In the Storm

I always forget how hard it is to praise got in the midst of the storm... until I'm standing in the middle of it. When my heart is broken, when I am surrounded by uncertainty, when I can't see past the pain - that's when I remember He is my only hope.

No matter the state of your heart or mind or soul, God knows. He understands. He cares. He is still worthy of your praise even when you are falling apart.

He is always going to be the Savior, the Healer, and the Peacemaker. He is still good, even when life isn't. He is the only true hope for a whole, happy, healthy life.

Thoughts on Psalm 34:18

There is something so sweet in the promise God gives us to be close to the brokenhearted and to save those who are crushed in spirit. When you are hurting, struggling, breaking, and barely holding it together - God is still with you. He is still close to you, mourning with you, and loving you through that. And perhaps even more exciting than that, He says He will save you when your spirit is crushed. It may not be immediate and it may not be the way you plan it, but God is restoring your heart, saving your crushed spirit, and ever-present through it all.

Be encouraged today, dear friends. Be loved and held by your Father who loves you. Rest in his presence. 

I'm praying over all of you today!

Last year, I started drafting a bucket list for myself. Today, I want to share with you all my running list for what I hope to see and accomplish in my life.

I'll edit as I go, and as I go on and accomplish these things, I'll mark them off. As I grow and change, my goals will also. But writing these things down increases the chances that these things will actually get done! And I'd rather have goals to work for than nothing at all.

So, without further ado, here is my running bucket list:

LIFE
Own a tiny house (>1000sqft)
Live in France
Drink from a coconut
Be a bridesmaid
Become a mother
Adopt a child
Watch a meteor shower
Pay off my student loans
Pay off my car
Grow my own food
Read the entire Bible
Be an extra in a movie

TRAVEL
Go to Cadillac Ranch
Go to Italy
Go to Greece
Go to Scotland
Go to Ireland
Go to Spain
Go to France
Float in the dead sea
Go to London
Go to Boston
Go to Chicago
Go to LA
Go to Marfa
Go to San Diego
Go to DC
Stand in the four corners
See the Grand Canyon
Swim in the Pacific Ocean
See the Northern Lights
Go to Canada
Go to Asia
Go to South America
Go to Australia
Visit all 50 states
Go to the ABQ Balloon Festival
Travel first class
Stand under the Hollywood sign

CAREER
Speak at a conference
Have something published
Speak in front of 1,000 people
Speak in front of 10,000 people
Write a book

EDUCATIONAL
Get a Master's Degree
Take a photography class
Learn sign language
Learn Spanish
Teach a class
Learn to ski

My hope in sharing this with you all is that you will see it and be inspired to create your own list of goals. I also hope you guys can challenge me to add to my list! Finally, I believe sharing this with you will increase accountability for me to actually work to achieve these things.

A few weeks ago, I posted a blog about the best of Sierra Vista and what the town has to offer. This week, I wanted to write a follow up on my absolute favorite things about being stationed at Fort Huachuca and living in Sierra Vista. 

1. Thunder Mountain Community Church - By far, my favorite part about being stationed at Fort Huachuca was getting connected to a local church. It was at TMCC that Robby and I found true community to be involved in. There, we were mentored and we mentored others. There, we served the city and served each other. We learned, we grew, and we made great friendships. Probably best of all, by having a local church in which we were engaged, we were able to invite Robby's battles and have a place to connect them. Finding authentic community and building lasting relationships here at TMCC and at our first duty station taught me that to feel connected, I need to focus first on finding my tribe. I'm so glad I found that through this awesome church! (TMCC website & Facebook)

2. Broxton's Coffee Shop - My next favorite part of living in Sierra Vista was finding a second home in the local coffee shop. Broxton's is a local and small business that brews excellent coffee, bakes delicious goods, and boasts a relaxing atmosphere. When I wanted to connect one-on-one with a new friend, I took them to Broxton's. When I needed to work on homework away from my actual home, I went to Broxton's. When the girls in my small group wanted to get together for a Bible study, we gathered at Broxton's. Voted best coffee and treats in Sierra Vista, Broxton's served me well. I miss the Roca Mocha already! (Broxton's website & Facebook)

