Why I love (in)RL

Almost a year ago, I started seeing posts and information about this thing called (in)RL.  I had found the (in)couragers website (which is amazing, by the way), and the way this (in)RL thing was written, I figured it had to be connected to that somehow.
So I started looking around and seeing what I could see.
I'm so glad I did.

(in)RL is a chance to get together, connect with other women, in real life.  (inRL, get it?)
This group (in)courage was hosting these web conferences on two days in April, and we could sign up to watch part of it online on our own, then get together with other women to watch other videos, discuss, talk, pray, share....connect!
I've talked here before about how I long for connection with other women.  I love community.  I love finding women to share life with.
That's exactly what I found last year at the (in)RL meetup I attended.
It was at Frances' house, and there were about 8 of us there.  A couple of the women had met before, a couple were friends, but most of us were brand new.
But it was one of those gatherings where you didn't feel new for long.
Maybe it was the fantastic welcome and warm, friendly setting of Frances' home.
Maybe it was the delicious coffee.
Maybe it was alllllllll that chocolate.
Maybe it was because we were all wanting to find a common bond so we could connect with one another.
We found it.
Jesus was that common bond.
We came from different faith backgrounds, but we were all just women, wanting to connect, wanting to share our lives, wanting to share Jesus.
I've been looking forward to (in)RL again ever since then.
So when the dates were published for the 2014 conference, I winced a little.  It's the same day as our main music contest for my students at school.
And I started to wonder how it would work for me to be able to get to a meetup this year.
I've been praying about it, and was starting to wonder if it's just not meant for me to be part of this incredible event this year.  I didn't want to think about that option, but I was thinking that could be a true possibility.
Then through Frances' post on our Facebook (in)RL page, and from what Bridget said (one of my new friends last year), and from the (in)courage comments I've been seeing, I decided to be brave:  I decided to sign up to host a meetup at our home.
I'm starting to think about why it may not work or be successful:  the time may be a little wonky with music contest; we live in the country; I don't know many other people who are familiar with all (in)courage has to offer; people don't come to parties I do; you know how it is....I just start doubting.
But then I thought, hey, someone might want or need to connect the same way I wanted and needed to last year.  Someone might enjoy a drive in the country to get to our home.  Someone might need a good, strong cup of coffee.....and I'm good at that.  Or someone new might need or want to enjoy my now semi-famous chocolate Coke cake.
And someone might need to pray, and spend time with a friend.
I can do all those things.
So, I am honored and excited to be hosting a gathering for the (in)RL Conference this year.  If you'd like, if you need a drive in the country, need coffee, need chocolate.......I'd be thrilled to have you join me!  

Five Minute Friday: SEE

Taking part in Five Minute Fridays, linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker.  A five-minute write, unedited, on a given prompt.  This week's prompt: SEE.

She could see the room was already full and she approached it. Conversations in full bloom.  Hugs being given, waves being exchanged as friends found one another in the crowded space.
She snuck in and hung out on the edge.  She risked a casual greeting a couple times, and sure, she got a couple smiles, and that helped her feel better.  But no one made that effort to bring her into their conversations.
They're all old friends, she told herself.  They just don't know me.  
And they won't get to know you if you stay over here on the edge, she argued with herself.
But they said they'd offer friendship.  And chocolate.  And I like friendship.  And I like chocolate, she reasoned again.
Maybe you don't belong here, came the thought from some dark place in her soul.
Lord, she prayed, I can see myself here.  Do you want me to follow this desire I have in my heart?  Even if no one else notices me clear over here, I still see myself here.  I want to be here.  I want to be part of this.  Even though it hurts a little to be on the outside fringe.  I want the community that's taking shape right in front of me.
She stood there a moment longer, and decided she had experienced enough for the moment.  Just then, as she was about to leave from the crowded space, someone approached her.  And she reached out to this person.
And she decided to stay.

Who is SHE?
One of my middle school students?  An awkward teenager at a club meeting?
No - she was me.  She IS me.  At any online Twitter, Facebook party.
I'm the one hoping someone will say "hi".  Will tell me they're glad to see me.  Will let me know they've read and/or appreciated something I've written.
Do I SEE myself as a blogger, or part of the blogging community?  I don't know.  But I do see myself encouraging others.  Extending friendship and chocolate.
Because I like friendship.
And I like chocolate.

If you're at all interested......

