simply me

        What a year it has been.      I am confident none of us anticipated the woes and joys this year brought us. As I reflect upon the past 12 months it is evident that I have failed to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. It has also been evident that by his grace the Lord is ever faithful to care and provide for his people. I am thankful that it is "by grace you have been saved, through faith, and- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). If it were up to me and my performance there would be no place for me at the table.     Many times this year I have needed to be reminded that, while I can have a hard time seeing past my hardships, God’s grace is sufficient for me, and his power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). In his letter, James encourages the church saying, “consider it pure joy, brothers and ...

Every week through the month of May , I will share one thing I am thankful for and how this time of COVID-19 has illuminated that in my life. This week I’m the divine preparation God has done in my life. Today I’m giving a [mostly] unedited peek at Jacqueline’s Journal. A prayer from 20 May 2020: Lord,         Thank you for your sovereign hand over my life. This time of COVID has shown so many ways which you watch over me. Here are a few which I’ve noticed particularly in this time… Providing a job which computers are constantly being used for various tasks and communications. This made the shift to online education much easier for me. It cut down on the difficulty of looking at a screen all day because I had grown accustomed to that.    Through close friendships lived at a distance and maintained through digital connection, I had also become more comfortable connecting with friends via video, phone, text, email. This really benefited my abilit...

All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Every week through the month of May , I will share one thing I am thankful for and how this time of COVID-19 has illuminated that in my life. This week I’m highlighting teachers, mentors and leaders. Have you ever wondered where you learned to do things like making a schedule, organizing paperwork, cooking food, leading a Bible study? I wonder about these things sometimes, especially as I study the art of teaching.  For some there are vivid memories of learning these tasks. You recall the who, what, when, where, how, and why. For others, these things may seem to be skills you simply have. Still another grouping might have vague memories of certain methods being taught. No matter which grouping you fall into, there has been instruction (formal or informal, explicit or implicit) ...

Every week through the month of May , I will share one thing I am thankful for and how this time of COVID-19 has illuminated that in my life. This week I’m highlighting my family. When the virus got serious I was still living at my apartment and working at the office over spring break. At work we discussed my schedule for the following weeks as my university switched to online learning and my availability would be different. Not 8 hours later, our plans changed completely and the whole office was preparing to work from home. My job is specific to being physically at the office and therefore was put on hold. That evening, I found myself considering the option of returning to my parent’s for the foreseeable future. Two days later I packed up some things and drove north to be with my family. For the next two weeks I had many phone calls with friends in which we expressed the things that we are thankful for in this time. My two big things were the opportunity to rest from my regular...

Every week through the month of May, I will share one thing I am thankful for and how this time of COVID-19 has illuminated that in my life. This week I’m highlighting my athletics community. A few weeks ago life seemed to stop, normal activities and work came to a screeching halt. In all this I've moved temporarily back to my parents house where I could be supported and surrounded by family while the nation and state are in "lockdown." For our sanity we attempt to get out for a walk each day, but just that doesn’t cut it sometimes. So one day I took to the workout archives and headed to the park with a throwback to my high school track and field days.  2016 high school graduation celebration with a few of the many people who made high school track so rewarding. (also to this day one of my favorite pictures)  It was this day at the park when I realized how unique it is to have the skills and knowledge I have about exercise and body mechanics. There are a ...

I am thankful for rainbows and our hope and promise for better days to come |  Lorne, VIC 2019 Over the past few months life has changed drastically for all of us. In this time many of us have had to take a real hard look at the things we value and prioritize in life. Assessing what we value compared to how we have (or more likely; haven't) allowed our lives to reflect those things. Many people have picked up projects they've been telling themselves for years they want to do. Others have found that they really  don't  want to do those projects they've been talking about for years.  How I view and interact with the things that I value has really been reshaped over the  past few years of my life.  I continue to learn how to prioritize things in life and just when I think I've got it I'm struck by just how much  I don't got it . It's reminders like these which usually come in a time of forced rest often via sickness or injury  (s...

Occasionally, I have days of nostalgia. What induces them varies but they oft make me think of what change has come in the last semester, year, or other length of time.  This week it's triggered by the memory of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a year ago yesterday. I've had plenty, so I knew fairly soon that I had acquired another TBI. I learned a ton that weekend about caring for myself amidst the joy of others and the busyness of a conference. In the following weeks I learned how differently the brain is affected when you get hit from the opposite direction than your used to (all my other concussions were hits to the back of my head, this one was from the front/top). Hope came and went with the results each doctor and physical therapy appointment.  It's amazing to me how many expectations I set forth in my mind, not only with concussions, but with life as well. Whether expressly stated or held inside, I've always had plans, hopes, expectations. R...

Every year Facebook reminds me of this picture... My sister captioned it "Even when it's cold out, we pray."  This group of homeschoolers who attended the high school part time (some full time) would meet up every morning before classes to pray. We prayed for personal things, classmates, "hypothetical" exams, playing time on sports teams, the list goes on... Few of us are still in regular touch and I certainly don't see these folks daily. This is all part of the ebb-and-flow of life. But no matter where life takes me, I am so thankful for the foundation of faith and prayer these meetings laid for me.  People come and go from our lives, some stick close no matter the distance, others only in the spirit of Truth which we share. But every passing memory is a reminder of God's faithful support which is often given through the community he places around us. I've come a long way from who I was in this photo 5 years ago - some good, some bad ...

Every day marks a year from something. But it is important to have celebrations and ebenezer dates to reflect on where we've come from and where we've gone. Think about what you were doing a year ago today. I can't really recall the day's events, but I know where I was for New Years Eve night last year. I'd gone through a rough few months and was in need of grace and forgiveness - from myself. The Lord has blessed me with wonderful friends. Throughout the night, one of said friends sat with me, encouraged me, and let me cry. That was exactly what I needed in that moment. From that place, I began this year refreshed and renewed. So much has happened since then. Some good, some bad, some ugly. But all perfectly what God needed me to walk through. I've been so many places, met so many people. Said goodbye to some and hello to others. The only response I have is thankfulness to the Lord for his faithfulness and lovingkindness.  Not all of us colle...