3. The Farmer's Market - Another great part about living in Sierra Vista was the local farmer's market. Every Thursday, members of the town come together to buy fresh produce, tasty treats, and hand-crafted items from the farmers and artisans of the community. Live music plays, food trucks line up, and all are welcome in this family-friendly environment. Participating in the farmer's market each week gave me a chance to engage with the town on a personal level, support small businesses, and make new friends. Oh, and I got to enjoy the best meat, produce, treats, breads, and more that the city has to offer! (Farmer's Market website & Facebook)

4. Bisbee - Sierra Vista is s great town, but the neighboring town of Bisbee is a world of its own. Nestled next door to Sierra Vista, Bisbee is a place for artists, free-spirits, and hippies. It is truly one of a kind and a place that must be experienced by those who live in Southern Arizona. During my time in Sierra Vista, I made took many day-trips to enjoy a Mexican Mocha from Bisbee Coffee Company, a good plate of Mexican food from Santiago's, a slice of pizza from Screaming Banshee, or a root beer from Bisbee Brewing Company. I laughed and cried watching all the performances at Bisbee Open Stage at the Central School Project. I also strolled through each antique store, each art exhibit, and each boutique. Bisbee is a great escape and a great place to get inspired. (Bisbee website)

5. Ramsey Canyon/Patagonia Lake/Carr Canyon - My final favorite part part of living in Sierra Vista was the easy access to the great outdoors. Though I thoroughly enjoyed the desert climate and never tired of looking at the Huachuca Mountains, lush forests and cool waters are not far from city limits. While stationed at Fort Huachuca, Robby and I loved hiking through the nature preserve at Ramsey Canyon, swimming in the clear waters at Patagonia lake, and camping in Carr Canyon. There are so many ecological environments to enjoy and explore in the area, which was so unexpected and refreshing! (Brown Canyon Ranch and Parker Canyon Lake were also fun to explore!)

Living in Sierra Vista was such a treat. We were stationed there for about a year, but we didn't get everything done on our bucket list. If you find yourself lucky enough to be sent to the slow-moving but ever-growing Sierra Vista, make sure you take the time to savor it. 

cherished mementos

One of the hardest things about simplifying your possessions is figuring out what to do with the mementos you have from loved ones: photos, notes, letters, cards, little gifts, and more.

It’s hard to let go.

Recently on Twitter someone asked: “Both parents gone. Tried to keep small things, photos – even then it’s alot of stuff. Regret tossing some notes & cards ..help?”

I can’t imagine how hard that would be, losing both parents and trying to hold on to memories of them. So I won’t try to give advice there. What I can do is say what has worked for me in allowing myself to let go of possessions but hold on to memories:

1. Scan. Old photos, letters, cards, notes, report cards, kids’ drawings, awards, etc. All can be scanned and saved into your computer. Use a program such as Evernote to keep them all organized, synced among your computers, and backed up online.

2. Take pictures. If the object can’t be scanned (a little teddy bear, or a wedding dress), take a digital photo. Keep them all organized via Google’s Picasa photo program — it’ll also store everything online, privately if you want, and you can use it to sync between computers. Wouldn't a picture of someone holding or wearing or using something you love mean more, anyway?

3. Share with others. Give some of the most treasured things to others who will enjoy having them. Allow them to pass them on to other loved ones, etc., so the love and memories can be spread rather than hoarded.

4. Box things. If you really can’t part with things, even after scanning and taking photos of them, put them in boxes and put them out of sight, in storage, marked with a date that’s 6 months from now. On that date, open the box and if you realize you didn’t really need the items, then pass them on or toss them.

5. Remember what’s important. It’s not the actual, physical objects that matter — these you can learn to let go of, with time. What matters is the memories. If you can hold on to the memories, by looking through scanned letters and photos on your computer from time to time, then you’re good.

This post was originally crafted by Leo Babauta and edited by me.