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How do I keep finding myself in these situations? Am I an adrenaline junkie? Or am I just a little off in the head? I thought the last time I got on an airplane was the craziest thing I'd ever done in my life. But what I'm about to do tops even that.

What tops moving to a third world country in Central America for three months? Well, how about a 10 day trip to an Eastern European country that you can't spell and almost can't pronounce? Yep, I'm about to go do that. And I'm not going with a group of people either - just one other traveling buddy to guide me through this experience. Yep, I'm going to do that.

I would be lying if I told you that during the entire planning time for this trip, I was super excited and ready for action. I was nervous. I was pensive. I was scared at times. I'd never been anywhere in Europe, except in history books. I don't speak any language even remotely close to anything they speak over there. This is an Eastern European country that was tormented throughout much of the world wars, and even now, being threatened by other countries.

Where was my destination, you ask? Ukraine. Uzhhorod, Ukraine. Now I'm sure at some point you may have heard about it on the news since there's war and unrest in the country now. But my calling to go visit this country was before all that. Just before...as in a few months prior to its making national news. I had no idea where it was on the map, let alone think I may have stamps in my passport from this nation.

But here I was, on a huge international plane, where they are giving all instructions in about three languages before English. What was I doing? What was I thinking? Big deep breath. Another. One more for good measure. I've got this. Do I? Chicago to Germany to Budapest, Hungary by plane. Then a taxi across the boarder to Ukraine. Layovers and taxis and luggage, oh my!

It was at moments like these, when I was deep in second (and third) guessing myself, that I had to reach down deep within me to remember why I was heading out on this daunting task. This wasn't a mere vacation; this was a culmination of everything I'd been learning up to this point in my life. And it was time to sink or swim. Or fly...

I knew this trip was the right thing to do. Many had tried to persuade me otherwise. I had even had to wrestle with my own self-doubts. But I knew that I knew that I knew that this was what I was suppose to be doing with my life in this moment. This was the time, and I was on that plane. And you know what, I had the time of my life, was challenged beyond belief, fell in love with an entire portion of the world I never knew existed, and it actually helped me launch my iPhone photography business! It was incredible!

But, in order to get on that plane, and the next one, and the next one, I had to face my fears head on. What if I got lost? what if my bags got stolen? what if I failed? What if...Every time one of those pesky statements scrolled across my brain, I had to meet it head on. Not with a whimsical, "Oh that won't happen to me" attitude, but with a resolve that no matter what happened, I knew I was suppose to make this trek. I am smart, I am resourceful, and I have a big God watching my back. And my luggage. I had to rely more on my faith than my fears. Faith in God, faith in this mission, and faith in myself.

We all have to face times like this. You may not be getting on an international plane to travel halfway around the world to gallivant down streets where you can't speak the language. But we all face those moments in time where our faith is one one side of the balance, and our fears are on the other. And a decision must be made. The fears may be real or perceived. But face them. Stare them in the face. Eat them for breakfast. Put them to the test, and you may find they were the only thing holding you back from greatness, from your destiny. I have decided, one choice at a time, to stop letting fear hold me back from living life.

Sometimes that's flying around the world, sometimes that's simply choosing to let go, to forgive, to eat the healthier option. We all have fears. We all have faith. I challenge you, in whatever you are facing today, choose to let your faith be bigger than your fears. Because you were meant for so much more! Don't let anything hold you back from being all you, all present, and all amazing!

Photo taken with iPhone 4, October 2013, flying over Europe.
Copyrighted Reflections of Revelation.
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Sometimes I struggle with being an artist. It is challenging to put your heart out there, to spend all that time and energy and emotion into something, and not know if it will be accepted, rejected or worse, ridiculed.

Partly because of these fears, I have lived most of my life in a neat, organized, analytical groove. Neat and tidy, colorcoordinated, a place for everything, is part of who I am. I enjoy this part of me, truly I do. I know where that file is because I saved it in three places, including a hard copy in the red folder. The purple notebook contains my study of this or that. The blue box contains art supplies. I could go on and on, for this is a happy place for my brain to live. But this is only part of who I am.

As much as the administrative side of me loves color coordinated office supplies, the artist side of me loves color period. This artistic, wild, free, creative part of me has not been completely free to roam and explore and create as it should be. It is not that this part of me is less than, or an elective; on the contrary, without this side of me, I would be less alive.

