four-minute friday: in two minutes or less
Go.
I don’t even think I can get four full minutes in. It’s been that long of a week. No, I take that back. It’s been a quick week, but overflowingly full in every way imaginable.
My brain is fried. It’s been checked out for days. (Which definitely did not help with the hard week…)
So… Yeah. I’ve got nothing today.
After my raw, vulnerable posts earlier this week, I’m left with nothing to say. For now.
(Hopefully my brain will be back by Monday.)
So… You tell me something. Anything.
You could tell me what God’s speaking to you these days. Or you could keep it light and fluffy and just tell me about your favorite pair of shoes.
Or what your weekend plans are. Or what your best friend is like. Or why you love Target so much.
You know, whatever.
Just please tell me something so I don’t have to feel guilty for not saying anything on here today.
Happy weekend, friends!
Done.
I’m awake at 1:41 am.
Sophie, our dog, is outside. Probably doing what I said this four minute friday shouldn’t be about.
I went to sleep at around 11:45ish. Only to be awakened by the dreadful “please, oh, please, let me outside, or I’ll whimper incessantly until you do” whine.
So, in essence, I’m reaping what I sowed for trying to make a joke about poo.
Much love.
ha! thanks for starting us off right, russ. i love it!
Im sitting in bed thinking reading this post, thinking of Russ :)
and of Impact South Africa and how I can be involved. Even more than that, how I can influence others to be involved. Cause I am so anxious to see a movement that blows Thrive Africa away.
I am thinking of my wife sitting next to me, writing, loving on people. She blows me away. Her grace, Her strength. Her beauty.
I am thinking about tomorrow. My Friday. My day off. And, its spring break, so tomorrow we have waffles and eggs with the whole family. We dont get to have breakfast everyday. People talk about how important it is for the family to eat dinner together. I think we should start the day together. How amazing is that. How important is that.
I am thinking about Easter. Sunday is Palm Sunday. I am thinking about how amazing this week is. I am also thinking about how amazing everyday is, cause I am saved and washed by His blood all year…not just this week.
I am thinking about MAy and how awesome that will be :)
I am thinking about the relationships God has given me. I am grateful. And, Ia m grateful for all the relationships He still is to reveal.
I am grateful. honestly. How can I complain. How petty can I be to even complain…and make it about me…
Brent,
You do have an amazing wife, she’s all you said here if not so much more. I love her so deeply and she has truly been my strength, and hope to drive towards a “well of joy”.
But ya know what???
She has an amazing husband to help her.
Between you too… God is present.. the wholeness, the dedication to family first, and the fact that you BOTH make “people matter astounds me” I can’t wait until the day I will actually hug on you guys. I’m using a comment box to say this but… God is leading this.
He notices it… He’s amazed!
Happy Palm Sunday!!!
this made me smile. Gives me hope. Thank you.
brent, your words about your beautiful wife fill my eyes with tears and my heart with hope. thank you for sharing what you did.
You know, I’m pretty freaked out right now. That’s what I’m thinking about. Everything that I thought was supposed to happen soon is kind of hanging there in front of me, uncertain and maybe threatened. And I’ve been in that place way too much lately and it’s driving me bonkers. Bon-kers.
That and it’s 2:21 in the morning and I’m wide freaking awake.
i feel the same way. it’s frightening to feel this unanchored. i’m trying to cling to Him in the midst of all the uncertainty, but most of the time… i flounder.
My favorite pair of shoes are my black TOMs that I got for my semi-new job as a barista, but I wear them all the time anyway.
I love Target because they’re inexpensive, but they don’t make me feel cheap. Every time I walk out, I feel like I’m stealing because I’m getting such great stuff. Walmart doesn’t do that for me.
My best friend? I have a lot. You know one of them — Mallory. We met in South Africa, so, I guess if it weren’t for your vision, I wouldn’t have one of my closest friends. Thanks. We have frequent skype chats that have, unfortunately, become less now that she lives more than 2 time zones away. But I love our skype chats because she’s one of my friends that I can be real with and share my raw heart with. We encourage each other in our faith, and we’re growing together in our faith too as we do a Bible study together. She’s great, and I’m sad she’s in Japan, but I know God is happy with her there and so it’s good.
