Chasing Dreams

Monday Motivation

Published on August 21, 2017August 21, 2017 by ElainaLeave a comment

Julia Child, foodie, My Life in France, find your passion

It’s Monday! Julia Child’s, “My Life in France” is one of my favorite books. If you’re looking for a good kick in the pants to help you move toward accomplishing your goals, this is a great place to start. She’s inspiring!

Julia Child had a career working for the U.S. government. It was her vocation, not her passion. She didn’t unearth that passion, until much later, as she settled into life in France.

This John Rohn quote may sound like it doesn’t relate, but it does, “If you don’t like where you are, move. You are not a tree.” If your passion isn’t intersecting with the rest of the stuff you have filling your time, move something. Move yourself. Prioritize differently. Any which way you look at it, discovering this passion and then dedicating yourself to pursuing it, is only up to you.

I’ve finally figured that out {only took me a couple decades}.

#MondayMotivation #GoGetIt

Advice from Oprah on Trying & Failure

Published on July 17, 2017August 12, 2017 by Elaina1 Comment

Oprah, Oprah Winfrey, dreams, leap of faith, trying, failure

A few years ago, I ran into the image below on Pinterest. I immediately added it as a profile photo on Facebook. I could not even help myself. It’s adorable but also a reminder for us dreamer types. To keep pressing forward, we have to believe in our abilities and in the rightness of the journey (see what I did there), in the first place.

0636a1f4bd742b272354cc054dbaa541

I jumped into the fire in June, by becoming an indie author. My first novel is called Chasing Hope. I’m not sure I was ready. But knowing how I am, I’m so glad I jumped when I did. I’m not sure time would have better prepared me. It’s far more likely that I would have found a multitude of reasons why I shouldn’t publish my novel.

Now that I’m a month into this process, I am not selling as many books as I would like. There’s a temptation to let that discourage me. I certainly felt that a few times this weekend. But this is just a distraction from the main point . . .

I took a leap of faith. Now is not exactly the time to stop believing.

Duh.

Like with anything, when you take a big risk, or at least what feels like a big risk, you hope to see some reward. That’s a no-brainer.

Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it. – Oprah Winfrey

But some of our reward comes from choosing to step out in faith in the first place and then not giving up. No, really. If you’re not trying, of course you’re not failing. If you’re not trying, you’re never going to accomplish those big dreams of yours.

But taking those steps of faith, whatever they are, are part of the joy of the process. It’s thrilling (really) to do something you’ve dreamed about for decades. It’s actually thrilling.

The thing is, I might fail at this.

There are moments that I care about that. But most of the time, I’m just so excited that I’ve become more focused on finding my way to success. Keep in mind that whatever it is that you’re aiming for, jumping into the fire is not just your first step to success.

It’s actually your first reward along the way, too. Not everyone takes these leaps of faith. Many like to talk, dream, or think about it and yet, they remain fixed and focused on the potential for failure. Their focus on the potential for failure keeps them mired in the same spot.

But, I can tell you that the joy (mixed with a little fear and trembling) that comes from stepping right smack dab into a dream, is the best feeling ever. It has taken me long enough. I hope you will jump in, too.

Feel like jumping into the fire, with me? What’s your big dream?

Fearless

Published on July 9, 2017August 12, 2017 by Elaina1 Comment

Be fearless in pursuit of what sets your soul on fire. – Unknown

Are you looking for that push you need to chase your dream? There is encouragement everywhere if you dig a little. But, sometimes we need a dose of reality. The truth is, when you embark on that journey to pursuing the dream, there are roadblocks along the way.

I know! Who wants to hear that? But, the journey to the place we most long for – living out our calling or following hard after those dreams – is hard work. People talk a lot about walking through open doors. The idea being that closed doors indicate you’re on the wrong path. Oh hell no. There may be times you have to crash through that door, with all the strength you’ve got left.

Open doors aren’t always an indication you’re in the right place. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m convinced that you will encounter more roadblocks and closed doors when you’re on the correct path. Life is weird. But one thing I’ve learned the last 41 years, is that life isn’t easy.

There might be quick-steps to success. There really might. But I haven’t found them yet. What I know for sure is it takes a great deal of hard work and single-minded focus to get where you want to be. But . . . here’s the thing, to get through the roadblocks and challenging moments, you have to be fearless.

