ONE THOUSAND GIFTS

Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transparent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world. ~ Sara Ban Breathnach

Thursday, July 14, 2011

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

5 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your blogoversary! :)

    And... keep writing!

    Blessings,
    This Good Life

    ReplyDelete
  2. Whoohooooo on your 130 days blogging!!!

    Lets do another 130 more!!!
    Leontien

    ReplyDelete
  3. Blogging truly opens up an entire new world. I enjoy so very much making new friends that I will probably never meet but they are not any less of a good friend to me.....
    I love this post....(maybe someday I will put a picture of me on my blog/ha)I'd much rather make the pictures than be in them!

    ReplyDelete
  4. gifts come to us....when we least expect them...seems your Lenten journey led you to a resurrection of Spirit....I'm glad I've found LLL

    ReplyDelete
  5. Once again - thank you for allowing me to be a part of the book studies and fellowship this last 1/3 of the year.

    ReplyDelete