Single and Searching for Him

This year, a group of my friends decided to create our own photo a day challenge.  Each month was given to someone and April is my month.  I would love to have you join me with this challenge this month.  All you have to do is take a picture that shows what the word or phrase describe and post it to Facebook or Instagram with the #word.  For example, April 1st is "Foolish" so take a picture depicting foolish and use the hashtag (pound sign) Foolish (#Foolish).  So here is the list!

Last Friday my dog had surgery to repair a torn ligament.  With that procedure, she has to endure swallowing several capsules, wearing a cone, have stitches, a shaved leg and behind, and being sequestered into a hole to keep limited movement.  Needless to say, she has not liked any of the treatment, humiliation, and pain.  As I have been the one to have to administer the pain and suffering to her, it has got me thinking.  I'm helping her get better but she doesn't see it that way.  She just understands the pain.  How many times have I done this with my Savior?  He is trying to help me, and I just see the pain and suffering and try to do whatever I can to avoid it.  What He has for good,  I only see the bad. Just as Lade will do anything to avoid having to get the cone back on, I fight the restrictions that have been placed on me because I don't understand, I don't like it, it's uncomfortable.  I run away from my Father's helping hand ...

Every January, our church goes over our values (Focused Outreach, Biblical Truth, Christ Centered Worship, Intentional Care, Transformed Lives).  Today was Christ Centered worship.  All week, practicing the music for today, it has been amazing!  However, today during all three services, I was taken to the throne.  My imagination went wild and I was overwhelmed by all that we were singing. Imagine...  All of the saints and those gone on before, kneeling at the feet of Jesus and simply saying "holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come"  That is going to happen, and what is even more amazing is that it is happening right now!  I thought of all of the people that God has called home (way too early for my liking), and became jealous of them.  They are there RIGHT NOW!  They have the privilege of being in the presence of the Almighty!  I don't know if I can adequately describe what I was experiencing durin...

The start to 2015 has been a slow one.  After celebrating last night with some of my favorite people by playing trivial pursuit (girls against guys), watching the ball drop, and just getting involved in each other's lives, I got home around 2.  The last few years I hadn't even made it until midnight. I had been in the bed by 10 and it was just a normal day.  There's something about mixing things up that give a promise of something different.  The last few years have been hard, but with the sun shining, the crisp air as I ran this morning, and the silence around me, I can't help but think that this year is full of promise. I've never been big on resolutions.  Those have always seemed too general and unobtainable.  I have a few goals that I have set for myself this year.  The first is to complete the entire couch to 5K app training.  This app sets a pace every day to go from no activity to running a 5K.  It was a brisk 40* this morning...

2014, what a year. Some of it good.  A lot of it bad.  This wasn't a good year for me.  I learned a lot about life this past year.  Not all of it good.  As I am reflecting on this past year, I am not sure how to think about it.  I feel like this year just kicked my butt.  It was hard, terrifying, humbling, grief stricken, horrifying, and at times, just plain awful.  But then there were bright patches among the darkness. There was hope, joy, pride, excitement, and love. One of the best moments of this year was watching my big brother cross the finish line and hear the words "Dan Hopkins, You Are An Ironman!"  I still get teary thinking about that moment and how excited he was to finish.  I was amazed that he was able to do it.  I was proud that he accomplished it.  I was overjoyed to see him after a long 12 hours of aunt and mommy sitting! I was overcome when I got to hug him at the end.  My brother is one of my heroes. ...

As I sit here, in the glow of my Christmas tree, my candles burning, Christmas music playing softly in the background, I am at peace.  I love the lights, smells, and sounds of Christmas and enjoy sitting in my living room with the tree lit and the music playing.  It instantly calms me down and sets my focus on what Christmas is all about.  This also leaves a lot of time to think! This past year, 37, has been full of great moments as well as moments of absolute despair.  Choices that I have made, circumstances out of my control, and life in general have all merged together to weave this year.  Where I was at 37 is no where near where I thought I would be when I planned my life out in middle school.  In English class, either my seventh or eighth grade year, we had to write our own obituary stating all of the things that we have accomplished in our lives.  I took that assignment and made it my timeline.  I was going to go to college, graduate, get ...

It's after dinner, I am still stuffed, and sitting at home with the Christmas music playing softly in the background.  Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays and over the last few years it has looked a little different, tasted a little different, and felt a little different.  Traditions are different in each family.  I love the traditions in mine. All gathering together in one house, the dishes that are eaten at every family meal, then playing board games after the clean up is done.  I have some very competitive people in my family, let me tell you!  It gets cutthroat around the table.  I cherish the memories of all of my family gathering together, sitting at the kids table (still), the laughter, the games, the joy of simply being with one another.  I have long since realized that my family is "abnormal".  We all enjoy being with each other and when one of us is missing, it's felt.  Even as adults, I enjoy simply talking to ...