Update: New Blog!

I’m so excited to finally have my own self-hosted blog! I’ve been blogging over here at Blogger since November 2011, and I thought it was time to get serious and have my own domain name. This is definitely one way I wanted to dream big this year! I’ve been working hard to redesign an all new BeEmbraced.com, and I hope you enjoy it!

I won't be posting on this site anymore, so please head over to BeEmbraced.com for all future updates, thanks!

What brings me joy (Plus a granola recipe worth rejoicing over)

Grilling out for lunch on a snow day...
The warm sunshine spilling out from between the blinds after a week of snow...
An encouraging conversation with a friend that lasts two hours...
Watching a client's eyes light up with realization during a coaching session...
The taste of sweet-n-saltiness in my morning granola (see recipe below)...
All these things and more bring me joy.

I experience joy in the small, unexpected graces of every day and also in the big realizations when I am fully living into who I was created to be.

Yet it's not necessarily these things in and of themselves that bring joy but rather the recognizing and paying attention to them.

When I go about my day and eat that same cereal as a means to end... 
When I ask the same coaching questions as a sense of responsibility not opportunity...
When a date with a friend runs long and I view it as throwing off my schedule... 
These prevent joy. 

Instead, it's the change in perspective that brings the joy. 

As author Ann Voskamp says, the height of our joy depends on the depths of our thanks. "As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible." 

Yet so often I start the day with expectations and standards, and then I'm only thankful or joyful when those are met. 

What if we stepped forward into our day expecting nothing but uncovering joyful moments? What if the only expectation that we had was the expectant hope found in Christ?

"I always pray with joy... being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:3-6). 

As the footnote in my Crossway ESV Bible says, "The joy that Paul calls for is not a happiness that depends on circumstances but a deep contentment that is in the Lord, based on trust in the sovereign, living God, and that therefore is available always, even in difficult times." 

There is deep joy found in living out the mission that God has called you to and abiding in His every day graces.

To celebrate the every day small joys, here's some pictures of the snow day last week and a delicious new recipe for granola. (Despite John initially joking that the granola was "birdseed," he actually loved it and ate it for a snack every day.)

Grilling out on snow day last week

The parking lot to the zoo by our house.
I wasn't overly joyful about the snow itself, but John being home this time
and taking an evening walk in the snow together were reasons to be joyful.

Sweet and Salty Granola

I based this recipes off of Bon Appetit's granola but then made it my own.
Serves 12
Ingredients:
3 cups oats
1 1/2 cups chopped nuts (I did a mix of walnuts, cashews, and almonds)
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
2 Tbsp. flax seeds
2 Tbsp. chia seeds
2 Tbsp. black sesame seeds
1 egg white, beaten
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup warmed coconut oil
2 Tbsp. light brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup mix of raisins and golden raisins

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Combine oats through sesame seeds in a large bowl. Add in egg white, honey, coconut oil, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. Toss to combine.
3. Spread out evenly on a rimmed baking sheet, sprayed with cooking spray.
4. Bake granola, stirring every 10 minutes, for 30 minutes or until granola is golden brown. 
5. Remove from oven and let cool for 30 minutes.
6. Stir in raisins and store in an airtight container.

Today I'm linking up with Holley Gerth's Coffee for Your Heart

Twitterature: 3 book reviews, Twitter-style

Since the New Year, I've finished reading three incredible books in three very different genres. I recommend all of them, but if I had to choose, start reading The Ocean at the End of Lane now and you won't be able to put it down.

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Twitterature: book reviews Twitter-style.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman 
Genre: Adult Fantasy/Fairytale 

Back at his childhood home, the narrator replays fantastical adventures with his next-door neighbor. Leaves you thinking: what is reality?  

#AlreadyWantToReRead

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
Genre: Historical Fiction/Epistolary Novel

An author visits her pen pal, finding quirky, book-loving friends & a sobering perceptive of WWII’s German occupation of Guernsey island.

#Charming #WantASequel

You're Made for a God-Sized Dream by Holley Gerth
Genre: Christian Non-Fiction

Through encouraging words and memorable messages, you’ll discover the big dreams God has planted in your heart & courage to pursue them.

(Also- You can print out questions and exercises to go along with the book from Holley Gerth's website.) 

