Because sometimes stranger things do happen...

I started this blog five years ago (good grief, time flies!) mostly as a place to put down some thoughts and record stories that I didn't want to forget. I never expected anyone to read or follow and I've been blessed and humbled that anyone has.

So, first of all, thank you all for your kind comments and your encouragement over the years!

In this wonderful little corner of the blogosphere I have written stories, devotionals, poetry, pain, and sorrow, laughter and rejoicing, fear and deliverance. I've aimed to be transparent and point to Jesus in everything I wrote.

There were seasons I wrote and wrote and wrote and seasons of silence. This last year I really didn't write very often and, lately, I began to ask myself why.

I realized that over the past couple of years this blog has become too intense for me. I placed upon myself ridiculous expectations that often kept me from hitting "publish" on some good pieces that deserved a space and a chance to be read.

These self-inflicted expectations that a piece needed to move/challenge/change/convict, etc before it was any good were threatening my love for writing. The pure love that started the blog to begin with.

So I decided to start over. I'm going over here, to a brand new space called Stranger Things Have Happened in honor of this.

My life is busy. Crazy busy. And I just don't have the time I like to have to dedicate to the type of pieces this blog demands.

But I want to write. I need to write.

I want to write about our silly life. Slices of our days infused with humor and a pinch of sarcasm.

That's where we are right now.

Besides, I no longer live in a glass house, Glory, Hallelujah, Praise Be! But that's a story for a different day.

I may be here from time to time when something spills out of my keyboard that best suits this space so this is not good bye. I'm claiming this as my piece of virtual land, still.

But for now, this is where I'll be and I'd love for you to come over and visit.

Much, much love,

Gaby

More than you ever wanted to know about me.

This is just a fun post to get to know some of my "invisible" friends and some of my "not invisible" friends who blog. 

My sweet friend Dolly at Soul Stops gave me this award:

What is the Liebster Award? The  award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.  The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.

I will list 11 facts about me, answer Dolly's 11 questions, then I will nominate 11 bloggers, and give them 11 questions to answer.

11 Random Facts About Me:

1. I hate shopping and malls. They make me tired and grouchy.

2. Anytime I have opened my mouth to say "I will never do that!" God has laughed and started scheming.

3. I could not leave my house for days and it would not bother me one bit.

4. I don't get Pinterest or Twitter or Google Plus. 

5. I am very organized, keep a clean house, live by routines, but some of my favorite people are completely the opposite and I love them for that. 

6. Cold weather makes me blue. Like depressed blue. I'm a child of the sun.

7. I believe in "a little less conversation and a lot more action" when it comes to showing people Jesus' love. Stop talking and get loving. But I don't always live it.

8. I never thought I would say this but I love homeschooling, being a stay-at-home mom and learning to be a very poor version of Martha Stewart (see #2!)

9. When I get a good book in my hands I turn rudely anti-social and neglect everything else. It's a little like an addiction, I hate to say. 

10. I have terrible, terrible, terrible memory. It annoys my husband. 

11. I really do believe I'm married to the best man in the world, but I guess that is the way it should be.

These are Dolly's questions:

1. Are you a morning person, or a night owl? Or neither?

I am a morning person. As long as there is coffee. I prefer to get up early and get started because by 10:00 pm I am useless.

2. Who has had the biggest positive influence in your life?

Oh, I have been blessed to have lots of people who have had great influence on me. My mom taught me about hard work and goal setting. My friend Diana brought me to Christ and discipled me during my early walk. My in-laws have taught me about Christ-like love and service. My husband teaches me daily how to be a better person overall. And many, many women who have sharpened me like iron sharpens iron.

3. Why? if you answered Question #2

See question #2 :)

4. What is something God is teaching you lately?

To be slow to speak and quick to listen and slow to anger. And that I don't have to give my opinion or my advice. Just listen. It does more good to others than anything I can say.

5. What do you know now that you wish you knew 5 years ago?

Oh, wow. Five years ago I went through the hardest year of my life so that is a loaded question.  I wish I had known that straying from God's path, turning my back on his laws and going down the path of my will is disastrous and dangerous and very, very, painful. But sadly, I learn from personal experience. I once read a quote that says: "Smart people learn from their experiences, smarter people learn from the experiences of others." I am learning to be smart-er.

6. What makes your heart sing for joy?

Jesus. And my family. Listening to my husband play with my children, laugh with them and have "deep" conversations about God gives my heart wings.

7. What are your favorite foods?

Steak. That's all. I could eat meat all day, every day.

8. What do you look for in a friend? 

A gentle spirit, a sense of humor that does not hurt others, and an open mind to keep growing.

9. How did you come to have a love relationship with God based on faith?

Through valleys and mountains. God has been so faithful to me and I have seen him move in my life in such amazing ways that it is hard not to fall in love. He has wooed me.

