A NEW VIEW...

It´s time for change... it has been for a while. Most of last year I felt very unsettled. Knowing, feeling that the times were changing, but not knowing in which direction. The wind blew me back to my favourite place: THE SEA!

Yes, it is time to say good bye to my little home in a small German town and start traveling again. Here is where I will be:

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul

- firm & secure"

Hebrew 6:19

EIN LICHT

Ich lass ein Licht an für dich.

Ich lass dich nicht rein. Ich werde dich nicht anbetteln und nerven.

Aber das Licht lass ich an.

Wenn du es siehst, denkst du vielleicht daran und kommst.

Vielleicht sieht es so warm und gemütlich aus, dass du willst.

Vielleicht ist es auch ganz nett da draußen.

Du siehst das Licht, aber es lädt dich nicht ein.

Es ist deine Entscheidung.

Ich lass ein Licht an für dich und die Tür ist nur angelehnt.

Von außen sieht man aber nur das Licht.

Ich warte, aber es könnte sein das ich dabei einschlafe.

FREEDOM...

…after 6 faithful years and a total of 229800 km I had to sell my car 2 weeks ago. The money I had to invest into having it run for another 2 years did not seem worth the investment. So for the last weeks I have been en joying this new freedom.

My daily life in Mosbach does not require a car. I can reach my work, super markets and many friends by foot and less than 5 minutes from my house the train stops that bring me to any bigger city in the region.

I still need to learn to calculate so I am not running late everywhere, but over all I enjoy these extra walks. Especially in the morning I realize I arrive in the office in a better mood. The walks give me time to think, to process and to plan out my day. And it gives me the opportunity to observe my surrounding, to help a person asking for the way, be on the lookout for the newest fashion that people wear, see the changes in nature or try to fend off Jehovah Witnesses, up early to hand out their leaflets.

I had to adjust by buying new shoes (might need a water proof coat as well), look for my  umbrella, learn that there is no excuse for going out in the rain, and be more considerate in what to pack for an overnight stay as I have to carry it all the way. But yes… it still is freedom!

I did enjoy the different type freedom my car gave me. To go where I wanted, when I wanted and to take with me what I wanted. But the relieve that was there when I knew that looking for parking spots, checking on fuel prices and paying for the insurance was all over now was immense. With the car gone I know as well that I am again a little less settled. I want to keep on the move, not because I don´t like where I am, but because I want to remind myself that this is not permanent. It´s not my permanent home in the big scope (that would be heaven), nor is this where I am staying many more years. And it helps me to put into practice what I believe in: living a more conscious life! I am not there (by far not), but it´s one thing less I will spend money on and be more considerate of nature.

 

So, yes it is freedom…

ON BEING A PRINCESS

Recently I had a conversation with someone about how the fairytale concept of “prince saving princess” has changed in Hollywood movies in the last decade or so into “princess safes herself, prince is allowed to watch, appreciate her victory and strength and kiss her in the end”. From being essentially important to the plot, the role of the prince has turned into a nice add on. This is not just a change in movie themes, but actually in how the western culture sees relationships. We have gone from girls depending and planning their whole life on “prince charming” to show up and change all around for the better, to saying “Girl, you are responsible for your own future, fight your fight, enjoy the victory. You can do it.”

I have never been someone in favor of the story of the helpless princess. But is the new concept really better? Don´t we belittle guys if we live as if we don´t need them? Do we girls miss out on being saved? And don´t we forget that the idea of being saved is something that is in the core a biblical concept?

"Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it.”

–The Message

When I think about this, I realize that letting someone safe you is a scary thing. “To trust him enough” is BIG and possibly requires a lot more stamina then trying to save yourself. It does for me. I want to be strong and independent. I do not want to rely on someone else. And I do want to be proud of what I have achieved. And that is the point:

“It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving.”

–The Message

Oh, and by the way: Living this new life does not mean we are sitting around in the tower doing nothing. Once we are saved – you remember that amazing big step of really trusting – we are partners in crime:

“He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.”

