Dreams Fulfilled 2014

At the beginning of 2014, I knew I needed something to give me a little kick start. I was feeling a bit hopeless, and didn't have vision for my future or my life. After praying about my situation, I was reminded of Andy and Janine Mason's Dream Coaching advice. They encourage people to make lists of 100 dreams (or goals) that they want to accomplish in their life. Like a bucket list (for those of you who might be more familiar with that term). I had done this exercise before, but a lot had changed in my life. I don't even know what I did with my original list. Soooo...I created a new list. I may have even ended up with more than 100 things on my dream list. And as I created this list, I felt like God said I would accomplish more of them than I thought possible this next year (2014).

As the 2014 year comes to a close, I went back through my list to see how I did. I realized something amazing! Not only did I accomplish a lot of my dreams/goals, I also accomplished a few that I've always wanted to do but had never felt the need or had the guts to write them down.  And in the process of accomplishing my goals, I also had a number of adventures I hadn't even considered. God is so fun!

I'd love to share my list with you. My goal is not to boast or gloat or compare -- I'm sure many other people did amazing things, too. But it is truly amazing to me to think back to that day almost a year ago and see how much life has changed for me this past year. I'm thankful for a God who encourages us to dream, who challenges us to live intentional lives, and who loves to give good gifts to His children.  

Here are my lists:

Dreams/Goals accomplished in 2014:

1)   Visited Joel and Tammy in Nashville

2)   Visited Deanne and Ben in North Carolina

3)    Drove on the Blue Ridge Parkway

4)    Went to Smokey Mountain National Park 

5)    Visited Josh and Julia in Colorado  

6)    Traveled Internationally again (Costa Rica)  

7)    Saw Frozen  

8)    Went to Cedar Point  

9)    Went to Shepherd’s Maple Syrup Festival  

10)   Went to Alma’s Highland Festival  

11)   Went to the Tulip Time Festival in Holland  

12)   Got a place of my own  

13)   Bought a house  

14)   Camped on Lake Michigan  

15)   Traveled in the UP  

16)   Went to Isle Royal (Michigan’s National Park!)  

17)   Went to the Porcupine Mountains  

18)   Started a blog  

19)   Went to Moravian Falls (and prayed on the prayer mountain with Deanne)  

20)   My body is healing! I’ve experienced a DRASTIC amount of healing in 2014  

21)   Saw the Phantom of the Opera in Chicago             

22)   Rode the Amtrak train to and from Chicago

23)   Bought a hammock

24)   Cleaned out my mom's storage space in the garage  

25)   Bought Chaco’s  

26)   Read a book every 2 weeks (on average)  

27)   Visited Bethel Valparaiso  

28)   Booked a place through Airbnb  

29)   Read Unbroken and Out of Africa (been on my book list for AWHILE!)  

30)   Ate pasties in the UP

Unwritten Dream List Fulfilled (Things I’ve always wanted to do but hadn’t written them on my list):

1)      Bought a cabin up north

2)      Ate food from REAL food trucks

3)      Got to Rep for SAU at FMYC in Colorado

4)      Officially traveled for SAU through Northern MI (on the college fair loop)

5)      Spent time in the Colorado Rockies

6)      Visited Aspen and Crested Butte

 

7)      Went Sea Kayaking 

8)      Heard Lance Wallnau in person

Fun things that happened while pursuing my dreams:

1)      Bought backpacking gear (sleeping bag, sleeping pad, water filter…with the PCT in   mind)

2)      Hiked on the Appalachian Trail (just a little bit)

3)      Met a guy hiking the Appalachian Trail

4)      Saw the waterfall where they filmed the Last of the Mohicans

5)      Camped in Smokey Mountain National Park

6)      Camped in Rocky Mountain National park

7)      Hiked Long’s Peak

8)      Hiked and camped in the Maroon Bells

9)      Encountered a bear while camping

10)    Got to visit my pie shop in Lakewood, CO

11)    Spoke Spanish in a Spanish speaking country again

12)    Went Waterfall hunting in Costa Rica

13)    Saw where the Lewis and Clark expedition began

14)    Ate a flower

15)    Went to a John Mark McMillan concert

16)    Visited Knoxville, TN (beautiful!)

17)    Saw Bethel Music and Kim Walker in Michigan!!!

18)    Had a Chicken Fried Latte

19)    Learned I really love taking pictures!

20)    Ate a piece of pie from Grand Traverse Pie Company (in Traverse City!)

21)    Had a beautiful fall camping weekend

22)    Revisted the Pictured Rocks

23)    Drove along Hwy 2 (in the daytime!)

24)    Camped on Lake Superior

25)    Revisted Vic’s Cabins and the campground in Munising, MI (we went there as kids)

26)    Got to decorate my cabin

27)    Bought a new Ninja blender system! 