10. What do you most want me to know about you? 

Ha! That even though I am not writing as often as I would like, I am reading y'alls posts and trying to keep connected commenting and that I have found a great network of support and encouragement in this blog-world.

11. How can I pray for you today?

That I continue to become the mom, wife, friend, follower of Christ that God wants me to be and that our Haiti adoption moves forward. 

The 11 bloggers I hope will answer my questions (either here in the comments, or on their blog if they accept the Liebster award) are:

Heather at Everyday Evans

Cherith at I, Hope

Jennifer at jenniferdavis.com (truth is I have NO idea how many followers she has, but since it's not posted and I want her to do this...I cheated a little)

Kathleen at Kath Ink

Kendal at A Spacious Place

Karrie at Life From Here

Kristina at Momma's Banter

Christy at One Fun Mom (same story as with Jennifer)

Mary Jo at Seeds of Peace

Mariah at Thee Fire Wife 

Angela at This Side of the Rainbow

I'm borrowing some of the questions Dolly had to answer because they are very good:

1. Do you prefer the sea or the mountains?

2. What is your greatest fear?

3. Why do you blog?

4. How would you describe yourself in a sentence or two?

5. What are your passions?

6. Do you prefer sweet or salty?

7. What does your average day look like?

8. What is the most risky thing you've ever done?

9. Did you learn anything from that risk?

10. What's your favorite book?

11. What is the attribute of God that you cherish the most? 

Rules for receiving this award: 1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves. 2. Then answer the questions the tagger sent for them, plus create 11 questions for the people they’ve tagged to answer. 3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post. 4. Notify the people you have tagged. 5. No tag backs.

(If you prefer, feel free to just answer my questions as a comment below. I would love to get to know you better!)

Thank you!

Dear friends,

I wanted to say THANK YOU. I am overwhelmed by your responses and the kindness you showed in taking a few minutes to help me see this space from your side of the screen. I really appreciate your encouraging words. What I gleamed from this all, and my husband will tell you he said it all along, is to simply keep doing what I’m doing.

I have to be honest with you. I wanted to know if I should change directions. Find a specific area to focus on. Should I write exclusively about adoption? Should I focus on parenting? Should this be a spiritually-centered blog? I was not sure what direction God wanted me to take and why, or if any change was needed at all.

So I reached out to you and you responded. And here is what I think I hear you saying: 

Keep writing stories of all that you are: a pastor’s wife, a mother, an adoptive mother, a Christian, a foreigner living in a borrowed country.

Keep writing with honesty about your struggles and the lessons you are learning because we may identify.

Keep writing from your heart and in your own style.

And I’m so glad because I don’t think I know how to do anything else. And because my husband said if I tried to do something I don’t know how to do I would wither and die (not literally, but maybe?).

I am so thankful for you. I don’t often ask questions of you or write with the “you” much, but I want you to know that your comments, your e-mails, and your responses mean the world to me. I don’t write to be heard, I write to know I am not alone. 

And you help me to know that no matter what crazy thing is happening in my world, it has happened in yours. Or you know it will happen in yours. Or you may totally see how it could happen in yours. Or you simply just get it. And the burdens are a little easier when shared in community, right?

So, thank you, gracias, merci, and danke. With renewed understanding and deeper commitment, Life in a Glass House will remain what it is. 

Help Wanted!

Last Saturday I had the privilege of meeting face to face with seven other Christian women bloggers. One of them, the owner of the home, I had been following for a while, and the other six I had never met but are now the newest addition to my favorite blogs.

And. We. Had. A. Blast.  

There was Amy, who is passionate about making a difference in small and big ways.

There was Katrina, who will teach you to eat real food cheaply, while helping you draw closer to the God who created it all.

There was Mariah, who will captivate you with her humor and smarts.

There was Kendal, who is honest and real about her struggles. You may just identity.

There was Karrie, who writes about being a mom, a teacher, a child of God and wife to a farmer in poetic style.

There was Rachel, who writes about food, especially desserts, but who is model-thin and model-beautiful.

There was Corina, who does not yet have a blog but I know will blow you away when she does. Stay tuned.

It was fun. And it was inspiring. And it left me with some pondering to do. And here is where you come in:

One of the things we talked about were the strengths and weaknesses of our blogs and the reasons we blog. The discussion that ensued around the table gave me a lot of food for thought. I was challenged to take a look at my motivations, my passions, and my sphere of influence. I’ve been blogging for almost two years now and I think it’s time to re-evaluate some things.

So I decided to enlist your help, sweet friends.

If you don’t mind, if you could help me, take a minute and tell me:

What keeps you coming back to this space?

I would really love to hear from you, whether you usually comment or you mostly lurk, through Facebook or via e-mail, please help me to see Life in A Glass House from your side of the computer.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!