Friday, July 5, 2013

adventure awaits!

hi friends.
well, the Ford casita is moving on to bigger smaller towns!
D was offered an opportunity to work on the Eagle Ford shale in south Texas. an opportunity that we think will be so good for our little family. so all within a week, while on vacation in Crested Butte, we sold our Woodlands house and bought our Uvalde house.

oh, Uvalde is here:


about an hour west of San Antonio. we've only visited once and found a darling house while we were there.
I can't wait to blog about the new house! Its a 1930s brick bungalow. There are huge oak trees on the property.  we don't know much about the town except that the Frio River runs through it, and its part of the Texas Hill Country.
we are excited about the new adventure, but so sad to leave our family and friends. we hope you'll come visit and keep in touch! i'll be posting pictures of the new house as we move in!

xoxo,
Leah


Tuesday, June 18, 2013

what i'm saving my pennies for....






hello! 
my blog site changed my password (??) so i haven't been able to 
retrieve it for a long time! thanks for checkin in with Her Sea Of Love.
things are busy around here just when we thought the relaxing summer was upon us! 

while i'm getting the "story of the summer" written to fill you in later, 
here's what i'm saving my pennies for:


Charlotte Olympia Birthday shoes! 
found at Nordstrom. {I love the little crabby peachy ones!}


Don't you love big stripe curtains? Seems so elegant. 
{I just ordered 4 panels from MarthaandAsh @ Etsy.com}



I love this layer of chunky turquoise with simple gold necklaces. 



xoxo,
Leah

Thursday, May 30, 2013

would you paint your nails each a different color? 




{photo cred.: us weekly}

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

coconut love

good morning!
i've got a new love for your tuesday.
coconut.
i love it in my coffee, candles, oils, and breakfast.

you can buy organic coconut oil at trader jo's and there are so many great recipes! 
for your hair and face, for your protein smoothies, for your cakes and cookies!




 or look at her nail inspiration for a summer time beach getaway! 
 {photo cred: free people}


my favorite coconut mango candle from anthropologie. 
{buy it here.}

woodlands peeps: have you tried dosey doe's coconut coffee?? oh, my. 
p.s. they don't have it at starbucks! gotta go to your local coffee shop. 
{p.s.s. i know they also have it at common grounds in waco}



this was a fun week around the Ford casita. 
dave matthews concert, my birthday, & a little summer vacation for me!
xoxo,
leah




Tuesday, May 7, 2013

{2,398}

thank you for reading and sharing my last post about the boston marathon. although, i never ever thought 2,398 people would read it, i am so glad you did. 

there are lots of new readers to Their Sea of Love and i'm thankful for that, but i feel a huge sense of responsibility to not post silly things and every thing has to be spell checked.. twice. 

but that's not what this space is for. this blog is for a whole sea of love..good and ugly and bad speller.

there is still more story to tell, but for now I keep leaning on...."be still"
i'm coming back from a stillness, restful, peaceful time in Austin. 
i'll share soon.





your friend,
leah



Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Marathon Monday

Hi friends,
I was able to take some time yesterday to write about the events on Monday. I am more thankful to be back to work and a regular routine than you could imagine. Life is precious and can be gone in the blink of an eye. Here's my story of Marathon Monday.




My Jehovah-Sabaoth,
As your story of love and protection of over my life on April 15 is read by lots, I pray that your miracles of work shine brightly in this story.  So bright that those that don’t know you as savior (SAVIOR!) will, and those who have set you aside will start a new relationship with you.  You are the Lord who rules the angels, the sun, the Heavens… and the street corner of Boylston and Hereford in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 


We left from Houston to Boston on Saturday and when we arrived, we were greeted with cool weather and buzzing streets filled with the famous blues and yellows.  We loved coming. It is the most famous, most beloved, most historical, most prestigious of all races. The Super Bowl or World Series of marathons. Except this event wasn’t team vs. teams...it is a camaraderie of ‘friends’ all over the world who run together to add to the history, the richness, the joy of The Boston Marathon. 

“Friends” because no matter who dad is running with, you too, would soon become friends…

On April 15th at 4:30 am, dad rustled around the hotel room looking for his phone to check the weather. “Perfect” he whispered with his bifocals on and feet on the ground ready to start the getting-dressed-for-a-marathon process that takes about 2 hours…
I put my coat on and go down to get breakfast and coffee for us, that he had tried the day before to make sure it was gonna be good on his stomach for the race…Everything down to shoelaces is a much thought out process.

