Do I Dare?

If you have been reading my blog in the past month than you may already know about my longing for Boldness. As I make small steps toward boldness I am realizing more and more that this is a risky undertaking. I am in need of substantial encouragement and nudging if I am to make great strides.

The words of others that have gone before me seem to say that there is little in life that isn't worth the risk.

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." ~T.S. Eliot

"To laugh is to risk appearing a fool,
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out to another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk to failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow, But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.
Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is free." ~William Arthur Ward

"And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." ~Anais Nin

The Beauty of This Sight

About 6 years ago I was introduced to one of the most glorious sights I have ever seen, the Skagit Valley carpeted with row upon row for bright and beautiful tulips.

I have made it an annual tradition to make a trip up north every Easter for the past 5 years to celebrate. Last year was particularly beautiful with the contrast of the ominous, gray sky and the brilliant colors on the earth. Only a few more months till the tulips are in bloom again!

It has been a great week of sharing! Thanks so much to all of you out there who joined in the fun. We will all have to do it again sometime. Happy weekend to all!

Do I Have to Pick Just One Sound?

I think picking a favorite sound is the hardest one yet. When ever playing "Would you rather..." and the inevitable question of would you rather lose your hearing or your sight comes up I always answer sight. I think I could learn to function and enjoy life without my eyes. But a life without music, hearing I loves you's, or laughter sounds like more then I could bear.

I guess if I have to pick just one sound I love it would be uncontrollable laughter. You know the kind when you can't help but snort and your eyes start to water.

As I was looking back through old pictures trying to find one that captured such laughter I couldn't pass this one up. This is from a camping trip I took with my old roommates. In an attempt to keep ourselves occupied be began finding new uses for our camping gear. This is jumping rope with Tent poles. As you can see we are all doubled over laughing. I can always count on these friends to make me laugh my hardest!

A Touch I Cannot Wait For

Lately it seems that I have babies on the brain. I have a friend who is due in March, friends who are currently marveling at their new babies, and I found out recently that my sister is pregnant and I will be an Auntie soon. And as I think of a favorite touch I can think of none sweeter than the soft, silkiness of a babies skin. I especially love when they wrap their tiny fingers around one of mine and hold on so tightly. There is so much mystery and beauty in that tiny touch.

I am especially looking forward to meeting my new little Neice or Nephew and holding those tiny little fingers in mine.

A Taste I Savor

Today I was reminded of a taste I love...Homemade Macaroni and Cheese.

I have an amazing recipe that I found in a pasta cookbook I have for Creamy Macaroni and Cheese. Before I tried the recipe I don't think that I had ever had Mac and Cheese made the old fashioned way. When I took the first bite I was in love. At the very thought of it I can actually begin to taste the tangy sour cream and sharp cheddar cheese. It is my favorite comfort food to make when I am sad or on a gray gloomy day.

I think I might have to cook up a batch this week to satisfy my tastebuds.

I Think I'll Start with Favorite Smell

Just a few blocks from my apartment there is a place I know that I am sure to find my favorite smell. I love when I have the chance to walk by and breathe in deep the smell of fresh lumber.

I know it is a somewhat strange smell to love but I can't help it. I have always loved that smell. I think it goes back to my childhood days. My dad has always been quite the carpenter. He has built cabinets for our house, shelving for the garage, sailboats, canoes, and endless other little things. As a child I loved to make my way out to the the garage and "work" along side my dad as he built so many beautiful things. Occasionally I would get to tag along on trips to the lumberyard. I always thought it was a big treat. After all I never say other little girls at the lumberyard, I must be truly special to be there.

So when ever I catch the scent of lumber in the air I pause...breathe in deep...and remember.

This Week is for Favorites

Hello Friends. This week I decided a theme was in order to help give me some inspiration for my blog. I decided that sharing some of my favorite things with you would be fun. But seeing how I am just a Monday-Friday blogger I was feeling a little daunted by picking just 5 favorites. Then with the number 5 in my mind I instantly thought of the 5 senses. So I will pick one each of my favorite taste, touch, sight, smell and sound. Still a challange but one I think I can tackle with confidence.

And I would love it if all my blogging friends joined in the fun and shared some of their favorites this week.

A Stroll in the Snow

On Tuesday morning this was the scene I woke up to outside my window. So I bundled up and grabbed my camera to go for a walk and enjoy the loveliness of my neighborhood. It made me happy to hear the crunching on the snow under my feet. I thought I would share some of the pictures that I took on my stroll. Enjoy!

The Truth About Snowflakes

During the glorious snow fall on Saturday I made an exciting discovery. I will start by explaining that I spent the first 20 years of my life in Huntington Beach, CA. We didn't get any snow there ever! I saw snow plenty of times before I moved to Seattle, but I think I only ever saw it falling once or twice in my California days. Then all the times it has snowed in Seattle it has been a somewhat wet snow that clumps together.

But Saturday as my friend Andrea (also from southern California) and I ventured out into the snow we were so excited by what we say. Andrea exclaimed, "They are little Stars!" And with that we were both examining every flake that landed on our sleeves and mittens. It was amazing! Snowflakes really look like snowflakes! I don't know the last time I was overcome by such awe. I was keenly aware of God in that moment. How could anyone who ever say a snowflake, so perfectly crafted and intricately beautiful, think that it just happened by chance? As I saw those little stars and the great care with which they had been formed I thought of how much more care went into making me.

I don't think that I will ever look at snow the same again!

It is already January 15th?

It is hard for me to believe that it is already January 15th. And I am sad to see that this is the first post of the new year. I have some good reasons. I have yet to know a day of full health in 2007. I have a had a nasty cold that just won't go away. I am getting better but I am not quite there yet. Then with my trip to CA for Christmas and missing work because I was sick I had quite a bit to catch up on when I returned to work. But needless to say I am here and blogging once again.

I have been doing some thinking over the last 15 days about the lovely little tradition of New Year's Resolutions. The part of me that lacks discipline wants to run screaming when I hear the words "New Year's Resolutions," but my romantic nature wins over and the thought of a fresh start and the hope of accomplishing wonderful things in my life calls me to set some goals for myself.

When I sarted looking back on 2006 and examining the goings on of the year I asked myself one question. What was lacking? In the situations in my life that didn't go as I had hoped...What was lacking? Not what was lacking from the situation that was out of my control, mind you, but what was lacking within myself?

A big thing that I was lacking in 2006 was BOLDNESS. I can think of numerous situations in the last year that could have turned out so differently had I just stepped out from behind my fears in boldness. I think I do a good job most of the time of convincing those around me that I am a bold and daring person, but really I am quite a timid girl. So often I have a conviction on my heart and do not speak it, a word of encouragement for another and keep it to myself, a feeling that I can't ignore but take no action because of fear. This is one of the the things about myself that I so long to have transformed. There is a verse in Proverbs (3:27-28) that says, "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is within your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, 'Come back tomorrow' - when you now have it with you." These words haunt me. This could very well be my biggest short coming. How often have I not been bold thinking that I will get another chance tomorrow and then tomorrow never comes? Too often to let myself continue on this way.

There are other "Laundry List" type things I would like to accomplish this year that I won't go into here. They are the usual list of things that most of us resolve to do in the new year. But for me I want this year to be marked by moments of boldness. To speak my heart, to pursue my dreams, and to be a person of action. When the year is coming to a close I want to look back on it and see relationships that have grown in depth and strength, foundations laid for dreams fulfilled, and so much more because boldness has taken hold in my life.

So with that, I will be on my way...I have some important matters to attend to.