–The Message

 

Scripture from Ephesians 2:7-10

 

MY LIFE IN PICTURES.... THE CHALLENGE CONTINUES

Here a few more pictures of the last days....
You can find me as well on Instagram as c_withaview! Have a look:

DAY 20 : FAV PICTURE ...
NOT SURE IF IT`S MY FAVORITE, BUT REALLY LIKE IT

DAY 21 : WHERE YOU SLEPT

DAY 22 : FROM A HIGH ANGLE

DAY 23 : MOVEMENT

DAY 24 : ON YOUR MIND
SHOULD I GO OR SHOULD I STAY?

DAY 25 : SOMETHING CUTE
...MY INDOOR GARDEN :)

SURPRISE, SURPRISE... AN UPDATE

As you might have noticed... I did update my 101 in 1001 page. (I you have not just click on the button above.)
I did not write that much about accomplished tasks as I should. But part of that is that you can not really write a story about everything.

Let´s take me seeing my ENT physician (HNO Arzt). Yes, I went. But what should I write about it? She prescript me some more cortisone, which I have been faithfully taking and that is it.

One other point is the surprise I made for someone. I do not really expect that person to read my blog. But you never know, right....  As it was a secret surprise I can neither tell you what it was nor if the person liked it. I do not know if they did. :)
But I hope it brought a little smile to someone´s face.

There are some ongoing points (like drinking water, 2 car free days, etc.) that I stopped counting. I am still doing it, but will not keep track of it that much. Don´t worry, I have an eye on it. I just realized looking back every week and calculation each time what I did or did not do was becoming straining.
Once a month checking I am checking where I am at, reading through the list and if necessary making adjustments to my lifestyle.

Last thought:
With this post I reported on point 85 & 40 and can now consider them accomplished! :)

CHALLENGE : Day 18 & 19

two more photos for you...

DAY 18 : SOMETHING YOU DON`T KNOW ABOUT ME
... I LIKE CEMETERIES!

DAY 19 : IMPERFECT
... BUT BEAUTIFUL!

CHALLENGE : my weekend

Hier drei Photos von meinem Wochenende... Viel Spass!

DAY 15 : YELLOW ... MY HANDBAG! 

DAY 16 : OUT AND ABOUT
MY FRIEND PARTICIPATING IN THE 6K CITY RUN
I WAS THERE TO CHEER :)

DAY 17 : IN YOUR BAG
STRAWBERRY SHOPPING BAG,
PASSPORT NOTE BOOK,
LEATHER BUTTERFLY PURSE FROM ARGENTINA

CHALLENGE : Day 13 & 14

two more pictures from my June Photo-a-day Challenge. Enjoy!

DAY 13 : ART
(I LOVE THE REFLECTION OF THE NEIGHBORING
HOUSE AND ME IN THIS ONE)

DAY 14 : TIME
... IS TICKING AWAY

CHALLENGE : Day 11 & 12

DAY 11 : DOOR

DAY 12 : FROM A LOW ANGLE

CHALLENGE ... a few weekend photos

I put together the challenge photos of the weekend (and day 1) in one post... enjoy!

DAY 1 : MORNING

DAY 6 : HAT

DAY 7 : DRINK

DAY 8 : 6 O´CLOCK

DAY 9 : YOUR VIEW TODAY

DAY 10 : BEST BIT OF YOUR
WEEKEND

JUST BECAUSE...

...I actually felt like taking pictures yesterday (and that is rare) and enjoyed playing with Instagram!

a beautiful corner in Mosbach

Ludwigsburg castle

CHALLENGE Day 5

Day 5 : sing

I could not decide which one to pick and so you are getting two pictures.

Oh and I have started to post on Instagram as well. find me under: c_withaview

slogan of an ad for some cosmetics.
I see this everyday and get angry...
an alarming sign of our society

my fav shop for window shopping :)