The journey of this joyful heart: The whimsical you, that you are.

Last night, on New Years Eve, when the clock transformed the year into a blank slate I was wearing my favorite pajamas, tangled in my layers of bedding and completely asleep.
I could blame my exclusive night to a number of things; My jet lag from my recent Africa trip, the gnarly weather, no secured plans, or even just exhaustion from the month of December. I'm sure each of these reasons did add to my night in, but I truly believe the reason why I stayed home was because that was exactly where I knew I needed to be.

This may not seem like a big deal, but to me this is huge.

I spent most of 2013 (and the years before) stretching myself. Yes, a good stretch never hurt anyone right? Well, sometimes I would pretend I was Elastic-girl from the Incredibles (and her flexibility is not normal, guys). I almost always said yes, to everything, which in turn caused me to indirectly say no to the things that I really cared about. I'm sure many can relate. You feel like you should do something with your free-time, be somewhere on the weekends, with a friend that needs you, or a group that is expecting you to participate...but in the back of your mind you are missing out on what you know you desperately need;
- A rest, a good book, that run you've been thinking about all week, a date with Jesus in the Adoration Chapel (don't we always?), time to dance or rock climb, a thrilling adventure, a bath, time to journal, time to pray and listen to God.

Not only am I missing out on things I need, but I often feel as though by conforming to these plans I am missing out on the person God created me to be. I'm missing that smile that He loves, I'm missing that drive and that passion that He created at the core of my being, and I missing out on the whimsy-love feeling that I get by doing the things I enjoy doing.

In my recent mission trip to Africa, I fell in love with the way people love.
They are full of life, and are completely themselves. Kids run around in rags, teenagers with acne and no makeup, women with crying babies on their backs and calloused feet. These people are incredibly happy. These people come as who they are. None of them are the same in any way, yet they all have this beauty about them which is obviously given to them by Christ. And, they live it.

I'm not saying to down every invitation you receive, and simply just do what "you want to do", that's not it. I just know that too often I say yes to living a life of obligations and living up to expectations, simply because I'm not sure what will happen if I don't. I guess I sometimes think that if I let people down, or if I'm not running around like a crazy person - God can't use me.
Yet, God is using us in every situation....and in fact by pursuing the desires He has given us, God delights.

These little people on a tiny dot in East Africa taught me to come as I am,
and to live out those whimsy desires that God placed within me.

Last night, it was a night in....but today I'm going on an adventure.
xox Angie