Monthly Archives: January 2013

Word for 2013 – Live

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12

As we rolled into a new year I read several other bloggers claim a word that they want to represent 2013. I know that I’m about a month late but I’m putting my 2013 word out there…LIVE. Not to be mistaken with the 90′s rock band famous for “Lightning Crashes”. Like in “to live abundantly”. I chose a verb for my year because I want to remind myself that life is really just a series of choices stacked together that turn into days…days that turn into weeks…weeks that turn into months…months that turn into years…years that turn into decades (hopefully). But it can be broken down into intentional choices.

After I finished my cancer treatment it was easy for me to get trapped in the mindset of “waiting”. Waiting to see if the cancer comes back. Waiting for the side effects to go away. Waiting for things to change. Waiting feels passive. Living is active. Making choices to be the person God created me to be is “living abundantly”. So here are a few things that I will choose to shape my 2013:

  • Waking up every morning and taking a moment to breathe deep and be thankful for a new day and new mercies
  • Filling my home with good food, good wine, friends and laughter
  • To look at each day and recognize what I can control and (attempt to :-) ) let go of what I can’t to God
  • To not allow bitterness to color my life but focus on the blessings I have and the hope I have in Jesus for healing and restoration
  • To run and enjoy the outdoors
  • To embrace ALL the emotions in my heart…good and bad…no numbing, hiding or escaping…just being present
  • To plant a garden
  • To write 1 blog post a week :-)

I am curious if you choose a word for the year? I’d love to hear it if you do.

Blessings,

Lynnea

life more abundant

The evolving concept of HOME

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Last week I finally returned to the Netherlands after several weeks hanging out in Seattle reacquainting myself with the city that was home for over 10 years. It was good to wander familiar streets and reminisce…to share meals with family, old friends and new friends I’d only “met” digitally…to finally be home for Christmas after 3 years abroad. There were a few days where the sun came out (I was shocked!) and the Olympic Mountains seemed to tower over the Seattle skyline. Olympic Mountains

I spent a couple hours parked just soaking in the beauty that surrounds this city…trying to memorize it for when I had to leave. There was a lot of familiarity and I was afraid that I would go back and immediately want to pack up and move “home”. I had moments when I did. Things are easier without the language difference. I have a lot of history there. I miss being physically present at Bethany Community Church. I really enjoy a lot of things about Seattle. But now is not the right time for me to move back…maybe someday. I surprised myself when at the end of my trip I was ready to come “home” to Groningen. It was a good feeling to have. That after almost 3 years here I really have friends and a community that I was excited to come back to. I wanted to come back to work. I wanted to get back on my bike…although I have a couple flat tires to fix first. I wanted to reconnect and get more involved with Vineyard Groningen. I was ready to come back to my life here in the Netherlands. I feel like a giant pause button was pushed on my life for 2012 and I was ready to get back to living and I felt a complete peace about doing that in Groningen.

Here’s to 2013 and getting back to living. :-)  I’m not yet sure what I am going to do with this little ‘ol blog but for now I’ll keep it going and see where it takes me.

Blessings,

Lynnea