A word for Monday and the week ahead...

I can't remember where I read this, but I have it hand written on a piece of notebook paper that stares at me from my bathroom mirror. 

The spiritual woman does not fret and flap over opportunities missed, does not hammer herself for not working hard enough, and does not have a panic attack wondering whether she has received grace in vain. She lives in quiet confidence that God is working in her by day and by night. The woman knows that she has her full measure of work to do, but she realizes that the outcome rests with God and that the decisive factor is unearned grace. Thus she works as if everything depends on God and prays as if everything depends on her. Because she has learned that the only way to fail in prayer is not to show up.

Have a blessed week everyone!

I needed this today....

Is it weird that I love to-do lists? That I love checking them off and getting stuff done. But in the process lately, I've noticed that it has kind of overwhelmed me. All of a sudden I have to-do lists at work, around the house, in my day planner, online. And whoa. Too much. All of a sudden they all made me want to throw up my hands and STOP. And maybe I really need to.

My boss sent the staff this today... (don't I have the most awesome job?) and it was exactly what I needed to read. For the whole post, read this. But here are my favorite parts:

A well-known pastor, he was was once asked what was his most profound regret in life?

“Being in a hurry.” That is what he said.

“Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I’ve ever gained from being in a hurry.”

“But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing.… Through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away.”

In our rushing, bulls in china shops, we break our own lives.

Haste makes waste. The hurry makes us hurt.

I think of this often, words of another woman seeking: “On every level of life, from housework to heights of prayer, in all judgment and efforts to get things done, hurry and impatience are sure marks of the amateur.”

Is this the secret that all the life experts know?

Time to breathe deep and time to see real.

Time to laugh long, time to give God glory and rest deep and sing joy. And just enough time in a day not to feel hounded, pressed, driven, or wild to get it all done.

There is time to grab the jacket off the hook and time to go out to all air and sky and green. And time to read and wonder and laugh with all of them in all this light.

Highlights of the week

After reading this, I've started a list. Of things that I am thankful for. The little, the big and mostly the things that I wouldn't usually notice. Things that you forget to be thankful for.

So this week in review:

1. Babysitting Gracie tonight. Diving for Princess wands in the hot tub, reading books for bed, saying sweet prayers, and ALWAYS telling goodnight stories :)
2. I found my favorite spin instructor. Most of the time I don't think I can finish her class, and that's how I know she's good. She seriously said this week, "None of you have thrown up, died, or fallen off your bike, so I KNOW you can give more!" Seriously??? Ha!
3. I love my job. Every single day I'm so thankful for it
4. Jake and I had our first co-ed softball game last night. And my awesome husband had a diving catch out in center field that he had to summersault out of! It was awesome!
5. Buffalo Wild Wings after the game with wonderful friends
6. A chance to sleep in on Saturday morning
7. Our doggie is feeling better after hurting his paw earlier this week. It broke this Mama's heart to see him limping around the house :(
8. For Pioneer Woman salsa. Our new favorite thing ever!
9. For a Bible Study group with amazing women
10. For a grocery list that I can complete every week. I had a dream last night I was back in Africa and that always just puts things into perspective. Thankful for a full pantry, refrigerator and more food than I know what to do with
11. For new songs I fall in love with. Currently: Eric Church, "Springsteen"
12. For my amazing husband that I can't get enough of. 

God is so good. Let me never forget

The first signs of growth!

My pretty flowers

I freaked out when I saw these little guys! My first Basil sprouts!

Look really close and you can see more Basil. And the big plant? Green pepper :)

First try: Gardening!

When I was living in an apartment the last 3 years, every spring time I would want to plant flowers. But with no yard and pretty much no front porch, I knew I was going to have to put my wishes on hold. My indoor plants couldn't even survive in my apartment because I always had the window blinds closed. I lived on the 1st floor and didn't want to ever have to deal with creepers! :)

So one of the things I was most excited about when we moved into our town-home, is that we have a yard! Now, I can't do a TON of changes to the yard (because we are renters) but Jake and I have been brainstorming ways to try our hands at gardening. Imagine my delight when my awesome husband even said he'd try to build a raised garden bed for me! We are still talking out the details regarding that, but in the meantime, I have bought some pots and started planting!

Tonight, I planted basil, green peppers and chives. I also have bought some tomato plants, squash, cucumbers, and green onion seeds. I ran out of potting soil so I'll be getting more of that this weekend, but I'm so excited to try this! I even started a notebook where I'm recording when I planted stuff and when it starts coming up/growing veggies (nerd, I know!) But that way, I'll be able to learn for future years when I can have my very own, huge, backyard garden!

So we'll see if I end up having a green thumb- I really hope I do, along with lots of fresh veggies to cook with! YAY! I'm so pumped!