eve service at CLC


3. Extended family celebrations have shifted to either too far before or too far after Christmas


4. The passing away of family members (specifically grandparents)


5. Everyone's life shifting, which means people are moving, which means we all can't be together at the same time





Blessings


1. Bigger family (married into and other people coming in)


2. Having kids and starting to be able to see the magic in their eyes


3. Coming up with new traditions


4. Learning to appreciate that it is more about time together rather than the stuff we accumulate


5. Knowing and remembering how blessed and loved we all really are





As challenging as growing up is because people leave us and we grow out of our traditions, there are just as many blessings that come from it. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all! :)

P.S. NEVER forget about snow angels :) These always leave you feeling like a kid again

ODW

ODW = One Day's Wages.

Obviously, I am not necessarily working for money right now. Although if I was, man would it be a BIG pay day. Anywho, I am inspired. Eugene Cho and his wife are doing some amazing work in using just one day's wage http://www.onedayswages.org/ to help fight extreme poverty in our world.

We live in a world and in our generation, where most of us have everything at our finger tips. Yet we are constantly thinking we need more and often get rid of less. I do not necessarily think all of us as believers as called to abandon what God has blessed us with (unless God calls us to do so), but we are MOST DEFINITELY called to be a blessing to others because we have been blessed - and a lot of the time that does mean it makes us more uncomfortable financially speaking.

When Joel and I were discussing how much we were going to start tithing (now that he is actually bringing home a paycheck :)), his initial thought scared me. I hate to admit that, but I found myself wanting to keep more of the money "just in case" we needed it, rather than helping out our church or community or world. 1 - thank you God for softening my heart and 2 - using Joel to open my eyes.

So that is why ODW inspires me. I want to do something bigger than myself and help others so that they can have food on their table, a roof over their head, some type of an education so that they have a way out, etc., etc., etc. And once I found Eugene's ODW website and his blog http://eugenecho.wordpress.com/, I realized how little it actually takes to help. So, please look, read, engage and be inspired. :)

changes

I think the hardest part about moving, especially with a child, is trying to figure out what to do or where to go. Yes, you have to find a grocery store, a physician, a dentist, etc. but for me it has been trying to find places to go and things to do so Deegan and I don't go stir crazy here at the house. Don't get me wrong, it is wonderful having a yard that we can just go out our door to but that honestly gets old after awhile. I am just being honest - sometimes, being at home all the time is hard for me and right now it seems to be more challenging because it is just taking time to find things to do. I am thankful though that Deegan is such a laid back kid though, because it makes things WAY easier.

On a more cheery note - I FINALLY got a new phone!!!!! It has only been 4 years...I mean, come on right?! It reminded me of what happened when I got my laptop a few years back. When I walked into the store, the salesperson asked what I was looking for and when I told him what I wanted he started laughing because they did not even make laptops with those features anymore. Yea...that is what happened last night with getting my new phone. The girl looked at me (in the nicest way possible), and explained how the phone worked and somewhat laughed at how old my phone was. Seriously people - I am not that old and I find it somewhat ridiculous that many of these changes are happening with my generation and I can't even keep up with it. oh man.

Changes are a good thing, a great thing in fact. But I am looking forward to some stability in my life and I think that will happen (at least somewhat) here in Cleveland. :)

New house!!

So after everything is said and done, this is our new home in Cleveland Heights, OH!!!!

A lot has changed since the last time I posted. Originally, we were supposed to buy a home but then all of our loan stuff fell through the day before we were supposed to close = awesome. NOT!! I am a firm believer though that there was a reason we were not supposed to have that house...I just wish I knew why!! ugh!

Anywho - so here we are and Cleveland Heights is FANTASTIC!!!! Everyone is SO nice and welcoming!! Talk about it fitting like a glove; our house, community, the Clinic, and our new home church/internship is working out wonderfully! (I know, there are a lot of exclamation points - that is how wonderful it all is!) :)

Deegan is adjusting wonderfully also! I was a little nervous given some of the horror stories you hear from people - but in typical Deegan form...he is just going with the flow and loving the new digs (especially the backyard - which I also love!)! :)

Cheers to all things new! :)

Here are some of our vacation pictures! :)