My weekend plans? Well, Saturday I’m working a lot at my first job. I’m a lifeguard, if you didn’t already know. It’s coming up on 5 years working at the pool. Most days I love it, but it can get tiring. I haven’t worked since Christmas break, and this is one of the few times I’ll work until summer, so I think I’m going to love it.
Sunday will be a whole lot of church, in the morning and in the evening. My roommate, Rachel, comes with me which is a huge blessing because before this year she was still figuring out where God fit into her life. Now He is becoming more of her life and it makes me so excited for her! She’s another one of my best friends.
What’s God speaking to me these days? That’s a good question. And I’m scared to answer, because I’m not sure I can. To be honest, until yesterday morning, I thought I was going to France this summer, but I’m not. I’m applying for the coaching position for swim team at the pool instead. And I know this is God’s plan so far, but I also thought France was God’s idea, so now I’m confused. I do think God is working on humbleness in me too. It’s a tough thing to learn. It means my pride has to crash a lot, and it is.
And a dirty little secret to top it off… I should be staying at my cousin’s house tonight because I’m house-sitting but I’m skipping out because I didn’t want to leave my cozy bed at home.
Sorry for the blog post on your blog post! I didn’t realize I wrote so much!
And, It’s only 11:40 here. The time on my comment makes me feel like I should really be getting to sleep!
i loooooved your long comment!
thank you for your bare-bones honesty about, well, everything. as for the whole france thing? wow. so so hard for so many reasons. praying for your heart.
and i loved that you confessed to not being at your cousin’s house!
I’m thinking about hair. Sometimes when I want a change in my life, I go in to the stylist and get a new do. 3 years ago as I was struggling through the beginnings of depression I chopped off my beautiful mane into a bob. Hey, bobs were in style back then.
But then when life is going well I don’t cut it at all. Every six months perhaps. I think it was Thanksgiving when I last got it trimmed. It is now inching on past my shoulder blades. Sometimes when I’m driving I catch my hair behind me like a reverse seat belt.
Well, tomorrow is wacky hair day at the school wear I teach. So I went tonight and got some kool aid. Sadly the store only had red. And instead of turning my hair a neon color, I look like a red head. Or at least bordering on one.
This dying my hair (albiet temporarily) is completely outside my comfort zone. I like safe, comfortable, thought out, choices.
Recently my aunt told me something that stuck with me. Besides children and death, nothing is permenant everything can be undone. And although I don’t whole heartedly agree with the statement, I do agree with the basic principle.
So I am trying to live more. Trying to take more chances. Or atleast give those out of the box experiences a little more consideration.
And truthfully it feels good. Scary, but good.
I row competitively and my coach is always telling me that when I am working on improving something in my form, it should feel awkward. It should feel strange. If it feels good you haven’t changed anything. Sometimes its hard to make those changes, to work against muscle memory. That’s what I feel like I am doing right now in my life. And as awkward and self-conscience and unsure as I feel some days, I try and remind myself that those are actually good things. It means I’m doing something different than the status quo. It may not be perfect, but I’m trying.
I am trying. And so tonight I dyed my hair with kool aid. Because why not, right? It can always be undone. So why not try?
I totally got inspired with this…. totally!
way to rock the red hair! what did the kids at school think!?
It’s 12:03 pm and I’m making a huge pot of chili. Tomorrow I’ll use the leftovers in Chili Pie, which isn’t nearly as good without Fritos.
I’m preparing for something I’m not sure will even happen. Something that wasn’t planned until next year, but since that won’t work for various reasons, it may happen now. It’s something I can’t talk about yet, but am dying to let the cat out of the bag. Don’t ask, because I won’t tell :)
I’m getting ready to go away for a week and hear some preaching and singing in English. I cannot even put into words how excited I am about this!