Do you rest after work or work out of rest?

We wake up and immediately think, "I didn't get enough sleep." As we rush to get ready and head out the door, we're already thinking how there isn't enough time to get everything done that we need to do today. And it's only 9am. We live in what researcher Dr. Brene Brown calls a "culture of scarcity."

There is never enough (whether time, money, accomplishments, etc.). And by default, we are never enough.

What if instead we changed our perspective?

On Saturday, I wrote about the need to shift our gaze and take in the whole picture in order to gain a better representation of who we are and to recognize our growth. This perspective change is the same for other areas of our lives too.

What if instead of resting after you work because you're exhausted, you work out of your rest because you're energized? Author Ann Voskamp includes a "daily stillness appointment" as a part of her 25 Point Sanity Manifesto for the New Year. She says, "For 5 minutes midday, be still and cease striving... Slow down: You only pass by this way once."

It can appear to be merely semantics, but changing your perspective can result in noticeable differences. When my coaching clients set goals, I often have them reword their action steps to change the perspective from a negative to a positive.

For instance, do you have a daily thought of "I need sleep because I'm exhausted," or "I need to sit quietly because life is so chaotic"? These can be true statements, but what if you reworded them and said instead: "I am going to bed earlier so I can wake up energized for the day ahead. I am going to meditate because it will refocus me for the remainder of the day."

Rather than living out of never having enough energy or time or space to recharge, you live out of what do you have. You recognize that no matter what is going on in your life, you're going to be ok because you already are enough.

Today, stop and consider: Are you fueled by what you lack and are rushing around, trying to make up for the deficiency of time, energy, money, etc?

Remind yourself:
You are not alone in feeling this way.
You are more than your To Do list.

You can dare to live out your dreams when you live out of the place in your heart that brings you energy and restores your soul.

Today I'm linking up with Holley Gerth's Coffee for Your Heart

Encouraging words for a hard day

The snow in my backyard melted in patches, the greenish brown turf poking through snowy footprints. I was amazed at how little snow had actually melted until I looked to the far right of our yard. Green grass with only remnants of yesterday's snowflakes spread across the yard.

This shift in perspective is similar to our development: In bits and pieces, part of the new you shines through the patches. If you only look at the covering - the parts of you that haven't changed into fertile ground for growth - your perspective would be wrong. You'd fail to see all of the new developments and areas of growth that have taken place inside of you.

Without looking at the whole picture, you limit your understanding of the truth.

When I am having a hard day, it's often because I'm only looking at snippets of a situation. I make blanket statements, like the snow blanketing the ground, about my lack of growth or how unfair a situation is or all the reasons something isn't right.

At these moments, I need someone to remind me to step back and get the whole perspective. Where are the green patches, the opportunities, the things that are going right?

Sometimes others can see growth in you before you recognize it yourself. But other times people will make blanket statements or assumptions about you that don't take the whole you into account. 

Remember: you are not others' perceptions of you. But you're not your own perception of yourself either. 

Only our Maker, the one who is able to see the entire picture, the Alpha and the Omega, only He has the correct perception of you: Daughter or Son of King. Redeemed. You can see this whole picture when you realize you are made whole in Him.

As a She Reads Truth devotional states, "It means I am a new creation, renewed daily by His grace and mercy." We're already a new creation yet we're also continually being made new. Keep this encouraging picture in mind next time you're having trouble seeing the bright patches in your life.

Today I'm linking up with Holley Gerth's Coffee for Your Heart

What I ate during #snowmageddon & other adventures

With the temperature getting to 60 degrees today, it's hard to believe that almost a week ago my backyard was covered in snow. Thankfully, last Tuesday, I got back from the grocery store just before the snow started in Atlanta, so I hunkered down inside and weathered the storm fine.

John was in Memphis last Tuesday for what was supposed to be an up and back business trip. When his return flight got cancelled, he and his coworkers tried to drive back. After getting to Birmingham and realizing there was no way they would get home in "snowmageddon," they turned around and drove to the nearest hotel that had available rooms, which landed them in Athens, Alabama. Thursday afternoon he made it home safely, and we were just thankful he was "stranded" in a hotel and not on the road for 20 hours like many people. Despite John having no change of clothes and using whatever toiletries the hotel had on hand, we weathered the storm just fine. (And no frozen or burst pipes this time either: success!)

