Favorite Grammy Performance

I can't get enough of this!

Vday

Happy Valentine's Day!


Though I do not have a Valentine, per se, this year, I'm wearing pink and am enjoying it.  I am thankful for the card I got from my mom and another one from my dad.  For having lots of Valentine's aka: friends.  For chocolate and the sun shining today.  


And for these words in Isaiah 54:


4 “Fear not, for you will not be ashamed;
be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced;
for you will forget the shame of your youth,
and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
5 For your Maker is your husband,
the Lord of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called.

A yogi?!

Downward dog.  Upward dog.  Fish pose.  Lizard lips and warrior stances.  These are all things my body contorted into at yoga tonight.  Jane Harper and I made it without farting in class or causing too much of a scene.  I laughed a time or two out loud.  And once I fell forward.  The instructor kindly said, "if you're falling it just means you're going somewhere you've never been before."   Yes, that would be me!

I have to say, for my first time, yoga wasn't too bad!  It will be interesting to see how my body is feeling tomorrow.  Just imagine my body in these poses:

Captivating

I'd heard about this book for years...namely from Krissie.  It seemed like she couldn't get enough.  I think she had the books, a journal, and the books on tape?  Something like that.  Ha.  A few months ago, a wise friend of mine suggested I read it.  And I finally did.  Y'all, I LOVE this book!  I don't re-read books, but definitely think it is a re-reader.  For what it's worth, I'd highly recommend it.

I think John and Stasi capture the essence of what being a woman is.  I know that sounds cheesy, but it is true -- in the best way.  They talk about beauty and friendships and work and strength...  In the words of LeVar Burton, "But you don't have to take my word for it!"  

Manic much?!

The weather; not me.  This past weekend it was lovely and felt like spring.  Saturday, I laid out in a beach chair in jeans and an oxford in the front lawn to read.  I loved it!  Sunday, I went with some friends to walk on the beach.  So fun!  Then it got cold again.  Blerg.  Yesterday it reached 72 and sunny in Charleston and was absolutely beautiful!  Today it is 50.  Cold, windy, and cloudy.  I blame the cold for my lack of desire to exercise and increased desire to nap and be at home.  I've said it before, and I'll probably say it again, but come on Spring/Summer, come!

All the while thankful I don't live in really cold areas.  ie: Chicago, like my brother.  It is seriously cold there...I'd be a fat hermit for sure.

Reality v. Illusion

I read something the other week that mentioned reality verses illusion.  Webster defines these words in the following way:

Reality

1: the quality or state of being real

2a (1) : a real event, entity, or state of affairs reality> (2) : the totality of real things and events reality> b : something that is neither derivative nor dependent but exists necessarily

Illusion

1a obsolete : the action of deceiving b (1) : the state or fact of being intellectually deceived or misled : misapprehension (2) : an instance of such deception

2a (1) : a misleading image presented to the vision (2) : something that deceives or misleads intellectually b (1) : perception of something objectively existing in such a way as to cause misinterpretation of its actual nature (2) : hallucination 1 (3) : a pattern capable of reversible perspective

Seems simple enough, right?  I mean, I have a pretty good education, manage to pay my bills on time, and pretty much consider myself a competent person.  But when I read this, my heart stood still for a second (ok, maybe that wasn't reality).  At any rate, I was hit by a ton of bricks at the fact that often, too often, I like to live under the pretenses of illusion. 

Sometimes it is easier to live, or at least think, in terms of how I would like things to be...rather than how they actually are.   Too often, it is easy for me to believe the lies all around me (you should be this, do this, have this, etc.) rather than believe what God has said about who I am, who He is, and how the world truly is.  

Just something I've been thinking about in relation to money, dating (or lack of dating), beauty, relationships, and what not. 

PS.  Every time I hear "illusion" I think of GOB on Arrested Development saying,"it's an ILLUSION, Michael!  An illusion!"

The other day I was on a bit of an organizing streak.  It started with my bathroom drawers.  It ended that night in the kitchen with this:

I wish I'd taken a before picture.  Just imagine pieces of plastic strewn about after a tornado.  Order feels SO nice.