“Singlet or no singlet, hat or visor, new shoes, or lucky green shoes, PR today or just enjoy the race?”….these were all very serious questions of the morning.
(a PR for him would be 3:45, and in his wave start….finish is 4 hours after…the exact time the first bomb went off..at the finish line)

6:50 am we start downstairs to meet up with fellow runners to catch the bus that takes the runners out to Hopkington.  I take pictures of dad with his running buddies. He is so thankful for a cool, clear morning. He is thankful to be healthy enough to run this race. I love the energy and the experience.

I eat breakfast with a family whose daughter is running for the first time and it eases their concerns when we plan out where the best places were to see along the course.  Take the green-line subway to Heartbreak Hill or go where dad knows I’ll be? Go where he knows I’ll be…

I pack up our hotel room because check-out was after the race would be over. Take the bags to the valet so they can hold them until we are back. Keep my room key so that I can come back later this afternoon to the business office to print out our boarding passes.

9:30 am I walk down Boylston (on the side of the bombings) to Starbucks. (where the second bomb went off) get my upside-down caramel macchiato and go outside and look up to the skies, it was such a beautiful morning. The buildings are so architecturally beautiful in Boston.  I take pictures. There wasn’t a crowd gathered at the finish line yet, the race hadn’t even started and I knew that it was a coveted place to be….I thought about staying there to have a front row position to see the WINNERS OF THE 2013 BOSTON MARATHON! Na, I thought, dad won’t know I’m here. This isn’t where we planned on me being. So I walked to the corner of Commonwealth and Hereford. And I found the most awesome spot. On top of a hill, grassy area, in the sun.  I cheered as the front runners came through. Sent video footage to my friends and family. I love watching athletes at work. I was amazed. After they passed by, I had about 2 hours before my dad’s wave was coming to that spot, so I headed off to grab some lunch at a little local bookstore/restaurant.  Trident Booksellers and CafĂ©. I charged my phone and warmed up with some lunch and loved roaming around in the books.

At 1:30 I headed out to my spot where dad knew I would be. On the corner of Commonwealth and Hereford.

As I type this part of the story, my heart is beating faster and tears are coming on, because I know what’s coming….

I was scheduled to receive messages along the course to know what pace dad was doing. He passed the halfway mark RIGHT ON PACE! I was so excited for him! It was a perfect day to PR! He comes running up the last hill and I spot him! Red visor, orange singlet, bright green shoes! He looks great! BIG smiles, high fives!

“DAD! YOU ARE AWESOME! MEET YOU BACK AT THE HOTEL! GOOOOOOOO BOSTON MARATHON RUNNAHHHH!!”

My eyes follow him as he courageously runs up Hereford street and makes the corner onto Boylston. I am so proud!

A minute after he turns the corner, I hear it. (this is a vision that keeps repeating)
Its deafening.
A boom I thought was confetti, or a cannon, or construction, or thunder, or the roar of a crowd at Fenway Park.

Before I saw the smoke coming over the buildings, had to have been 100 police with shields over their faces, machine guns drawn, come running down the streets.
“You must leave the area! It is not safe here! Grab your belongings and leave the area!”
“Ummmm, what did he say?”


BOOM!! A second bomb explodes.
Screams, sirens, helicopters, yelling police, runners crying in confusion off of the course….

My heart sank into the pit of my stomach because I knew. I could see where the smoke was coming, and I knew. I knew that was the exact location where my dad was.  And, I never received the confirmation, automated text that had crossed the finish line. In fact, the athlete tracker shows his last known area in the exact spot of the second bomb.

Police officers were shoulder-to-shoulder pushing the spectators into an alleyway. My eyes couldn’t stop searching.
Searching.
Searching. If I could only get a glimpse of the red visor and orange singlet and bright green shoes. I could hear myself breathing hard, short, desperate breaths. I could never catch my breath.  My eyes squinted so that I could see better through the smoke. And I tried to block out the yelling of police officers so that maybe I could hear dad yelling for me.
Still searching. So desperate.

Ashley Crowder calls.
“Leah, are you ok?”
I can’t remember what I said. I was so desperate.
Dropped phone call after dropped phone call.

“Maam, you must stay here!  You can not go out there, its very dangerous.”
“I know, sir, but I know my dad is in that smoke. I know he is.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go out of this alley, its not safe, there may be more bombs in the area.”