On Wednesday, I ventured outside with some friends and went sledding in the park with their Flying Saucer. It was lots of fun, evidenced by my smile in the picture below. Though not being able to steer, I ran into a tree about three times... all part of the adventure!

About to hit the tree...

Since I was stuck at home alone, I made two hearty meals that lasted me the week. One was a variation of my avocado quinoa, which is a staple in our house and a favorite of John's. Once John returned, I served this with cod topped with a salsa. The other was a sweet potato and butternut squash sweet and spicy stew.

Before I get to the recipes, the other notable occurrence in our life was watching Chuck, our great friend from middle/high school, get recognized in a Super Bowl commercial! Budweiser threw Chuck a surprise parade and celebration for his homecoming from serving in Afghanistan as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot. John even made a cameo in the commercial around second 28... so I suppose even though he wasn't home the week our pipes froze/burst, it was all worth it since he was in Orlando at that time, attending Chuck's homecoming parade! I can't think of a better person for Budweiser to have surprised and honored than Chuck. He is truly inspirational, a wonderful friend, and an incredible leader. We're all so glad to have him back home! Check out this Fox News interview of Chuck to see his genuine humility.

John's one second of fame :)

Now onto the recipes...

Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Sweet and Spicy Stew

I baked gluten free bread, which was an excellent addition for the stew.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

3 small sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed

1 - 2 Tbsp. olive oil

Salt, pepper, and dried Italian herbs to taste

1 onion, sliced

1 Tbsp. olive oil

2 cloves minced garlic

1 jalapeno, diced with seeds

1 cup red lentils

2 cups chicken broth

2 Tbsp. sunflower seed butter (or peanut butter)

1 -2 cups kale

1/2 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

Fresh cilantro for topping

Preparation:

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Toss sweet potatoes and butternut squash with olive oil and salt, pepper, and dried Italian herbs, to taste. You want enough to top each piece but not be covered. Lay out sweet potato mixture onto a baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes.
2. While sweet potato mixture roasts, heat a Dutch oven over low-medium heat. Add in olive oil and onion. Caramelize the onion for 25 minutes or until browned.
3. Remove sweet potato mixture from oven and let rest. Add in garlic and jalapeno to onions. Stir for 1 minute. 
4. Add in lentils and chicken broth. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and cover. Let lentils simmer until softened, about 12 minutes. 
5. Add in sunflower seed butter and stir to combine into soup. Add in kale and chickpeas, stirring until kale wilts. Add in sweet potato mixture. 
6. Let simmer for 10 minutes then remove from heat. Top each serving with fresh cilantro. 

Avocado Quinoa

I've been making this recipe for a while now, but the version below is my new and improved recipe.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups quinoa 

3 cups water

3 small avocados, mashed

1 tomato, chopped

3 green onions, chopped

1/2 red onion, chopped

1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

2 bunches cilantro

2 jalapenos, diced and with seeds

Juice of 1 lime

Dash of paprika

Sea salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

1. Rinse quinoa under cold water. Cook quinoa in 3 cups of water according to package instructions.
2. Once quinoa is done, remove from heat and into a bowl. Add in avocados, mashing with a fork to combine into the quinoa. Mix until quinoa is coated and avocado is fully mashed.
3. Add in remaining ingredients, expect spices. Stir together. Add in spices, tasting as you go until it's the right saltiness/spiciness.   

Cod with Yellow Pepper Salsa

Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 cod fillets

1/4 cup corn meal

Salt and pepper

1 Tbsp. dijon mustard

1 Tbsp. maple syrup

1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 yellow pepper, diced

1 cucumber, peeled and diced

1/2 onion, diced

Juice of half lime

2 tsp. olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Cilantro for topping

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix salt and pepper (to taste) with cornmeal in a shallow bowl. Coat cod pieces with cornmeal mixture. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and put cod onto the baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until done and cod flakes easily with a fork.
2. While fish cooks, whisk together dijon, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil. 
3. In a separate bowl, combine yellow pepper, cucumber, and onion. Drizzle with olive oil, lime juice, and salt/pepper to taste. Toss to coat.
4. When fish is done, place a fillet on each plate and drizzle each fish with dijon dressing. Top with salsa and fresh cilantro.

