So, I'm not going to lie - the year of jubilee is exhausting and kind of expensive, lol. It's almost over!
In October, Mom, Dad, Sky, and I ventured to our capital city. This was a first for me, and I really loved D.C. I loved that you could navigate the streets by landmarks - and landmarks are everywhere! I loved Asian Chipotle (Shophouse), and the metro, and figuring our way around. It was great! So much history and so much to learn. We walked, and walked, and walked some more. I think I almost killed mom and dad. Sky and I had a blast! Photos are up on fbook if you are interested.
In November, for the first time, I participated in the Messiah by singing in the choir. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever done, and I loved it. It was challenging and difficult, but when all of the instruments, and voices collided, it was heaven.
I'm currently in my last month of jubileeing {is that a word?} Anyway, my last adventure is the most expensive of all, and one that I am kind of stressing over....I'll post a pic when it arrives.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Thursday, September 18, 2014
August&September
It's funny. When you are trying to be intentional about life, it becomes very difficult. I think I'm better at spontaneous adventures!
I was hoping to parasail in August, but real life happens, so for the first time ever, my roomies and I ventured to the drive-in in Strasburg, Ohio. While you might say the adventure was watching a movie outside via drive-in for the first time, I'd say the adventure was me watching a double-feature and staying up until 2 a.m. intentionally (not to mention I drove home while other people slept). Aside from my sleep deprivation, it was so fun! I loved it!
For September, I once again tried to parasail with my best bud Misty, but once again, the weather decided to foil our plans. We opted for a girl's day of beauty (so not my thing), but it was actually really relaxing. I had my first ever mani/pedi, and I really enjoyed myself!
I have no photos to commemorate either of these moments, but I have the memories!
Barring a snow storm, October holds my first ever trip to Washington D.C. I'm excited!
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
June's Adventure - Fear Turns to Faith
My June adventure was all scheduled and ready to go. My dear friend Linda and I were ready to zipline at the Wilds - across lakes and wild animals. Me. The kid who is afraid of everything. Heights. Falling. etc. This was a Big. Deal.
We arrived - were fed dinner, (even though that wasn't part of the deal), and then we proceeded to watch the hardest torrential downpour fall from the sky. Of course this would happen. I couldn't decide if I was relieved that I wouldn't have to face my fears or extremely frustrated because I just wanted to get it over with.
June turned to July and my OCD-self was concerned that I hadn't really had an adventure in June.
However, something completely unexpected happened in June when my pastor approached me to take over my dad's position as worship leader. Talk about adventure. Talk about fear. I said yes because I know that God is calling me. I know that He is so good at helping turn my fear into faith.
And that's what happened this past Sunday when Linda and I finally (after weeks of rain) got to experience ziplining for the first time. I swallowed my fear and stepped off that first platform thinking "Only 9 more to go and I can be done." What I realized as I experienced soaring through the air and looking at the incredible beauty of the Wilds was that God is faithful. He turns fear into faith when we give it to Him. He ordains situations and people and experiences that we could never have dreamed of.
After weeks of waiting to zipline, and crumbling under that anxiety, it turns out that one of our guides was a good friend of my brothers. Both our guides were funny and put us at ease. The other folks zipping with us were fun and adventurous. Everything was perfect. The weather. The company. The entire experience. Because I faced my fear, I have a new hobby. I. love. ziplining!
As I was soaring through that first zip, my entire attitude changed, and I thought "What, I only have 9 more zips to go? Boo!"
We arrived - were fed dinner, (even though that wasn't part of the deal), and then we proceeded to watch the hardest torrential downpour fall from the sky. Of course this would happen. I couldn't decide if I was relieved that I wouldn't have to face my fears or extremely frustrated because I just wanted to get it over with.
June turned to July and my OCD-self was concerned that I hadn't really had an adventure in June.
However, something completely unexpected happened in June when my pastor approached me to take over my dad's position as worship leader. Talk about adventure. Talk about fear. I said yes because I know that God is calling me. I know that He is so good at helping turn my fear into faith.
And that's what happened this past Sunday when Linda and I finally (after weeks of rain) got to experience ziplining for the first time. I swallowed my fear and stepped off that first platform thinking "Only 9 more to go and I can be done." What I realized as I experienced soaring through the air and looking at the incredible beauty of the Wilds was that God is faithful. He turns fear into faith when we give it to Him. He ordains situations and people and experiences that we could never have dreamed of.
