One Word 365

I’ve been thinking a lot about what word to choose for 2012…and then it hit me when I saw the cover of Ann’s book One Thousand Gifts sitting on my shelf. The cover of the book says “A Dare to LIVE FULLY right where you are.”

LIVE

Live is my One Word for 2012…more specifically as my friend Dani says “to grow where I am planted”.

For me where I am planted is currently my little corner of New York City, so in this new year I want to fully live here.

This for me means…

investing in old and new friends, saying yes to invites even when my introverted self says my apartment is far simpler,and making sure I trek out to Sunday dinners in Brooklyn.

getting to know the city and my community better, finding a place to volunteer on a steady basis.

joining some friends  for accountability with a year-long plan to read the Bible, sharing life with my core community girls and building stronger connections in our missional community.

most of all it means that I want to be open and willing to whatever God has planned for me this year in this place.  

I want to live like the person God created me to be… I know it won’t always be roses and butterflies but I am going to do my best to choose joy even in those moments.

If you could pick one word for 2012, what word would you pick? Join us at OneWord365?

Open – one word 2011 recap

It’s hard to believe a whole year has gone by. I remember when Alece first shared about One Word 2011, I practically jumped through the computer screen I was so excited to take part in this community of people. Of course then the word that came to mind was a scary one(for me at least).

I wanted to have an open heart and mind to what God had planned for me this year trusting that whatever it was it would be more than I could have ever asked for or imagined. And this year I saw what happens when you keep your heart and mind.

God led me to a church in NYC that I had assumed wouldn’t be a good fit for me. It turned into a place where I found new friends and a church family to share life with.

a job that was not quite what I had pictured myself accepting once I got to New York. In that I found an amazing group of coworkers and have learned more in 6 months that I could have ever imagine.

my neighbors…from the grandpas, Julia the crossing guard and the folks that live on my street I’ve found a network of people who look out for me even though they barely know me.

my year of open was filled with joys and sadness..challenges and triumphs…

but today while on the bus with the New York skyline coming into view, I realized that being open was what helped me find home.

December

The blog radio silence is me trying to find my voice, it’s a process. But I put up my first very small NYC Christmas tree, and wanted to share it with the friends I don’t get to see on the regular.

Also, check out Deeper Story this month, they are sharing 12 Causes for Christmas.

Wishing all of you a blessed and joy-filled holiday season.

 

glimmer

I was just telling someone that we all have those moments, where it feels like God is shining a huge spotlight on something and telling you not to ignore it. And in that moment there is a glimmer of understanding.

My moment came this week somewhere between gluing googly eyes on llama puppets for some adorable preschoolers and giggling with the staff at a preschool in the S. Bronx. I realized in the midst of what was a crazy day, that I smiled, not a forced smile or a polite smile. It was a from my heart smile.

I was reminded in those moments that even though it does not always make sense to me, in God’s plan it does. That in His plan going from making snack and homework helping in DC to a midtown office where I write talking points and proposals about how quality education can change a child’s life, all makes sense.

There is comfort in knowing that it all fits together. Knowing that one day I’ll look back and be able to see that the learning experiences and people placed in my life led me here.

It also reminds me to be thankful for and to keep my heart open to….what God is doing right now.

What I’m reading….

Annie’s 31 days of Courage

PrudyChick’s 31 days of Faith