An hour later they moved us to Fenway park. They told us it wasn’t safe to be outside. We didn’t know if the bombs were coming from the air or buildings. They also told us that the suspect could still be in the crowds.

There isn’t a word to describe how I felt. Thinking that my dad is dead or seriously injured or that another bomb could go off right where I was standing. No words, just searching and trying to breathe.  I had to pull up my scarf over my nose and mouth because the smell of gas and smoke was so strong.  I kept my pink hat on hoping that it would catch dad’s eye…if he was close by.  Please be close by.

I had to get out of Fenway Park. I had been inside the park for 2 hours.  2 hours with crazy people and police with machine guns. And no cell phone service. So I decided to leave. I walked out and a policeman tried to stop me again. Through teary eyes and a shaky voice I said, “I need to find my dad. He was in that explosion. I know it. I’ve calculated the timing in my head over and over and...”  This policeman told me that “they were taking the injured to Mass Blah Blah Blah Hospital. And the directions are this way…”  I was not trying to block out his words, but I was trying to block out his words...My head knew that dad was in the Blah Blah hospital, but my heart wouldn’t hear of it. So I started walking towards the Blah blah hospital.
And my phone rings. (my phone rings!) It was my uncle in Africa. He tells me that the news was reporting that no runners were seriously injured! This was such a glimmer of hope for me. Hope, that just maybe he was ok.  The phone call never cuts out as it had when Ashley called. Or when Duncan called.

My journey to the hospital turned into a hope that maybe he made his way to the hotel instead. At this point, I had been gone for 3 hours. And I was 5 miles away from Commonwealth and Hereford Street.

I couldn’t even remember the name of our hotel. Park Place? No, Boston Place? Parkland?

So I stopped a policeman and asked, “Can you please help me? Please? I need to find my dad. What is the name of the hotel next to the Boston Gardens?”
The policeman explained to me through dark sunglasses that all of the hotels were on lockdown. Anyone inside, had to go to their rooms and no one from outside could go in…He said that there were rumors that a bomb was found inside a hotel by the finish line…

Breathe deep and keep searching.

I remembered that I had kept my room key and I got it out of my backpack. On the back was written:
Boston Park Plaza Hotel
50 Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 426-2000

I brought the card closer.
No way.
I held the card to my heart.  And closed my eyes. Just for a little miracle of a second, I thought, “I have been saved. Saved! SAVED by The Savior. The Jehovah-Sabaoth!”

I called the phone number.  The numbers on my screen were locked? And my phone still wouldn’t work.

I typed the address into my maps..and it worked! It was 4.3 miles away! So I tightened up my backpack and started jogging. Every 15 min or so, I would try to call the hotel to see if dad was there. No service.

An hour later, I came to familiar area. I walked up to the hotel..thinking they wouldn’t let me in. And the automatic doors opened and I saw him! Bright green shoes! Orange singlet! I was overcome with emotion. I cried tears of joy. My tears all day had been tears of fear.
There were no cabs leaving, but we found a van that was taking people to the airport.  So we threw our bags in and jumped in. Dad was still in his marathon clothes.  We heard there were no flights leaving Boston. But we went anyway.

We got to airport security and the lady says, “Sir, you need to take the safety pins out of the race bib..”

We found our terminal and our flight was only delayed 30 minutes. We sat down in the seats and sat in a state of shock. Neither one of us said anything for about 45 min. Until dad said, I think I’m gonna go change clothes and get a hamburger.  While he’s in the bathroom the lights in the whole airport go out. The whole airport…
I’m still in a stage of fear, but I don’t even think I reacted to the outage. Three K9 unit dogs are walking around the area smelling all of our suitcases.  I still don’t react. I reach out to pet the dog sniffing my suitcase and “Um, maam, you can’t pet the dogs”  as he points to the PLEASE DON’T PET ME sign on his neck.

We board and fly home. I still took short breaths. I still couldn’t feel. I had seen blood. Lots of blood. Destruction. Mass chaos. I could hardly move my body. Or my eyes. I couldn’t look at a magazine. Or watch tv. Or respond to the flight attendant.


We made it home. Our plane landed at 12:30. As we drove home, we started talking about what happened. It was surreal.

I finally was able to hug Duncan’s neck and kiss Waylon. I was home. Safe. I laid in bed last night and cried. I was overcome.  Overwhelmed. How come I made it home with not a bruise or broken bone or shrapnel? There was a man out there wanting to kill me. Such an incredibly odd feeling.

