The Designer Dog?!

Recently, Shep and I were doing what we do best - walking around our neighborhood killing time - when we saw a lady walking her dog. Shep started squealing, which is typical for him. He LOVES dogs, so I usually try to make small talk with the dog owners so that Shep can get his puppy-fix. :) 

The conversation went something like this . . .

"What a nice dog. What kind of puppy is he?" I asked.

"Oh, he is a DESIGNER dog. I prefer that term over telling people he is a mutt," She responded. 

Me, too. I like that term MUCH better than mutt. Then, it hit me. That MUST be how God sees us. Not as mutts, but as designer people. And not just 'Dress Barn designer', but we are talking the Tory Burch, Gucci, and Hermes designer-types. The best of the best. The most exclusive, and most expensive designer brands. 

God specifically handcrafted us. He took the time to design our hair color, he gave some of us dimples, and some of us freckles. He designed the way we think and the way we love. 

We ARE special. Beautiful. Unique. One of a kind. 

Sort of like a snowflake. Speaking of which, have you ever seen one? Not just the puff of white snow, but have you ever seen a snowflake up close? If so, you'd understand why they say no two snowflakes are the same. 

I stumbled across these images recently from a Huffington Post article and I was blown away.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/03/alexey-kljatov_n_4373888.html
Photo by: Alexey Kljatov

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/03/alexey-kljatov_n_4373888.html
Photo by: Alexey Kljatov

I had heard the saying that no two snowflakes are the same, but COME ON!! I had no idea that they could be so different and unique, yet absolutely beautiful at the same time. 

If God would make snowflakes so intricate and beautiful, and they are rarely (if ever!) truly seen, then we must be that much more beautiful. 

So, instead of having a New Years Resolution that is aimed at fixing something about myself, my resolution is be kinder to myself. I want to see the beauty in myself and the beautiful people around me. People like you. 

Instead of seeing myself as a mutt and thinking about my flaws and imperfections, I am going to try to see myself as a DESIGNER person - specifically designed by the creator of this world. The same God who designed snowflakes, mountains, beaches, and all of the beautiful and unique people in my life who I love dearly. 

You are altogether BEAUTIFUL, my love; there is no flaw in you.

~Song of Solomon 4:7

Hope floats, 

Meg

Hope Floats

Shep has been taking swimming lessons lately. When I first pictured what these lessons would be like, I was sure the lessons would look like this:

Well, it turns out that babies don't love being underwater or out of control. Who knew?!

One of the things I have learned in our lessons is that babies HATE to float. They can't do it. Everything in their little bodies tells them that they aren't safe and they squirm and flop around like a jellyfish out of water. Seriously. It's actually pretty funny to watch.

I don't know about you, but I LOVE to float on my back in the water. It is relaxing and peaceful (until I hit my head on the wall of the pool, that is).

I wish I could tell Shep how great it would be if he just floated and trusted the water (and his mom) not to let him drown.

Then, I started thinking about the parallels between Shep's inability to float and the way I trust God. Life would be so much easier (and more peaceful, JOYful, etc.) if I could just lay back and float. I know that God is FOR me. He won't let me go under the water. His strength will allow me to float.

It is not that my life will be easy - God never promises us that, but He does promise that He will hold us up. He will never leave us or forsake us.

And while I know that on some level, I have such a difficult time letting go, leaning back, and just trusting Him. Trusting God and choosing not to worry.

So during this season of transition, when my fears are at their height, I am going to ask Jesus to give me the ability to FLOAT and to trust Him wholeheartedly.

And when it gets hard, I am going to remember the stories about Joseph, Noah, Esther, Rahab, Abraham, and Joshua. God has a perfect track record in keeping His people afloat. I can trust Him. I will choose to trust Him and not to live in fear.

Hope floats,
Meg

Homemaker. Say what?!?

Homemaker? That is not me. I can't even cook. While some girls go to college to get their MRS degree, the thought of staying home with my kids never even crossed my mind. Not even once! But here I am. Less than one month after giving up my dream job that I worked really hard to get. A job I loved and a job I was really good at.

But, I'm here. A little nervous about this new part of my journey. Actually, that wasn't true. I am TERRIFIED. Terrified that I won't be enough for my son. Terrified that we won't have enough money. Terrified of many things.

Even though I am scared, I still feel strong because I know that God has called me to this new season of life. I think He (sort of) likes that I am terrified, because it requires me to LEAN on Him wholeheartedly for support.

                                 

Since my son has been born, things have been a blur. My health has not been great, and my stress level has been much worse. I have had to face the reality that I can't do it all.

If you know me, you know that I am an all-or-nothing kind of a person. I am either jumping into the deep end of the pool, or I am not even going outside. And for me, I wasn't able to be the best version of myself while I was working and taking care of my family (let alone taking care of myself).

When I first got pregnant, some people asked me to consider staying at home.  I told them that I would keep "an open hand" when it comes to making a decision. The truth is that those were just words I used. "My open hand" wasn't open. It did, however, have a tiny crack in it, and God used that crack to open it up completely. And it was PAINFUL. Honestly, it is still kind of painful.

But painful experiences can be good. And although I am terrified and I know that this is not going to be an easy journey, I am confident that God is in this. Confident that the way-maker will make a way for me, the homemaker.

       

So, I am on this RACE FOR REST. I am on a journey to find renewal for my heart. And although I would like the race to be a sprint, it will be more like a marathon.

In order to find rest (and balance!), I need to make time for it. I need to sit down with my journal and my bible. I need to find unhurried alone time to talk to God, and lean on Him. I also need to remember to put one foot in front of the other and just START.