Tag: link up

Faith · Uncategorized

Burden: Five Minute Friday

The Ameri Brit Mom7 Comments

Happy Friday!

Every Friday I love to join other Christian writers over at Five Minute Friday where we gather to share inspiration on a similar prompt. This week the prompt is Burden.

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NIV)

If you are anything like me…

It’s been a long week and each day seemed to bring a new burden of its own. You’re scared of moving forward because with each step a new devastation is thrust your way. So instead of moving–you stand paralyzed with feet fitted to the ground and a load as wide as an elephant on your back.

In many ways 2018 has found me this way. Like a deer in the headlights I’ve been caught off guard a time or two and been unable to move. The fear, loss, and hurting that I’ve faced have lightened by the passing of time, but every new burden gets cast onto the ever growing pile accumulating on my shoulders.

At times I’ve been so focused on the things weighing me down that I’ve forgotten that my body was not created to take that on. No wonder I’ve been struggling with anxiety…I’m dragging the world’s largest trash bag of junk, but God is the only one who can lift it.

We can find help in physical rest, but until we give our burdens fully to God we will never feel lighter.

I don’t have to wait until 2019 for healing. I can let go today. In fact, my knees are bending now and my hands are opening and as I approach the throne of God I know He is waiting for me to give it all up.

The Ameri Brit Mom

Faith · Uncategorized

Potential: Five Minute Friday

The Ameri Brit Mom3 Comments

Every week I like to jump in on the prompted fun over at Five Minute Friday. It is here that I am able to link-up and meet other Christian writers from the blog-o-sphere. Every week our host, Kate Motaung, gives a prompted challenge and each of us that choose to participate must write for five minutes on that topic. The final post is to be unedited and a raw account of your writing. This week the prompt is Potential. Here is my post:

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I have the potential to do a lot of damage with my words.

The things I choose to pass from the dormant floor of my mind to the living world through the passage of my lips can destroy others quicker than it took those words to form on my tongue.

I possess a tool that when used just right can pierce the heart of another.

And it is because of the great danger that lurks within me that I must keep my focus on the good.

That same mind that births the dagger of words can also produce life-giving fruit.

The place where those words are shaped mirrors the condition of my heart.

When I’m seeking the right things like beauty, encouragement, and goodness then the objects of my pursuit come out in my words.

But when I choose  to sulk in the darkness and give my mind permission to linger in the negative the things that spill from my mouth are not good.

Whenever I cross paths with another they will be affected by the shape of my heart.

Lord, may I never forget that the impact I make with my words is a direct reflection of what is going on inside of me.

May I always be aware of the influence my heart possesses.

For there is life in the words of the faithful.

The Ameri Brit Mom

Link-Ups · Uncategorized

Complete: Five Minute Friday

The Ameri Brit Mom2 Comments

I’m really looking forward to this week’s link-up with Five Minute Friday. I’ve had a tough week and knowing that I can plug in with a family of positive writers is exactly what my soul needs. Every Friday we gather at Five Minute Friday and create short posts on the same topic. This week the topic is Complete. It’s a hard one when I’m feeling fractured in so many places this week.

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The road before me is so unclear.

I tread each step with strength and fear.

The fog surrounds me as I drop to my knees.

It’s only there where I am complete.

 

I’m worn out from pushing through.

It’s not easy to talk to you.

But if I’m honest it’s what I need.

Lord, help me pray. Make me complete.

 

My heart is aching.

My hands are reaching.

I’m in need of healing now.

There’s so much hurting.

And it all surrounds me.

I want to help, Lord, show me how.

Link-Ups · Teaching

Crowd: Five Minute Friday

The Ameri Brit Mom5 Comments

Here I am…another week of showing up late to the party. I had the best of intentions to post before school on Friday, but a six-month-old had her own plans for my morning. So here I am, Saturday afternoon, in my office space, drinking in the silence of a resting household and joining my crew of positive writers over at Five Minute Friday. This week the prompt is Crowd. Here is my five minutes of uninterrupted, unedited writing:

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My eyes follow the crowd of students gathered in the hallway. Glancing from left to right I catch a glimpse of half a dozen wanderers. Our vision locks if only for a split second, but that time tells me all I need to know.