The kids and I did so great with homeschool this year that we finished TODAY! YAY! Now we’ll have the spring and summer to run, climb trees, ride bikes, and make a lot of trouble. LOL!
I’m struggling on a personal level with things I thought I had overcome. I’m praying for grace to get through it again.
And now I’m ready to go eat chili.
Have a good day, Everyone!
I’m thinking why did the silly subbing people have to call and offer me a job at 5:00am when I am sick and don’t feel good….I can handle most kinds of sick except sore throats then I become that pathetic make me feel better girl.
Otherwise, I don’t do favorites, but the latest pair of shoes I got were my TOMS special collection ones that give specifically to South Africa…which I love and they are super cute!
God’s been speaking to me still about those dreams…I’m still letting my response to your “death of dreams” post brew…it’s coming…but it’s still an ouch.
this weekend. I am SO looking forward to from a chipotle/coldstone run with my people to a coffee date to making dinner to stepping out in a new way to church!
Oh, and I’m thinking that I just ran out of pages in my journal which I bought in SA and need a new one…which makes me sad and so don’t have any idea what one I want…
So, there’s a lot of randomness for you. :)
Can you post or tweet the link for the SA TOMS?
Thanks :)
They are currently out of stock, but it looks like they’re coming back in May!
http://www.toms.com/womens/special-collections/baobab-sunset-classics-shoes#more
I love them so much and they are super cute! For these, if you like a tight/well fit size then order your size and if not, then I would suggest a half size up :) at least that’s what I found!
it is 6:31 am and i am sitting here in the blissful quiet wondering exactly where this week went. i have had to face down some hard things and their accompanying emotions in the past few days, and am left feeling bruised and vulnerable. definitely not my favorite feelings. i much prefer the Wonder Woman-ish persona that i try to make myself believe the world sees.
delusion can be a kind, albeit misleading, friend.
i have always been the independent one in my family. my home is on one side of the country, while my parents, brothers and their families all live on the other side. which is perfectly fine… unless you need to be around people who have known you longer than you’ve had teeth, and somehow still have managed to love you through all the stuff. i am sure it will pass. it always does.
never have i been a TGIF kind of girl, but today i am thankful for the bit of space tomorrow morning will bring.
as for my favorite pair of shoes… they are a pair of camouflage khaki green pointy toe flats that i found on a trip to Paris in 2006. the heel has worn off and i need to get them fixed, but simply looking at them makes me remember my favorite city in the spring and the wonder of feeling so at home in a place i have never lived. bliss.
and alece, no guilt. perhaps today’s post wasn’t the same as other days, but you’ve got us talking, and that is never a bad thing.
your last line? i really appreciated hearing that.
Heath Bar Blizzard!
That is all.
I love my Frye boots and am mourning the fact it’s getting warmer and wearing them really wouldn’t be appropriate…I need a favorite pair of summer shoes. Any suggestions? I’m thinking of picking up a pair of gray converse, hmmm. Headed to the beach tomorrow, so I guess I can start looking there! I will see my newley de-dreaded sister! Her dreadlocks were half way down her back and she just cut them. Weird. She saved them. She buried one in the back yard. I dunno, weird. ;)
My niece is turning one and we’ll celebrate tomorrow. I wish my husband was going with us, but he has a job he’s trying to wrap up so it will be me and my five! It will be fun and a much needed time away!
I guess I should get going…I have to finish laundry and pack!
Have a great spring break!!
~kristin
wait. she saved her dreads? that really kinda skeeves me out. ::shudder::
It totally skeeves me out too! She talked about sewing them (eww) together (more ewee!) to make a wig (triple eww!)
Me and my husband and our 4 kids leave in less than 2 weeks for China to adopt a sweet little 4 year old boy. I am so excited I want to shout it from the rooftops!!
I have so enjoyed your blog, and the realness of it. Thank you for sharing your heart.
if you are like so many of my other china-adoption friends, you’ve been waiting a very long time for this. congratulations!
next to my pugs, this is my favorite dog EVER… his name is kingsley and he belongs to http://www.tazaandhusband.com … he is a smile for your friday if i have ever seen one
http://twitpic.com/1awiqk
k done
It’s 6:14 a.m.
