Wakes, What Now?
So this is the new year. It does feel different this time around. It feels more unknown than ever. When 2018 came, everything felt mechanic and I think we were all just on to the next thing. Inching rather than making actual strides. No recession, but little progress. Neither bad nor good.
This year, I’m in a very different situation. There’s an exciting sense of “What now?” and a freedom I never knew I could have. But even more than that, I’m realizing that this newfound freedom comes with a sobering amount of self-discipline that I should own up to and practice. This has led me to hone in on a liturgy of life and actually give myself a day-to-day ritual—a mode of worship to stay the course and practice the presence of God in all things. It’s as simple as waking up to take deep breaths, pray, drink a cup of water, read the Word, and exercise before getting to emails or social media. I’m still figuring out what works and what doesn’t, but man has it been crazy helpful in regulating my cortisol levels, the culprit behind my stubborn weight gain. More on that and other insecurities in a later journal entry, for sure.
*dance transition*
Full Lance
On a dock at Lake Millstatt, Austria, I tripped over my words and told a friend that I was going “full lance.” That’s definitely not right, but it’s not wrong either.
I am now a full-time freelance graphic designer and musician. It’s been a dream so far. Everything I could want in this season. But don’t get me wrong, reality is setting in pretty slowly and uncomfortably like a broken bone in a cast. This is nothing like those little projects I used to take on to pay for college. This is more than love gifts, even. I’ve had to take my vessels filled with my own ideas about passions and stewardship and I’ve had to break them and let God rebind them in a way that will result in actual growth. This is a season that my husband and I are entering into together. We are both broken and sick of bandaid solutions and our own lack of faith.
The artistic and musical passions that have been simmering for nearly all of my life are turning into a roaring boil. This is why I revived this ol’ site and have been forcing myself through a rebrand. Why is it so hard for graphic designers/brand strategists to brand themselves? Maybe we’re afraid of knowing ourselves. It’s much easier to call out the obvious in others. Anyway, I could very easily take this website down and release it when “I’m ready”, but I’m wise enough to know that ready will never actually happen. So I’m leaving it up as I make little changes and edits here and there—typos, unlinked photos, jacked layouts and all. My process is out there for the world to see, so please don’t mind the dust. Consider this a soft-launch!
Southeast Travels
Sometimes I wonder why we say yes to a lot of things. And then I realize it’s because the yes has already been said and we’re just participating in what’s already about to happen. What I really should be asking is: “Why does anyone ask us to do anything?” I feel like I don’t deserve a lot of things I’ve been given, but that’s grace for ya. As my bois Relient K have sung, "The beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair.” It’s really not fair how cool life can be sometimes.
Well, here we are, heading to the Philippines and New Zealand in February-March of this year. Plane tickets have been purchased and need to be paid back—but Jehovah Jireh, amiright? There are some amazing opportunities like these that have opened up for us that we wouldn’t have dared to dream about for fear of them never coming true. But God did it, and we’re going.
Doesn’t It Mean “Saint Diego”?
My husband, Thales, and I have always known that we were meant to end up in San Diego sometime down the road. We’ve tried and asked in the past, but it was never time. Well… we’ve asked again. Timeframe: pending.
Branding and Social Media Tips for All
Something new I’m adding to the site is some branding and social media tips for churches, businesses, organizations, and individuals who want a little boost of help and affirmation. I am by no means an expert on all the things, but I do have some experience in these areas and I want to pass on what I can. Like you, I’m in a perpetual state of learning and adapting with the tools of influence that are available to us. What I have, I have to share!
Help a sister out and let me know what you would like to learn more about when it comes to graphic design, branding, social media, and whatever else you can think of! Just fill out the form right over there. *points*
And in conclusion…
Faithology.studio is going to be where you find updates on the seasonal haps in my life of ministry in the already and not-yet. If you’ve come this far, I offer thee a hundred hypothetical high-fives. This is going to be pretty cool as this journey of ours progresses.
What now?
Well, let’s wait and see.