The Love Project 2014: Grand Adventures of 2014

Last December, Jesus told me that my car was going to die. And die she did. She died hard...

It was one of the best things to happen in a long time.

Why? Because the adventures began when Lucy bit the dust.

And as I sit here and reflect over 2014, I wonder why it seemed more packed with adventures than other years.

Maybe it was the push to get outside my comfort zone.

Maybe it was because Jesus dumped love on me ALL THE TIME.

Maybe it was because I was looking for the awesome to happen.

Regardless of the reason, 2014 was an epic year, and I am pretty sure that 2015 is going to be even more fabulous, filled with grand adventures and shenanigans.

I thought it would be fitting to use photos to reflect over the past year. 

But, Facebook.... no  offense, your year in review is crap.

You limit my pictures and give me no place to tell awesome stories... #solame

And so I march to the beat of my own drum - per usual.

In no particular order and in every sense of the word awesome, I present...

 Elizabeth's Grand Adventures of 2014

It's always good to start the year with #SuperHeroFriday

Which morphs into this....

And closes out the year with this..... And yes, our staff meeting was Super Hero Themed. And there were capes. Lots of capes.

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If you travel to Vegas with your bestest, you should always wear Minion hats. Always.

When visiting Jessica in Cali, make sure you visit grand museums, eat sketchy Thai food and have a spiritual awakening at TBN.

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When your sister comes to town, you should ALWAYS practice your duck face and find Captain America..... Because, you just should.

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If you find yourself without a car, and the bus system decides to fail you, be creative.

Then tweet about it...

Because if you do, U-Haul might just put your photo on the side of 64 trucks that are currently in 58 cities across the USA..... #uhaulfamous

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Speaking of the bus.... I met some pretty sweet folks and overheard some seriously disturbing conversations.

Once again, the MS Walk blew my mind and got me super pumped for next year!

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At the beginning of the summer I enrolled in a program that will certify me as a holistic health coach. I am halfway through the program and I am totally stoked to see where this path will lead me!

Two of my dear sweet friends got hitched this year, and being apart of their special days was incredible!

Meet Penelope Rue #nuffsaid

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I get to work with the most fabulous people ever, for the best organization ever and with the best department ever! Life is awesome!

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Also got to see not one, but TWO oceans!

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And my beautiful 97 year old great grandmother <3

Ending it all with a white Thanksgiving and some epic time with my best friend.

As I timeline my year with photos, I am totally blown away with how many cool opportunities the Lord gave me this year. 

He totally blew my mind on so many different levels.

He loved me through some really challenging moments. He gave me laughter when I needed it most. Comfort when my heart was hurting. Lightness when the reality of life was bringing me down. And hope for the future.

Because no matter how crazy life gets or how complicated we make it, HE always brings light, laughter, hope, adventures, shenanigans and whatever other term you use to describe your life.

Why?

He loves us. 

Always has and always will.

Happy New Year Everyone - it's been incredible!

#theloveproject2014

The Love Project 2014: Salad, Poinsettias and a Prayer

Christmas Day 2014 is winding down to a close. I am sitting on the most comfortable couch in the world, eating cheezy gluten free noodles and watching “Man of Steel.”

My phone rings.

It’s my landlords.

I should interject they are basically the cutest EVER.

Because, this morning they brought me a plant and were singing “Merry Christmas” to the tune of “Happy Birthday” as they came down the stairs.

***kill me with all the cuteness***

Tonight they offered me leftover salad and dibs on any and all veggies in their fridge since they are going on vacation.

They also asked if I would I water their poinsettias. Of course I said yes.

Better yet, how about they bring them downstairs so that I can enjoy the plants for them while they are away? So, they brought them down and helped me put them all around the apartment…

***Seriously, can these people be any more adorable??***

Before she left, I shared with Mrs. M about my mission’s trip, asking her for prayer. She asks to pray for me right then and their.

Talk about feeling the Holy Spirit come down and wrap you in a fuzzy blanket….

I started to tear up as she prayed, because I realized the loneliness I had been feeling all day long was being soothed and comforted in a most unexpected way.

When we talk of loneliness, we so often think of people who have no one. But I have family. I have a lot of friends. Wonderful, inclusive, delightful friends.

I also have an incredible job, and all sorts of shenanigans and grand adventures on a fairly consistent basis.

And at the end of the day, I come home to an empty apartment.

Sure, I get to watch whatever I want, eat when I want and choose NOT to fold my mountain of laundry.

Most of the time, it’s kind of nice.

Then at other times, being alone makes the loneliness really glaring and super uncomfortable.

The thing about loneliness? It is not a respecter of persons. It strikes all of us.

(It is also not a respecter of living status. You can feel lonely while being alone or while being surrounded by crowds of people).

So the Lord and I chatted about it. The loneliness thing.

I also talked to one of my mentors about it yesterday.

I came to the conclusion that allowing yourself to feel lonely isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

In fact, in can be a really healthy place to hang out.

I used to avoid the feeling.

I would pack my life full of duties responsibilities, people, jobs and projects in order to avoid feeling the pang of loneliness.

Now, instead of filling my empty hours with tasks and to do lists, I embrace feeling lonely.

Even if I don’t want to. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Especially if it’s uncomfortable.

But why? 

1. It’s normal. We all feel it. Single or not.
2. It is an area of anxiety for me, and I want to overcome it.
3. Jesus and I have some pretty epic prayer parties when I camp out here.
4. It causes me to be really honest with the Lord about my life and the direction it’s headed.
5. It’s one more avenue through which Jesus shows me His marvelous love.

This year has been a year of Jesus showering me with love. Showering me with the affirmation that He wants, desires and delights in me.

He does it in crazy, creative and sometimes random ways. But it is always evident the love action is from Him.

Tonight it came to me in the form of salad, poinsettias and a prayer.

Christmas can be a hard time for a lot of people. A lonely time, a painful time and a trying time.

So tonight, seek HIS heart and ask Him to overwhelm you with His love.

He will do it. Because He loves you. Always has and always will.

Merry Christmas Everyone!