When I woke up this morning, I had an overwhelming sense of being alive. ALIVE! God had spared me and my dad! I still have a life of purpose to live.  I spent all day wrapping my head around what I had seen. I tried to decompress. And I wanted to write my story.  I wrote so that I wouldn’t forget how my Savior Lives. My Savior reigns. My Savior loves. My Savior lives.

I don’t know why bad things happen, but I know little miracles do. 
The sun, the red birds and the spring flowers remind me that things will be alright. I will recover, but hopefully this stays in my heart forever.


 xoxo,
Leah

Thursday, April 4, 2013

{always hope....always}

we think God is writing a really good story for our family.
the suspense leading up with insurance denials, medications not working..
and disappointments growing greater and greater,
when it seams we should hang our heads and be defeated, we have
hope.

hope that something good is coming.
"I know the plans for you, plans not to harm, but a future of hope"
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer..."




i don't always think of anchors when i think about hope. 
i usually think its floating around for us to grab, 
like a loose balloon.
which is not like an anchor at all.
the balloon is more insecure, blowing around when infertility treatment can snatch and twist and blow hope until it's hard to reach at all.
but if i could somehow anchor the balloon down, firm and secure, in my soul...

Dear Heavenly Father,
You know our struggles. You know our doubts. Thank you for sending us messages, like Hebrews 6:19, with a visuals for me. I want to choose hope, always, always hope before fear. Fear is a regular feeling I have in my gut, but help me to choose hope. I thank you for the blessings we do have. Thank you for the blessing of hope. 
Amen!
xoxo,
Leah









Tuesday, March 26, 2013

bluesday tuesday


heres some beautiful blue for your tuesday. 
i hope today you get to feel the sunshine and relax under the big blue sky. 

have you picked out your easter dress yet? 
p.s. anthropolgie has 20% off their dresses today-sunday! 




 {how beautiful is the indigo blue nail polish?! i love it with red}

 {i always love turquoise blue with gold}

{and LOOK at sweet Waylon in the texas bluebonnets! }



xoxo,
leah

Thursday, March 14, 2013

shake your shamrock!



i'm not irish, not even a little, but man I love St. Patty's day!
I love green & rainbows! And its always a good time
at Onion Creek in The Houston Heights when
Sly Mojo plays! {click here to hear!}





Dare you to try a GREEN SMOOTHIE sometime this weekend!
Here's how:
1. cup of Fage yogurt
2. fruit (i use frozen pineapple, mango, strawberries or blueberries)
3. handful of spinach
4. cup of ice
5. splash of orange juice
BLEND & SERVE to your favorite leprechaun!

{Read: Lucky you from 2011 St Patty's day!}
xoxo,
Leah 




Tuesday, March 12, 2013

spring break!



even if you aren't spring breakin it, 
i hope you get a chance to....
relax in the sun with a good magazine
plant your tomatoes
paint your toes

{new spring dress: free people audrina maxi dress}


 {love the mint green & pink together!}
{new shorts: AG dixie cut-off shorts, come in tons of bright, sunny colors}





Thank you, dear Jesus, for the new green growth on the trees. 
Thank you for reminding me that all things are made new!
Thank you for this time of relaxation and refreshment.
xoxo,
Leah

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

turquoise tuesday!

i'm always a turquoise, fringe, native american, hair braids fan
but i've been feelin it a lot lately.
maybe because i just bought these and i'm afraid i won't ever take them off even through the 
texas summer










love these gold painted turquoise earrings! 
happy turquoise tuesday!
xoxo
 chief dances with goldendoodles


Tuesday, February 12, 2013

{high 5 Friday!}

it's not Friday...I know. 
but I have some treats for you and who cares what day it is! 
high five Tuesday doesn't have the same ring to it....







 





1. {Maybelline BB foundation. $7.99 at Walgreens!}
i've never been a drugstore make-up girl, but new. found. love. lightweight and covers. comes in 4 shades.

2. {Franklin's BBQ, Austin}
we're travelin to ATX this weekend and can't wait to eat some bar-b-que! and this is the best in the west. or south... My man woke up talking about it this morning. Did you know you can call in and order and pick up so that you don't have to wait in the 4 hr. line???!! Gotta call 3 days in advance :-)

3. {Madewell's chambray}
madewell is j.crew's little sister. if you have one near you, you should go. love the denim and the linen scarves.