I woke up with a bad migraine.
I am trying push myself into my work clothes and get going. Hoping a cup of coffee will do the trick, but may need to call in. This will be the first time EVER I called in sick cuz I was sick. WOW…. But… I think I’ll go to work… everyone is home on spring break and it will be noisy here, my car (my office) will be alot quieter and Michael Buble can play softly in the background. and it’s free donut day… lOL..
Push Heidi Push
how are you feeling, FF?
I am sure thankful that the garbage truck comes to my house at 5:53AM on Friday morning. Because I have 2 little boys that think watching them do their thing is the life. I might get a little more sleep if they change their schedule. Cause I know my guys aren’t going to be in bed until they do. Sigh.
I have decided this weekend to tell a friend of mine my whole story. She’s coming over to have brunch on my new patio furniture tomorrow.
I have decided it’s time to tell her the “secrets” of what has happened in my family. Because I wasn’t the one who made the bad choices (my parents were) I always feel guilty for revealing to people what really happened (only a small, select few of my friends know) But I have learned lately – (much credit goes to reading your blog, Alece!) – that in order for me to have the support I need to really heal and move on in my life I HAVE to be honest with people and let them in all the way.
Although it was not me who made the sinful choices, I am on the receiving end of all the pain and repercussions of those choices. While my mom and dad are moving forward in forgiveness and grace and their new life – I am sitting in the pain of my shattered life because of them. I have begun to realize that it is not fair to me to hold in the story just to protect them – they have received the healing they need, it is time for me to heal as well. So, I am praying that as I begin to share my real story with safe people that God will begin to heal me through support and that He will free me from guilt.
Alece, thank you so much for your bravery on this blog. You lead by example in so many ways and I have learned so much from you. I pray that you have a refreshing weekend!
i’ve been thinking of you this weekend, knowing you’re going to be putting your heart out there in such a huge way. i so hope your friend holds your heart gently…
My house is such a mess. We had Cons third birthday party last sunday which created a huge mess then on monday his birthday I came down with a really bad cold to add to the persistent ones dan and con already had. So this week has been filled with sitting watching Little Einsteins with con and yesterday even dan stayed home which I think is the second time in six years he has taken a sick day. So having no energy for anything con has officialy run out of clean clothes to wear and we have almost run out of clean silverwear. Ww are down to one kleenex box when we usually have three in the house.
Enough about my messy house.
I woke up at four am and couldn’t fall back asleep till about six. I had a dream that dan con and me were living in Maun with all my old friends (none of them live there anymore) we were just having a good time. Dreams like that make me sad because I really wonder if I will ever get back there and if I do will it be for more than a couple weeks. Sometimes well most times I wish I had done things different. Maybe never left africa. But those are just thoughts that make me sad.
Something else…
I’m three days late but still not testing positive. Hmm.
God has been tugging at my heart this week…asking me to just trust Him. To trust that He has good things for me, even though they may not be the good things I had chosen for myself. He is asking me to believe Him when He says that His good thing is far better than mine.
So…I’m letting go…of old dreams. Not in the sense that I no longer want those things, but in the sense that I am no longer going to cling so tightly to them that they become idols in my mind. I’m going to live in the mindset of the Hebrew children being thrown into the furnace…I know my God can end the pain now…I know my God can hand me what I want today…I know He can…but even if He does not…I will still love Him.
that is such a hard place to get to — the letting go of our dreams. i’m still wrestling with that…
I cannot stop thinking about how I am quitting my job on Monday….I cannot wait….finally my baby will get all the time and attention he deserves!
soooooo happy for you! congrats!
I’m cutting off my hair today. I can never make it past my shoulders!!!! Wearing it up so much has been giving me KILLER headaches…and when it’s this long I wear it up all the time. In fact, that is the only reason I grow out my hair….so I can wear it up (because I think updo’s are pretty).
