yesterday at work when I should have been finishing an expense report or cleaning out my email inbox, i came across some great blogs and craft sites and couldn’t be stolen away.  i was so intrigued by what i saw that my brain started swelling (not really but creatively-crazy!)!  i started making a list of some of the cool sites that i found and hope to one day go back and look at (when i am not working) again (which I am sure I will, I have already saved some as my favorites!)

check, check, check it out:

www.stitchaustin.com

http://creativelittledaisy.typepad.com/

www.blog.freepeople.com

http://www.theheadsofstate.com/

http://www.thesmallstakes.com/

http://jansdotter.com/

http://www.smallthingsdesigns.com/

http://angrychicken.typepad.com/

http://www.poppytalk.blogspot.com/

I am spending my week soaking up the sun in the Dominican Republic,spending time encouraging and enjoying converation with my friend Christy.  Christy is spending the year teaching history at Jarabacoa Christian School.  Jarbacoa is a village in the campo, as it is refered to by the locals, or in our language, the country.  It is nestled in between a valley of moutains.  The climate is humid but mild.  There is a lovely breeze that lingers in the room at night as I sleep. 

On Saturday past, Christy and I journeyed towards the playa.  On the map it appears that the beach is a lot closer than it really is.  A journey that began at 11am did not end until 5pm.  After several gwa gwa’s, motor bikes, taxi’s and luxury buses we made it to Hotel Kaoba.  A small boutique hotel managed by a European. The accomodation was clean and well, accomodating.  Our room over looked a bay that was full of sugar cane and egrets.  You could taste the salt as you stood on the balcony.  After we each picked our bed, we happily but our bags down and made our way promptly to the beach to enjoy the happy hour specials.  Our first stop in Cabarate was a nice resturant on the beach.  The resturants were smooshed in a general area on the beach so it made it easy with making a decision.   

We made our way to the small table by one of the resturants.  I ordered a pina colada to celebrate my vacation, while Christy ordered a glass of white wine.  It was a breathtaking view to lookout over the ocean and see kiteboarders and wind surfings sliding around on the surface of the ocean.  It was paradise!

I must admit there is adrenaline in learning something new when you are in another country.  You have somehow become the master of taking the motorbike taxi and actually getting where you need to go.  Or perhaps you have excelled at lighting the propane range without catching yourself on fire or even gracefully won over the pump on the water bottle. Its in these experiences that you realize the heartbeat is loud and strong of the world.  It radiates hope, pain, encouragement and creativity.

So although my journey on the gwa gwa from Cabarate and Sosou felt like an adventure, it really is only a piece to a complex and gigantic puzzle that connects misshapen worlds, cultures, and genders together.

So today, as I sit reflecting on how I am going to take this experience back to the United States with me, I think of the little boy that sits by me at the concert or the woman standing outside the house begging for money, I am reminded that it is compassion and humbleness that I believe God has called me to.  He has ordained me to be a grace give, as he extends grace to us, his children.  I can look around and life seems hard here, but its life and it is lived passionately, gracefully and intentionally as Christ would want. I am reminded that I need to live my daily life experiencing ‘the adventure on the road to Sosou’.  I need to approach my life with just as much excitement, compassion, humbleness and wanderlust as I had on embarking on this trip.  

We often meet up on the northern side of the building, as our dogs are running to find their favorite marking spot. His eyes are curious and gentle as we greet.  Often only having small talk, it is small moments when his words speak to my soul as if they are speaking of something so wanted and so hidden about my future.  “You will get married one day honey, I am sure of it.”  His confidence warms my soul for a second.  He has prophecised this celebration twice now.  His words of hope speak to that hidden place in my soul, that sit in secret, hoping that is in my future.

God I want to trust you with my heart!

So in my own journey innto singleness-again, I am discovering a new sense of adventure, beauty and creativity unlike I have in a while.

It is the  start of a new year and I reflect on the past year and explore the possiblities for the future.  My mantra for 2008 is that it would be the year of submission.  Submission is a scary word and to a educated christian woman that word has many negative attributes.  However, I have decided to embrace the word and what it means to me in my journey as a woman and in my relationship with Christ. 

So here goes…a new chapter, a year of submission, a time of healing, the unfolding of a new adventure, the captivating beauty of God and his people and the unexplainable and often misunderstood world of creativity.

So in my new found chapter, singleness is the topic that has most been shared among my cohorts of late.  As some of us move into singleness again, and some of us wrestle with this familiar territory, it is a place that is often seen in a negative light. I have read countless articles and even had numerous conversations with both sexes on the issue.  In coversation, I am realizing both men and women struggle with our own issues on the topic.  I and many other often believe that our friends grass is greener than ours or their life is better than ours.  But is it, really?  Don’t get me wrong, at my core is a real desire for marriage and family but I believe God has other plans for me at the moment.  I could scheme on how to meet the perfect guy or even how to be the perfect woman but I am not sure that is what God wants for me.  So in my own exploration of my own identity as single woman and what it means to submit to Christ, I have begun to unfold something beautiful and worth being celebrated!

I have made a list that I believe are things you can do to celebrate the single life.  They are in no particular order but are things I have experienced.  They have all brought great joy into my life.  I challenge you to find the joy of being single!

 1.  Adopt a pet.  I recently adopted a little sheltie/spaniel mix from my local shelter.  I had looked online quite a bit and  researched different breeds.  The application for adopting a pet seem rather dauting to me.  My friends that I shared my desire with, often reminded me of how it would change my single, often selfish, life.   Well I must say they were right! It has changed my life but definitely for the better.  My new pup has been a great addition to my life.  He has offered unconditional companionship unlike no one other.  He is always excited to see me and loves to snuggle.  My new friend has brought deep love and healing into my life.  He has definitely helped me with being okay with being alone.  

2.  Go on a road trip.  I suggest going on an adventure with some good girl friends.  There is definitely something said for getting out on the open road and experiencing a new place.  I have had some of the best times in my life when I have gone on mini vacations with my favorite gal pals.  Try it….live the life of adventure!

3.  Get a mani and/or a pedi.  There is nothing like relaxing at the salon on a Saturday, having someone tend to your every needs, rubbing your feet or arms.  I have been told by friends that are mom’s that they would love to have this time.  As a single woman we are lucky, we can spoil ourselves whenever we want!  Get your best friend and spend a Saturday pampering yourselves!

4.  Volunteer.  As a single person you have more freedom to volunteer at various non profits and charitable organizations in your community.  Volunteering is a great way to meet other people and also to impact the community and the world we live in.  Volunteering can bring such joy into your life.  There are many opportunities, so get plugged in!

5.  Travel abroad.   Why wait until you are married or retired to travel abroad, do it now!   I think this is a great way to enjoy the single life, see new places, meet new people and expand your horizon of issues going on in the world.  Spend a week or two on a mission trip, or volunteering or just traveling around.