The problem is that the production value I place on either side of me limits how much art I create. It's not neat, it's not tidy, it's not cut and dry, and it may never be perfect. There is a lot of emotional investment involved. There may never be an outside value placed on it. It may never be appreciated, useful, or needed. It may never make me money, bring me prestige, or get me a promotion.

But, when I stifle this side of myself, I am not keeping the peace, like I think I may be. What I am doing is actually crippling the entirety of who I am. When I only write report documents, and stop writing creative documents, when I choose to only collate spreadsheets and not spread paint or glue on a canvas, when I put down my camera out of fear I haven't picked up my computer enough, I am shutting down the artistic side that fuels the fire of creativity.

See, there's a difference between "here's a part of my brain, I got this done" and "here's a part of my heart, how do you feel about it?. And that second one is a lot scarier to put out there than the first. Showing someone my brain makes me feel intelligent, in control, and societially relative. Showing someone my heart makes me feel vulnerable, out of control, and messy. It's a fabulous place, my heart, but it's complex, deep, dark, and mysterious. And since people tend to judge what they don't understand, and shy away from messy, emotional whatnots, it appears easier to fit in with administrative skills than with artistic ability.

But I wasn't made to fit in, but to stand out. I was made with a fiery passion to create, to fill this world with emotion and color and rarity. It takes a special brand of boldness, from deep within, to choose to share the vulnerable, the messy, the mystery. I cannot deny the creative parts of myself, for they lay the foundation for the more orderly ones. Everything has a place so I know where my art supplies are. My file folders may be in rainbow color order (ROY G. BIV), but orange doesn't have to follow red on canvas if I don't want it to. That report document was created from nothing because I have the ability to create, and practice it regularly. The value I put on expressing myself emotionally needs to be just as important as the skill-sets I used to bring in a paycheck. Having an outlet to express and explore and create makes me a more well-rounded person, able to meet more life challenges and opportunities.

So I've been going on a journey this past year, owning my own inspirational iPhone photography business. And as much as I inspire and encourage others to be who they are created to be, I have to first inspire myself. Sometimes it's okay to get out of our heads and into our hearts. It's okay to mix color and sound and light and everything else. It's okay to balance both administration and artistry. Don't be afraid to let your light shine, in all sides of who you are. Because whether it has value to all of society, or just you, it matters, it has meaning, and it is important. Because you are.

Photo taken with iPhone 4, June 2013, Belize.
Copyrighted Reflections of Revelation.
www.reflectionsofrevelation.com
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So I know that life isn't always sunshine and roses. She doesn't always say kind words and do good deeds to us. Sometimes, she hands us lemons. And sometimes those lemons are too rotten to make lemonade. What do we do then?

I'm not some pie-in-the-sky, always smiling and happy kind of person. I'm passionate, yes, but I feel the gauntlet of emotions, powerfully. Some days the sun is shining, and some days the clouds are fiercely rolling through my sky. But, despite the way I feel, despite my circumstances, I know that the storm will pass, and maybe, just maybe, there will be a rainbow gleaming brightly in that darkened sky.

It happened just that way while I was living in Belize. The mango tree in this photo is one of the tallest on the property. It reaches high in the sky. And that storm, like my pensive self that day, loomed low and rumbly. The sky opened up and let us have it - a good, old fashioned thunderstorm in all its glory.

I was used to this type of weather, because I grew up in the Midwest. But here, in this part of Central, thunderstorms aren't so normal. Yes, they have rain and storms, but usually tropical depressions with mostly rain and wind, not the high level of thunder and lightning that this storm produced that day.

Inside myself I was doubting my decision to stay in this beautiful nation. It had gotten hard, and lonely, and I was unclear of my mission. I knew in my heart I could get through the hard stuff and the lack of clarity, but I just needed a sign that I had made the correct decision. I just needed something.

Then this storm blew in from seemingly nowhere. And I knew to hold on for the ride. My experience told me that there would be a rainbow-my sign. So I waited. And my patience was rewarded with a huge arc of color in the sky. And a few mangoes to go along with it, as the wind had knocked a few ripened ones down during the storm.

Sometimes we have to wait out the storms of life as well, looking for the clues that the sign is coming. Reading the situations, lining up the circumstances, pulling from past experiences, holding on for the rainbow at the end of the storm. Sometimes, just sometimes, when life hands us lemons, we need to toss them and let the storm shake the mango tree. We need to hold on, and look up, wait for the rainbow at the end of the storm.