So yes, today I put my hair in the hands of someone who’s never hacked it off before (but has been trimming and coloring it for months now). I told her “turn me away from the mirror, and do what you think will look cute” I need the SHOCK face here.
I’ll post before and afters this weekend. ;o)
wow, you’re brave! can’t wait to see the before and afters!
aaaaaaaaaaaaand it’s done.
::tapping my foot::
still waiting for pictures…
yeah yeah. ;o)
Today would have been a good one too! DANG! Okay, Easter tomorrow….gotta have good hair for that right?? I hope!
Here’s something random. I never liked beer until I had it with pizza. Yummy!
And considering that was the first thing that came to my mind to comment, I’m not sure what that says about me haha.
I feel funny…can’t tell if I am sick, if it’s allergies, if I am imagining it, if I’m just tired. All I know is this…I feel funny. I want to feel un-funny.
i’ m super excited for our trip to the beach in two weeks.
shoes: i’m wearing one of my favorite pairs of shoes today, black wedge heels with a kind of pointy toe. (hope i don’t trip and fall :)!!) but will be wearing my sketcher shape-ups when i do my walking on all my breaks today. honestly i don’t notice anything different than wearing regular sneakers, but my dad REALLY wanted to buy me a pair so i let him. :)!
I’m not sure what to write.
My brain is filled to the brim with so many things. So many things I try to give to God, but then snatch right back like an over-eager dog playing fetch.
That’s all for right now.
I so love your honesty! And I am so very glad that I found your blog!
As for sharing…
I’ve had this song from Wicked (the musical) going through my head lately that sums things up nicely.
“Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good”
Not only does this fit nicely with my desire for my entire life to have a soundtrack, :O) but it also just somehow fits my season.
I’ve got lots of people coming in and out of my life right now. Lately it’s mostly been out! But the many people that have touched my life I’m realizing how much they have helped to change me.
Change – I’m hoping for more ironically.
Ok – enough!
Gina
i get so tired of the revolving door effect in my life, too… all those hellos and goodbyes are really hard on my heart…
I’m thinking about how IT’S MY BIRTHDAY! today. I’m thinking about what this next year will bring. I’m thinking about how blessed I’ve been in my life. How God has really taken care of me when I needed Him to (even if I didn’t want Him to). I’m thinking about how I get my new computer today =) so Skype can be possible with friends who are far away. I’m thinking about how excited I am to have a new project to start next week at work which means new office, new responsibilities, new co workers, new environment….which is very exciting! I’m thinking how I’m not learnng my lesson of humility and unconditional love very well right now. My pride is holding more weight than it should. So, it’s time to swallow my pride yet again and ask God to give me grace. Also, I need to re-vamp my diet. I’ve been gaining weight which I’m not too happy about but haven’t really faced. So, I think after this birthday weekend, I’ll need to re-evaluate my lifestyle. I want to just nip it in the bud before it gets out of control (again). I’m also tender today, even tho it is my birthday. A certain someone and I discussed my birthday before they left. I know I won’t hear anything from this person, and that makes me a bit tender. But I’m really trying to let that go. I just found out my dear, dear friend Sonja is coming to visit in April and I could not be more excited! I haven’t seen her since 2007 (even tho we talk every day). She’s never been here, so I can’t wait to show her around!
Last, I’ve been thinking about this quote from GK Chesterton alot this week: ‘But Christianity preaches an obviously unattractive idea, such as original sin; but when we wait fo its results they are…a thunder of laughter and pity; for it is with original sin we can at once pity the beggar and distrust the king.’
Hmmm
Happy Friday, Mer!
Happy Birthday!
My best friend is a survivor. But not in the “I’ll get by” sense. She reminds me of you sometimes. More like the “I will not let this beat me” sort of way. She’s been through hell – mainly in her childhood… But she’s past it now. I’m so proud of her.
i hope to meet her someday…
I’m going on a big date with my husband tonight. He only knows about the dinner, but the rest is a surprise. So, since he doesn’t read your blog and I’ve been dying to tell someone, here’s what we’re doing:
Dinner at the Inn at Little Washington- Historic place, super expensive and one of the best restaurants in the country. We are going to celebrate some looooooong awaited transitions in our lives.