A tree in a snowstorm

On the tree outside my window, squirrels jump onto snowy limbs and a cardinal perches just long enough to collect white dots on its red feathers. The tree's trunk divides the white landscape in two and its branches stretch into the snow-speckled sky. For a Florida girl (an even for a now-Atlanta girl) this is a scene to soak in.

In the nearby park, parents show little ones snow for the first time. Children (and adults!) sled down the same hills that I ran over the day before. Yet here in our backyard, the quietness of this beautiful landscape almost feels lonely.

It's often the same feeling when you're pursuing a dream. When there's lots swirling around you, the chaos can be disorienting. Standing strong like the tree in a snowstorm sometimes feel solitary.

I want to encourage you today that you're not alone.

Whatever dreams are tugging at your heart are there for a reason. The road will be bumpy but just take it all in. See the beauty in the chaos. Reach out your limbs and share your dreams with those close to you.

And let the Light illuminate whatever covering you're hiding behind. Keep soul-ly stretching toward your One focus. He planted that dream in your heart, and others will rejoice in seeing the Ultimate Dreamer in you.

Today I'm linking up with Holley Gerth's Coffee for your Heart

Warms meals, cold nights: 2 new recipes

Out of one of my favorite books of last year came one of my favorite recipes so far for this year.

Shauna Niequist's Bread & Wine recipe for Real Simple Cassoulet cannot be beat. I wasn't even sure what a cassoulet was before I started making it, so John and I were curious to see how it'd turn out. It ended up being a delicious, hearty, sweet dish that is perfect for a cold night. It's easy enough to make, serves a lot, and would even be a wonderful dish to serve for a casual, winter dinner party. Here's my take on it:

My take on Bread & Wine's Real Simple Cassoulet

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. olive oil

4 links pre-cooked Italian chicken sausage (my favorite is Trader Joe's), chopped

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 onion, thinly sliced

3 carrots, peeled and diced

3 parsnips, peeled and diced

1 tomato, chopped

1 Tbsp. tomato paste

3 cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

1 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/8 tsp pepper

3 cloves garlic, minced and divided

1 cup gluten-free bread crumbs

1/4 cup parsley, chopped

2 Tbsp. European butter, melted

Preparation:

1. Heat a dutch oven over medium-low heat, add olive oil and onions, stirring occasionally until they are almost caramelized. 
2. Once onions are done, add the sausage, chicken broth, vegetables, beans, thyme, salt, pepper, and 2 cloves of minced garlic. Bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat to low and cover. Let simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
4. Heat oven to 400 degrees while cassoulet simmers. 
5. In a bowl combine the bread crumbs, parsley, butter, and 1 clove of minced garlic. Sprinkle bread crumb mixture over top of cassoulet.
6. Place cassoulet in oven and bake uncovered for 10-15 minutes or until top is golden.

For Christmas, I received the new Smitten Kitchen cookbook, which has gorgeous photos. Some of the recipes seem a little complex at first glance, but the one below is very easy and tasty. It was the first one from the cookbook that I tried, and it's a keeper. While Smitten Kitchen's photo is so much more beautiful, these tacos were still delicious!

My take on Smitten Kitchen's Spaghetti Squash and Black Bean Tacos

Ingredients:

1 large spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeds scooped out

Juice from 1 lime

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp sea salt

Corn tortillas

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1/4 cup chicken broth

Dash of cayenne pepper

1 link precooked Trader Joe's jalapeno chicken sausage, diced

1/4 cup white onion, diced

4 ounces crumbled queso fresco, optional

1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves

Preparation:

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place squash, halved side down, on an oiled baking sheet. Cook for 40 minutes or until done (soft enough to scoop insides out).
2. While squash cooks, add beans, onion, sausage, chicken broth and a dash of cayenne, pepper, and salt to a pot. Let simmer, covered, until softened about 20 minutes.
3. Once squash is done, let it cool slightly then using a fork, scrape the squash flesh into a bowl. Discard the skin.
4. Wisk lime juice, chili powder, cumin, coriander, and salt together in a small bowl. Pour over squash and toss together to coat.
5. Assemble tacos by placing beans, squash, cheese, and cilantro on top of tortillas. 