4. {Florence & the Machine, Only If For A Night}
a song for your week of love.

5. {Guava Girl lipgloss from Victoria's Secret}
so sweet and cutie colors! the guava is my fav and its only $3! a fab gift for your gal pals!


Have a lovely week.  don't forget to love strangers. You never know what battles they are facing.


"Let love continue. 
Do not neglect to show kindness to strangers, 
they could be angels among us!"
 Hebrews 13

xoxo,
Leah

 

Thursday, January 31, 2013

the 21 days...

before 2013 even started, I knew there was gonna be some soul searching going on.
I was becoming someone I've never been.
Mad at the universe.
Afraid of the future.
Frustrated with the cards I'd been dealt.

I decided to do a fast and search.
{you can read a few days here and here}

Several of the days were not posted because of their depth and I wanted to find a secret space in my heart to hide my revelations. I didn't want to be judged. I didn't want them to be known. I wanted them next to my dreams.

I'm writing today from a different place. A place who's journey isn't over just because the fast is over. A place who is still trying to listen.

the 21 days taught me:
  To rest.
 To trust.
 To love.
 He wants to bless me.
 Little by little, He will transform my weaknesses into strengths. 


I've received so many emails and texts of love and prayers. Thank you. Your words are with me. Your words encourage me. 

Life isn't all peachy roses these days. But the sun is shining and it is a beautiful morning. The grass is turning from wintery grey to bright green. The air feels fresh on my face. 


...plans not to harm you, plans to give you hope..
....come rest in ME, I am gentle...
find rest in your soul...
Be strong and courageous...
..walk by faith, not by sight...

xoxo,
leah

p.s. i'm excited about tomorrow's post HIGH FIVE FRIDAY FAVORITES!

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

{21 days: day 16}


I have to tell ya, I've really enjoyed this exploring, desensitizing, weaning from dependencies, time alone. I enjoy my mornings with a prayer and quietness. I know this is when my God speaks to me.

How does God speak to you? 

I read this in Jesus Calling by Sarah Young: (if you don't have this book or app, you NEED it)
your security rests in Me alone-not in other people, not in circumstances. 
Wowza! You say. I know.

If I could make this my mantra everyday, life would be _____________. 

The thing that I'm learning is that this IS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR MANTRA EVERYDAY!
People don't determine your security. My circumstances don't determine my security. You see, the reason I started this fast was to listen. Listen to the answers of: What is God teaching me through our miscarriages? Why now? Why not teach me in a less "blow to the heart" sort of way? I am fearful of the future because of my past...How can I let go of fear when the past has hurt so bad? 

Because I wouldn't listen if it were less of a blow..

So now that He's gotten my attention. He's teaching me that I am not in control. My circumstances should not make me fearful of walking the tightrope with Jesus. He has everlasting arms. 

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Deuteronomy 33:27

I have a dear friend who I had lunch with yesterday and I was able to talk about all that I am learning. She said,"Leah, you need to know that having children is a process of realizing you are 100% out of control. Only God can create a person, breathe into it life..and in the end redeem it from the world! Let God teach you these things and trust Him enough to believe that He loves YOU enough for this all to be worth it when you are holding your sweet baby in your arms.."
You wish you had a friend with wisdom like that, huh? She is pretty amazing. 

Thank you for stopping by to Her Sea of Love to check out what's been goin on. I had a great weekend that included a puppy, Waylon's 3rd birthday, grassy fields, and Valentine decorations. 

xoxo,
Leah














Tuesday, January 15, 2013

{21 days: day 8}

Good morning friends!
I'm sipping on some decaf Almond Joy coffee thinking of you. 
Today I prayed for my friends and family that you would get to
experience God in a whole new way in 2013. I prayed for protection around families 
that I love and admire. I prayed that my thoughts would be a continuous dialogue with God so that I can speak, He can speak, I can listen. 
You see, the reason I chose this 21 day challenge is so that I could really listen. 

There is so much busyness all around that the words of God can be faintly heard. I am choosing to 
be still and listen.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving me this quiet time in the morning to read and pray and LISTEN. Listen to the rain and stillness that is in my very own kitchen table. Even in my kitchen, you come to meet me. Day after day after day. Thank you for always showing up in the form of birds chirping or rain falling. Thank you for your protection around my family. Give me strength to continue with no caffeine or carbonation, no red meat, no social media. I pray for your protection as I drive for several hours for work. Talk to you soon!

xoxo,
Leah

Thursday, January 10, 2013

{21 days: 3&4}

Aren't you wondering how I'm doing with no coffee?? 
It is HARD! I've got headaches everyday and I'm holding my eyelids open by 3:30 pm. 
This is by far the hardest thing for me to give up! 
Have you ever given up coffee? Tell me about it! 