Staying at: a Marriott Ranch, where we will be getting a 3-course breakfast, then a horseback ride through the countryside, then a gourmet picnic lunch and then a wine-tasting tour.
I’m pretty proud of myself for keeping it a secret.
Plus, I got a new outfit and got my hair did for this special dinner. Thanks for letting me spill it here!
Enjoy your time! How fun!
wow, that sounded like an amazing weekend. i hope you guys had a great time — and that john was abundantly surprised! (thanks for giving me the inside scoop!)
My overwhelming impression lately has been excitement over what I see God doing all over the face of the earth. “Traveling” through blogs and their comments shows me that God is calling soooo many of us to seek Him…learn to hear His voice like never before…be willing to obey no matter the cost…understand the dunamis power of the Holy Spirit…let Him change us into new wineskins…because He is preparing all of us…tens of thousands of otherwise “nobodys”… for a move of God that is like nothing the earth has ever seen!
I realized just now (not that this is the first time) but that I should write my own thing before I read someone else’s thing (comments, blog, etc) becaus ethen I forget what I wanna say and am sidetracked by pizza, beer, hair, target….
I’m not sure if I should take another EPT. My cycle’s weird. Not sure if I’m late. One should always write these things down, but don’t think I really want that on the calendar that hangs in my kitchen for everyone to see. lol. if i were prego, my family might faint. They already think I have too many children. I don’t think I am, though.
my tot is teething and it’s gross. snot, drool, poop-chapped business. You wanted to know that, right?
i hate it, yes, hate, when people don’t call me back. hate.
ooooh, that gets me sometimes too. i read all the comments and then i can’t remember what my own thoughts were.
about that EPT… did you take it?
Yeah, nothin, but still no visit from the “relative”. WHo knows. This is the lovely part of messed up hormones.
Funny, in reading back on what I wrote, I realized how much I rambled and and surprised you could actually understand what I said. LOL!!!
Happy Easter!
My brain has been fried this week too…which in the daze I was in, I ran a stop night last night. No one was coming but the shot of adrenaline as I realized it was pretty intense.
I’m going back to praying over my (im)possible list that I created last fall. Still need to blog about this. Keep hearing, “Trust Me.” Want to; need to.
I think you deserve a break today. Thanks again for your authentic posts this week. Way to live out your word for the year! I have a few exciting things that are going on in my world. I start a new job next Thursday that I am SO excited about! The best part is that they are going to pay for my doctorate! I’m spending Saturday-Wednesday in Hattiesburg. I’m looking forward to hanging out with my family and will enjoy some rest before the new job begins. My grandmother is visiting right now. It’s been really wonderful to see her interact with JW. Last, I’m getting my hair done tomorrow. It’s really nappy.
wow, shinea! so exciting about your new job, AND that they’re covering your doctorate! YAY!
hope you’re having an awesome time in H-burg. you and your new do. ;)
I wish I had something to give you but God’s kinda gone silent on me again lately. So I just keep pushing on with the last thing I was told. :)
You’ve had a really rough week. Therefore, I order you to do something you really enjoy that has absolutely to significant purpose. Something that completely break the rhythm of your normal life. Something that would make the rest of us say “you GO girl!” :)
That’ll give you something for Monday. :)
I’m sitting in Georgia.
How crazy is that?!
I just warmed up and practiced a bit for my competition tomorrow.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
If I sing tomorrow like I sang today, I should hopefully be fine. :)
God’s been speaking through silence, lately….
Hopefully I’ll gain some understanding and wisdom through it.
Oh, and I absolutely love cheesecake.
Happy Friday!
My favorite shoes are no shoes at all. It’s been way too long since I walked barefoot through the grass.
i cringed reading this. i absolutely hate being barefoot. especially in the grass! YIKES!
I like Target because well….it’s Target. What’s not to love.
I’m absolutely THANKFUL it’s finally Friday. This week has been a crappy one. I’ve been battling a bad mood and took four vitamin b’s to help combat that today.