Wisdom from a chocolate: How you spend your days determines how you live your dreams

If you're a Dove {dark} chocolate lover like me, you know the excitement of unwrapping the chocolate, careful not to tear the tin foil. The chocolate is creamy, rich, and delicious and the message on the wrapper makes the sweetness linger a little bit longer... even if most of the messages are a tad dramatic or trite.

Yet as I savored a Dove chocolate the other day, the wrapper's message stood out. It simply stated,

"Engage, embrace, enjoy."

It caught my attention because it included my blog's namesake, but then I began thinking how the message actually included some wisdom. I love when unexpected people, places, or things reveal something to you.

I think the saying stood out because at this time I was setting up the dream jar that I received for Christmas. I was considering my focus for the New Year and how I wanted to be intentional with my days because how you spend your days determines how you live your dreams.

Engage.  What dreams for your life have been planted in your heart? How do you desire to add value to this world?

• First engage yourself with those ideas. Why do you have these dreams?   
• Then engage others. Who can help you with your dream? Who can you bring on board to your vision so that it becomes their own as well? Who can hold you accountable to the work that will precede the dream? 
• Next, engage your calendar. How will this dream come about? What daily or weekly actions do you need to take to realize your dream?

Embrace. If you're like me, I have many dreams that I feel drawn toward. Which one(s) are you going to embrace right now? Some dreams are for a season so which one is for this season in your life? 

• Remember, even though it's your dream, it won't always be easy. Be embraced by the journey.
• Remember why you're pursuing your dream. Keep your focus on the reason (the past journey that led you to the dream) and on the vision (the future journey where you are headed). This focus will keep you motivated in the present.

Enjoy. Since we live in a broken world, paths to your dream will be blocked. People will oppose your ideas. This confusion can often lead to doubt, which can produce despair. Instead:

• Celebrate the successes along the way. One practice that I want to implement is a time of reflection at the end of every week. Marking your accomplishments (however small) will prevent time from blurring together and will show you what traction you are making toward your dream. 
• Celebrate that you get to work toward your dream. Be grateful for the opportunity to dare greatly.

Being fully engaged toward a dream, embracing it as your own, and enjoying the roller coaster journey will make you stand out in only the best way possible. Because not many people have the courage to embark on a journey after their dream. Many will stop halfway. But your engagement with and excitement over your dream radiates through you, and this makes you beautiful.

Today I'm linking up with Holley Gerth's Coffee for Your Heart

Don't let your To Do list define you

As I was reviewing some coaching blogs this morning, I came across a question that I thought would trigger some interesting discussions: "If I gave you an extra hour every day, what would you do with it?"

When I try to answer this question for myself, I get overwhelmed. There is so much I'd want to fit into an extra hour every day. Part of this dilemma is probably attributed to my top strength on StrengthsFinder 2.0 being Achiever. I derive a lot of satisfaction from being busy and productive. This is the double-edged sword of your strengths. 

With an extra hour, I'd see more friends throughout the week, I'd write in my journal every day, I'd experiment with more recipes, I'd brainstorm ideas for a book, I'd go on a date night with John, I'd have our neighbors over for dinner...

All of these things are good and are pursuits that I desire to fit into my schedule in 2014. But I can't possibly fit all this into one hour, or one day for that matter.

This simple question made me pause to consider my response to how I do spend the hours I have during they day. Oftentimes, if I don't accomplish all of the things on my list, I feel like I haven't made progress on my goals. The start to 2014 has felt like a whirlwind, and I've noticed this thinking creeping in. 

After returning from Florida, I needed to get the house in order, organize, put away Christmas decorations, and start making plans for leading my small group, catching up with friends I hadn't seen, and spending time with John. I also wanted to stay on top of my goals, make progress on my business, and intentionally write more. These are all things that I enjoy, but I felt overwhelmed with my growing To Do list. Then the freeze and broken pipe hit, putting everything on pause for most of the week. So this week feels like playing catch up instead of being proactive. 

But then I read this from Holley Gerth: "You can be free from continually pursuing more and yet never feeling like enough." 