I don't miss Facebook much. It definitely gives me something to do when I'm waiting for an appt., but I just try and strike up a conversation with people or daydream. It's a nice change! 

Day 3 & 4 are combined because of the hustle and bustle the first day of school brings...I was at work late, met my parents for dinner and wanted to spend the last hours of the day talking with D. I am ok with skipping a day for family time :-)

I hope you listened to It is Well With My Soul yesterday. I love the story behind the author. It is a constant reminder for me to be O.K. with the lemons life throws at you. 

Today I prayed about the desires of my heart. What are the desires of my heart? 
To set my heart to be a studier, a learner. Memorize verses.
To set my heart to be a prayer. 
To set my heart to be giving and forgiving. 









Dear Heavenly Father, 
I want the desires of my heart to be full of you. Full of forgiveness, full of joy. I pray that the time spent away from social media, and spent talking with people face-to-face, those who see me, can see you. 
I pray that I have strength to continue studying your Word far past this 21 day challenge. Thank you for the life you've given me.




Tuesday, January 8, 2013

{21 days: day 2}


Father, reveal anything in my life that would hinder my ability to come into Your 
presence.   Help me see my propensity towards sin and help me change.  Help me to 
see my sin the way You see it.  Thank You for loving me in spite of my failures.  Thank You 
for helping me to change. 

Day 2 teaches me about restoration. RESTORE MY SOUL! My hinderance is faith. Faith and trusting that God has a perfect will. Not mine. 

Keep trusting, keep trusting, keep trusting. 



  1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
    When sorrows like sea billows roll;
    Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
    It is well, it is well, with my soul.
    • It is well, with my soul,
      It is well, it is well, with my soul.
  2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
    Let this blest assurance control,
    That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
    And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
  3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
    My sin, not in part but the whole,
    Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
    Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
  4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
    If Jordan above me shall roll,
    No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
    Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
  5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
    The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
    Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
    Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
  6. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
    The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
    The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
    Even so, it is well with my soul.

Monday, January 7, 2013

{21 days: day 1}


Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore 
to me the joy of my salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 
Psalm 51: 10-12

For the next 21 days I am journaling about a prayer/fasting that I am participating in. I felt a need to come closer to a quiet time to really listen to what God is telling me. I've been too busy, too lazy, too hungry...to really be still and listen. I needed this to clear my mind and heart and let the worldly things fade away so I can see Jesus' face. 




Today I began by asking what were a few things in my life that were distracting.  I get really caught up in what others are doing and then start comparing what I don't have, and jealousy sinks in really quickly.
-no Facebook, social media (but keeping up with my own blog to journal)
-no caffeine or carbonated drinks
-no alcohol
-attend weekly prayer meetings
-no fried food, no red meat

This morning I sat with hot tea (decaf) and the study was just about showing up. Just show up and listen. Show up and pray. Prayers that started and stopped. Prayers that were just one word. 
I studied and prayed over 2 Corinthians 12:10.
...."for when I am weak, then I am strong."

Dear Heavenly Father,
My heart is heavy, heavy and aching for strength. I know that your grace is sufficient for me. Help me to find strength. Help me to find strength. Help me to stop and listen. Listen for your will for Duncan and I starting a family. It has been so sad and difficult for us, we are weak, but we know you are strong. I am fearful of the future.

Thank you day 1. Thank you for reassuring me that just showing up, just showing up to feel is enough. 




Wednesday, January 2, 2013

photo/run challege





Wanna try something with me?
One of my 2013 resolutions is to reach out to others. 
I'm combining this challenge with the love of getting outdoors and on the jogging trails that I love so much. 

Here's the challenge:
1. Run/walk at least a mile everyday until February 14th
2. Leave a note for a friend (or complete stranger!) encouraging them to reach their goals, love themselves, or to remind them of how beautiful they are. 
3. Take a picture of your random act of kindness, your running/walking path for the day and upload it to the link below!



I can't wait to see where your feet take you! Be good to your heart.
xoxo,
Leah



Link up here!



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