After weeks of waiting to zipline, and crumbling under that anxiety, it turns out that one of our guides was a good friend of my brothers. Both our guides were funny and put us at ease. The other folks zipping with us were fun and adventurous. Everything was perfect. The weather. The company. The entire experience. Because I faced my fear, I have a new hobby. I. love. ziplining!
As I was soaring through that first zip, my entire attitude changed, and I thought "What, I only have 9 more zips to go? Boo!"
Our Ziplining Team
Thursday, June 12, 2014
The Year of Jubilee Continues - I'm Officially 30 :) Here's May's Adventure
Thursday, May 1, 2014
March's Misadventure & April's Joy
This blog is terribly delayed, but that's what happens during a year of jubilee - too much celebration to write!
So, March's adventure was to go see my favorite comedian, Jim Gaffigan, live in Cleveland. The tickets were booked, the hotel was reserved, and myself along with my two roommates were dolled up and ready for a weekend in Cleveland.
Our hotel was but a block from the theatre. We drove after work on a Friday night to check into the hotel and walk to our destination for non-stop laughter.
As we left the hotel, my dearest Kristin managed to twist her ankle, and severely hurt her foot. (We wouldn't know how hurt it was until much later). It was about 9:30 p.m. The show was to begin at 10. Kristin contemplated going back to the hotel, but we coerced her to hobble to the theatre.
I remember sitting in the theatre, waiting for Jim to take the stage. Kristin had tears streaming down her face, and I had no way to comfort her.
Anyway, the show began, and was truly hilarious! I'd never so laughed so much in my life. And Kristin was able to laugh through her pain.
Following the show, Nikki and I ran back to the hotel, changed in to pj's, checked out of the hotel, and raced back to the theatre to pick up Kristin. At 2 a.m., we arrived at the hospital. There, we stayed up all night waiting for Kristin to get an answer about her foot. At 7 a.m., we were home, Kristin had a broken foot, and in the midst of tired frustration, we laughed at our crazy misadventure.
_______
April's adventure was much different in nature. For Lent, which actually began in March, I decided to go vegan. I didn't know if I would actually be able to make it until Easter, but somehow I did, and I actually didn't mind vegan life, except for the awkward moments at restaurants when you become, that person. You know who I'm talking about. The one that asks how food is prepared.... I've never been so happy not to go out to eat. You know the wait staff is talking about you in the kitchen. Anyway, I decided, I could be vegan if not for being such an inconvenience.
_______
It's May Day. Run outside barefoot, and enjoy the promise of the coming summer. May's adventure is the big one! California, here I come. Until...
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
February Jubilee
I'll keep this short and sweet. My February Jubilee consisted of a road trip to Charlotte, North Carolina to visit my bff and her hubby (and her little dog too). While this might not seem like a big deal, it was. It was the longest I have ever driven anywhere by myself since I don't really care to be alone. Here's what my long weekend included:
*3:30 a.m. bedtimes - totally an adventure for me who likes to be in bed by 9 p.m.
*4 days of quality time with my best friend
*5 mile hikes and walks each day
*12 hours of drive time (all by myself)
Food, eating, shopping, talking, laughing, Lake Norman, Latta Plantation, church visiting, did I mention food? ;)
It's always a balm to my soul to be around someone who has known you from the beginning and still loves you anyway.
I am looking forward to my March jubilee. Stay tuned!
Thursday, January 16, 2014
No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent...
...That's what I've always told myself anyway. Thanks Eleanor Roosevelt for that sage advice; if only it were easily lived out. For the past several months, I've noticed that I have begun to feel completely inferior compared to everyone in my life. It's not that I've never felt inferior before, but lately, it seems like a recurring theme. And, I'm not writing this blog so that people will feel sorry for me and tell me how awesome I am. I'm writing this blog for my own sanity and need to see the truth.
I've always believed that it's important to be self-aware—know your strengths and your weaknesses. Don't tout your skill at something when, in fact, you really aren't that great at it. The last 29 years of my life, I've been an introvert to the core. I didn't let people in to my life very easily. I was guarded. But this past year, I've lived so differently than I ever have before. I enjoy people. I want them to be around. I even let new folks in to my world.
Hence, my newly found inferiority complex.
The truth is, when you let a bunch of imperfect people invade your life, things happen. Good things. Bad things. I've learned that I compare myself. I let the words spoken to me penetrate my heart and my head. I tend to listen to imperfect voices rather than the only voice that counts, Jesus.
When I think about the good things, I am compelled to press on. People matter. And no matter how much pain I experience, the gain far exceeds it. This is what Jesus has called us to. This is what Jesus has called me to.
