Preparing For Lent...

Before I start, I want to say, I am not Catholic or any other of those traditions... I was raised in a Pentecostal home, interned as a Lutheran and Evangelical Free, and married a Baptist,... still I believe in fellowshiping with other believers, and my membership currently is Baptist...  All this to say, I have celebrated Lent since I was a teenager. ~ Morria

Lent, such a blessed time in my life. It is a period of fasting and prayer, spanning 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday.  It is a time of quiet reflection, preparation, and devotion, in preparing the heart for the coming of Resurrection Sunday (Easter).  The 40 days of fasting and prayer are moddled afters Jesus 40 days in the wilderness.  For me, in the past 19 years, when ever I have practiced Lent, Easter has always had much deeper meaning for me...
This year I am giving up chocolate and Facebook games for Lent... and adding back Lent Devotions and Bible Journaling... pray for strength for me as Lent begins in just 2 days. 

~ Morria

My Goals - The "Bucket List"

As I was re-reading my older blogs, I rediscovered my Life Goals which I jotted down in my journal back when I graduated high school in 2001.  It was fun to see myself and my dreams for life back then, even more so... it has been amazing to see just how many I have already fulfilled without even planing!  Now that is an accomplishment, when one forgets what their own goals were, and yet still lives them out with out even trying...  ~_^

Goals for Morria's Life

New (as of 2014):

• Never stop growing closer to God.
• Live a more natural, sustainable, eco-friendly lifestyle.
• Uncluttered, dehoard, and empty baggage from home, life, and soul!
• Rediscover biking, and go on bicycling trips!
• Explore Thailand and/or India...
• Settle down in New Mexico or Arizona!

Old (from 2001):

• Find my journey-task or journey-tasks. (different ones for different phases of life)
• Have and keep 5 close friends. (Working on this one... have 2 -3 long distance ones?)
• Swim in the Ocean, if possible all 7 Seas...
• Explore New Orleans more than once!
• Explore Phoenix. (Currently living there!)
• Explore Seattle, Portland, and Coos Bay!
• Travel to ALL 50 states! (Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida left!)
• See as much of the World outside the USA as possible. (Been to Canada and Mexico.)
• Explore Ireland.  
• Live a life of Love, Faith, and Kindness...
• Live in such a way, that when I pass... many lives will have been forever change... even if I never know how I touched their hearts...

Accomplished (Unplanned and still got done!):

• Graduate College somewhere. (Stratford - 2003, ISoM - 2007, Stratford - 2015?)
• Be someones gypsy gal... maybe even their gypsy queen! (I am Robby's Gypsy Queen!)
• Get Married. (To Robby, December 15, 2007!)
• Journey Back to Dine Bikeyah (7 times, thus far!)
• Swim acrossed a lake. (Lake Wildwood, Cornerstone Grounds 2008)
• Explore Chicago. (Lived there 14 months, 2008/2009)
• Learn to Drive a Car. (September 2009, Licensed!)
• Go to Estes Park, CO. (2012)
• Be a missionary some where for longer than two months? (Dine Bikeyah, 3 years)

~ Morria

Leaving Kansas…

1 day left in Kansas... I am both loving the thought of leaving... and yet it is so bittersweet to leave behind all my friends.   Well, I will be back to visit.

I saw my cousin, Lynn, yesterday at the mall.  We hung out for an hour... it was fun to see her face while we were in some of the stores: we have such different tastes.   I got a journal for all my must private thoughts... one with a lock so no one, like my little "brother", can read them.

Mom is throwing me a going away party at my church.   I kinda like the idea... but it is just so hard to say goodbye... or even if I will see you later or in heaven, if not before.  *La sigh*  Well, life must go on... as must I.

A gypsy goth gal am I, and this is the price of such a life...

~ Morria