"Love’s this life-weaving, a braid of a three fold cord, Love Himself in the center."
Love HIMSELF, in the center. I just love that so much.
I recently read a couple posts titled "3 Marriage Habits Every Marriage Needs– because it’s worth falling in love again" and "Redefining Boring" from Ann Voskamp's website. Her books have touched millions, and still she writes on the Journal part of her website, wise testimonies about life. I found her words in these posts to be so beautiful and true to what G and I have been learning over these past 2 (and almost a half!) married years together. (& honestly, I just love having a reason to post a photo from my favorite day of life thus far)
So, in learning these lessons again and again, I thought I'd share Ann's words with you.
Whether you are married or single, I pray it blesses you.
This week I'm guilty, because this week I just couldn't resist listening Christmas music! I've always had the "after Thanksgiving only" rule about listening to holiday tunes because differentiating Thanksgiving from Christmas has always been the norm for me. I always felt I was able to enjoy both, separately - as two different celebrations.
But this year, with these last two weeks of November and the first two weeks of December being pretty busy with school, I wanted to start celebrating now. Because when I really think about it, I am so thankful for all that God has done for me and given me; the life I have is only new and free and beautiful through the incarnation of Jesus Christ. & that is what Christmas is all about! Celebrating Christ coming to earth for us - so he could die & we could live in communion with the risen, living God. It is a beautiful celebration and I feel so thankful for it this year especially.
So let the Christmas Music begin in light of a thankful heart before God for all that He is and what that means in my life, and yours! Here are three albums I've been listening to this week constantly. They are each pretty different from each other & I love them for that because I can listen to one album after the other without feeling tired of Christmas music, if there is such a thing! What Christmas albums do you enjoy listening to during the holiday season?
favorite tracks: A Light // Christmastide // Open Up // Hope
favs: The Christmas Waltz // Little Saint Nick
favorites: O Come O Come Emmanuel // Evermore
My prayer this year in light of these months is to delight in the good gifts God has given, through delighting in Him.
Will you dwell on Jesus and who He is this holiday season? He is the reason.
This past Saturday I had the chance to participate in my first 5k hosted by a non-profit called Girls on the Run & what an experience it was!
Girls
on the Run is a non-profit whose goal is to inspire girls to be confident,
healthy, and joyful! They use a curriculum that teaches life skills plus physical, emotional, social, and mental development and health to girls in the Chicago area.
A major part of the program is that they incorporate jogging into it to prepare the
girls for the 5k that is the culmination of the program where anyone from all ages
can participate to support the girls. I can't believe it took a class requirement to bring me to my first 5k, but I am so glad it did! I had not planned to take a jogging class this semester until G told me he was and I really wanted to take one more class with him before he graduated because taking classes together are just too fun! (almost there babe!) However, this was an 8 week course that started the last week of October, and a couple weeks before then G realized he never registered for the class, so he couldn't take it. (insert grumpy face here.) He wasn't too bummed about it, I was a little (maybe more than a little) but was still excited because I knew I would be forced to exercise during the months I usually stop for hibernation due to the cold weather. When the temperature starts dropping into the 40's and below I do my best not to go outside because not having a car means walking everywhere with a nice Chicagobreeze in your hair which really isn't all that nice because it's freezing! Really, I can make the BEST excuses for not walkingacross the street to go to the gym. It's embarrassing really, and our moms don't let us hear the end of it for that one, but we manage to fight the good fight together. :) Anywho, here's to "exercising in the cold" to accomplish goals you've wished to accomplish for so long and to keeping our bodies healthy and strong while loving ourselves and each other!
the sweetest man waited on Michigan Ave with me to catch the bus
& his facial expressions were quite charming
the weather man said the day would be a partly cloudy day with a high of 58 degrees.
well, what really happened is it was cloudy, misty, and windy with a high of 50 degrees when I ran.
Although it was cold at first, the view was gorgeous.
walking to the start! it was so cold!
Done!!! & I really couldn't have done it without my #1 supporter & friend & love, G! He was so excited for me. When I came near the end he recorded me passing the 3 mile mark and ran so fast to the finish to record me passing the finish line. <3
On the back of the cute metal each finished runner received it says: "I have the power to believe in myself. To stand up for who I am. To say 'yes' to a challenge. To cheer on new friends. TO GROW UP STRONG."
I was so scared to do a 5k because it just sounded hard to me. But now that I did it and realized it's really not scary if you train to reach your goals, I am going to start training for a 10k to push myself more and keep active through my "hibernation" months next year! My goal to run my first 10k next summer! Friends, in light of this month, let's take care of the bodies God has given us with thankfulness & joy in our hearts encouraging others to do the same as well!
Oh November, I love you & I hate you all at the same time.
Starting off the semester I already knew November would be my busiest month because all my major projects and assignments are due within these 4 weeks. & it sure has been busy, but not just school-wise. It's been heavy physically & emotionally too. My heart feels heavy.
When God brings up things in your life you don't want to deal with, it hurts. Especially deep wounds you try to avoid dealing with, or never thought were present until they come up; they hurt. But I am so thankful because for years I felt stuck. For years I felt numb. But this year has been so different! This year I see God moving in my life and specifically in my pain, leading me towards healing and repentance. Leading me towards wholeness and an integration of my feelings, my mind, and my body. Total and complete healing. I believe this is only the beginning of this process but I pray I will be open to the lessons God is teaching me. To be willing to listen and obey. To be willing to grow, even though it hurts sometimes. It hurts a lot sometimes.
& this is where I'm at. I will honor it & not push it aside, or hide it like it's so easy to do. When people ask me how I am I want to be honest & truthful in my words when I speak, and here I want to be truthful when I write. Because having a deep sense of hope in the midst of pain in a beautiful thing. & I believe it's a testimony to how glorious & wonderful & good our God is.
I love the song, "The Best Part" by Gungor from his newest album. It speaks to me in a couple different ways but one is that where I am right now, "lying awake in the dark" as I have done for many nights, is the best part of my life. What God is doing right here, right now; that He is present in my life right now - that's the best part. I am thankful for my life and what God is doing today because life is here now and gone tomorrow. It's swift & fleeting. But here in the beat of my heart, while it beats, I believe Jesus is with me and I am where He wants me to be.
This is the best part.
That Jesus is here now. With you, right now. In the joyous, painful, or numb days.
Will you ask Him to draw near to you, even if you don't feel it?
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