I’m getting my nails done this weekend. Celebrating with our church a year of being a church on Sunday.
I’m wearing black & white polka dot shoes today. http://bit.ly/9pfVhO
I’m learning to not walk in fear: http://www.prudychick.com/2010/03/walking-in-fear/
your shoes are SO cute!
I’d just like to say THANKS!! Thank you for being real in a world of fakes. Thanks for trusting us with your life story and your walk in this beautiful thing called life!!! Thank you Thank you for loving Christ and showing us how to heal from hard, ugly, bad things. sometimes we want to heal but don’t know how and although you might not know “how to” your honestly and the sharing you do shows us all how to heal… Thanks Alece for being you and loving the same GOOD God i do! ALSO, I have a pair of satin heels that a fushia pink and nothing to wear with them but someday those shoes and I are going to have lots of fun! I anticipate JOY when I look at those shoes!! Now for to buy something to wear with them so I can also FIND the JOY i’ve been missing!!
Thank you. You are loved
JUlia
wow, julia. thank you. really.
This week has been so stressful. I am just tired of learning. Sometimes you just want to relax and step away from life without having to think about anything and just take an easy this is definately one of those weekends.
a friend and i say that all the time — we are so ready for the lessons to be over! sometimes i just wish i could call time-out…
This Sunday, March 28, 2010, marks 25 years since the day God called me and I recieved Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. As a special kiss from heaven I am the one who gets to preach the gospel message at church that very morning. I am so excited! Palm Sunday, nonetheless – have you laid down your cloak of pretext at the feet of our Humble King? Oh, yeah. It’s a gonna be good.
THAT is awesome! how’d it go???
I am in awe at the goodness of God in my life. It went so well! I have tried a few times to blog about it and just haven’t been able to find the words to do it justice. When I finally do I will be sure to get you the link. Thanks for following up on this comment. You are a dear.
I am excited because next Wednesday my hubby and I are going to the US. We live in Scotland. My family have never met my husband. On that note my family haven’t seen me since my former husband abandoned me & walked away from God and our marriage. I’ve been through so much. God carried me through years and years of heartache. But He had great blessings in store for me which I knew nothing of. One was the dear man that I married almost a year ago. Oh God really is good!
We are really looking forward to seeing my friends, meeting family and having a proper holiday. My hubby works really hard and even if he has a ‘holiday’ at home it’s not a real break. So this will be fantastic. I’ll be able to spend some really quality time with him. Also I get to see some of my best friends who have been dear friends for about 20 years. Amazing how God has used these people in the difficulties that God allowed in the past few years.
So today I’m feeling grateful, blessed and am smiling at His blessings.
wow. WOW. wow.
this week has held so much for you. i’m wondering how long you are stateside… and i hope i get to hear all about your trip. i’m sure your heart has felt a swirl of emotions!
I’m realizing I’ve been under a tremendous amount of stress with this time of transition. I’m way out of practice with all that goes with this after 14 years in one place (and that’s from a military kid who moved her whole life). I’m realizing how much I really need to feel settled. I really want that “at home” feeling like, months ago.
Other quick and random thoughts:
I wish I had the kind of loving relationship with my parents that so many other Christians have. I got into a pillow fight with a girl in 6th grade at camp and both of my front teeth got broken off. I love natural light. Which I don’t have much of these days, as we only have windows on one side and we’re facing a concrete water cooling tower. My hair is a mess, and I’m bummed. I’ve gained weight, and I’m bummed. I love an organized closet. I love an organized LIFE. I’m missing this sweet dog named Duffy that we dog-sat about 8 years ago. I get really inspired watching HGTV. I don’t know if I have any dreams anymore, and that makes me sad. Personal space is important to me. I hate to feel confused. One of my greatest joys in life is finding a good deal at a thrift shop.
i love your random list…
i’m with you on the parental relationship thing. i flew to DC to get my temporary braces off my teeth (from my accident) only to find out the bone’s not healed enough and they have to stay on. (SAD!) i’m wondering why getting your hair cut exhausts you so. i’m bummed about my weight too but i’m trying not to think about it. i can’t stand thrift stores—they smell bad.
