Board of Gratefulness

This is my office:

These shelves have a little more love on them now.

I basically love it. 

My favorite thing is the Board of Gratefulness.

When people come into my office I ask them to write something they are thankful for on a Post-It Note and put it on the bulletin board. 

This is a way to cultivate a heart and attitude of gratefulness and point our hearts to the Lord who does exceedingly abundantly above all we ask, think or imagine [Ephesians 3:20].

We've been working on filling the board since I started work at Real Truth Matters in May [you can read about my third anniversary at RTM here] and it filled up yesterday!

Because we're going to keep doing this, one of my True Beauty girls and I picked out a cute little composition book to put all the Post-Its in. Now we can have a record of all the things we are thankful for. 

I think this would be a great idea for a school room or for your home to cultivate an attitude of gratefulness in your children and even yourself. It's a great exercise! 

This was from my 4-year-old nephew. Precious.

I think it will be so fun to look over this in a year [or more] and see what we were thankful for.  

"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!  Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!" -Psalm 107:1, 8

My day of barefootedness

First off, new word in the title. I love new words. 

Okay, so One Day Without Shoes, raising awareness of all the children and people of the world forced to live without shoes every day, was quite interesting. 

Details of the day:

I walked with my sister on our regular two mile route with shoes (I know, I know, I should have toughed it out, but alas, I did not).

Came home, wrote a speech, took out the trash and wheeled the garbage can to the end of the driveway. 

    This was the first and most painful moment of the day, primarily because my feet were super cold but not cold enough to be numb to the sharp rocks, puddles, and mud that covers our driveway. But incase you were wondering, I survived. 

Met my sister and her kiddos for lunch at Fazolis. First barefoot experience in public since I was a baby and it was cute to be barefoot. No one said anything. It was 12:30 and the restaurant was packed, but no one said a word about the absence of my shoes. 

Went to the mall. Walked through several stores, most people just stared at my feet and then looked at me. When they saw I was watching them stare (I guess that means I was staring too, doesn't it?) they quickly averted their eyes and I continued on with my business. 

    At one store this worker noticed I was barefoot upon my entry to the store then proceeded to treat me as if I was mentally... challenged. He came over, put one hand on my back and one hand on my arm, and looking at me as if he was talking to a two year old asked if I was alright and needed any help. It was as if he was saying "You left a significant part of your outfit off, and I'm worried for your sanity." I was amused. Still am, actually.

Then I went to work. There wasn't anything out of the ordinary there, however, because I typically roam the office sans shoes. 

While I was at the office trending #hardwithoutshoes on Twitter, I saw a picture of a girl with "hard without shoes" written on the bottom of her feet and felt inspired to write it on the top of mine. I just wish I would have thought to do this before I went trekking through places of public interaction. Oh well.

Then I went to rehearsal (South Pacific. WKCTCS. April 23-25. Be there.), where it is mandatory you wear shoes. So I donned my Nikes and obeyed the rules. 

After rehearsal Lana and I went back to the mall (this time with our feet proudly proclaiming "It's hard without shoes") and I returned the shirt I bought today. We also perused several stores and finally someone asked us "what is up with the barefeet?"! I was so excited that someone finally asked instead of just staring and keeping their curiousity pent up like biscuits waiting to explode from the tube. I was also thrilled to tell her about the cause. 

Went to Walgreens and Sonic with Missy. Sonic doesn't really count since we stayed in the car, but this is listed under "details" so details I will give. 

Went to Krogers with her, which had a sign "No shoes, no service." Because of this, I was almost beside myself with glee going into the store without shoes. It was my one moment of rebelliousness and I rather enjoyed it (what does that say about my nature? Jeremiah 17:9). I wanted to see if they would enforce the rules... they did not. We walked all over the store and nothing was said. Not one thing. Humph. I really wanted them to say something, ask me to leave, ask why I was barefoot- something, but no. 

Now I am showered and my feet are slathered with thick and creamy lotion. They are sore and tired, but it was definitely eye-opening. People live like this all the time. Babies learn to walk without shoes and some of them die without ever wearing a pair. 

How much I take for granted.

I walked through oil, water, mud, hair gel (Krogers), Coke (Krogers), rocks, pot holes, cigarette butts (dis.gust.ing.), and more... things that are not out of the ordinary but I never pay attention to because my feet are always protected. 

Some people might say this was a stupid exercise because it didn't really make a difference for the shoeless kids of the world. Well, whether or not it did or didn't, it made me realize once again, in a whole new way, just how blessed I am. 

The day is over and my feet are clean, resting with lotion beginning to soften up again, and tomorrow I'll put my shoes on like always. Those kids are not so fortunate- they don't just do this for one day... this is their life. Sure, they're used to it, but that should fuel my thankfulness and appreciate for what God has blessed me with. 

One thing I know for sure, when I go to Africa tons of shoes are going with me and aren't coming back.

Top 10 2008 Blessings

I thought I would share a little bit of what my Savior has done in my life this past year, and what I hope He will do as the 2009 begins.

1. God has shown me the importance, rather the necessity, of His word. Psalm 119: 50- This is the comfort in my affliction, for Your Word has given me life. -His Word is our life support in affliction or otherwise.

2. He has increased my sensitivity to Him and strengthened my discernment to His voice and direction. He’s taught me the importance of obeying those “red flags” that He gives us and that the smallest act of disobedience will ruin your testimony.

3. The Lord has given me the most amazing circle of friends. Friends that are more like family than even my blood relatives.

4. He has strengthened my faith and ability to cast ALL my cares on Him. I still try to take my life in my own hands sometimes, but for the most part He’s taught me that He definitely can handle it better than I can.

5. God has shown me that His plans are better than my greatest imagined plans, and that I need to trust that He is in control because whether I feel it or not, I will never be in control.

6. God has given me a small taste of the disgustingness of the World. Gosh, it is so filthy, filthy and awful! I can’t believe He sent His son to die for this disgusting race. But I’m so thankful He did.

7. Jesus has shown me this unexplainable grace, even when I screw up. He’s also shown me how completely, 100% undeserving I am of that grace.

8. God has allowed me to live out more than one of my dreams and has shown me that even in my best hours (that are more like minutes) I am nothing without Him.

9. God has shown me how it feels to be truly lonely, even in a crowded place. To be an outcast. To be alone. To be without anyone to talk to. Then He’s shown me at those times to remember that Jesus is my friend who sticks closer than a brother.

10. He’s allowed me to taste and see that He is good, and that having an ongoing conversation with Him and learning to listen to Him is the greatest part of my day.


In 2009…

I pray that God would reveal Himself to me in ways that are far above anything I’ve ever experienced.

I pray that He would use me to directly minister to someone’s Walk.

I pray that His Word would root itself in my heart and will stay alive there even in my darkest days.

I pray that He takes away my insecurities and gives me confidence in Him and His ability.

I pray that I will be bold and not intimidated by this World. They have nothing on me or in my God in whom I stand.

I pray He saves people in the church body.

I pray that the leaders of this World see their need for a Savior and that God draws them into His fold.

I pray that God allows me to have amazing teachers this semester.

I pray that He allows me to glorify Him all across the country when I shoot.

I pray that He gives me opportunities at these matches to brag on Him.

I pray that when I succeed that I will automatically revert the praise to the One who gave me the ability.

I pray that people will see God in me… that I truly become a moon and reflect the Son.



I hope and pray each one of you have an amazing God-filled 2009. I pray that God is the center in each of your lives and that you will lean on Him for all your strength… regardless if you do or not, He is still where your strength comes from.