FMF and #FMFPartySnailMail: Lost

I'm doing a smashup today of 2 posts, both closely related: Five Minute Friday, and the #FMFPartySnailMail project.  Read on!

Finding community is hard. 

There's no other way to say it.  

Seeking out that comfortable place, settling in on that common ground with others.......seems like it ought to be easy. 

But it isn't.  At least it isn't always easy.  

My husband and I are coming up on our 4-year wedding anniversary in a month.  So it's been almost four years since I've uprooted myself from the community that had been formed, shaped, built up around me -- at my workplace, at home, in the community in which I lived, at church and church events.  

I still miss it. 

Sometimes I have felt somewhat lost. 

But God is blessing me in amazing ways - bringing beautiful women into my life.  Shaping community in ways I never understood before.  

Bringing together seemingly "random" strangers together through (in)RL events. 

Opening opportunities for ministry in my home parish in Omaha.  Bringing together the "Pew Sisters" at my husband's church.  (Who'd'a thought a Catholic could fit in so well with Lutherans?!) ;) 

Slowly, oh so slowly, forming friendships with people where I work.  That has perhaps been the most difficult transition, where I have felt lost the most in the past few years.  

And with every connection, every thread that hems me in a little more, I thank God for His work.  

This #FMFPartySnailMail thing?  One more way our Lord is helping me connect to women in ways I never, ever dreamed I could.  Kaitlyn Bouchillon who blogs at It Just Takes One is the beautiful girl who has so faithfully put this project together.  Starting with just a small group of us, she is now putting together our third round of Snail Mail women...numbering almost 80 ladies now!  Remember way back in the day when we'd have penpals?  This is like that.  These short notes of encouragement, prayer, Scripture, faith-sharing make my day.  Every. Time.  

And as always, God's timing is perfect with the delivery of each note.  If I've had a particularly trying day, there's an encouraging note that appears with the mail.  If I'm praising God on a certain day, another note will come in that day's mail delivery celebrating and rejoicing with me.  

It's exciting to see the Holy Spirit work in the hearts of his daughters from so many places.  Iowa, South Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Canada, Washington, Arizona.....

Wanting to be found, and understood.  Because even though we may feel lost in this world, we know we have been found and loved by a powerful, almighty King who holds us in the palm of His hand.  

Taking Better Pictures

This morning I happened upon this post by Deidra Riggs, a writer and speaker who lives in Lincoln (!!!) and has wonderful posts on her blog, as well as wonderful guest posts, as was the case today.  Cindee Snider Re blogs at Breathe Deeply, and I am easily her newest big fan.
I was inspired after reading Cindee's post on Deidra's site called "6 Tips for Taking Better Pictures."  I had heard of several of the apps and sites she recommended for editing photos, but had really never spent much time exploring or playing with them.
Another reason this topic intrigued me is that I'm taking part in an online (in)courage group whose focus is all about discovering art in your life. Our challenge this week was to try our hand at another form of art outside our usual area.  For instance, some ladies in the group are paint and paper artists, some are photographers, some are fiber artists, etc.  Since I'd been doing a lot of crocheting lately, I figured it would be good for me to try something else for a bit.
This is a gorgeous Wednesday at the start of summer, and I actually had some free time this afternoon.  So I grabbed my little Sony Cybershot camera and headed outside in the wind and the sun so see what I could see.  As I walked around the front of the house, nothing caught my eye.  I even said out loud, "Everything is so ordinary."  But, I would not be denied finding shots that showed the everyday beauty that surrounds me!!  I first ventured over to the upper pond and took a couple pictures there.  With the wind, it was so pretty to see the grass and the trees moving and blowing.

Then I decided to head out the driveway a little bit and see what I could discover about the corn that's planted.  I had already taken a couple other pictures of the corn this spring, but this was my first attempt at doing any editing with one.

On the other side of the driveway is a field of beans.  I had fun trying to get some different angles of the rows and the field.

As I was coming back in toward the house, I decided to see if I could capture how pretty our spirea and barberry bushes are this year.  Honestly, it was hard to see what (if anything) I was getting a picture of, as it was so bright outside and the screen on the camera was reflecting so much!  But this is one of the pictures I got.

As I finished up, I realized truly, yet again, how incredibly blessed I am to be surrounded with this God-given beauty every day.  Honestly, beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.  

