Joy

This past week has encompassed stressful situations, resulting in many tears. Healing has been experienced, peace restored in relationships, yet clouds of heaviness too.
But through it all, the realization that joy is not dependent on happy feelings. Joy is much deeper than that and is present even when I don't "feel" it.
At year end...
remembering joy

What Others See...

Recently I was shadowing a connections team interview at church. The purpose was to meet with this young woman and help her to see the gifts that God has given her and where she might be best connected in our various church ministries. Listening to her talk about a time in her life when she had felt she was "in the zone", I noticed that her whole face lit up and her voice rang with passion. My friend who was doing the interview and I both identified leadership qualities in this woman that she didn't see in herself! It was so clear to us, and such a surprise to her!

That experience really made me think!
What ignites passion in my voice and lights up my face?
What qualities do others see in me that I have not fully realized?
What dreams might come true if my eyes weren't clouded with insecurity?
What could I accomplish if I saw what others see?

Miracles Happen...I believe

Merry Christmas "poetry in motion"

Beginning to look like Christmas

It's December after all...

I am considering sending out a video greeting this year, much to my daughters' dismay!

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

the path back

the path back is an uphill climb with a few unexpected rocky obstacles
times when breathing takes all I have,
and moments of grieving that are still painful and raw...
but glimmers of sunlight are peeking through-
some connections hold true...
creativity returning,
and energy renewed...
the journey....continued

Expectations....

Expectations are tricky....
Do I keep them low so I won't be disappointed? Because unmet expectations result in a lot of self questioning and doubting my perceptions of reality.
In some cases that works, especially when I don't know WHAT to expect!
Often, though, my heart takes the lead and the expectations rise...

Expectations are a current issue for me both personally and professionally.
I am putting an extreme amount of pressure on myself in regards to the 2nd grade program, but to meet whose expectations?
My administration's? My colleagues'? My students' parents'? My own?
I know that my students all desire to do well, and that class time is limited. I know that I am striving to do the best job I can in teaching them the songs, lines, actions, etc. They WILL perform on November 18.

Perhaps realizing and accepting what I have control over, and what I DON'T, is the reality check for my expectations. Living in the moment, being surprised by joy, and allowing others to just be who they are, may be the answer for the personal side of the issue.