In lieu of trying to belong to any number of societies: Chesterton, Sherlock Holmes, the Inklings, and so on: I propose and establish one of my own. Don your intelligence cap at the door; dust off your logic and imagination; did you bring your inspiration and encouragement? We are shapers, my friends; lit lamps; light-bringers. Bring quotes; poetry should be uplifting and thoughtful, or witty and clever, (or both). Humor is encouraged; laughter is invited back. Pull up a chair. Anyone for tea?

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This is glorious


try it with a nap I dare you
or write an epic poem,
or cry
it soothes my soul like I can't even explain
the gladdest sad music I know
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Are you ready for 2019?

Good morning, friends, and welcome to 2019. I'm off to work in a couple of hours, but I wanted to greet you all here first, and let you know a little of what I'm thinking about these days. Priorities change, so these lists might too. But I like to spark a little inspiration to get me started in January. I'd love to hear what your aspirations might be!

In the meantime, I'm wishing you a year filled with hope like dandelions, growth like a young tree, and light like the sunrise to shine into all the dark shadows.

19 Things I want to do in 2019 (no particular order):
  1. Adriene's 30 day yoga challenge
  2. Visit France
  3. Be a bridesmaid (my brother is getting married!)
  4. Do a ruthless closet-purge and home declutter
  5. Read 52 books
  6. Write more sonnets
  7. Illustrate my children's book
  8. Visit museums
  9. Make music
  10. Go ice-skating
  11. Make my own Oatmilk
  12. Host a couple of dinner parties
  13. Go cross-country skiiing
  14. Cook food from other countries (at least one country per month)
  15. Write a letter to my future self on my 25th birthday
  16. Watch Casablanca 
  17. Schedule time to do nothing
  18. Rearrange my furniture to keep things fresh
  19. Be a little more like Adaline Bowman

19 Things I want to fill my day with:
  1. Reading my Bible
  2. Learning French
  3. Dancing
  4. Drinking water 
  5. Green tea
  6. Crossword puzzles
  7. Impromptu yoga
  8. Classical music 
  9. Reading poetry
  10. Visiting parks
  11. Shane and Shane, and this playlist
  12. Good conversation 
  13. Candles
  14. All the music
  15. Quiet moments
  16. Laughter
  17. Uninterrupted study
  18. Brushing up on great artists
  19. Trust

My last list is a bit different. I know nothing about Chakras; I've only heard them mentioned in passing when doing yoga. But I saw this simple breakdown of them (on Pinterest I think), and thought it made an excellent model as I pray for my new year:

7. To Know 
6. To See 
5. To Speak 
4. To Love 
3. To Act 
2. To Feel 
1. To Be Here 

So I've elaborated:

7. To Know the goodness of God to my very marrow. 
6. To See the blessings and glories gifted to me in each daily moment.
5. To Speak life over the people around me, and myself; to build each other up.
4. To Love without fear (I have a laundry-list for this one, so I won't elaborate here) 
3. To Act not only in service, but in the freedom of Christ, supporting others because I am supported.
2. To Feel joy in my going out and my lying down, when I sit and when I rise, because the hand of my Lord is on me.
1. To Be Here and be still, and know that it is enough to rest in God.


In this year ahead, here are some pillars to light our way into the unknown.

"Lay down your life, and find that you have picked it up. Fear no raging beast. Be light to the darkness, life to the dead, love to the loveless, folly to the wise. Wage your war, and tell only tales of laughter" 
-NDW

 "No man who values originality will ever be original. But try to tell the truth as you see it, try to do any bit of work as well as it can be done for the work's sake, and what men call originality will come unsought." -CSL

 "Until you conquer the fear of being an outsider, an outsider you will remain." -CSL

 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." -Jesus

 "The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become - because He made us. He invented us. He invented all the different people that you and I were intended to be. . .It is when I turn to Christ, when I give up myself to His personality, that I first begin to have a real personality of my own." -CSL

 'I don't know--I don't want to talk as much,' she said, denting her chin thoughtfully with her forefinger.  'It's nicer to think dear, pretty thoughts and keep them in one's heart, like treasures.  I don't like to have them laughed at or wondered over.  And somehow I don't want to use big words any more.  It's almost a pity, isn't it, now that I'm really growing big enough to say them if I did want to.  It's fun to be almost grown up in some ways, but it's not the kind of fun I expected, Marilla.  There's so much to learn and do and think that there isn't time for big words.' -LMM
"To love is to be selfless. To be selfless is to be fearless. To be fearless is to strip enemies of their greatest weapon. Even if they break our bodies and drain our blood, we are unvanquished. Our goal was never to live; our goal is to love. It is the goal of all noble men and women. Give all that can be given. Give even your live itself." -NDW
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