All these pictures were done with just the basic editing tools on PicMonkey - very cool site, no registration needed, just upload a picture and go!  

I know there are many other sites that have great features as well that I can't wait to try on another day.  Plus, I want to play with the camera on my phone and some mobile apps to see what other fun things I can discover.  

What are your favorite editing sites and apps? What hints and tips do you have to share?  

Newly in Love: TOMS

So I have a new love.  Or at least I am pretty sure it's love.

Toms.
If you're not familiar with this company and their practices, you can read about One for One here.  For every pair of shoes someone buys, they give a pair to a child in need.  How great is that?!  Help children around the world without leaving your living room, and get some amazing shoes in the meantime!
I have heard about this company Toms for some time, and I knew there was a company that does this buy a pair/give a pair away.  Very recently, I put the two together and realized both are this company called Toms.  But, I had never owned any Toms shoes myself.
Until tonight!
I have two beauties on their way to my house.
I think these will be perfect for when we go to Arizona:

And I think these will be adorable with skirts, slacks, shorts, dresses when it starts to warm up:

Take a moment to find out about Toms One for One then find some cuties for yourself while helping a child in need.  Start shopping!
I have a feeling you may be newly in love too!

Five Minute Friday: Brave

Linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker and others for Five-Minute Friday.  A five-minute free write on a given prompt.  This week:  BRAVE.
**UPDATE:  OK, so I realized after I wrote and posted this writing that the prompt was actually WRITE.  There was so much discussion on Twitter last night about being brave, I misunderstood when Lisa-Jo posted the prompt.  Oh well.  Apparently there's something here I needed to share!  :)  Enjoy! 


I know some incredibly brave people.
Some personally, some through online friendships.
A few of my brave friends write books and have them published, and put their ideas out there for everyone in the world to review, and critique.
A few of my brave friends have incredible jobs, where they work to serve and protect others.  Jobs like law enforcement, and serving our country through the military.  We can never thank them enough for their bravery.
A few of my brave friends have other incredible jobs where they serve others in different ways. They teach, or they are nurses, or they are working behind the scenes of million-dollar corporations.  (Yes, believe it or not, there ARE real people back there doing work to help others!)
But my brave friends who touch me most deeply?
They're the ones doing life. Every.single.day, dealing with potentially devastating situations.
Yet, they're not being devastated by life.
My close friend who stares down the demon of depression every day.
My loved one whose life was turned upside down and whose marriage is ending.
My friend who survived an abusive marriage and is emerging beautifully from her ordeal.
My friend from high school whose life of faith is an inspiration to many, especially through her illnesses and the sudden loss of her husband over a year ago.
I could go on and on and on.
We all know these people.  We watch them, we cry with them, we pray with them, we pray for them.
For them, and the people who love them.
Because it takes alot to encourage and love on those who are close to us who are hurting.
But it takes even more to be brave.  To do life every.single.day.
In big ways and in small ways.
My brave friends inspire me.
And I thank God for them.

Five Minute Friday: Visit

Linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker and a slew of great writers for Five Minute Friday.  Our weekly 5-minute writing spree on a given prompt.  This week: Visit.


It comes as a text message.
"Have time to get together later this week?"
It comes as a PS at the end of an email.
"Coffee sometime?"

The invitation to visit.
I'm as grateful as the next person for modern communication and technologies to keep in touch with people:  Texting, phone calls, emails, Facebook, instant chatting.
But somehow, I still need face time.
Things are just better when I can connect face-to-face with a friend, even if it's just for a short time, as was the case just this week.
I hadn't gotten to chat with a friend of mine for a couple weeks.  We're both busy, of course (as everyone is these days, right?!), and we've found setting up coffee dates can be tricky.  We both happened to have a short bit of time after school one day, so without trying to over-plan our visit, we just did it.
I popped in on my way home after school, their boys lounging on the couch and working on projects, her husband doing some household tasks.  She offered coffee, tea, water, but we didn't even need those things.
We just needed to connect.
We chatted through food options, supper ideas, parents, families, church and faith, friends.
Short and sweet was my visit, but boy howdy, we needed this visit.
The ordinary-ness of everyday living was wearing on both of us, and we needed that time of grace in the middle of so many things going on.

I'm so grateful for these friends who reach out with the request to visit.  And I'm so glad when the friendship gets to the point where you don't even need coffee to connect.
You just need their presence.

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.