And I wanted to encourage you (because I need to give myself this encouragement!) that you - and I - are more than a To Do list. I think it's important to set goals and track your progress, and in fact I wrote a blog post about this today over at Student Launch Pad. But tracking your progress doesn't mean you should be defined by your productivity. Measuring your progress helps you stay on top of your goals that will hopefully lead to a transformed life. But you are not the measure of your progress and shouldn't measure yourself based on how much you accomplish in a given day. Again, I'm writing this more for it to sink into my own soul and to fully remember that you and I are deeply loved. 

Neither accomplishments or lack of accomplishments can add to or subtract from that love.

Today I'm linking up with Holley Gerth's Coffee for Your Heart

Frozen Pipes & Fit Friday Circuit Training

Like most of the country (except Florida I'm looking at you!), Atlanta had freezing temperatures this week. With John out of town, I relied a lot on the generosity of neighbors and friends (and my dad on what he started calling the "Home Helpline") to deal with frozen pipes. When one burst underneath our house, friends came to the rescue to help me turn our water off (thankfully Dad had told me what tool I needed to buy ahead of time). Another friend let me shower at her house and everyone was offering their assistance, homes etc. I'm so blessed by our community here!

With John calling our builder, the plumbers who did our house originally were able to come repair the pipe that day. Since I had a class that evening, my next door neighbor stayed up until 11pm after I got home to help me turn my water back on and test everything out. I'm happy to report that as of now everything is working properly and there seems to be no damage! Plus, I'm very thankful that John is home now too!

Although I had no time to exercise while dealing with the house issues, this cold weather in general has encouraged me to switch my workout routine to the indoors. Plus, I received some awesome workout equipment for Christmas! Take a look at my workout room below, updated with an exercise bench, kettlebell, new shoes, a bosu ball, and new workout DVDs.

To test out my new bench, bosu ball, and kettlebell I did the following workout:

Here are links or explanations to the exercises:

Side to side bench steps: Stand with left leg on bench. Reach right leg to the right to touch the ground. Swing right leg behind standing leg to touch the ground on the left side of the bench. That equals 1 rep. Repeat on the same leg for 12 times then switch legs.

Lunges with bicep curl: Lunge forward on your right foot while curling your bicep. Step left foot forward to lunge with the left leg while curling your bicep. Repeat 15 times per leg.

Push up and curl in on stability ball - Watch the first video on this link. I added a roll-in after the push-up by drawing my knees toward my chest then rolling the ball back into pushup position.

Step up on bench with shoulder press - I left the curl out and went straight to the shoulder press

Kettlebell bench row - The second exercise on this link.

Glute roll-in on stability ball - Fourth video on this link.

Swimmer on bosu ball


I hope everyone is staying warm and has a wonderful weekend!

My 2 Themes for 2014

Last January, I chose the words Grace and Courage to guide my year. Those words were nudged towards me until I took notice and embraced them as a defining narrative for my life. Throughout ups and downs of 2013, it was humbling to continue going back to those two words until they steeped inside of me. Little did I know how much I would rely on the encouragement and truth that they offered, especially as John and I battled through his health issues last year.

As I was reading an Advent devotional last month, I felt the Spirit prompting me toward two new themes for 2014. Remembering how much I relied on my Grace and Courage words from last year, I was hesitant to entirely jump on board with two new lessons. And yet, here I am declaring 2014 as the year to “Pray Big” and “Dare Greatly.”

Dare Greatly

The theme to "Dare Greatly" is influenced by my favorite book of last year, Daring Greatly. And ironically it is very connected to my word "Courage" from last year. As author Brene Brown says, "Daring greatly is not about winning or losing. It's about courage." 

Then when I read Holley Gerth's first Coffee for Your Heart prompt, I knew these were the encouraging words that I wanted the people I care about (you!) to hear as they begin a new year. 

I'm linking up with Holley Gerth's Coffee for Your Heart

Daring greatly in this new year doesn’t mean that I have to embark on a grand adventure in the world’s eyes. Instead, by intentionally seeking more of what God already has planned for me day-by-day, I will live His great adventure. As Holley Gerth says in her book You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream, “It’s not about what you do as much as how you do it. It’s about pursuing life with passion and purpose and going with God wherever he leads.”

What about you? Do you dare to grow in your desire for the daily adventures that God is calling you to? 