Photo taken with iPhone 4, April 2013, Belize.
Copyrighted Reflections of Revelation.
www.reflectionsofrevelation.com
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There are so many definitions of beauty, it almost makes one's head spin. The world defines beauty so many ways, often contradicting itself. It's a wonder we have any sense of true beauty at all.

But there is something down deep, way down deep, that knows the difference from false beauty and true beauty. We must go on an adventure to discover what beauty means to each one of us. It's that moment that lights us up inside, that causes us to pause, stand in awe, and gasp in speechless wonder. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, if you think long enough. We've all had those moments in life.

For some, it's a dazzling sun rise or sun set. For others it's staring straight up at the tall skyscrapers in a big city. For still others, it is being surrounded by those they love. A picture, a child, even a river sandbank, all can cause us to to stop and reflect upon our definitions of beauty.

Beauty is mostly thought about from a seeing perspective; we see something beautiful and it causes emotions, thoughts, and processes to happen within us. But what about seeking beauty through our other senses? What about music that strikes a cord in our souls? What about kind words, filling our ears? what about the smell of our favorite food, perfume, or flower to cause us to reflect and ponder?

I think there is too much yuck and junk and ugliness in our world. I want to be an agent of beauty. I want my words, my deeds, my actions, my thoughts, to create beauty and inspire others to create beauty. A kind word, a nice gesture, a new piece of art, a new perspective on life - I want to leave behind me a path of beauty that others can find and share. I want to touch others at their core, creating a little individual beauty and shutting out the not so beautiful parts.

This yearning to create beauty is part of the reason I take photographs. Each moment in time can be a snapshot of redefining beauty. For example, anyone who lives along the Mississippi River could laugh when I say I think the river is beautiful. I mean it doesn't have the nickname the Muddy Mississippi for nothing! But that muddy water is part of my hometown, and part of my childhood, a part of me. Spending time staring at the rushing river from the shore, or cruising upstream in a boat, the river strengths me. The views from the middle of the river are unique and cannot be seen by all. There is a beauty unseen that must be discovered in the river, ever changing as the seasons that come and go.

Like this sandbar. This spot could have been underwater if the river had been high enough. But during this boating trip, it was beckoning to us to stand and walk its sandy edges. I could see my footprints being swept away by the current as I crept along. The sky was so bright blue, it reflected off the river's surface. The red metal train bridge and tall, H bridge loomed in the distance, strong in the background of the river. It was just such a warm, summer's day, that all had to be right in the world.

This "river rat's" view of beauty in that moment bubbled up within me, and joy poured forth as I snapped photo after photo of the scenes just beyond my camera lens.

Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. But I don't want to just behold beauty, I want to create it, wherever I go. Whether through the viewfinder of my camera phone, or from the lips of my mouth, I want to create true beauty in all forms, wherever I go. May this be my life long ambition - and perhaps inspire you into yours.

Photo taken with iPhone 4, September 2014, Burlington, IA.
Copyrighted Reflections of Revelation.
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Do you dream big at night, when your head hits that pillow? Or do you dream in the middle of the day, when you are stuck in the grind of life? Do you entertain thoughts of that big vacation, job promotion, or chucking it all to live the life you truly imagine?

The first step in fulfilling a dream, I believe, is actually believing it can happen. I have done some amazing things in my life, and some of them I couldn't have imagined until the opportunity presented itself. But once it did, and I knew it was right for me, in that moment, I clung to the belief that it was going to happen. Even when things got right down to the wire.

Belief is a big word, with many definitions. But to me, it is the security that I serve a big God, with the capabilities and abilities to see me through anything. It may seem silly to say, in this day and age, but it is the very core of who I am.

See, I have a list. People may call it a wish list, or a bucket list; it may take on many names, but it's a list of over-the-top things I want to do in my lifetime. Someday I'm going to do them. But someday is not a far off time that doesn't really exist; someday means it will happen, if at all possible. I don't dream dreams just to entertain myself - if it's in me to do, it's going to get done. I don't know when, I don't know how, but it's going to happen. And I'm going to have an incredible story to tell when it's finished!

One of those such stories is how I ended up at the Grand Canyon, and before that riding in a hot air balloon in Arizona. I had just finished attending an amazing, life-changing weekend conference, that pushed us to the max, showing us our strengths and weaknesses, among other things. At this point in my life, I wasn't too adventurous, and I was really timid about much of my life.

But I decided I'd had enough of timidity and fear holding me back. I was built for me. I craved more. And I was the only one who could step out in boldness and make the change. So I did. But you will laugh at me at how I did it.