Now we're on to 2015! I'm off to add to my list... What are your dreams and goals? What
things do you want to accomplish in your life time? And this next year? Will you take time to dream with God for your future?

Beginning Again

It’s amazing how long it takes to begin doing things that have been stirring in us for years – even a lifetime, isn’t it? And sometimes the things that are deeper inside of us seem to take longer to come out. Almost like something within us is scared of really seeing our dreams come true – of being called out of our safe place to shine rather than hide.


Maybe I’m speaking to the choir, but that’s how I’ve felt about my writing. I really love to write. Writing a book has always been high on my “dream list.” I’ve always assumed it’s something that would just happen eventually. I’ve even received many a prophetic word about writing. Up until a few years ago, however, I never considered taking smaller steps with writing to reach my bigger goal. There are plenty of excuses – time being the biggest one. But sometimes, the biggest hurdle of all is just starting. Starting is like unlocking the inner gate of the soul and unleashing a monster (a good monster, of course!). It’s giving myself permission to continue, to open new doors, to allow my mind and heart to ponder life a bit more deeply, and to create.


As I’m writing this, it is reminding me of my last year in Lake Tahoe. I was doing quite a bit of house/pet sitting that year. Though I never paid for TV myself, I would often utilize my housesitting jobs to catch the latest food network show. One of my favorite shows was Chopped. Now, you need to know that I’m a foodie. I love to cook and bake…but I don’t think I could ever be on a show like that! I can’t imagine coming up with some of their creations – with such odd ingredients, to boot! They have items in their basket I’ve never HEARD of, let alone have any knowledge on how to use it or cook with it.



I’m not really sure what triggered this idea, but after watching the show for some time, I decided I wanted to challenge myself. I challenged myself to use either a new recipe or a new ingredient every week. Now, the recipe option was an easy one for me…but with a tight budget, I had to give myself a little bit of grace. The new ingredient challenge was a bit tougher. Like I mentioned, I was on a tight budget. It didn’t allow me to spend money frivolously – and waste ingredients and food for the sake of fun. What if I bought something and royally messed up? What if I couldn’t eat what I made? What if I couldn’t afford this challenge? What if I tried something new and failed?



Never in my wildest dreams would I ever have imagined how this challenge would change my life. It was seriously like unleashing this unquenchable monster! Starting with fresh figs (which I had never even seen before in my life!), I began experimenting with new foods – eating them, buying them, cooking with them, using them in new recipes. It consumed me. All I wanted to do was bake and cook. Through this process, I realized the power fear had on my life, even in something as simple as food and ingredients. As soon as I simply gave myself permission to try new things and fail, I was set free and overcome with a desire to make up for years of lost time. It was amazing to me!


Now, I feel like I am finally giving myself permission to write. I actually created this blog almost a year ago exactly. It’s something God has been speaking to me about for a while now. But I just couldn’t get myself to start. And now it’s time. Time to come out of hiding -- to give myself permission to explore a new path in my journey with God. It’s time to shine.


Just a few words on the title of my blog: Becoming Audracious. The past couple of years have been a bit rough for me. I feel as though I went through a process (a not very fun process!) of re-identification – of letting go of the old things that have marked my journey with God and Holy Spirit, and receiving the new. Much of what God has been speaking to me about is new hope – resurrecting and restoring my dreams, my heart, my hope, my life. Beginning again.


That’s where Audracious comes into play. Audracious is a nickname from a friend of mine in Lake Tahoe. I used to get these prophetic words about being audacious, or “Audacious Audra.” So, my friend Don put them together and started calling me Audracious! I feel like it’s who I am at the core of my being. And who I’m becoming – or re-becoming.



One of the songs that has inspired me the most in the last year or so is the song “Oceans” by Hillsong United. The song starts out:

“You call me out upon the waters

The great unknown where feet may fail

And there I find You in the mystery

In oceans deep

My faith will stand”

When I first created this blog title, I was thinking a lot about this song -- except I kept hearing the words “where dreams may fail,” instead of feet. And it put a whole new spin on the song, like God was calling me out on this journey of faith. Sometimes there are disappointments along the way. Even amidst the disappointments, however, I find God (and new dreams) through the journey. And my faith will stand. He is always faithful!



A lot has changed since I originally created this blog. God has already begun the process of resurrecting things in my heart, but that’s the beauty of “becoming” something. It’s a continual process! As soon as I have “become” there’s more becoming to do…


Join me on my journey of (re)Becoming Audracious! I’m sure you’ll find lots of posts about food (I did warn you that I’m a foodie!), travel, adventure, my journey with God, dreaming with God, seeing those dreams fulfilled, stepping out in faith, etc. My prayer is that this blog might inspire you to push aside the fear and allow yourself to start becoming who YOU were created to be!