Silence

It is in the silence where I find myself truly connecting with God.  Our everyday lives are busy ... I mean BUSY, but I have been challenged this week to find times where I can be silent, alone, and reconnect with God.  It is something I need to do.

This morning I read this verse in 1 Peter 4:7 ... "The end of all things is near. So keep a clear mind. Control yourselves. Then you can pray"

The words "keep a clear mind" weighed heavy on my heart as I realized that the busyness of life clutters my mind and my heart - it keeps me from connecting with my Creator. 

I've spent the past few days in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina.  There have been moments of quiet, but people always seem to be around.  Then yesterday, I got on my bike ... no radio, no talking, no noise ... and I rode part of the Cade's Cove Loop (truth be told I think I could have done all 11 miles, but that's for another day).  There was no noise, but me, the wind, and the bugs and it was in the moment when I was challenged that in order for me to truly connect with God in the deep way I long for I must get away from everything.  I must plan times to go into the open country and just be alone.

Day 1 - Me & 15 Facts

1. I'm a BUCKEYE that fell off the tree on the wrong side of the stateline, which apparently makes me a hoosier, but I still consider myself a Buckeye

2.  I work in the local church with 0-5 year olds - my job involves 400-500 kiddos each weekend and nearly 400 volunteers rotating through 3 service schedules each month

3.  I have a teaching license in the Buckeye State, but went straight into ministry after college

4.  My Early Childhood / Preschool Special Education degree is from Cedarville University

5.  I've never broken a bone BUT have torn a retina and a few other things resulting in a severe knee injury

6. Bayley is my English Bulldog ... she's pretty cool ... and stubborn!

7. I am terrified of heights ... and bungee cords

8. I've played softball since I was 4, never missed a season (even through MANY years of severe knee problems/surgeries) ... thats about 22 years of playing ball!

9. I turn to Diet Coke when I'm stressed ... and McDonald's Diet Coke if I'm REALLY stressed :-)

10.  I want to live my life in a way that brings others to Christ's love - that they know His love and experience it

11. Well, this is my FAVORITE number ... the number I've worn nearly EVERY softball season, including 4 varsity seasons!  It's Barry Larkin's number too :-)

12.  I LOVE the color blue ... and photography

13.  I've been on a Special Wish Trip as a caregiver and met President Bush (the second one, during his first term)

14.  I have some of the best friends and family anyone could ask for

15. I'm frugal - always looking for a good deal :-)

Wordless Wednesday

Traditions

Growing up I would spent time each year addressing Christmas Cards for my mom, yet somehow they ended up never getting mailed … every year.  As I moved out on my own I knew that the Christmas Card tradition was something that I wanted to include in my plans each year … well that is the tradition of addressing them … and I was planning to start a new tradition of mailing them :-)

The cool thing though is that Christmas Cards now are SO much cooler than those of the past, and being crazy about photography I can’t help but LOVE the photo cards from Shutterfly!

For several weeks I’ve been carefully choosing my favorite designs and have it narrowed down to a few!

Here’s my top 3 

In random order...

#1

#2

#3

… you’ll have to wait and see what I finally choose when it arrives in your mailbox!

 So, to those of you who are my friends … I’ll be sending you a Shutterfly Christmas Card this year … now the hard part of choosing which photo(s) go on the card.   And just in case you're looking for a last minute gift ... check out what Shutterfly has to offer in that category too!

(look for more "Traditions" posts this holiday season!) 

Photography

I haven't been posting "Wordless Wednesdays" quite as much BUT I have been working on my photography blog.  Its still a work in progress, but it's coming along!  You can check it out below!

ShannaB Photography

Hand in Hand

Each quarter we gather our families together and serve.  The projects range from things around the grounds of the church to our urban church on the near-eastside of Indianapolis.  But, no matter where the project is, its guaranteed to be kid-friendly and an opportunity for families to engage with one another for three hours in a setting and situation that is different from their "normal".

Saturday, was no different than any other Saturday, except that a group of 60 people ranging in age from 2 years to 60+ gathered in Noblesville at Janus Developmental Services to serve alongside the employees there and complete many projects.  Ranging from gardening and organizing to painting and washing windows and walls.  All over the property families were serving alongside one another.

And since I love photos, I think these are the best way to truly communicate the power of families serving alongside one another, so sit back and enjoy...

Wordless Wednesday

The 4th

This month I'm starting a new tradition on my blog ... the 4th day of each month I'll open the 4th photo folder on my computer, select the 4th photo and tell you a little about it!  So, here's September's 4 of 4 post...

This is Dale Jr's Hauler.  Speedway, Indiana is a racing town ... everything there is all about racing and every July when the NASCAR Series comes to town - Speedway REALLY becomes a town that's all about racing!  Each year, on Thursday evening the NASCAR Haulers arrive in little Speedway, Indiana - just outside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and parade down "Main Street" in this small town, nestled within Indy.  Fans have the opportunity to walk through the haulers, take photos, and even go inside a few!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

"Put Your Feet Down"

I had the opportunity to experience the ocean last week.  Now, I've been to three of the world's four oceans ... seen them all but the Arctic Ocean and been in three different countries when seeing the other three, but I've never ventured in.  There's something about fish swimming in there with you and not being able to see the bottom that just freaks me out ... let alone there are jellyfish and sharks that could get you too.  But this time, a friend convinced me that riding on the waves far outweighed the thoughts of fishies, jellyfish, and sharks ... so in (to the VERY cold) Atlantic I went last week. 

It was COLD ... I mean really, really cold, but the cold was quickly forgotten as I began riding the waves on a boogie board (or maybe I was just frozen and numb at that point).  It was FUN!!!  I loved the waves, but I kept finding myself struggling ... getting knocked in the head by a wave, having trouble keeping my board with me, or an array of other issues.  And each time I would begin to struggle my friend would say ... "Put your feet down!" 

I was having trouble keeping myself afloat in the water ... but ... it wasn't that deep and I could touch - but I was so wrapped up in staying above the waves that I would forget to just put my feet down ... I had just always pictured the ocean as this deep body of water that you can't touch the bottom of.  Obviously though when you're that close to shore that isn't the case ... even though I felt like it was.

At one point as I was trying to stay on top of the waves I realized that sometimes this is how it is in life.  I (maybe you too) get so caught up in all the junk and sin going on around me, in my own life, and in the lives of others - yet God is saying "Put your feet down!" ... stand on Me, on my Truth, on my Word ... I'm right here.  Just like the sand was right there God is too and He wants us to stand on Him, rest in Him, and trust that He is what will keep us going even when the waves of sin are crashing into us. 

So, as you go about your day ... just remember to put your feet down and stand on God ... you don't have to do life alone ... He's right there!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday