130 Days of Laughing - Listening - Learning and Loving!

130 Days as a Blogger!

I looked back this morning and discovered I have been blogging for 130 days! When I began, it was a way to keep me accountable to a book study during Lent.  I was a wreck, trying to figure out how to begin. I didn't know what I would write about. I was anxious, yet I couldn't shake the sense that it was something I wanted to try.

And I am so glad I did!

In the past 130 Days:

• I have grown more confident in my writing. 
• I have  enjoyed having a place to play with music and images along with my words. 
• Having a place to share, my interest in photography has once again blossomed. 
• I have met some wonderful people and reflected on new thoughts and insights as I have read Joyce Rupp's book The Cup of Our Life and Macrina Wiederkehr, A Tree Full of Angels.
• I have met challenges and have gained the courage to keep stepping into the unknown.

I might have expected these moments of Laughter, Listening, Learning and Loving...what I did not expect:

130 Days of Self-Discovery and
New Relationships

• Receiving and enjoying the gift of help from Jen author of http://jentsfrontporch.blogspot.com/
• Connecting with people, I will most likely never meet in this lifetime!
• My world become much broader and richer as I have begun reading other blogs and sometimes responding to the challenges I discover.  
• The desire to begin journals for each of my grandkids.  I feel for certain, that has come from my own blogging and reading the blogs of others.

Yesterday, not realizing I had been blogging for 129 days, I began looking for a new image to post on my Blog and on Facebook that would say more about me. Up until yesterday I had a cup (The Cup of Our Life) and a tree (A Tree Full of Angels). On my Facebook page I had a picture of a pen and journal. But, yesterday I felt bold enough to post an image that was "ME."

Where is "Sandi" within this image?

1. It is a child, and through my blogging I feel as though I have rediscovered my childlike faith, curiosity, imagination...

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2. She seems as though she is full of joy and praise.

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3. I can't see what is in front of her, just as I can't see what is behind her.  That is another image I want to hold on to.  Arms lifted in joy without knowing what is ahead and not letting what is past shadow today.

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4. Lastly, the tree beside her.  I love nature and I love trees.  For me there is something mysterious and life giving about a tree. Like people, there are differences even within the same variety. I sense a wisdom within a tree that stands rooted from season to season, with its branches lifted toward the source of its life.

If you are reading this, you have helped me to Laugh - Listen - Learn and to Love and I thank you!

One of my favorite songs:

Lord, let it be so...Shine, Jesus Shine! AMEN!

Many Blessings ~ Sandi