I decided to put my dreams into pictures. I printed out four 8x10 pictures of things I wanted to do in this next phase of my life. These pictures were dear to me: The Grand Canyon, a hot air balloon, my passport, and Alaska. These were places I wanted to go, and things I wanted to do. It lit me up inside thinking about them.

I hung them up on the wall above my desk, so I'd have to look up at them. I had no words on the pictures, or around them. This way, when people asked me what the pictures were about, I had to give voice to my desires. I had to speak out what I wanted. Words are powerful, and hearing your words is even more powerful still. I was creating my future by speaking out into my today. It was awkward at first, and felt funny. But the more I spoke out, the more questions people asked, the more fuel was added to my fire of making my dreams reality.

And then a very interesting thing happened. One day, my sister asked me if I wanted to take an adult sister's vacation with her to see the Grand Canyon! It was unexpected and out of the blue for me. At this point in our lives, we didn't really travel together. She had her life and career in another state, and I had mine in another. But here it was, the opportunity door wide open. And you bet I skipped right through it!

We planned. We prepared. We researched. And we got on our separate planes and met up for the time of our lives! And the bigger surprise was that not only were we going to stand at the precipice of the Grand Canyon, but before that, we were going to ride in a hot air balloon in Sedona, Arizona! Cross two things off that grand old list!! It was almost too good to be true! I almost couldn't believe it!

But believe it I did. I wasn't sure exactly how it was going to turn out, but all those months of speaking out those four pictures actually created a reality I once thought I could only dream about! And the time in Arizona with my sister I will treasure always!

Whether you have a huge dream or a small task, your belief will help bring it to life. Even if no one else believes it will happen, protect your vision. Nurture it with faith. Water it with powerful words. And watch, before your eyes, your dream blossom and grow into a reality you almost won't be able to believe.

Side Note: After riding in the hot air balloon and visiting the Grand Canyon, I also used my passport for the first time by visiting Belize twice in one year! I have added and crossed off many things on that list, but I'm still speaking out and believing in my trip to Alaska :)

Photo taken with iPhone 4, October 2012, Arizona.
Copyrighted Reflections of Revelation.
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Here I am, in the rustic state of Arizona, standing on a rocky path leading to the great Grand Canyon. I'm about to experience something I'd spent my life reading about and dreaming about. So why did I look down at the path in that moment? What caused me to notice another view on my way to the great view?

I may never have the answer for that. But I'm certainly glad I did, because otherwise this photograph may never have happened. Those tiny purple flowers, peeking up between the rocks in the path, surprised me and caught my attention in a way I hadn't expect.

These flowers were there, growing for no one in particular. They hadn't been planted by a park ranger, or arranged for the tourists. They were just there, doing their thing. Growing beautiful, just because that's what tiny purple flowers do, growing in the rocky, grainy soil that surrounds the Grand Canyon National Park. And for just an instant, I was more focused on the beauty right by my feet, than that of the final destination of my journey.

Looking out over the Grand Canyon was planned, it was purposed; it was going to happen. It was predictable, in that it was there, and I was going to see it. But these flowers surprised me as they spoke to my heart. They weren't planned in my daily agenda, and I hadn't prepared myself to see them. They were just there, and I just happened to look down, with my dreamer's eyes open.

Isn't that just like life? I know sometimes life throws us curve balls that we weren't expecting - an unplanned kink that is not good at any level. But sometimes, life kisses us with kind moments we weren't expecting either, and it causes us to pause and reflect on just how nice life can be. Those are moments where we sigh, look up, and smile. Those are moments worth savoring.

But what if we could live in moments like this, for more than a mere moment? What if we spent our lives in anticipation for unplanned moments that are wonderful and full of possibilities? What if, on our way to our goal, our destination, our planned outcome, we looked around for flowers and smiles and whatnot? Life becomes so much more enjoyable when you stop for simple moments of wow on your way to the big wow. Savor those tiny purple flowers growing in the rocky path on your way to the Grand Canyon, because those unexpected moments are fuel to living a passion-filled life.

Photo taken with iPhone 4, October 2012. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.
Copyrighted Reflections of Revelation.
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A 3.6 mile hike, up Tiger Mountain, didn't seem that challenging. But I hadn't taken into consideration the 1650 ft gradient of the mountain, as we don't have them where I'm from. But the challenge was laid down, and up that mountain I was going.

