Discovering My Creative ME...

About a year ago, I decided there was an undiscovered part of who I am. This part is the creative part of me. I have ALWAYS known that I "appreciated" art...I just never knew I could create it. I have enjoyed taking photographs on vacations. I know people have complimented them. Then I spent 3 weeks in Europe..and I took some nice shots...trying to pay attention to perspective and to choose unusual angles. I was pleased and even printed a few of them. They hang in my living room.

Well on Saturday I went on a "field trip" with some friends from church in our home town. Our mission..."Take pictures of the City". Well I did and I am so excited about the results. I have posted some on my facebook photo page and some on the Capture York Website.

http://www.captureyork.com/people/campinglisa


http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/album.php?aid=113079&id=782751014


What is cool...is that people like my pictures. I don't have a fancy camera. I just like to take pictures. So what about you...what have you discovered about you?

For the tough times...another great book...

If you are a Max Lucado fan you will love this book. It is quintessential Lucado. It is an easy read and would be appropriate for anyone going through a difficult time. I recently gave the book to a friend who was struggling with circumstances in her life that seemed to be out of control. She found the truth offered in the book by Lucado

Max takes complex theological issues and communicates them in a way that makes it understandable to all. (Lucado has an amazing gift of doing this.) His style is like "comfort food" to the soul.

Time to READ...The NOTICER by Andy Andrews

"Sometimes all a person needs is a little perspective" I found this book enjoyable and challenging. The Noticer is a MUST READ book. Andy has described people from all walks of life in his book. I found myself "hooked" in chapter one and I couldn't put it down.

The main character, Jones, a career noticer weaves his way in and out of the lives of many people in a small Southern town. I found myself often resonating with the characters. Then I would be challenged by the perspective Jones would offer.

My favorite piece of perspective from Jones occurs in chapter one, "The view is great on the mountaintops - they're also cold and rocky. To grow we must come off of the mountain and go through the valley.... Think. Learn. Pray. Plan. Dream. For soon... you will become."


This is a book you will want to share with your friends. I know I will be giving it as gifts.The Noticer: Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective.

When it might be a SNOW DAY

You know in the life of a teacher...snow days play a VERY important part. They often bring a "PAUSE" during a time when school is crazy.

I got an unexpected PAUSE last week. I had to take a week off last week because I got the FLU. I have never had the flu. I usually get the flu shot, but missed it this year (trust me I will be intentional not to do that next year.) I was so very sick. The only thing I did was sleep, check email for work, sleep, watch TV (not much to choose here because we don't have cable). What I did do was think about how busy my life is. So busy that I have little time to just enjoy. Now this is something I realized several weeks ago. I also know that I am working toward removing things from my plate. Unfortunately I can't do a dump.

What I am thinking about is how do I protect my time? How do I not over-commit? The thought of protecting my time causes all kinds of feelings to rise up inside me. I have part of me that says I am being selfish by protecting my time. I have another part of me that says protecting my time will allow me to be my best.

Why do we feel we have to be everything to everyone? Is it because we think we are indispensable and no one else will do what we do? I would love to know what you think...

What do I REALLY want?

(a picture I took at Colonel Denning State Park)

Have you asked yourself that question? I believe it was Cindy Lauper in the 80's who said "Girls just wanna have fun?" (if you don't remember the song you can click to see the video from the 80's) Well I do like to have fun, but I believe there is so more than having fun. I think


I have spent MOST of my life not allowing myself to answer that question. Somehow I had the impression that if I asked for what I really want I was being selfish. So I never really allowed myself to even think about the question.

So at 41 I find myself asking that question, "What do I really want?" I am not sure what I want. I seem to vacillate from one thing to another. I think because I never allowed myself to really answer that question. Sometimes I think I can't decide because I am afraid to make the wrong decision. Other times I think it is because I am afraid to commit to an idea because something *better* may come along.

I do know that I am looking at the second half of my life and I want to make it count. I want to make a difference in the world. I want to learn visit the world. I also know I want to live a balanced life.

What I do know is that as I learn to wait I will begin to NOTICE notice what the best choices are.

So have you asked yourself that question, "WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT?"

Loud Noises and Whispers

Today I was in a room all by myself eating my dinner. This room had a clock in it. I actually could hear the second hand moving. I have been in this room many times before. I have never noticed the sound of the clock. However usually when I am in this room there are other people in their talking to each other and with me. When I was finished eating others started to arrive for our meeting. Slowly the sound of the clock began to disappear because of the other noise. I tried to find the sound of the clock as the meeting progressed. I did actually hear it a few times in the midst of the other sounds. It reminded me of a plaque I recently purchased.
Here is a picture of it hanging in my sacred space (which is literally a corner of my living room).

It says,

Make time
for quiet moments as
God whispers
and
the world is loud.

I find that this practice while the simplest of concepts can sometimes be so very very challenging. So many things in the world seem to mask the whispers. But once I have made time, I find that I have moments that words can not describe.

What loud noises are preventing you from hearing God's whispers? Have you made time to focus and listen?

Today I am finding myself pondering the start of the work week. For me that means my graduate classes begin along with my work at Red Lion High School. As a Classrooms for the Future teacher I am also required to take another course during this semester to remain in the grant program. I look at these committements and my head begins to spin. I feel like I am ALREADY on the slippery slope. So I am taking some time to be intentional about my time and plan. I know this time of business will end (in exactly 10 weeks).

I hope you will choose to be intentional about your time. Remember to take time to enjoy life. Savor Life. If you can't slow it up right this moment, maybe find ways you can be intentional about some savoring time. I know if I don't ...I spend time procrastinating...then I find myself not spending quality time...

What will you choose? I am choosing to Savor Life