Glorious Day

What a glorious day! The sun was shining, Jesus greeted me in the morning with a nice review of the week's Scripture study, and my office time was precious.

First: The sun continues to beat down upon us here which is so delightful, especially on the days when it's not all hazy and I'm not working and I can soak it in by the pool with my Kindle, journal, and some self-reflecting thoughts. I am thankful it's here to stay for a bit longer.

Second: Beth Moore continues to knock my socks off with her Breaking Free study as I learn to trust in Jesus more and more and release the bondage that has held me captive for so many years. Hallelu! 

Third: I had five truly wonderful sessions today with my clients. People who are motivated to grow and change and pursue healing and wholeness...even if it takes hard work. Time with sweet ones whose families are transforming before my eyes and others who are experiencing real live miracles. I felt so blessed and privileged to be a part of it all today.

Oh, glorious day. :)

(and then I sweat drippy sweat biking and ran to choir and realized that there is no choir tonight so I have extra time tonight to enjoy!)

Thank you for finally coming summer! :)

So glad that it's been hot hot hot lately. I think it was 94 where we were on Sunday. That's a steamer. In fact, it's a little miserable for me to have it over the low 80's, but it was only a few days and I only had two fitful nights of sleep in which the sheets stuck to me in sweatiness. It feels so good to be able to soak in the sun.

The mornings have been weird this week. Overcast, chilly, clouds not breaking up until 12 or 1 or 2pm. Not like the normal morning gloom that the sun can bust through by 10 or 11am. Weird. It feels other worldly. But once the sun comes, it's glorious. Warm. Browning my skin at last. Offering opportunities to go splash in the pool, paint in the backyard and have it dry instantaneously, break out summer dresses, eat watermelon for a meal then ponder frothy frozen margaritas for the next.

And, in the midst of this, I am so grateful. Not just that summer came and this white girl can look a little bronzer to celebrate my roots, but because God is doing a work in my heart. He's been using Scripture to transform that which was calloused and numb in some corners of my heart and mind to mold them into shape again that is life-filled and questioning and seeking and hungry for change and something totally different. Scary. Change is scary. But also thrilling and exciting and wonderful and amazing. I'm too lazy to pursue change many times in my life, but once I make those first few steps I am all in and embracing it however I can.

I LOVE, so deeply love, knowing God more. And the more I know Him, the more I wanna know Him. Cool how it works. I am eager to read my morning studies. Intrigued by the sermons I am watching which inspire and motivate. Curious as each Scripture connects in a new way to my soul and I wait in anticipation for what Christ will teach me next.

Maybe God is trying to use some summer heat to melt my heart to know Him more. I'm so down with my soul smelling like cocoa butter sun screen, watermelon, and skin baked in the sun and changing shades to look warmer and healthier all around. It's hard and painful at times, but I am so hopeful and open to it and really truly trusting God in this never before walked path of healing I am on.

What We've Been Up To

More accurately...what Alejandro has been up to...building a roof on our deck as well as planning a built in bench and stair case down to the yard! I'm so proud of him. He is really talented at man work and construction and power tools and figuring out a new challenging project! With help from Alejandro and my mom and a certain fluffy black dog, I put together the table and chairs we purchased with money for a wedding gift from Alejandro's family (two years ago we finally got around to it!). We'll be able to enjoy our deck no matter the weather now and Alejandro won't have to get rained, snowed, or hailed on when he barbecue's! :)

Nosey

Have you ever done one of those Biore strips on your nose? Where you put the white paper across your nose and feel like you should be sailing with the sun block across your sniffer, but you know you're trying to vacuum out everything in your pores? I just did one and they are so cool. I don't know why I like them so much. It's really disgusting actually when all that crap is sucked out of your pores. But, somehow, I am fascinated. When you peel off the paper (which doesn't hurt like a Band-Aid or waxing or anything like that), it reveals stalactites and stalagmites of dirt, dead skin, and yuckiness that was previously embedded into clogging tubes of gross in your pores. My nose feels like it can breathe better already! Ha!

I wonder why they don't make strips for your entire body so you can pull all of the impurities out of your skin periodically and see where the most stalactites and stalagmites reign in power across your epidermis. Perhaps I will invent some to do across your face and neck. I think they would be very useful when I come to terms with just how much sweat drips, puddles, and pools in rivulets on my skin when I work out my hardest. Eeks.

H.I.D.!

Happy Independence Day!!

I LOVE this day!

It just so happens to be sunny today and to start a streak of summer weather around this place finally. But other features I love are...

...my husband gets the day off

...barbecued meals and treats abound

...red white and blue desserts!

...red white and blue attire (my toes are totally red and blue with sparkles right now!)

...working in the yard or outside on projects together

...no need to plan ahead on buying presents or making that side dish you always bring for Christmas or another holiday

...it is not celebrating anyone, but rather celebrates everyone's freedom

...summer fruit

...sandals and sunglasses

...swimsuits and suntans 

...fireworks!

...sparklers

...all the neighbors out in their yards

...the smell of freshly cut grass

...laughter of children

...lawn games

This year seems particularly momentous as I am working on declaring and processing through freedom from some things of the past. I am starting (today!!) my second Beth Moore study called Breaking Free. The title alone simultaneously scares me and thrills me beyond belief. I will more than likely share a tidbit here and there about it because Beth Moore has been known to greatly inspire me with her awesomeness and the way that God so clearly speaks to me through the time I invest in these studies to grow in my faith and relationship with Him. 

Raise your glass of sparkling red punch with blueberries in it to a day to celebrate freedom--the most important freedom of all--freedom in Christ!