It's the little things in life.

Like Aveeno Positively Radiant that make me smile.

At our past B5 Reunion, last summer, I borrowed Mary Anne's moisturizer. It. Was. Fabulous. I don't even like to use moisturizers, let alone get excited about them, but it made my skin feel fantastic. Now seeing as how (1) I liked this product, but (2) Mary Anne has gorgeous, flawless skin, I should have rushed right out and purchased this bottle of goodness. But I waited until my current moisturizer was almost out and made the purchase over Thanksgiving break.

It's a bit more than I'd typically spend on face lotion, but you can still get it at Wal Mart. Honestly, that has become a must for me these days...getting as many things as I can at one store. Call it efficiency or laziness...

And so far, I have LOVED using it every day. It's light, yet hydrates well. And maybe it's just wishful thinking, but I really do think my skin looks better because of it. (I hope I didn't just jinx myself with that!)

Something to Ponder

My dear friend Cameron sent me this the other day and I loved it. First, let me share a bit about Cameron. I was friends with her older sister, Courtney, at Presbyterian College. Naturally, I was hoping to be friends with the youngest Thain, too. (With humor, style, and honesty, they make quite the dynamic sister duo.) We were in the same sorority, spent a summer together in Myrtle Beach, and had many mutual friends. But the Lord really drew us together in our time studying and learning the Bible together...especially in our season together in Columbia. Even though we no longer live near one another, we email just about every day to keep one another accountable for spending time in the word and to pray for one another. Cameron walks beside me through so many things -- big and small -- in this way. I'm so thankful for her in my life and love seeing how the Lord uses her in my life and watching her grow in the Lord to become the godly lady she was created to be.

Quiet Down

But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness to pray.Luke 5:16
Did you know there are cultures in the world that don't have a word for "minute" or "hour"? They simply have no need or desire to measure time in such short increments. Nor do they attempt to maximize every second of every day. Filling their lives to the brink would be unthinkable.

Sound too third-worldish to you? Isn't it easy to see how such words are not necessary in places where people grow their own food and rarely venture beyond their own village?
I'm not suggesting that we all move into the woods and live off the land. But I am encouraging you to consider the benefits of pulling the throttle back just a notch and embracing a more contemplative lifestyle. When you allow yourself time for creative solitude, you can see God at work and begin to rediscover life in all its richness. When you give yourself the necessary time and space to seek clarity, gain perspective and ponder decisions, you find more to savor, enjoy and appreciate.

As I reflect on these two different approaches to life--the rushed and the restful--I force myself to ask, How did Jesus live? Was He frantic or steady? Was He checking the sundial every few minutes, wishing He could cut some time off His commute to the next city? Or was He able to stop and tend to the needs around Him?

Jesus had more pressure on Him than any of us can fathom. His own disciples were always peppering Him with questions. The Pharisees wanted Him dead. The crowds wanted Him king. Many pressed against Him, wanting to be healed.

Yet He got alone to pray. To think. To be strengthened. He sought His Father and enjoyed Him in the quiet moments of life.

ART

No, not the activity you went to in middle school, it's the bus I ride from my parking lot to my office. At first I thought this was going to be a real bummer, but I've come up with the top 5 reasons I enjoy ART:

5. I save over $600 a year by not paying to park. Riding the bus is FREE.
4. I don't have to fight traffic once I get into downtown.
3. It doesn't add any time to my mornings.
2. I don't have to think about what I'm doing, but instead can sit, relax, people watch, and sip my Diet Coke...hoping the caffine kicks in ASAP.
1. Toni. She is hands-down the greatest bus driver ever. Just a cool person. Always friendly in the morning and the afternoons. Huge smile on her face. Really makes my day when I see her.

The Great Flood

Noah would have been better off than me this morning. I wish I had an ark, a canoe, a something other than my compact car this morning. It rained all night last night (and is supposed to start up again soon), thus causing massive traffic issues and most of Downtown to flood. High tide was at 7:20 and thus there was some serious flooding. I mean flooding with white caps. One of my co-workers was literally stranded and pulled into a random MUSC parking lot, where our boss had to go pick her up because she couldn't make it to the office with all of the flooding.

How bad was the traffic? Well, as for the traffic, it took me an over and hour and a half to get to my training meeting. You read correctly. I left at 8:00, became adgitated by 8:35 in the bumper to bumper traffic, and made it to the foot of the James Island connector at 9:00. That's an hour travel time for about 4 miles. I could have walked faster. It was more frustrating, ahem, enjoyable due to the fact that the person in front of me let EVERY car in...and when we FINALLY made it to the connector, he didn't even get on. Really?!? But my boss was chill about it and I made it to my meeting. They hadn't started yet because they didn't think anyone else would show up. We even got off early today in order to beat the next traffic jam/flood situation.

Hump Day Joy

Since I have a training session to attend from 9 to 12 today, and it's on the other side of campus, my boss told me not to come in the office before the meeting. Wa-hoo. That gave me an extra hour in my morning! I was able to sleep in a bit longer, spend a bit more time with the Lord, and just move at a more leisurely pace. It was lovely!

Today

Other than having purchased a product(RED) shirt from the Gap and iPod nano, I cannot claim to be an AIDS activist in any way. However, it is both terribly sad and scary to me how quickly this disease has spread globally in a 30 or so year time span. While many medical advances have taken place and many people are able to live healthy lives with the proper medicines, these medicines are not available to all -- mainly due to cost. And so an estimated 3,8o0 people die each day due to AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.

So, in honor of World AIDS day, I give you this article:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/12/01/koska.syringe.prevent.infection/index.html

One man's quest to make a global change. In summary: this guy created the K1 Auto-Disable (AD) syringe, can only be used once and thereby helps stop the spread of blood-borne diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis. Fourteen licensees now distribute syringes to more than 70 countries, and from sales figures, it is estimated that 9 million lives have been saved. AND these syringes are not any more expensive than an ordinary syringe.

I guess one person really can impact the world...

Better than...anything

A while ago the Lord called me to fast from something in my life...something I enjoy very much. The Lord says all things are permissable, but not all things are beneficial (1 Cor. 6:12,10:23). Sin is the perversion of a good thing. But the best thing is the Lord...and sometimes the way to remember that is by removing some of the good things in our life to focus on the Lord.

I heard this song the other day and it made me think of my time of fasting...can I really say that the Lord is my love? That He is better than anything else this world has to offer? My time of fasting recently ended...now the harder part begins: how do I incorporate trust and reliance on the Lord all the time?


Derek Webb
Better Than Wine

You ravished me with one look of your eyes
You, you are fair, you’re so fair, oh my love
Better than wine is your love
If you can’t find me it’s alright, oh my love
Stay with your friends, I will come speak to you
‘Cause you are mine, oh my love
And better than wine is your love

[Chorus]
Better than wine is your love, is your love
Better than wine is your love, is your love

You are beautiful, eyes like doves, oh my love
You have lips like jewels, hair of gold, oh my love
Wild as a vine is your love
But better than wine is your love

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
I tell you, my beloved
You cannot be replaced
With my left hand beneath your head
And my right arm around your waist
So take a deep breath
Because I feel a little drunk
But I’m in right mind babe
And I know your love is so much …

[Chorus]