Guiding Vision

Once a month for the past seven years I have attended a small group called Saint Simeon.  Sometimes this is the only time we see one another, but like a family, when we get together it is like no time has passed.

Our creed begins…

We gather together in a small group to pray,
to seek spiritual wisdom and understanding,
to ask God to lead and direct our lives,
Being together helps to strengthen our faith
and gives us a feeling of Community.

I have recently joined a wonderful online community with a similar purpose.  It’s called The High Calling (THC) which features “everyday conversations about work, life and God.” There are several staff writers and editors, and then a network of independent bloggers.

Actually, I thought I was just applying for a job.  The Laity Lodge Youth Camp, which is also affiliated with THC, needed a part-time web editor.  I applied and after a phone interview I was hired. I’m excited about helping create an engaging web presence for the camp.

But what I have discovered is more than just a job. I’ve found a supportive, inspiring and at times challenging community in the group of editors (all of whom are linked in the sidebar at right) and in the other bloggers in the community.   I already feel apart of something great… that I know is having an impact in the lives of others and that will help me along my life journey as well.

Sometimes you go looking for a place to belong. Sometimes it finds you.

Egyptian protesters, Muslim and Christian, have a common vision not only for democracy, but everything that comes with it, including freedom of religion.

Egyptian Christians held a mass of unity in Cairo’s Tahrir Square Sunday to show solidarity with the country’s thousands of anti-government protesters.

Muslim prayers also resounded in the square “in what seemed a show of interfaith harmony” five weeks after a suicide bomber killed at least 21 people at the end of a New Year’s Eve mass in Alexandria, The New York Times reported.

Sunday’s mass was “for all Egyptians, Muslim and Christian, and I am proud to be Egyptian today because we are showing the world how important our country is for all the people who live here,” a 33-year-old Christian identified as Farid told the Egyptian news Web site Bikya Masr after the liturgy was completed.

“What we witnessed today is the unity of Egypt for a common cause,” Farid said.

Reviewing the previous year’s highlights is a great way to celebrate successes and prepare for the next year. Normally I would have posted this review a long time ago.  Alas, I spent New Year’s Eve and Day in the hospital with pneumonia.  It was not fun at all.

After a few days I got much better and returned home.  Then in a terrible case of deja vu, ended up getting admitted again on January 19th. Another 4 nights being hooked to an IV and oxygen.   Not a way to start the new year!  I’m taking it day by day and can only pray that this is the last of it.

So on to my review.

1. My son Micah was born November 24, 2009 so I spent the first few months of 2010 focusing on being a stay at home mom.  I worked just a few hours a week editing my websites.
2. In March I went to SXSW in Austin. Met some cool people, attended some great sessions and got my share of kolaches in West, TX on the way (there and back!) This was the first time I’d been away from Micah overnight so it was a bit nerve wracking. But we all survived!
3. In June we traveled to Illinois and Missouri to visit Troy’s family.  We celebrated with his aunt and uncle on their 50th wedding anniversary.
4. In July I finalized a deal to sell my business, Step by Step Fundraising. I started the business in 2003, grew it and really enjoyed the journey but it was the right time to move on.
5. In August I spoke on a panel about social media at the DMA New York Nonprofit Conference. It was great to combine the work trip with a mini vacation for the whole family.
6. From July to November I volunteered with the Bill White for Texas Governor Campaign
7. Election Day was spent knocking on doors drumming up votes. Unfortunately this was a cold day and started a slide toward flu then pneumonia.
8. For the rest of the year I didn’t take on any new work projects.  It was great to be able to focus on just being mom for awhile.  I think with that I was able to fulfill my goals for the year, which I described in my 3 words for 2010.