You know how I promised I'd pay better attention this month? Yeah, well, I didn't. All the stress from last month's visa snafu bled into March, exacerbating some dormant anxiety issues I'd hoped would fade into mature adulthood. These last two months? Just really not very great.
But, BUT! There are so many things to look forward to, good things that are happening.
And you know? I cling to this thought, this thread in the seam of everything. "The reality is Christ," Paul says. So I'll say it, too, and move into April with it stitched firmly on my heart.
(You know, like the L & S monogrammed on Laverne and Shirley's sweaters. What? Did I take that too far?)
READING
Jesus Feminist by Sarah Bessey. Finally. Our book buying budget is woefully small, so when it went on sale for Nook & Kindle this week, I jumped. Sarah soothes and challenges at the same time. There are no clanging cymbals here. Clanging forks on the great, big table and a lot of tambourines, maybe. I'll be sure to give you the full lowdown when I'm finished.
Other books on rotation: Jesus Calling, Bread & Wine, Devotions for Lent, Gospel of John
WATCHING
Netflix is my favourite these days, so we're catching up with Homeland, Seasons 1 & 2 of Sherlock and Pokemon (well, that's the kids, but I overhear it A LOT). Oh, and thanks to Cocoa deciding Season 4 of Parks & Recreation looked super tasty, we'll soon be taking the walk of shame into the library and purchasing the 4-disc set. Treat yo'self, am I right? And I can't even talk about The Good Wife, yet.
LISTENING
pretty much exclusively to my Lent Meditation playlist.
INTERNETTING
New York City apartment tour | Cup of Jo... I'm fascinated with (upper middle class) apartment life in big cities
In which the Spirit inhabits the praises of the people | Sarah Bessey
Christian College Solidifies Complementarian Stance | Christianity Today... related: Rachel Marie Stone's piece for the Religion News Service
7 things you really need when you're overwhelmed and can't keep up | Ann Voskamp
A Thread Called Grace | Jonathan Merritt for Christianity Today
Stuck in the Middle with You | Sharideth Smith
THINGS I'M LOVING
- You know your child is a Third Culture Kid when you receive the above text from her youth leader.
- Buds in bloom.
- The feeling you get two days after you purchase plane tickets back home for your sister's wedding when the initial shock of the cost of it wears off and all you care about know is that YOUR SISTER IS GETTING MARRIED!
- Long walks/hikes/adventures with the family.
- Coffee/Prosecco/Chocolate with friends (this never gets old).
- Hearing something you worked so hard and long on is appreciated and making a difference.
- Filling the fridge with good food.
- M&Ms in the post (mail).
- Remembering and grieving with old friends. There's a surprising fellowship in shared grief, for which I'm so thankful.
- Slane in the rain.
SCRIPTURE
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you:
compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.
Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense.
Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.
And regardless of what else you put on, wear love.
It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Colossians 3:12-14 {MSG}
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Alright, that's a wrap. Tell me what you were into this month! And join the rest over at Leigh Kramer's place.