Walker

I love my dog and today I got to spend some extra time with him while working from home. As I have sat here on the couch typing away, he has moved from one place to the other sleeping. Occasionally he will notice that I've started snacking on something and it's at that point when I see some I wish I was better at: patience.

I love how Walker nuzzles himself right up next to me and waits until I'm done eating. I know this isn't something a good dog trainer would allow - I believe some call it begging - but I love it. He watches intently in case I just happen to drop something that he can quickly snatch. But then sometimes he does that same thing when I'm not eating. I can just hear him asking me when I'll take him out for a w-a-l-k or when I'll give him a t-r-e-a-t. Oh how patient he is. Ever waiting. Ever watching. Ever anticipating my next move.

So this leaves me wondering if God wants this kind of attention from me. I know God doesn't think of us as his little pets like I have just described but I'm sure he would like us to give him a little more attention sometimes. Or at least watch what he is doing. I want to be more like that.

We are Art

There are many times that I find myself defending Art. As a culture, we have many different ways of participating in art but we don't always acknowledge it as such. I've heard people say before that they aren't very interested in art but I would have them answer the following questions:

Do you watch movies?
Do you decorate your house or landscape?
Do you enjoy listening to music?
Do you like to shop for clothes?

If you have answered 'yes' to any of these questions then you participate in art. Of course there are other forms of art such as dance or painting but these are only two of the many forms that we see around us.

In Refractions by NavPress, Makoto Fujimura talks about art in a way that I have never heard of before. He talks about how it has impacted his life and the lives of those around him. What is also very interesting is that he talks about having lived through 9/11 since he lives a few blocks from Ground Zero. He shares how his art has become even more of a source of self expression after that event.

If you are even remotely interested in art, this is definitely a great book.

Peace

My name means 'peace' and I had a friend once say that she really feels like the meaning of a persons name plays a role in who people become. I would say that in my life, peace has been a BIG part of who I have become. I often make major choices after feeling the peace of God. I have longed for the peace of God through troubled times. Peace -- there is nothing like it.

Lately, I have felt a different kind of peace. Usually peace in my life is more of an "okay" about a decision but right now I'm feeling a peace that is more like contentment. I'm at peace with where I am in life, who God has made me to be, and where He is leading me.

While I don't know all the details about where He's taking me, I am at peace with whatever He has for me as long as it is what He wants. He knows way more than me and I trust Him because He only has His best for me.

Word of Promise: The Gift of Psalms

I was familiar with the Word of Promise because of the New Testament CDs so I was very excited when I got the chance to review The Gift of Psalms. This devotional comes with a very nice book with a few selected Psalms and the brief devotional for each day. But what makes this book so special are the CDs with each Psalm read completely. I know that there is a lot of publicity around the actors that participated in making it and I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't cheesy.

I have about a five minute drive to work each day so I thought it would be a great time to listen to the devotionals. I spend a couple minutes before I left to read the cooresponding section in the book and then I headed off to work. As I started the CD, I was first drawn in by the voice. I love hearing the Psalms read by a man (which most of them are with this product). I could hear the emotion behind Davids words and I loved the Psalms that they chose to include. After the Psalm was read, a different voice shared the devotional which was word for word from the book. I was a little disappointed in this because I was hoping to hear something more than what I had just read. But one great thing about hearing the devotional again was that I picked up on different things the second time through. I walked away feeling like I had had a completely different devotional experience than before.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I was shocked to see that it was so well made. This would make a great gift since the wrap is what contains most of the advertising. I felt as though I had received a gift when I opened got this in a mail and I will definitely think of this again when I'm shopping for someone.

I was touched. I wished that all the Psalms were used but there are a lot of them so I can understand. This product was great. I encourage you to check it out.

The Update Post

Lets see, how can I update everyone about what happened last year? I'll give you the shortened version because some of these events I don't feel like digging up again. Here it goes.....

1. I went to New York City for work and saw a play on Broadway (a dream of mine).
2. Went to Michigan to see my friend Ann with a cute pregnant belly.
   
3. I decided to start looking at buying a house (mostly because I hate moving every 6-12 months).
4. Went to Michigan again to see Pete, my now favorite baby boy.
   
5. I met a boy.
6. I bought an 1898 Victorian style home. I love it!
   
7. My parents brought me all the rest of my stuff that they've been trying to get out of their house. Fun to show them the new place.
   
8. I lost all sight in my right eye.
9. My mom came out to take care of me for a week. What a blessing it was!
   
10. The boy and I broke up.
11. I lost feeling from the waist down on my right side.
12. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and started on drugs to slow down the disease.
13. I went to Dallas for Thanksgiving with my parents, my brother and his wife, Kendra, and of course, Walker (my dog).
14. Stayed here for Christmas and my parents joined me. First Christmas in my new house.

What a crazy year. I can't believe all that has happened. But it's done and God was faithful through it all! I have learned so much about being and trusting. Being weak, being strong, being angry and being sad. Trusting God, trusting nothing, learning to trust again and leaning only on trust in God.

So that has been my year and I'm more of who God wants me to be because of it.

Want to review books for NavPress?

Because of my lack of posts in the last year (sorry, life was too crazy to post) I've probably lost most of the people who were following me. BUT in case there are a few faithful people out there, I thought I would let you know about a blogging program that NavPress just started. After being part of Thomas Nelson's Blogger Review program, we decided to start one of our own.

Here is what you get: Free Books!!!!

And then all you have to do is write a short review about the book (good or bad) and post it on your blog, on NavPress.com and one other retail website. It's that simple!!!

So check it out!

Holding Fast: The Untold Story of the Mount Hood Tragedy

Since I live in Colorado, I often hear of tragic stories around climbing expeditions but I've never heard one that impacted my life as greatly as this one. Back in 2006, Kelly James and two of his close climbing buddies attempted to summit Mount Hood during one of the worst storms of the winter season. Karen James, Kelly's wife, was left waiting to hear back from her husband to contact her about their progress but little did she know that her last phone call from him as he was in a snow cave would be the last time she would hear his voice.

Many of us vaguely remember seeing this story on television but as I learned more of Karen's story of faith, I was struck by how much she leaned on the Lord during this time of waiting. Karen, along with many others, waited for days as the rescue teams attempted to find the three men. As the reports bombarded each of the family members with questions, all of them kept praying and believing that God could give them the Christmas miracle that they were looking for.

Even though that Christmas miracle wasn't given to them, Karen was able to grow in her faith in a way that many of us don't get to experience every day. It's during those moments when we don't think that we can make it any further that we find ourselves in the palm of His hand, which is where Karen stayed for many months following. I've found myself in that same place recently when I found out that I was diagnosed with MS. And the most beautiful thing about being in that place is that God's comfort, peace and love flow freely to those that are will to trust Him enough to let Him have control.