And I do mean fearless.

We all know the definition of fearless but I still looked it up. The word intrepid was used to describe fearlessness. Intrepid. What is the actual definition of intrepid? It’s “resolutely fearless; dauntless.”

Resolutely fearless. Dauntless. Fearless. If you’re pursuing that which sets your soul on fire, the ish is gonna get real. You’re going to struggle. There will be challenges. There will be setbacks. If there wasn’t, you wouldn’t need that fearlessness, now would you?

If you watch Game of Thrones, I hope (haha) one of your favorite characters is Daenerys Targaryen. That right there is fearlessness. Daenerys knows her calling. She knows her rightful place on the throne. She knows what her birthright destined her for.

But what has been in her path these last six seasons? Well, six seasons of struggle. Six season of a rocky journey towards her destiny. Season seven starts soon and since it’s the last, I think we shall soon find out if her pursuit is all in vain.

But, however it turns out, Daenerys Stormborn is a warrior set on one end. The odds aren’t stopping her. She stepped into her destiny, is working through the roadblocks, and refused to back down.

For you – the fight will be there. You will need to climb some mountains. The question is, how bad do you want this dream of yours?

How bad do you want it?

I let fear hold me down and hold me back for decades. Literally decades. My path isn’t yours. I have different dreams than yours. I have different obstacles. But obstacles I have. You probably will too.

But I’ll tell you this right now, pushing past the obstacles and fear makes the beauty of what lies beyond, that much better.

Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire, friend. Be fearless in the face of opposition, closed-doors, and struggles.

Be fear-less.

Nothing Will Fall Out As You Expect

Published on April 16, 2017June 10, 2017 by Elaina1 Comment

“Nothing will fall out as you expect. Your guide will keep to no beaten path. He will lead you by a way such as you never dreamed your eyes would look upon. He knows no far, and He expects you to fear nothing while He is with you.” – Streams in the Desert

I’ve been reading the Streams in the Desert devotional on and off for many years. I don’t read it everyday anymore. Sometimes I open it on the exact day, in the exact moment, that I need to read it. Today, I opened it to the April 16th entry and it met me right where I’m at.

Nothing has happened like I expected and certainly not how I “planned.” There are days when this overwhelms me with grief. Today started off that way. It’s a holiday. That usually happens on holidays. I watched a video on Facebook {this one} and that threatened to take me a little further down the path to being overwhelmed.

I cried. I’m not going to lie. I started to wander down that ugly path that takes me to the inevitable end: wondering why it is that this life I’ve always wanted and dreamed of still remains so far off. Usually when that happens I don’t come back very quickly or easily. It takes me awhile to work my way back from the hurt.

But something different happened entirely. The sadness happened for the briefest of moments. And then I turned my thoughts towards what God has for me. The questions were there . . . why is what I want so far off? Why do You – God – keep all of this from me?

Something stirred in me though. Something different. The reminders of what I don’t have, were met with reminders of those who clung to hope, and their faith, long after it made sense to do so. The verse that goes along with the April 16th devotional is Hebrews 11:8. Hebrews 11 is always described as the faith hall of fame, in one way or another.

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. – Hebrews 11:8

Whether it was Joseph {his story always means the most to me}, Abraham, Sarah, or Moses, yjey clung to promises long after reason and logic would tell them to do so. They didn’t know where they were going. They didn’t take hold of the promise within an amount of time that seems reasonable {to me anyway}. And yet, they held on.

Holidays are always the hardest. I miss what is missing {obvi} and on these days I fear that it will always be this way. But today, against reason and logic, I know it won’t be. I know I’m just gearing up for the next adventure. My prayer today has been – lead me to the next adventure, Lord.

I’m ready.

Foster Care Adventures – Part Two

Published on October 17, 2016October 17, 2016 by Elaina1 Comment

October 2015, a little guy hung around at work, for a week or so. On Wednesday of that week, he “helped” me work. He sat on my lap, we hung out with friends, and then he played with my calculator & drew with my pens. He feel asleep there at my desk, in my arms, and I worked around him {not so successfully}. I lost my heart. I think about him all the time. Mostly because he was part of the journey {part one anyway} that I finished tonight as my foster parent training classes came to a close.