Some of those eyes crease to smile back at me. Some drop straight to the floor. Others quickly glance away pretending that they never locked with me in the first place. It’s easier that way. If they can pretend no one saw then they don’t have to share that pain they carry like the backpack on their shoulders.

But I see through all of that.

Those who want to be seen–I see you. I celebrate all that you are and I dream for you and all you will be.

Those who look down–you are not just another face in the crowd. You are special and I won’t let you slip through the cracks.

Those who pretend that they didn’t see me–I know the weight of this world and I can help you bear it.

May the students I come in contact with every day know that they are cared for and loved. May they know that though they stand in a crowd that they are one-of-a-kind. May they fight the urge to look away. May they let our glances meet for a moment and may my heart say a prayer as eyes meet.

The Ameri Brit Mom

 

Faith · Uncategorized

Five Minute Friday: Reflect

The Ameri Brit Mom3 Comments

This week the topic for the Five Minute Friday link-up post is Reflect. What is a link-up? Essentially a link-up is when you join other bloggers and write on a similar topic. You share your blog posts with one another and begin conversations via a host site. You can head over to Kate Motaung’s page to check out other entries from inspired bloggers. Here’s my five minutes of uninterrupted, unedited writing on this week’s topic:

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Back in March I published a post entitled, Stop Thinking, where I expressed the importance of periodically reflecting on life and the direction you are headed. With those same principles in mind I am going to challenge you to take some time this week and truly reflect on where you are and how well you have met certain goals set for yourself.

I know for me it can be difficult to find time to reflect, but it is essential to becoming better in every area of life. Reflection can also help us to re-prioritize a life that may be unbalanced. And since my blog is all about my balancing act (or lack thereof) I think it is wise to spend some time today in reflection of who I am. Thanks, Kate, for providing me motivation to slow down and reflect. I am going to be vulnerable and honest as I reflect on my faith, family, friendships, and writing progress.

Faith– When it comes to my faith lately I’ve been letting things get in the way of my time with God. I need that time like I need air, and so it is evident when I’m not taking time every day to pray and read my Bible. I never neglect that time intentionally, but I’m guilty of sometimes putting it off til right before I go to bed and then falling asleep before I get a chance to dig in. It’s time for me to take back my time with God and pick up my Bible and declare that I WILL spend time in the Word EVERYDAY! (Even if that means sacrificing a few minutes of sleep) I’m looking for a good Bible Study and a female companion to help hold me accountable to seeing it through daily.

Family– Things are going well with the family. Lately, we’ve been  re-prioritizing and taking inventory of the things we have committed to by examining the motives in making those commitments. Every day I look forward to going home and spending time with my family. Arianna is at such a fun age where she has become a human sponge. She is growing and changing at such a rapid pace that I know some big decisions are coming up in the future. Pre-school is on the horizon and in order to make that work in our schedule some things will need to change. We are taking time now to pray and seek wisdom in several areas as we continue to grow and mature as a family.

Friends-Of all the areas I’m reflecting on I feel like the friendship realm of my life is where I’m lacking the most. It’s been hard to spend time with friends like I should with the distractions of the holidays and with being so busy at home. I love my friends dearly, and I hope to have time to reconnect with many of my friends over Christmas break.

Writing-As far as writing goes I’ve found myself in a bit of a funk. Things are going decently with my novel writing (only about four chapters left to go!!!), but I’m finding it hard to find time to write regularly each day. I’m in need of a jump start in the creative writing business. Oftentimes, I find that reading a good, motivational book helps out with that lack of creativity so I’m on the hunt for a good book. Please let me know if you have any recommendations.

The benefit of reflection is that it helps us to set solid goals for the future. Solid goals are those that hold you accountable to a timeline for achieving said goals. Based on these reflections I’ve set the following goals for myself:

  1. Find a Bible Study and a female companion to study with by the end of the year.
  2. Make a decision about pre-school for Arianna and send in applications the first week of January if the decision is to send her.
  3. Schedule a time to get together with friends before the new year.
  4. Start reading a motivational book about writing by January 1.
Link-Ups

Five Minute Friday: Free

The Ameri Brit Mom2 Comments

What is a link-up? Essentially a link-up is when you join other bloggers and write on a similar topic. You share your blog posts with one another and begin conversations via a host site.