I'm taking part in The Blog Dare, a blogging adventure sponsored by BloggyMoms.com.   There's a new prompt every day to help get us started writing.
Today's prompt is in italics.
Dave built our home before it was "our" home.  He planned and worked on much of the building of this house many years ago, and lived in it for a few years before we even met.  The main floor of the house was, of course, completely finished.  The basement was not "finished out".  Parts of the basement were done....two bedrooms, the bathroom was working, one part of the main room we completed as Dave's office before we got married.  In the time since we've been married, the bathroom has been finished, we've finished part of the basement as my office and a music room for the guitars and other instruments we both have.  Dave has installed a fireplace downstairs, and we had some amazing woodworking done by a friend of ours to do bookshelves and the mantle.
The kitchen area is all that remains to be completed.  The cupboards were made by our friend Paul, and have been installed for a couple months.  We took our time deciding on the countertops.  We were pretty sure we wanted some type of stone or solid-surface material.  I liked a granite we found, Dave kind of liked a quartz we saw at one showroom.
If you're at all interested in our...
countertops, we went with the granite, and it was installed today.  They look amazing.
I seriously dreamed of having granite countertops some day.  Truly, it was something on my dream list for years.  Now, I don't have to dream anymore about that one.
Incredibly, amazingly blessed, I am.

Five Minute Friday: Fight

Joining up with Lisa-Jo Baker and a slew of amazing writers for Five Minute Friday.  We write for five minutes on a given prompt.  This week's prompt:  Fight.
Go.
Ah, the start of the new year.  A time of hope, promise, possibilities.  A time to look at things from a new perspective, see things with "fresh eyes."
So why am I fighting myself on this?
I am struggling with heading back to work after an almost 2-week break.  It's similar to how I felt at the beginning of the year.
For the most part, I enjoy my job.  It challenges me.  It frustrates me.  It energizes me.
We've gone through a lot of changes with procedures since the beginning of the year, so it has been somewhat overwhelming at times.  Yet, there's been a sense of unity as we've all traipsed through it all together.  THAT has been nice.
Part of my job involves working with middle school students with a program called 8 to Great.  This is the highlight of my day.  I love this program, and I love seeing how students grasp these concepts and are so eager to apply the power of this program to their lives.
So why am I fighting going back?
Perhaps it's a feeling of isolation I feel at times.  Which is ironic, I only have about 35 minutes all day long when I am not surrounded by others.  But that feeling of unity I mentioned earlier?  I don't always feel that.
Perhaps it's a sense of limitation.  There are so many areas I would like to explore: blogging, independent business, volunteer, speaker.  With my job, I feel like I'm limited in how and when I can pursue these things.  Not to mention quilting, papercrafting, crocheting!
Yet, I know I'm blessed and incredibly fortunate to have my job.  And as I said earlier, I do enjoy the challenges it presents, and I enjoy working with the students.
So while I struggle to stay out of my own way and not fight myself so much, my OneWord comes back to me: OPEN.  I need to remember to stay open to how I can best serve others through my job, and remain open to possibilities of pursuing my other interests and opportunities as well.
STOP.

2014: On being OPEN

There have been many posts the past few days about starting a new year, resolutions, promises, goals.....you name it.
I am choosing to focus on one word: OPEN.  (See other ideas at oneword365.)
I want to be open to whatever this new year brings.  Open to wherever it is God leads my heart.  Open to the needs of others.  Open to new adventures, activities, events.
If I truly live with this one word guiding my heart, my decisions this year, I can imagine it will be a year of many new possibilities, in all aspects of my life: with my personal choices, professionally, with my friendships, with my independent business, in our marriage.  This makes me excited.......and a little hesitant.
Because being open to what God will have me do often calls for following obediently....in complete faith and trust....and I don't always like that.  I like having some type of control.  Even if it's imaginary in the sense that I actually do have control.
Because I don't.  None of us do.  Sure, we can make our own decisions and choices, but it's only through the free will that is given us by our Creator.  And He knows what our choices will be, even before we know what our options are.
So, I hope you'll check back every so often to see how I'm doing living this life of being open.  I can't wait to share my incredible, blessed, OPEN life with you in 2014!

Thanksgiving 2013

Throughout November, people have been posting and sharing things for which they are grateful.  I do this with 2 different online/email groups, but we do 3 things each day for which we are grateful.  Finding their emails in my Inbox every morning is such a blessing, especially on the days when I am grumbling around, or have not yet done my gratitudes for the day.  

As I'm sitting in my living room this morning, I started to think through all the things for which I'm grateful.  I decided to see if I can do an A-Z list.  So - here goes.  

I am grateful today for:

A: Abundance.  I don't take lightly the fact that at any given time, I have more than enough of whatever I need.  I have been blessed. 

B: Bread.  I don't mean this in the literal sense (although who am I to pass up a good dinner roll?!), but the fact that I am able to nourish my body in a healthy way is another example of the abundance in my life.  

