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
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
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.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
The Pink Spoon Shadow
Peaches. Mango. Strawberries. Blueberries. Pineapple. Tangerines. Those are all the toppings I put on my $5 and change amount of frozen yogurt this evening. There is no denying the deliciousness of my treat. Momentarily the flavor rush shadowed the reality of calories, and so much more.
At this time along the Somalia-Kenya border there is a refugee camp fit to hold 90,000 refugees topping out with a population of over 400,000 and growing. Why are the people there? A compounded problem involving famine, drought, and lawlessness has resulted in hunger and, consequently, death for an alarming amount of people, young and old. Photos of the stark realities Somalians are facing litters the television and computer screen. I can't quite verbalize the impact of the photos. You can see the hopelessness in the refugees' eyes. It's hard to not turn away. I don't often internalize global strife of which I am so far removed. This time is different. Seeing children in such dire agony, so near Death's relentless grasp, and not being able to grab them first and wrap their little bodies in sustenance and love just breaks me to pieces.
I pray for relief for those suffering throughout the world. Especially those suffering from hunger in Africa. I pray my plentiful life does not shadow my eyes from seeing, my heart from feeling, and my hands from doing.
At this time along the Somalia-Kenya border there is a refugee camp fit to hold 90,000 refugees topping out with a population of over 400,000 and growing. Why are the people there? A compounded problem involving famine, drought, and lawlessness has resulted in hunger and, consequently, death for an alarming amount of people, young and old. Photos of the stark realities Somalians are facing litters the television and computer screen. I can't quite verbalize the impact of the photos. You can see the hopelessness in the refugees' eyes. It's hard to not turn away. I don't often internalize global strife of which I am so far removed. This time is different. Seeing children in such dire agony, so near Death's relentless grasp, and not being able to grab them first and wrap their little bodies in sustenance and love just breaks me to pieces.
I pray for relief for those suffering throughout the world. Especially those suffering from hunger in Africa. I pray my plentiful life does not shadow my eyes from seeing, my heart from feeling, and my hands from doing.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
My Dog's Identity Crisis
Yes, you read correctly. My dog is having an identity crisis. Or so we think.
Last week my husband and I agreed to watch our friends' dog for a few days. They thanked us repeatedly, as if we really had no idea what we were getting ourselves into, but they didn't know how excited I really was. I love animals, just not the slimy ones. If I had more space (inside and outside of our home) I'd have as many dogs as I could tolerate, and an equal amount of cats.
Berkley, our guest, and Koda, our resident canine, are the same age and kept themselves occupied with jumping, following, biting, wrestling, licking, and the occasional nap. Then Berkley left.
Koda has never been one that responded to his name. In fact, he prefers to run wildly throughout the neighborhood without a leash only to return when he feels so inclined rather than respond to his name. I can't really recall what led to this, but I decided to call out "Berkley" as I would Koda's given name just to see how he'd react to the absence of his friend. Well, you would have thought I called out an unlimited supply of T-R-E-A-T-S by the way he reacted!
Koda thinks he is Berkley. It's either that or he is in puppy love.
Last week my husband and I agreed to watch our friends' dog for a few days. They thanked us repeatedly, as if we really had no idea what we were getting ourselves into, but they didn't know how excited I really was. I love animals, just not the slimy ones. If I had more space (inside and outside of our home) I'd have as many dogs as I could tolerate, and an equal amount of cats.
Berkley, our guest, and Koda, our resident canine, are the same age and kept themselves occupied with jumping, following, biting, wrestling, licking, and the occasional nap. Then Berkley left.
Koda has never been one that responded to his name. In fact, he prefers to run wildly throughout the neighborhood without a leash only to return when he feels so inclined rather than respond to his name. I can't really recall what led to this, but I decided to call out "Berkley" as I would Koda's given name just to see how he'd react to the absence of his friend. Well, you would have thought I called out an unlimited supply of T-R-E-A-T-S by the way he reacted!
Koda thinks he is Berkley. It's either that or he is in puppy love.
Swirls
Moving to North Carolina was one of the biggest changes in my life. Oftentimes I look around, sweating under the summer sun, and think about how crazy it is that I ended up here, in the South, when I always thought I'd remain near my Yankee roots. Then I realize my wonder isn't necessarily sparked by that life change, but by my (seemingly) sudden presence in adulthood. Much to my own bewilderment, as a child I always wanted to be an adult. Now that I am one, I don't want it anymore. Adulthood. It's not that I desire to be six again, but I want the freedom, the innocence, the ignorance to the ways of this world and its ability to bruise.
I saw two kids, perhaps around five, in Walmart the other day; one boy and one girl. The boy was wide-eyed approaching a display of fresh fruit that was successfully luring him in. The girl drifted behind, consumed with giggles and twirling her body around while watching her blue and white skirt follow. For a moment I wanted to toss down my list, allow the cart to wander off, and spin too.
I don't understand why I keep returning to this topic: my dread of the monotony of being an adult. Please don't mistake this post as a sign of my unhappiness or regret, even. I am very happy and very blessed. I do wish I would remember God's promises more and trust the prevailing of His will in my life if I just let it happen. Aside from that, I wouldn't change a thing.
Other than wishing for the social acceptance of public swirling no matter what the age of the swirler.
I saw two kids, perhaps around five, in Walmart the other day; one boy and one girl. The boy was wide-eyed approaching a display of fresh fruit that was successfully luring him in. The girl drifted behind, consumed with giggles and twirling her body around while watching her blue and white skirt follow. For a moment I wanted to toss down my list, allow the cart to wander off, and spin too.
I don't understand why I keep returning to this topic: my dread of the monotony of being an adult. Please don't mistake this post as a sign of my unhappiness or regret, even. I am very happy and very blessed. I do wish I would remember God's promises more and trust the prevailing of His will in my life if I just let it happen. Aside from that, I wouldn't change a thing.
Other than wishing for the social acceptance of public swirling no matter what the age of the swirler.
Friday, July 15, 2011
More + More = Convenience?
Google + ... another social media venue. So, with mild prompting from my techie husband, I accepted my invite and joined yet another online network. I have no friends (On Google +, I mean). Apparently, the only way you may invite people is by selecting someone from your gmail contact list. I have a gmail account, but I do not have a contact list. Personally I feel a contact list is redundant. If I need to contact someone via email, I locate the last correspondence in my inbox and reply. Simple. My successful system has worked thus far, but now I have no friends, which I am quite alright with accepting. In fact, it may be safe to say I am near being teched-out (if such a thing exists).
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