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August Inspirations

August 11, 2015 Leave a Comment

The last thing we need around this internet space is another post about inspirations and pretty pictures. And I hate being like everyone else. Oh, well. I think I’m more like everyone else than I thought. It’s a tough pill to swallow. I like being weird.

You know, instead of allowing mean kids to fling, “You’re so weird!” at me, I claimed it first. I’m weird.

And I love it. I don’t like coffee. I’d rather read than go clubbing. Photoshoots are fair game to the attack of silly faces or silly walks. But onward to some images that have been inspiring to me (and now maybe for you, too!).

And when it comes to humor, if you say “toilet”…I’m pretty likely to just crack up. It’s true. Imagine me writing this post about toilets!

Right??? I also think babies are weird. But we can get into that conversation another time. Meanwhile, you’re wondering what other weirdness I’ve got hanging around.

If I help with populating the earth (aka children), I’m afraid that this could happen to the dog, too.

Meanwhile, I’m pretty obsessed with these pants. I know this brand has Kate Hudson and all, but do you think they’d go for another lesser-known spokeswoman. Me!!! I could be a walking advertisement! (If you’re a Fabletics scouter, please go to my About page to contact me)

Hello, gorgeous! This has a ton of good things going on. I love that wild mane of hair (the color!), lipstick, and strong eyebrows. I wish I looked like that every day! Don’t worry, mom, no septum piercing for me…yet, anyway!

I’m obsessed with the idea of seeing the Northern Lights. Absolutely, obsessed. It’s the highest thing on my “travel” list although the Northern Lights is not somewhere you can travel to. Since I can’t be home for Christmas, my favorite idea right now would be to go see the Northern Lights. These fairy-like glass igloos seem like an experience in and of themselves. If I could dream myself there in reality, that would be the best ever.

I imagine that you may be tiring of scrolling through all these things that lighten my heart and make me grin. I’m hoping they do the same for you!

So I’ll finish up.

Current Favorite Music Jam:

Current Favorite Recipe (to eat and to make):

But be careful with that hot sauce!!! I’ve also made the recipe with turkey, and I’ve been hugely pleased.

Go forth into this new month of amazing opportunity and drown yourself in spectacular inspiration, whatever form it might take whether you are moving forward from a sad place or championing the mountaintop.

When Restlessness Jitters Your Bones

August 6, 2015 Leave a Comment

Restless. Bone-jittering restlessness. Pacing the apartment. In one room and out again, circling to repeat, once, twice, thrice, until I can’t remember how many times.

Things to do. Homework. Cleaning. Writing papers. Everything. But I can’t sit. Every time I do, I’m up again feeling unsettled, not present, and restless.

What had me so unsettled, so muscle-spazzingly restless? I finally paused my steps and asked, “Barbara, why are you feeling like this?”

I knew. One of my best friends who was also a roommate had been gone for a week. Eternity. And she was on her way home. Soon, she would be here. And I could hardly wait. So I did what anyone do. Okay, maybe not. After all, it was a rainy, windy, autumn evening.

Marching out into the gust of weather, I plopped myself down onto the sidewalk in front of my dormitory. Legs criss-crossed. Arms tight to my chest against the wet wind.

I sat there for an hour.

And then she was there. We hugged, and I helped her drag her things in. But then again, I don’t really remember. What I do remember is that at that moment, someone invited me to go with them to do something else. And I went.

Ridiculous, right? Here I had been waiting, waiting, and waiting for my friend to arrive. When she finally did, I left.

Hours later, when she and I sat side by side on the couch on our respective computers, the silliness of it all just walloped me over the head. Now here we were sitting in the same room, and we weren’t even interacting. And I stopped what I was doing (probably browsing Pinterest) to take this all in. In my head, I questioned myself, “Barbara, why did that happen? Why were you so restless? And then when she arrived, you felt free to leave?”

I missed her presence.

It took my breath away. That someone’s presence could mean so much. The solidity of knowing that I was sharing life with someone day-in and day-out. We didn’t have to be talking. But her presence anchored me to a contentedness that I had missed when she was gone.

Take a step back with me. What about God? And his presence of the Holy Spirit? What is it like to not have the presence of God a part of your life? Searching? Freedom? Restlessness?

“I’m working on me.”

“I haven’t found my life purpose yet, but I’m young. I have time!”

“She wasn’t the one, but I signed up for an online dating profile!”

“I don’t know. It seemed like a good idea, but I’m open to whatever.”

I feel too young to talk about the Holy Spirit. And yet, I’ll tread on this audacious and presumptuous subject because of the simplicity of presence.

We’re searching. Whether it’s to self-improve or wander from job to job or finding your tribe, there’s such a sense of uncertainty and restlessness. I wonder if what is truly missing is the fulfillment of the Presence of the Holy Spirit.

I can’t help but think that missing the presence of my friend is very much like what it’s like to be missing the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. If you have it, you often don’t miss it. Just as when you have someone you love, you don’t miss them when you are with them. It’s when they have gone that you are restless for them.

To the Giver of the Holy Spirit Presence,

Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me (Psalm 51:11).

Calm my bone-jittering restlessness and smooth the erratic beat of my rabbit heart.

Anchor me with your Presence to your hope-filled, plentiful promises.

But mostly, gratitude to you for the gift of your Helper Presence to teach me all things and bring remembrance of the things you have taught (John 14:26).

Hunger for more life-giving words? Check out one of my favorite chapters: Isaiah 55.

What I’ve Learned From Austrians

August 3, 2015 1 Comment

I better start this off with a quick note that I still haven’t learned everything I can learn from Austrians. And this first post will probably only brush the surface, but coming up on my 4-month-anniversary of living here, I wanted to take a moment to appreciate this country and culture.

Austrians keep to themselves.

In some places, you are socially pressured to acknowledge every human being you pass on the street, even waving at drivers. I consider myself a friendly introvert, however, I tend to prefer to ignore other pedestrians. In Austria, you can do that!

Austrians greet everyone in a group or party (arriving or leaving).

I’m the type of person that likes to just slip into a group without causing a stir (that’s how I like to leave places too). All the hellos and goodbyes are overwhelming. But Austrians are super intentional when they arrive to a workout group, bible study, or party to greet everyone when they arrive and when they leave, too. I’m not sure I’m ready to adopt this social norm, but I find it incredibly admirable.

Austrians are body conscious.

From what I’ve seen, Austrians like to take care of themselves physically, and they like to see what their bodies can do. They show off their bodies without shame. When I balked at just wearing my sports bra for something, my European friends replied, “Why? It’s just a body. People swim naked here.” This doesn’t mean that they are not modest, but Austrians are more relaxed about bodies and showing skin.

Austrians are proud of being Austrian.

You’d think that national pride would be a given for every people and every country, but it isn’t. But, Austrians, they are proud of their country, language, and people. As an English speaker with ein bisschen (a tiny bit) German, I often resort to English, and it’s fairly common for German speakers to reply, “You’re in Austria now. Speak German.” It can be frustrating to hear that when you can’t yet speak German, but to me, it just shows that Austrians are proud of their heritage.

Austrians recycle, recycle, recycle.

Never have I ever seen such a complex recycling system. It’s both amazing and terrifying because what if I screw up. There’s a place for your white glass, colored glass, cardboard/paper, plastics, tins, cartons, biodegradable food stuffs, and trash. And you know, I probably missed something in that list. This country is taking care of their portion of the planet in a way that the rest of the world could really learn from.

So there you are, these are all things that I really admire about the Austrians. But I’ll be on the lookout for more! So stay tuned!