I want to encourage you today that wherever you are in life and wherever you spend your day, you can dare greatly right where you are. Join me in pursuing vulnerability over fear. In knowing your worth. In believing that you are enough. If we truly showed up everyday believing that we are enough, we could be excited about our daily opportunity to dare greatly. The journey would become a daily destination in and of itself in pursuit of ways to love others boldly and follow where the Spirit leads right where you are.

I'm starting to decorate my nook space upstairs. Welcome to my little writing area.

Above my writing desk, I've hung these quotes to reinforce my two themes.
Part of praying big will be memorizing Scripture with Ann Voskamp's project.
The other quotes are from Holley Gerth.

Pray Big

For me, I know that I can’t dare to follow the dreams God has for me without lifting up big prayers. I can't dare to love my neighbors, seek mercy and justice for the city of Atlanta, and joyfully work every day without praying big. Consider joining me in this too? And we can watch the powerful results when we take steps of faith, dare to believe we're already enough, and step out on this incredible journey.

What is your theme for this year? 

For a step-by-step process on how to turn your themes into goals and your goals into daily actionable habits, read my Student Launch Pad blog post here. 

The holidays in 13 pictures

Before I write about my dreams for 2014, I want to reflect on the blessings of this holiday season. I spent 12 days in Florida (hence being MIA from this blog) and think it's always important to pause and be thankful before diving ahead into the new year.

Our Christmas season started off better than last year's because we went straight to Lowe's for our Christmas tree instead of risking getting another "Devil Tree." (If you don't know what I'm referring to, then you can read about last year's debacle here.) We also had a fun White Elephant party with the funniest gift award going to our friend Will, who blew up photos of John's and my faces from 9th grade Homecoming and put them on ornaments. A close second was a life-size knight made of tin... it was a fun night!  

Before our White Elephant party, posing in front of our tree that is still standing: success!

Laura, me, Caitlin, and Amy  

The funniest gift

When John and I headed home, our time in Orlando was filled with family and friends, including many annual traditions such as candy making with Grandma Shack, a Shackelford family/friend reunion complete with an intense volleyball match, singing Christmas carols with Dad playing the piano, and riding in the truck bed to see the lights on Christmas Eve. 

Candy making with Amy and Claire

Post candy making with Grandma Shack

Bundled up before the truck ride

In addition to these traditions, we also had an incredibly fun night celebrating my 25th birthday (early) with a lot of high school friends. It was wonderful that so many friends were in town and that our families could be a part of the celebration too! The next day, I took Mom to the Orlando Ballet Nutcracker for her Christmas gift, and we enjoyed a nice dinner beforehand.

With John and Emma before my birthday dinner

A wonderful reunion of old friends

So blessed to have amazing parents and in-laws!

At dinner with Mom before the Nutcracker

Then on Christmas, John gave me an incredibly thoughtful gift. He commissioned my friend Becca to paint my poem Gathering Hope on a canvas. She's been working on it since October and I had no idea! Plus it's beautiful and I can't wait to hang it in our home. 

The day after Christmas John headed back to Atlanta for his work with the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Since he's always so busy that week, I stayed in Orlando and caught up with more friends. Aysha and Alex drove from Tampa for a short visit and it was great to catch up on the boat like past college times! My mom and I also had a wonderful brunch with Kim, Isha, and their mom's and again it was just like old times and so fun to catch up on everyone's adventures post-college.

Sophomore year of college to now: Aysha, me, and Alex

Senior year of high school to now: me, Kim, and Isha

After brunch with Isha and Kim, Mom and I picked up Dad and headed to celebrate my grandfather's 80th birthday. Despite having a bad cold, it was great to spend time with several family members. From lunch, Mom, Dad, and I drove to Vero Beach where we spent the night and next day before boarding Dad's new boat Rhythm 'n Blues. The weather wasn't sunshiney Florida, but I enjoyed sleeping, recovering from my cold, and finishing my third book since being back in Florida.

On the 31st we took the boat to West Palm Beach for an (almost) annual tradition of watching the fireworks. Watching the fireworks from the water gives us a front row view which didn't disappoint! And while trying to stay awake to midnight, we of course watched the Chick-fil-A Bowl. On the 1st I flew back home to Atlanta where John picked me up and took me out for a nice New Year's Day brunch... a wonderful way to kick off 2014!

Fireworks from the waters of Palm Beach