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Do you ever feel STUCK? In 2000, I began looking for answers to some tough questions in my life. I'd searched high & low and finally conceded to search the promises found in the Bible. Those promises have sustained & guided me through the loss of a parent, the struggle with anxiety & depression, the loss of a valued relationship and so much more! I've found joy amid the pain. And, I want to share it with you!

21 October 2014

Living Fully & Letting Go of Expectations

       I recently escaped real life for a 5-day trip away from the soybeans, corn & cows to the land of red clay, REAL sweet tea & sweltering hot sun. We packed our car to the roof with 3 adults, 1 infant & enough baby stuff for a 2-week trip out of the country. We headed away from the plains, through the Smoky Mountains and toward the deep south... Sumter, South Carolina.


For 5 days... I didn't write at all... I just was... 
  • I was a wife
  • I was a mom
  • I was a DeeDee (that's my g'mommy name)
  • I was a fan
  • I was a friend
I was 24/7 into the experience of being there with my family & friends for those days. I didn't check e-mail. I didn't work on my volunteer duties for my church online (Facebook, Twitter, etc.). I didn't Instragram. And, I didn't blog. I just existed in the moments. I can attest to the words of Ann Voskamp,
"You only live the FULL LIFE when you LIVE FULLY in the GIFT of THIS MOMENT."
It was a great time of bonding, of making memories, of rekindling friendships, of trusting God for an uncertain future... and believing that the future would bring more great family times!

Those 5 days, I made a choice to step away from writing. And, writing each day is something that I love. It's something that feeds my soul. It's something that I try to do daily. I made the choice to immerse myself in the moments of what was happening... to take it into my mind & heart. And, I decided not to worry about recording what was happening in words or posting to my blog. 

Some days we just need to step away & let go of certain expectations... and live fully in the gift of the moment.


Linked with the Nesting Place community through the write31days challenge, October 2014 - post No 21.

5 comments:

  1. Hello Indiana girl,

    Those five days sound peaceful and relaxing. I'm so glad that you had that time to just be... a mom, a wife, friend, grandma, woman, etc.

    Tell me more about your writing challenge, though, now that you're back. :)

    Jennifer Dougan
    www.jenniferdougan.com

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    1. Annually The Nesting Place (@TheNester on Twitter) hosts a daily writing challenge for the month of October. You can pick a category. I picked TOO AWESOME TO CATEGORIZE and gave my series the title of "Putting Things Together". This post was my 21st this month :) Tomorrow's post will be about "Walkabouts & Wandering". It's keeping me quite busy.

      Love reading your posts! Thanks for stopping by!!

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    2. Here's the website for the writing challenge: http://write31days.com/

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  2. I have never been to the Carolinas, would love to visit! I am trying to make an effort to put down the electronics and be more present in situations!

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    1. Melissa, when you drive to the Carolinas from Iowa, you can stop here in "stuckinindiana" land & see me :) And, I totally agree with Ann's quote: "You only live the FULL LIFE when you LIVE FULLY in the GIFT of THIS MOMENT." Have a great evening! c

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