And still counting ... (14,988-15,041)

 a springlike day for running, high ponytails, drive time with my girl

Erin's evening out at a bestie's house, a month done on 66 Books, Carol's yes to fill the void, neighborhood walks with the kids, letting go

snow sledding with Sharon and Ashlei, hot tea and table chat, books on hold at the library, warm clothes, laughter with my man

wood for fires, heat, good sleep, happiness, running rest days

chocolate smoothies, potato chips and dip, that really good Scharr bread, tacos, coffee in the morning

a beautiful snow day, her silence that speaks volumes, the relief in letting plates fall, Ruth in the snow, that one of the writers is an enneagram 1 too

jumping rope, good sprint times, the goal planner, starting my eighth book to read, yoga

black camo and camo running tanks, my kids, my husband, dreams, Nora

Valentine gifts for my girls, my man who asked me out to dinner, when Christy called me on a rough day and chatted me for 2 hrs about anything and not even knowing she was salve for my heart, good reads in my inbox, walking through deep waters with her

3-mile running days, francoton, warmer days to melt the snow, a map of possibilities, salad for lunch

for the doors God closes, and the doors God opens, peace (seriously, my rest/stress stats have been amazing lately), His goodness, His plans 

a fitness age 12 years younger than my real age

Day story

 February 2021

Outside my window, all the snow. Snow keeps coming in the forecast, forcing me into rest days. I generally don't like to take off from a run, but my body reminds me that rest is recovery and strengthening. 

And I quote, "For forty days in the wilderness, he was tempted to act outside of his identity and yet he remained faithful to the call to be himself. He had to battle the critics (and sometimes his own friends and family) who thought he should be someone different: a king, a prophet, a military leader. He had to accept the true will of his Father, to die on the cross only three years into his ministry." (The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman, emphasis added). This is a current read, and the message so timely to me as I consider my definition of success--being true to who God made me to be, living it out in freedom and without apology. This past year has felt like a pulling in two between what other friends want me to be, think, do, dress, speak, support, etc., and being just me. I have come to realize that if my friends don't accept me for who I am, then they were never friends to begin with, and only like the version of me they wanted me to be. 

In the school room, Erin wants to do a book study on banned books. I love that about her.

From the kitchen, heart waffles for this Valentine's Day. I gifted the kids fun T-shirts. Lanie got "Cute as Pi" and Erin's read "Meh." Which is them to a ... T. 

I am learning to walk through the waves of feelings. As Jenne says, "Thank you, God, for showing me ..." I am learning that you can tell the true measure of someone not in how they treat you when they like you, but how they treat you when they don't like you. When ugliness rears its head, this is who they always were. It just took the pressure to bring it out. 

I don't want to forget I am a daughter in Christ. I am free. I am loved. I am an athlete. I am creative. I am able. I am where I am both by God's grace and by my own choices, and I can go to highs or lows based on the thoughts of my heart. I don't want to forget it is not my job to manage someone's response. 

I am reading  The Next Right Thing by Emily Freeman, Influence by Robert Cialdini and I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb, Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, The Benedict Option by Rod Dreher, and The Curated Closet by Anuschka Rees. 

Around the house, red fabric for this week's sewing project. Laundry. Tidying up. Schooling. 

I value consistency.

A view of my favorite things:

likely a first I was ever fully charged

Just stick a target on me.

Sledding with Sharon and Ashlei

Loving a good snow day

This old hound

Getting it back.

 

At the table, pizza Sunday. Heart cutouts. My people.