baptism

we always enjoy seeing my brother and his family
it doesn't happen often as they live in kansas city
but what better reason than my niece and nephew getting baptized

uncle sean took some time to play baseball

i took some time to practice up on taking pictures
aren't they the cutest?

well, that is until you take the pacifier out...

christmas eve

on this eve of the birth of jesus
it brings me back to the first christmas
and why we celebrate christmas in the first place

some recent conversations have really made me contemplate why so many people celebrate christmas when they don't even believe in God
but then i see what christmas has become and realize most people probably don't know what the season is even about

it irritates me how the whole season has become so much about consumerism
and how much money the stores can make
and how much money people can spend and go in debt
and how much we shouldn't use "christ" as we might offend someone

i'm fairly sure that's not what He had in mind that first christmas
but instead, it should be a time to remember the ultimate gift we were given - a baby
and what he did for us
and to think about the people we love
and somehow give them a small token
to let them know how much we care about them, too

it doesn't matter how much you spend
or if you get the hottest item
but that you spend quality time with the ones you love
and love the one that is the reason for the season

changing tides

Things in life change regularly:

• jobs come and go
• the tide comes in and out
• responsibilities increase
• facebook adds features to "make your life better"
• relationships come and go
• technology moves faster than we can keep up with
• the trees purge their leaves for the winter

some changes are cyclical and, therefore predictable
some you can feel approaching but try to pretend isn't
some pop up unexpectedly

trying to fight it doesn't work
complaining about it doesn't get you anywhere and doesn't change it back
the only thing you can do is learn from it and adapt

as the ocean pounding away at the rock transforms them to make the water flow more freely
changes in our lives shape us to allow God to flow more freely

beautiful things come from adversity - just look around you
are you enjoying the ride and allowing God's love to consume you?
i'm definitely trying to but fall short time and time again
but that doesn't stop me from continuing to try

remember, life's too short to fret the changes
besides, there will just be more tomorrow...

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All pictures were taken near the Fundy Trail in New Brunswick, Canada.  This area has the most dramatic tide differentials in all the world!  The first four pictures were taken in the same exact spot near high tide and low tide on the same day.  BREATHTAKING! 

amazing sunsets

Maine has some amazing sunsets.  We love going out on the pontoon boat, puttering around, watching the sunset.  They did not disappoint while Amy was here either.  Here are some of my favorite shots from the sunsets.

Yes, it was really THAT green!

We also had a full moon while she was here.  We both took our cameras out to the dock to try to capture this.  I still have so much to learn about using this camera (which is a good thing I'm starting a new class this week!).  I thought this one wasn't too bad.  It would have been even better if the moon was still closer to the horizon and the tripod wasn't missing a piece.

I love that God created such a beautiful place that we are fortunate enough to call home during the summer and all our friends can visit AND DO!

fear and the future

20 years - that's how long I've been out of high school.  I remember back to that day, standing on the football field, in my home town, with all my friends, excited about the new found freedom that would be college and what the future had in store for me.

I had my plan set - college, become CPA, establish career, marriage, buy a house, children.  Oh, how I just knew this would happen; in that order.  I should be a soccer mom of 2 still living in Newton, Kansas according to my "plan".

But plans are meant to change, and they do change, because we're not really in charge of the timeline or the ultimate plan and besides, who really knows what they want when they're 17 anyway???

To tell you the truth, here it is 20 years later and I still don't know what I want.  Do I really want kids or not?  Is this the career for me?  Fear of the unknown scares me.  What if I have a child with something wrong?  Would I be able to take care of it?  Would I be a good mother?  Would Sean be a good father?  Does this world have anything to offer that I would even want to put a child through?  Would we have to just pick one city and live there?  Would a different career provide me the flexibility my current one holds...and the salary?  What if I suck at something else?

As my niece begins the next chapter in her life and my nephews head off to high school I wish for them a freedom from this fear of the unknown.  I wish for them to go out into the world and live it like they aren't in charge of the timeline or the path but He is.

For my niece that is yet to begin her education, I wish for her that we don't ruin this world so that she can have the kind of life she can't even begin to dream of yet.

As for me, my life hasn't followed the path I planned for but I wouldn't change it for anything.  I wouldn't have ended up with my loving husband, Duke, amazing friends in multiple states, seen the world or found myself living in Maine half the year and Texas the other half.  I learn to dismiss the fear that holds me back a little more each day and trust that God is in charge of the timeline and the ultimate plan and that He wouldn't present me with any situation that I could not handle or that wouldn't make me grow.

merry christmas

getting grounded

Since we've only been married a year, we've only been through one cycle of this snowbird thing.   There are still several things I'm having a hard time finding comparable in Maine to Texas.

For example, a good eyebrow lady.  My lady in Texas ROCKS - and is only $10.  I spent all summer doing my own eyebrows.  I've totally already been to get them done by her since being back.  She said I did a good job taking care of them, though.

Another example, a pedicure place that doesn't cost $100.  I've tried out a couple of places in Maine but they're at least twice as much as Texas and you don't get as much.  Again, I resorted to doing my own - not a fan!  Problem is, I LOVE, LOVE pedicures but only get them in the summer.  What's the point if you can't wear cute open-toe shoes?  Gotta give the little piggers a rest, ya know.

The benefit to both of these is that we save money.   I think I'd rather keep the pampering! :)

The other thing I'm having a REALLY tough time finding is a church.  I LOVE, LOVE my church in Texas.  The pastor is amazing and I just love going.  Going each week reminds me that things aren't as tough as I think they are.   It keeps me grounded and reminds me to have a good attitude and what we're really here for.  We have tried several churches in Maine and none of them compare.   I think I lost Sean on the quest when we attended the church that showed the video at the end with the lightening and everyone disappearing.  Even though I believe in the 2nd coming, this turned me off, too.

So, instead, I need to start to find God in the everyday things in Maine.  The whole state is so beautiful and there is so much of God's work surrounding me every day while I'm up there.   I need to get better at making my own time to just reflect on Him and just read the Bible.

I've always loved seeing the sun rays come through the clouds. To me, it makes me think it's God shining through.

How do you connect with God outside of attending church?