The day started out as most days in Washington do, dreary and wet. But that didn't stop us fulfilling our plans. The lushness of the trail mesmerized me as we began our trek. Moss laden trees grew out from everywhere; foliage as big as my head loomed all around me. It was a green feast for the eyes. I was fascinated. It took my breath away. Literally.

As the lushness made way for a more rocky terrain, I noticed myself getting winded faster. The trail began a steeper assent, and I began to second and third guess my determination to make it up the mountain that day.

We rested several time along that path. We debated each time about returning back down. But each time I started to waiver, something deep within me would rise up, and a new wave of determination would overcome my objections. I wanted to reach the top of that mountain. I needed to stand on top of that mountain.

So despite my tired leg muscles, and my shortness of breathe, I pushed my body up that mountain trail. Now I wasn't lacking common sense either - I wasn't crawling up with pulled muscles in a blizzard or any nonsense like that. I was just completely out of shape and out of condition for climbing in 1650 ft elevation, up a mountain. I didn't train for this, didn't have a lot of experience, or anything like that. So I wasn't putting myself in any real physical danger, other than sore muscles and heavy breathing later. I would have called it quits at any point in time up that trail.

And almost did, twice actually. But I didn't want to say I didn't give it my all and reach the top. Besides, I wanted photographs of the views from the top. Mt. Rainier can be seen sometimes from Tiger Mountain, and if she was going to make an appearance, I wanted to capture her! I wasn't going to let my out-of-shape body hold me back from what I set out to do.

And I was not disappointed when we reached the top either. It was breath-taking. As I stood there, looking down upon the Issaquah valley, and saw Mt. Rainier staring at us, I was taken away at the vastness of it all. It made me stand in awe and squeal with delight, all at the same time! And to think, I might have missed this moment, if I hadn't continued my pursuit, and had instead, turned back down the mountain at one of my rest stops.

Isn't life like that? We set a goal, or a challenge has been laid before us. At first it seems inviting, enchanting, charmingly easy. Then, as we get further into things, the footing shifts, the ground changes, and things begin to get a little tougher. We may need to rest and rethink a time or two. We may be tempted to turn around, and save the trip for another day. But it's in those moments that we must dig deep down, and visualize the view from the top. Because it is worth it. Once I was looking from the top down on that mountain, all the exertion and tiredness melted away. The conquering feelings completely outweighed everything else. I did it! I overcame and succeeded! I got what I set out to do! And there isn't anything else that can compare to that moment.

So, wherever you are in the journey, take heart. Rest as often as you need. Catch your breath. Get some water. Stretch those muscles. And then, get moving again up that path. Watch your step, the terrain might get rough. But remember, the view will be worth it all. You can do it! And the reward will be incredible, just you wait and see!

Photo taken with iPhone 4, October 2014, Issaquah, Washington.
Copyrighted Reflections of Revelation.www.reflectionsofrevelation.comhttp://reflectionsofrevelation.blogspot.com/

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A glowing candle, a tin cup with flowers, and a park bench: a great shot for any photographer, right? With these objects sitting on the table, this scene could easily be set anywhere in the world. But it isn't just anywhere, it is outside a little hot dog stand in downtown Frankfort, Germany.

How did I get there, you might ask. That is a very good question, and like most things in my life, it has a really good story. The short, short version is: I was eating a bratwurst when this scene developed in front of me. But I will tell you more.

I was returning stateside from a magnificent trip to Ukraine. My layover flight, from Budapest, Hungary, to Chicago, was through Frankfort, Germany. This was my first time to Europe. A 14 hour overnight layover seemed like a long time to be in Europe and not do some exploring, and photographing, to me.

So my traveling companion and I did the only logical thing that two single, white, American females could think of - we took the tram from the airport to the pedestrian mall and explored this beautiful city. It just made sense.

And we walked, and walked and walked. We had a little map, and knew where the tram station was, so we could get back to the airport. But we really didn't know where were destined, or the language, or really anyone at all. But we had the time of our lives! We tried not to look like obvious tourists, although I'm not sure if we succeeded in blending in. Especially when we ended up in a sit down restaurant and had to ask for menus in English, because everything was all in German!

But for those few, precious hours, I was in a country I had only seen in maps and pictures. I had already experienced more in the 10 day trip than my little heart could imagine, and here we were, on our way home, but still, our adventurous drive was in high gear.

And I'm extremely thankful we did adventure. At some point in our exploration, We found this quaint hot dog stand and ordered bratwurst, because that's just what you do when you are in Germany. At least that's what we did. I am so glad we took the time to create the moments that we did.

