Author: Violeta

  • Loyalty and kindness

    Loyalty and kindness

    I worry about friendship and lasting relationships for the next generations. The introvert in me was met with warmth and friendship before I sensed a real and dull ache of loneliness. I had church. I had my brother. I had family.  I braced myself for my daughter’s adolescent longing for friendship. I took steps to…

  • Unfamiliar happiness

    Unfamiliar happiness

    Letting yourself to feel joy can be uncomfortable at first. Ițm not sure what loyalty we start to have towards all the unpleasant feelings. Worry, sadness, regret. Happiness can feel too good to be true. We costed for a while. We allowed bits and pieces of joy to trickle in, through our busy schedule, but…

  • Bearing witness

    Bearing witness

    “Save me” – When the enemy is outside, calling for Father, calling out to be saved, it’s natural and sane. When we slide into overwork, the mental load is crushing, and we forget our boundaries. We feel like we can’t say no. Because those asking for our help seem helpless. Be that our kids or…

  • Talents burnout

    Talents burnout

    Or what happens when your gifts bring you to the brink of burnout. I am action oriented as I received amazing freedom as a kid. I always anticipated needs and was one step ahead of adults’ expectations because I hated to be told what to do. Even the first time. I never had to be…

  • Don’t go to bed early

    Don’t go to bed early

    Don’t let the sun set over your anger. The trick is then to start early.  For the first time, I’m not talking about a quarrel with my spouse. But my kids.  I did some translation work in the morning. It’s fall vacation and the weather is just great. I seng them to tidy up their…

  • My baby is sick

    My baby is sick

    just feverish. like she is reflecting the way we feel. she pulled through till the vacation started. and then her little body gave way to exhaustion. She eats well. she naps. but she wakes up at night with a fever. and her eyes look tired. her disposition is pleasant. and it is such a nice…

  • Drawn to each other

    Drawn to each other

    I found myself involved in new projects, shoulder to shoulder, with many inspiring women in Cluj. Each with their own gifts. But what we have in common is action, showing up, a sense of responsibility in paying forward the abundance of grace … not that grace can be quantified or paid forward. It flows freely…

  • Holding onto joy

    Holding onto joy

    Mops together: A year ago I joined this band of women. And it has been a wild ride. I had a front row seat to amazing events, transformations, decorations and acts of service. I joined to translate materials. The productions they out together are out of this world. Incredible details, generosity of heart and abundance…

  • Nobody told me

    Nobody told me

    I read the tweet rant of a parent complaining in a funny way that nobody told them how exhausting it is to cook dinner for their kids every night. This started a conversation about how easy or hard life was for our parents and how much they spoke up about it. I mean, in my…

  • Reset in France

    Reset in France

    I learned of remembered  a few things this fall. It is important to step off the stage, to be silent, to listen to God.  As an introvert, this year I have been focused outwardly, to the point of depletion. Everybody needs something everyday. I was not meant to fill or meet every need. While giving is…

  • Room for the easy and the hard

    Room for the easy and the hard

    Guilt about *it being easy  *It can be life, marriage, adoption. Parenting is evidently not easy. We can see the beauty in it, embrace the challenges, but parenting is about sacrifice. No matter who you are, if you are in it for the long run, motivated by love, sacrifice comes natural.  It is possible that…

  • Cohesive joy

    Cohesive joy

    I care about being cohesive, even as we live a very complex life. On one hand I’m in awe of these two gifts in our lives. On the other, I wonder if I’m equipped to keep up with the challenges of life as is.  Adoption is complex. Adults considering adoption want guarantees. But there are…