Not all thrift shops smell bad! :) I got some great stuff at one I went to this morning – one was even a picture, brand new and still wrapped!
Getting my hair cut exhausts me because I get frustrated when it doesn’t turn out the way I want, despite my trying to explain myself clearly or bring pictures. I just want it to be something I don’t have to think about, because it’s done right. I like easy. I need to not care so much, because I know it isn’t – and shouldn’t be – that important. I guess what I’m admitting here is that um, I’m kind of vain…..
FLUFF: I heart Target. It is my favorite store. It is taking me a full week to get my house back under control. I am going to start an exercise program next week. Have it all planned out. Baby girl is cooing up a storm and letting her sisters know when she wants their attention. I could eat a whole pan of fudge right now, but was convicted by your post about eating emotionally. So, I’ll just eat a piece of fruit or some more cranberry sauce. Wish I had some new shoes … and some clothes that fit to go with it. It’ll come! So ready for some warm weather. Thinking tonight calls for a large bowl of popcorn and a movie. And, I blessed beyond measure …
WHAT GOD IS SAYING: Our season is changing … spring … new growth, new things, new life. I am excited! Anticipating great things. Can’t wait for Him to reveal them.
LOVE YOU SWEET ALECE … and miss you, too! :)
I think good things are happening. I think I finally managed to let go, and the aftermath is beautiful.
(sometimes it’s depressing how months can be condensed into a few words, en’t it?)
i miss hearing your heart.
A bird crapped on my arm today at Disneyland.
The new quarter starts on Monday. I have to drive back and forth so much next week that there’s not even a point in me packing anything more than my backpack.
Opening Day (er, Night) is just over a week away!
My best friend turned 21 this week. We celebrated with a nice, long game of Risk. Only one of us got really angry during the game. Progress.
My family could really use your prayers right now.
what’s going on, ‘risa? i’m praying…
(and really? a bird crapped on you!? so not okay!)
During one of my dad’s weekly visits to the doctor for an allergy shot, they discovered that his pulse was extremely low. They did a series of tests and found that his heart is receiving half or less of the signals it should be. He’s on a heart monitor for the next month until he can see the cardiologist to discuss options.
So now we’re stuck in a waiting game.
People, that I don’t expect, fall in love with me.
People that I need, fall out.
It’s Saturday morning, and since I get this site by email, I just now got Friday’s post.
So, I missed it.
Not that I had anything to say.
Alece, the next time your in DC I think coffee is in order. :)
Why I love target: The hats and purses and that i can wander aimlessly there and no one minds, because they are all doing the same thing.
Random me fact: This weekend, I’m packing up and donating the wedding dress I never got a chance to wear. Seven years later after tripping on it in my closet its finally going to make some nice girl somewhere happy.
Thing God has been teaching me lately: obedience and how He blesses that, even when it makes no sense to me.
Hope your weekend was a good one
how did it feel to give away your wedding dress?
I love that God taught me (via my amazing pastor) about Psalm 8 and Matthew 21 and reminded me just how amazing and radical Jesus was. And still is. I love to have the breaks thrown on for something I’ve whizzed by in the Bible a hundred times before… I love spiritual lightbulbs, turned on by God. He reminds me how amazing He is… and how it’s all about Him!
I just wanted to tell you that although I know I can’t imagine what you have been through or even come close to understanding, I feel like in so many ways we would “get” each other if we knew one another. So many of your posts have been a blessing to me and expressed in many ways the same (yet different due to circumstances) I feel (which has at times made me feel less alone). Just thought I would let you know that you have been a blessing to me even though we have never met. I pray God blesses you greatly today and comforts you in a way only He can.
thank you for the amazing encouragement, julie!
It’s Monday. 1:26pm our time.
Just checkin’ in on you…
God had me working on the idea that love was patient for the past six months plus. Now he has released me to work on love is kind. I am taking each clause one step at a time and learning how to love best.