It still kind of floors me that I can say I ate bratwurst in Germany though. And yes, we made it safely back to the airport, and back to our flight, on time, and without any hangups or snags. Had we waited for the right moment, it might have passed us by. We could have just waited out the time in the airport, but instead we took a risk, and created an opportunity, and those moments I will treasure forever.

Life is about moments. Don't wait for them. Create them. Make every moment count, because every moment matters. When you look back on your life, you will be glad you did.

Photo taken with iPhone 4, October 2013, Frankfort, Germany.
Copyrighted Reflections of Revelation.www.reflectionsofrevelation.comhttp://reflectionsofrevelation.blogspot.com/

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I'm not one to rise before the sun does. If I'm awake before the sun lights up the sky, it's usually because I haven't gone to bed yet. See, I am what people call a night owl. A late night owl. I find my most creative times during those late hours most people use for sleeping. It is during this time that I feel I can let loose and flow, uninterrupted. Mornings are harder for me because it takes my brain while to get started.

But this morning was different. It was special and unique. Not because I was awake before the sun, but because of why I was awake before the sun. This was the day I was going to ride in a hot air balloon. In Sedona, Arizona. With my sister. An adventure of a lifetime. A dream come true.

I have always loved to watch hot air balloons gently gliding across the sky. I often wondered how it would feel to be up so high without a motor, soaring in a basket and balloon. I would say to myself, 'Someday I will ride in one of those things. Not sure how, or when, but I will'.

But I didn't realize just how much of an adventurer I was, until that morning we climbed into the brown basket and let the hot air take us away.

The rocks were so red. The trees so tiny. We saw deer and rabbits and winding dirt paths. And then the sun rose, up and over the rock formation called Cock's Comb - the same one we had skimmed over in our hot air balloon! Looking back on that formation, just as the sun came rising over, was one of those moments in time that just makes you speechless.

I realize that not every moment in life can be a breath-taking sun rise from a hot air balloon moment. But, that doesn't mean each day can't be made to be amazing, ridiculously amazing. We can choose to see the amazing, or find it, or make it up. We don't have to settle for hum-drum, ordinary, or always pushing dreams into "someday". Choose today to find something amazing about it - just one moment. And tomorrow, choose to find two, and continue adding or multiplying those moments to become an entire day of amazing. And don't be afraid to dream big, and work hard to turn those plans into reality. It is worth it!

Whether on the mountain top, or in the valley, or anywhere in between, we can choose to make today ridiculously amazing! 

Photo taken with iPhone 4, September 2012, Sedona, Arizona.
Copyrighted Reflections of Revelation.
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You can't see it in this picture, but Mt. Rainier is just below the word "She". It was such a breath-taking view that I had to sit down and take it all in. And it was at this moment, sitting on a pile of true mountain rocks, I realized I absolutely loved my life.

There I was, entirely swallowed up by the vastness and beauty of raw nature. My sister and I had hiked for quite a while, with this destination in mind. But we had no idea how in awe we would be when we reached this place. A small lake was nestled in the valley below, and mountains,laced with pine trees, surrounded us on all sides. To say it was incredible would be an understatement.

This dream of traveling the world and taking in all life had to offer was becoming a reality. I was really starting my own photography business to make these dreams possible. I was out in the middle of nowhere with one of my favorite persons on the planet. I was on a mountain. In Washington State. Staring at a huge mountain peak, playing peek-a-boo with me between cloud formations. This mountain makes its own weather patterns! I was in awe. Which, wouldn't you know it, caused some introspection. And what I found inside me, made me smile. I wasn't letting fear of failure hold me back any longer. I was untethering myself from conventional life and instead, finding freedom in the unknown.

This moment didn't come from luck, chance, or happenstance. I decided to build my life around my passions, talents, giftings, and callings. I decided, one choice at a time, that lead me to sitting on that mountain spot, absolutely loving the life I was designing for myself. To which, I will have many more amazing moments, just as incredible as this one. I am designing a life I love.

My challenge to you is this: don't wait to your ship to come in. Build one, learn how to steer her, and set sail! Make one choice today that will help your tomorrow be what you dream it to be. Choice by intentional choice, you can do it! Turn that corner, go for that finish line, and create a life you can honestly say you love. It won't be easy, but it will definitely be worth it! Because you are worth it!

Photo taken with iPhone 4, October 2014, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington State.
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