This week the topic for the Five Minute Friday link-up post is free. You can head over to Kate Motaung’s page to check out other entries from inspired bloggers. Here’s my five minutes of uninterrupted, unedited writing on this week’s topic:

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After two and a half weeks abroad visiting with my husband’s family I returned to my home today. Our journey home was anything but ideal. The woman who checked us in for our flight in London registered our baggage incorrectly. We were able to board our flight to Toronto just fine without the error being detected, but once we landed in Toronto the mix up surfaced. We were held in customs for over an hour. The process of getting through to customs was chaotic and at that point we had been traveling approximately fifteen hours. We were tired, hungry, and ready to proceed to our final flight. This hold up nearly brought us to tears. Eventually the problem was solved and we were able to make our final flight from Toronto to Columbus. By the end of the day we had been on the go for 23 hours. It wouldn’t be too bad had we been able to sleep on the flight, but traveling with a toddler doesn’t always allow for that luxury.

So what does all this have to do with being free? The feeling I felt the moment the key turned in the lock of our front door at about midnight was freedom indeed. I absolutely enjoyed our trip, but nothing beats returning home. Our beautiful cat was more than happy to see us. We were greeted with his snuggles and purrs.

Freedom is sleeping off jet lag in your own bed. It is waking up to your long lost Keurig and brewing your favorite cup’o’joe. Freedom is the feeling I get when I step in the kitchen and cook dinner for the first time in over two weeks.

We were blessed on our trip overseas to be with people we love in a place that is our second home, but we are now free to enjoy our little corner of the world once more. The hold up in the airport made me even more grateful to be back in my home, in my neighborhood, in my city, in my state, in the beautiful country of America. Land of the FREE.

Link-Ups

Five Minute Friday Link-up

The Ameri Brit Mom3 Comments

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I am taking a new step in this whole world of blogging. For about a month I’ve been researching link-ups and how they are valuable in growing your blogging community. Essentially a link-up is when you join other bloggers and write on a similar topic. You share your blog posts with one another and begin conversations via a host site. After the idea of joining a link-up was decided upon I sifted through so many groups and topics that closely resembled my blog personality. I settled on a link-up called Five Minute Fridays. From what I can tell this link-up values faith and writing. Two things that speak so much to my soul. Each week the host of the link up (Kate Motaung) posts a topic and those joining the link-up write for five minutes on that topic. I’m really excited to get going in my first ever link-up. I hope to meet many new bloggers who share my passion for both writing and faith. Blogging is such a blessing and has taught me to be courageous in so many aspects of my life. So without further adieu…my first link-up:

Topic: Dream

When I was younger I used to dream of this. I remember closing my eyes and picturing the life I have now. I wanted to be happily married with a family I’m crazy about and doing something I love for a living. For so many years I worked so hard to achieve those things for myself and here I am. Life is better than anything I could have ever imagined.

My husband is a great guy who keeps me laughing and on my toes at all times. He may get a little crazy about basketball sometimes, but let’s face it his passion for his dreams push me toward my own. He is a great dad who is always supportive and present. I love having the same schedule so that we can be so active together in the life of our daughter.

In my early dreams I don’t know that I would have thought I’d be a mother of an almost three year old by my twenty-fifth birthday, but sometimes God’s plan is better than my own. I can’t imagine life without my inquisitive and fun-loving toddler. She makes me smile and adds a little more purpose to each day.

I recently finished my fourth year in my current teaching position. I’ve been so richly blessed in this profession and I’ve grown and developed so much in that short amount of time.

Some days I know that I lose sight of my dreams. I get hung up on the day-to-day mundane tasks and forget that this is the life I waited, trained, and studied for. The last thing I do every night is take a look at these dreams that I’ve accomplished and I say a little prayer of gratitude. Life is nothing if we can’t dream. And dreaming is believing that you can do it. At times, my dreams go unrealized, but that’s when I remember that God is a bigger dreamer than me. Sometimes those dreams line up and other times I have to trust that His are better than mine. It’s such a blessing to reflect and see in hindsight how God was dreaming divinely even when I couldn’t understand it.

Keep on dreaming!