The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.  -Emily Dickinson

A client shared this hopeful message with me today, forcing me to change my outlook.  So often my thoughts are absorbed by all that is wrong in the world.  All the inequity--the tragic accidents, the strategized deeds of hate, the ignorant prejudices.  Today, I saw a bright smile, a strong woman, and grace.

I have you in my heart.

You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.
~Frederick Buechner

Waiting.

I am on the edge of tears. My mind is unfocused, scattered, swirling. One image is haunting my mind. I see people, lines of people. Pablo. A face among the crowd. All waiting to find out if the endless amounts of work and money and emotion sacrificed to preparing their immigration case will end in positive results. Or, was it all in vain? We shall see.

Read this!

Regardless of your background in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, this book is a must read. It offers insight and understanding to the three faiths by exposing the reader to the the three authors' relationships to their own and each others' faiths. An excellent way to begin thinking about what faith means to you and how your ideas about faith color your perceptions of the world. Check out the website for more information! www.thefaithclub.com

La familia

While my birthday wasn't the best (bad day at work, no celebratory plans, etc), I was reminded of how cared for I am by my friends and family. I was especially touched by mis suegros... How wonderful it was to recieve calls and birthday wishes from my fiance's family. Yesterday I realized that a wonderful part of my life with my fiance Pablo, is the relationships I gain in being a part of his family. As we continue on our path towards a life together, we both can rest in the fact that not only do we have each other, we have our supportive families.

I think love changes the way we think.
It's the thing that takes you out of what your normal set of beliefs would be.
~Jodi Picoult

A Weekend Full of Wisdom.

That’s what I will call visiting with my grandparents these last four days. These four people are excellent role models in leading lives of hope and faith.

First I visited with my mom’s parents in Duluth, Minnesota, where my grandpa has recently undergone open heart surgery. His sense of peace going into the operation was a testament to the life of faith he leads. He said the only things that mattered to him in the moments before surgery were his God and his relationships with family and friends. This comes from a man who has worked hard to build a successful and comfortable life for himself and his family. Which proves that relationships are what life is truly about. Sitting with him the hospital, visiting with my grandmother, making phone calls to family and friends regarding his progress, taking the time to make connections and foster loving relationships makes hope and faith possible.

I also cherished the one on one time I had with my grandma. She and I have grown to have a very open and confident friendship. With my grandmother I can share my doubts, concerns, joys, and accomplishments. I can tell her how in love I feel and the challenges I face in my daily journey. She is a wonderful listener and enthusiastic conversationalist. In turn, she shares with me her thoughts, stories from the past, and lessons she has learned over her lifetime of adventure with my grandfather. I treasure every moment of these exchanges, hoping to emulate her spirit that is open to learning and full of love.

Only together we can.

"If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time; but if you are here because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together. "
Lilla Watson

Welcome.

Welcome to my journey.

In the present moment, life is revealing to me alot about the meanings of hope and faith.  I thank my family and friends for being teachers, listeners, advocates, and supporters as I grow and change. Here I plan to share my personal experiences along with snippets from others that inspire me. I invite readers to share their own stories and inspirations for leading a life of hope and faith, despite the adversities we may face.

With peace.
Amanda