The truth of the matter is, no matter what people say, I know this about God:
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Life is not a competition. Life is meant to be lived loving God and loving people. The other stuff, is just that, stuff. It only gets in the way of our purpose. Our mission.
I want to be better at this. I want to rise above insecurities that are trivial beyond belief. I don't want to fear to keep me from dreaming and doing and walking through doors that God has opened for me.
This song has become my daily prayer—my reminder that He is enough.
I Shall Not Want
I've always believed that it's important to be self-aware—know your strengths and your weaknesses. Don't tout your skill at something when, in fact, you really aren't that great at it. The last 29 years of my life, I've been an introvert to the core. I didn't let people in to my life very easily. I was guarded. But this past year, I've lived so differently than I ever have before. I enjoy people. I want them to be around. I even let new folks in to my world.
Hence, my newly found inferiority complex.
The truth is, when you let a bunch of imperfect people invade your life, things happen. Good things. Bad things. I've learned that I compare myself. I let the words spoken to me penetrate my heart and my head. I tend to listen to imperfect voices rather than the only voice that counts, Jesus.
When I think about the good things, I am compelled to press on. People matter. And no matter how much pain I experience, the gain far exceeds it. This is what Jesus has called us to. This is what Jesus has called me to.
The truth of the matter is, no matter what people say, I know this about God:
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Life is not a competition. Life is meant to be lived loving God and loving people. The other stuff, is just that, stuff. It only gets in the way of our purpose. Our mission.
I want to be better at this. I want to rise above insecurities that are trivial beyond belief. I don't want to fear to keep me from dreaming and doing and walking through doors that God has opened for me.
This song has become my daily prayer—my reminder that He is enough.
I Shall Not Want
Monday, January 13, 2014
30 - A Year for Jubilee
*Clears throat conspicuously*
2014, among many other glowing occasions, marks my 30th year on this planet. It also marks my cousin/bff/twins 30th birthday as well. Having grown up with her as my constant companion through the good and the bad - the awkward teen years {gasp} - and as we've bungled through our twenties together, it seems only appropriate that we enter 30 together, garishly. Sar had this brilliant idea (her ideas are always brilliant) to celebrate this year as her year of jubilee - having adventures the entirety of 2014. I decided I needed to piggy back on this idea as well since I am pragmatically practical (yes they mean the same thing - it's for emphasis), always! Since I need organization even in disorganized adventuring, I decided that I wanted to have one adventure a month this coming year.
Sar and I had a clandestine meeting on a Saturday in January for another brilliant idea (by Sar of course) - bleaching and dyeing the tips of our hair in bold, extravagant colors. Below is the evidence :)
I didn't really get a results photo because it turns out that my hair doesn't really like to be bright, bold, and vibrant. :) While the tips of my hair are now bleach blonde, my aqua tips never quite worked out despite multiple attempts. That's ok. Blonde is probably about as wild as I'll ever be.
Thus, our first moment of jubilee was born. Catch the blog again next month for another adventure...
2014, among many other glowing occasions, marks my 30th year on this planet. It also marks my cousin/bff/twins 30th birthday as well. Having grown up with her as my constant companion through the good and the bad - the awkward teen years {gasp} - and as we've bungled through our twenties together, it seems only appropriate that we enter 30 together, garishly. Sar had this brilliant idea (her ideas are always brilliant) to celebrate this year as her year of jubilee - having adventures the entirety of 2014. I decided I needed to piggy back on this idea as well since I am pragmatically practical (yes they mean the same thing - it's for emphasis), always! Since I need organization even in disorganized adventuring, I decided that I wanted to have one adventure a month this coming year.
Sar and I had a clandestine meeting on a Saturday in January for another brilliant idea (by Sar of course) - bleaching and dyeing the tips of our hair in bold, extravagant colors. Below is the evidence :)
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| Sally's - birthplace of radical hair! |
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| Getting ready for what looks like a very fun experiement |
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| I love painting! Sar isn't too sure though :) |
 |
 |
| Waiting impatiently for activation - we watched Monster Inc., ate sweet potatoes and salad, and laughed a lot! |
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| Baking the color in. |
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| Dramatic... |
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| wash. |
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| Sar's magnificent results! |
Sar's video documentary :)
I didn't really get a results photo because it turns out that my hair doesn't really like to be bright, bold, and vibrant. :) While the tips of my hair are now bleach blonde, my aqua tips never quite worked out despite multiple attempts. That's ok. Blonde is probably about as wild as I'll ever be.
Thus, our first moment of jubilee was born. Catch the blog again next month for another adventure...
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