He was a reminder of everything I’ve always known about who I am and what I was put on this earth to do. He was the happiest boy. I saw him the following week and he “talked” all about the book he had with him. I will never forget this sweet boy. And I’m grateful for how God used him to remind me of what I’ve always known.

Throughout the last 11 weeks or so, I’ve grown more confident that though there is more work to be done, there isn’t anything I’d rather do more than provide a loving home for kids.

So with part one complete, I’m on to the next part of this crazy adventure. I don’t know who my first placement will be. I don’t know his or her age, name, or background. But God does and He’s already put me on this path to cross his or her path.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” James 1:27.

Hear My Prayer

Published on September 26, 2016September 26, 2016 by Elaina2 Comments

I spent some time on Sunday reading the profiles of waiting children. These are the kids who are waiting to be adopted – their parent’s rights, now terminated. Through thirteen pages of results, I was struck at not only how simple their hopes and requests were, but by the handful of children who do not want to be adopted. They’re still hoping for and holding onto the dream that they’ll be reunited with their family. How heartbreaking.

As I looked through the profiles, I felt drawn to some of the pre-teen an teen girls – thinking of how how hard it must be to enter such a tumultuous time without a family to provide you with stability, love, consistency, boundaries, and a place to come home to someday. I have a feeling I will enjoy {and probably go crazy too} having pre-teens and teens in my house. In spite of what will surely be crazy making moments, how amazing to know you’ve provided that to a young man or young woman that would other wise “age-out” of the foster care system, without an anchor to anything that is theirs and lasting?

But event still, I dream and hope of a baby. Of more than one baby. I try to pretend it’s not there but it is. I want a baby, people. Every time someone announces they’re pregnant, the ache grows. Every time {which is a lot} that a new baby is born in my squadron, the ache grows. My home and heart is open to all ages, races, and needs. But oh how I want a baby. I’ve wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember. So rather than deny it, I’m just living with the desire and hope.

Hoping God hears my prayer.

Dreaming

Published on July 12, 2016July 12, 2016 by Elaina3 Comments

One of the hardest things to face, for me as a childless woman {who doesn’t want to be}, is the longing that is deep down, in the deepest part of me, to be a mother. As life has marched on, over the years, when the desire surfaces, I have had two reactions – sorrow and grief or . . . I stuff it down, far down.

I have always wanted a family. I never imagined that I would turn 40 and still be without that family. For reasons I don’t want to explain fully now, I made choices that brought me here. Except I didn’t realize at the time that’s what I was doing. My career the last six years has been my sole focus. And prior to that, while I can’t say it was my sole focus, it took an inordinate amount of my time.

I made those choices. But I wasn’t actually intentional. I didn’t see then the cause and effect. I threw my life into work because I don’t do anything half-assed. But, I also didn’t feel fulfilled personally so I found fulfillment at work, particularly after a relationship ended. In the wake of that experience, I moved across the country and jumped in to work in a small desert town and made the families I served, mine. But that started a cycle that brought me here. Here. I’m not where I want to be, here. A few months ago, I was filled with an incredible amount of grief because I thought the only way I was going to get to this dream was thwarted.

But as I mentioned last time, I came to a place where I decided it’s time. I decided it was time regardless of my expectation of how it should happen.

When I made that decision, I let myself daydream a bit for the first time in ages. Recently, I bought some clothes for a couple of kids I know. Standing in that store, making those decisions about what to buy was a tiny reminder of a simple thing parents do all the time. It was a sweet joy. I spent way too much time in that store.

Last fall I had a tiny boy spend some time with me over the course of a couple of days, at work. He was a baby really, but smarter than heck and the most joy-filled kid I’d met in years. He babbled. He scribbled with a pen, on scrap paper at my desk. He tried desperately to play with my keyboard while I answered e-mails. And then he fell asleep in my arms. Do you know what a gift your sleeping kiddo is, mama? What a sweet joy those moments were. So normal and every day.

I have allowed myself to think about moments like those in recent weeks. Those are just two examples of many. I’ve wondered about the first child who will step across the threshold of my home. For the first time ever, I let myself think about how wonderful it would be to have a baby in my house, or a five-year old. Or a big kid who wants a little bit of normal they’ve missed out on for the past ten years of his or her life.

What a sweet joy this has been. I am allowing myself to dream, without the sorrow of lost years, for the first time in ages. It’s a beautiful thing. It won’t be easy. But it is my dream.