I'm feeling tickled

We all have unique sets of things that "tickle our fancy". Here are a few from my list that have recaptured my attention recently.

Corduroy pants. It's funny to think that someone invented pants with a million little ruts in them, but I love 'em. Warmer than your every day jeans, my go-to-pair have just the perfect amount of stretch to make you want to run around town or lounge in these suckers.

Cinnamon raison bagels with cream cheese. I'm a New Yorker and a hearty breakfast always includes scrumptious bagels. My closest high school buds and I would take advantage of our open campus lunch break to drive to the local Bagel Bin to treat ourselves to bagels for sustenance. My dentist tells me not to eat bagels because the excessive chewing to allow for an effective swallow aggravates my TMJ-I don't listen. I had one for breakfast today; yummy.

Skirts. Having to dress "professional" Monday-Thursday is not necessarily to my liking, but this predicament has caused me to grow increasingly fond of skirts. Hands down they are more comfortable than dress slacks and I've been playing with some new ways to wear some well-worn oldies (but still goodies).

Light(er) hair. I've been fighting it for a while by periodically dying my hair several shades darker than it's natural color, but recently I've allowed it to exist closer to its pure form. I'm definitely not a blonde, but my hair finds humor in persistent dancing between the light brown and I-don't-know-what-color-to-call-you line.

Fuzzy socks. My best friend in high school lived in a gorgeous-yet bit older-home. If the house ever went on the market I'd buy it, package it up, and move it to North Carolina. Her parents heated the home with a wood pellet stove. One room was toasty warm and the rest of the house was an ice box. To combat this dilemma, my friend's mom would purchase us (her daughter's friends) extra insulated fuzzy socks. I love mine and have since purchased several more.

Martha Stewart and Real Simple magazines. A few years back my mom purchased me subscriptions to both magazines. She's renewed them every year since and I LOVE it when they arrive. I'm not by any means domestically inclined, but sitting down in our office lounge chair with a fresh, hot cup of coffee and my magazines is dreamlike.

That is all for now. I must go to bed. I love you, faithful readers, and I hope you take the time away from our busy, busy world to enjoy the things you love

Wind

Solomon tells us that for everything there is a season. In this season I feel blessed. By God's grace, I have found joy and peace in the whirlwind of teaching. My relationship with my husband has continued to blossom even in our limited weekday time together. I have grown to appreciate family and celebrate in the little moments despite the miles between us. My eyes and heart have been open to friendships with women who encourage, challenge, and hold me accountable to be a kingdom-minded woman. I have hope for good things to come, no matter what season blows through.

Gosh, I must do better at staying current with this thing.

Recently-moreso than usual-I have found myself coming face-to-face with issues exclusive to the feminine persuasion. Not just internally, but in conversations with others who are genuinely finding themselves to be facing very trying battles.

Marriage. Motherhood. Professional glory. Biblical submission versus selfish pride. Feelings of inferiority. The inability to see personal beauty.

Today, more than ever, the world encourages women up to be powerful, self-reliant creatures-creatures able to function with no outside assistance. Just recently I discovered this seemingly "worldly" outlook to be a very real-Biblically cited-struggle among women; the desire for control, for dominance. It stems back to the role of Eve in the fall. It's something I struggle with daily.

But this post is not about me. This post is about women-you, if you are one. Befriend each other. Pray for each other. Lift each other up with promises from the Word. Pray for discernment between the lies from the devil and the truth from our King. Rest in His promises and be thankful for grace. Be thankful for today.