C: Coffee.  Seriously.  It's a treat I get to enjoy every day. 

D:  Dave.  I had always heard how your spouse completes you.  I never fully understood that, until I married Dave.  I love this man more than I ever imagined I could love another human. 

E:  Energy.  Sometimes I joke about how exhausting it is being me.  I am grateful for the energy and spirit I am given to complete the tasks that are in front of me.  

F:  Faith.  Knowing I have everything I need in Christ is beyond incredible for me to imagine. 

G:  Godchildren.  I've not been blessed with my own children, but having been asked to help with the spiritual rearing of Lauren, Lucas, Anslei, and Laura Mae (and being a confirmation sponsor for Vanessa) has been a humbling, incredible blessing.  

H: Home.  We are blessed with a wonderfully safe, secure home.  I love that Dave opened his heart and home to me when we got married, and that we can share our home with our friends and families.  

I: In-Laws.  My brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws mean so much to me.  I am grateful for what each of them brings to our family.  

J:  Jesus.  Need I say more?!

K: Krance family.  Just typing that brings tears to my eyes.  I love my family.  

L: Life.  Too many loved ones have endured "close calls" with health this year, and their experiences have helped me treasure each day even more. 

M: Music.  Ahhh.  

N: Network of friends who support me.  Whether from a professional perspective, heart-to-heart friends, or more casual acquaintances, I am grateful for the incredible people with whom I surround myself. 

O: Opportunities.  I have been given great opportunities to grow as an individual, but also to encourage others, which is my greatest joy.  

P: Purpose.  My purpose in this world is to help others know Christ.  I am grateful for the guidance and opportunities He provides me to do this.  I fail miserably at times, but that makes me more grateful for His mercy and grace.  

Q: Quilts.  I love making quilts or afgans to share with others.  The warmth and security they provide is almost like an invisible hug from me to them. 

R: Running.  I don't do it nearly enough, but I am grateful for my health and strength, and the ability to run. 

S: Sunrises.  They just remind me of God's presence, and the possibilities that come with each new day.  

T: Teaching.  It is my job, but it is my passion.  Whether teaching young people, or other adults.  

U: Understanding.  Grateful for my mental capacity to understand , and grateful for being understood.  

V: Vastness of the world.  The beauty I observe, whether here at home, at the beach, at the mountains, all bring my heart and focus back to the wonder of creation and what God has done.  

W: Wendt family.  OK, a new round of tears for me.  How this family has welcomed me into their lives is beyond what I thought any family could.  I love them.  

X: X-periences.  (So I cheated a little......) We have had some awesome experiences this year, which I cherish.  

Y: Young people.  They drive me wacko once in a while, but I see such hope and promise in them. 

Z: Zucchini.  I like zucchini, but what zucchini makes me think of are people sharing what they have been given.  I am grateful for what others share.  

That's my list.  What would you include in your list? 

I have so very many things to be grateful for this year.  

Including zucchini.   

Five Minute Friday: True

Linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker and Five Minute Friday, where we write for five(ish) minutes on a one-word prompt.  This week's word:  True.

We had our fall concert last night at school.  I'm fortunate that Dave and I had dinner before the concert together, and he stayed for the concert.  I don't take this for granted, the fact that he stayed for the concert.  Not having any relatives in the program, or even any real connection to the school or community (other than me teaching), it'd be easy for him to bow out.
And I'd be ok with that.
But the fact is, he was there.
That's one huge indicator of true love, in my book.
A funny thing happened after the concert, though.  I had opened up my room so students could claim their belongings, and was standing at the door as they went in and out of the room.  Dave was standing next to me, and was ready to go, so he leaned over and gave me a kiss as he was leaving.  One of the students walked by and made a funny comment about PDA.  We all laughed about it, and Dave leaned over for one more kiss from me before he walked away.  Another group of students saw and, oh my goodness, the squeals that came from them.  So darling.
As I reflected on this as I was driving home, and as I was finishing up the day, I realized the incredibly humbling way God is answering my prayers.  My most constant prayer is to make a difference for Him.  That's all I ask.  I realize as I am in situations every day where Christ's presence in me is making a difference for some of the young people.  As they see me interact with other teachers. As they see me handle challenging situations.  As they see me with my husband.
Do I always succeed?
Oh my.......I wonder when "grace" will be our Five Minute Friday prompt........
Heavens, no, I don't always succeed.  I fail miserably.  But I am so, so, so very thankful for God's true grace and mercy and unending love.  I am thankful for these reminders to keep me humble and always searching for His guidance in my life.
Love.  Grace.  Mercy.  Love.
These things I know are true.