I Figured

I figured.

Two very small words that don't often mean very much. Just a mini figure of speech. Really… I wonder how many times I've uttered that statement; even out of disgust.

This week. This week it was a phrase that made me smile. It gave me joy. This week it was used as an affirmation towards me and I really appreciated it… appreciate it.

I'm house sitting this week in a house that's for sale (it brings back memories). Sunday it had a showing. I had to be out so they could be in. No big deal really. I got a text from the realtor and confirmed right before I went in to church that morning. When I left church I had a voicemail; my coworker making sure I had gotten the text from their realtor. I responded something like this:

Hey! Sorry I was at church when you called and my phone was off… (blah blah blah).

The response?

figured you would be (…)

She figured…

I like that I'm known for being a Christ follower.

Silent Saturday?

Today I Work

Outside the weather is beautiful. About 85 degrees, a few clouds in the sky. Maybe a little more humidity than we like, but from the inside looking out, it's fantastic.

I'm at work.

Just down the street from my office, there's a Saturday Farmer's Market open and, by the number of cars around, thriving. It's so fun to be there and people watch and smell the fresh produce in the air. You can get heirloom tomatoes and peppers, organic freshly ground wheat flour ground in a few different ways depending on your baking needs. Flowers and baked goods.

It's a community event and its so fun to be at and people watch and take photos at... I can't wait to go this year! It's only been open for two weeks, but I haven't yet been able to be there.

Instead I work. Thinking about walking around our cute little square and looking at the pretty things all in a row.

Wordless Wednesday

A Real Vacation

Yesterday I returned to my TN home from a trip to my IL home. A trip in which pretty much only my family  knew I would be home... a week. A whole week to recharge and rest. The week before I left I had several friends and coworkers here in TN tell me "don't overschedule yourself", "try to relax", and "make sure you take time for yourself"! They know me well.

It's not uncommon for me to go home and plan my days and nights away seeing as many people as I can for lunches and dinners and coffees and in betweens; I miss friends that I haven't been able to see in years because of my own craziness and busy-ness. But this trip, I tried to not let that bother me. I tried to relax. I did relax (mostly!).

I went to my cousin's wedding in MI. I spent time with my brothers and their kids. I saw my brothers new digs. I washed and waxed my car with my dad. I went to Caribou multiple times. I went to Blicks for some new art supplies. I had Chipotle with my parents. I went to church twice at Harvest Bible Chapel. I grilled out and fellowshipped with the 5 people who aren't family that knew I was coming (but really they're like family...).

That's it. I vacationed for 9 days and that was all. I spent a couple of days doing almost nothing for a long time... I came home to TN relaxed and laughing in my head at things said and done, but mostly feeling truly rested and restored for the first time in as long as I can remember.

"He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul."

Psalm 23:2-3a

Making a Playlist

I'm a music junkie... I would probably be a music hoarder if it wasn't for the fact that I can keep all of my music digitally filed on one little device. Yay for iPod's!

This week, on my lunch breaks at work (when we took them) I worked on going through all of my music... don't ask how much... to make a road trip play list. This time the play list is titled Homeward Bound (and it naturally starts with Homeward Bound by Simon and Garfunkel). It's fun making a play list and hard. You have to try to decide what kind of music will fit your mood or will have the right beat... I was looking for "fun to sing along with" more than anything. And I realized something.......

So many of the songs that I love to sing along with... so many songs I know are only because of my friends. Friends from both my IL and TN homes. I'm so happy that I know these people. That they are a part of my life. That I have friends who not only enrich my life musically, but who have themselves become a part of the soundtrack of my life.

I am so blessed.

Today I Am Thankful

that God's mercies are new every morning.

for my comfortable new Teva's that I'm wearing to work.

for fun bubbles and an inflatable guitar from my boss to make work more fun.

for pigtails being an acceptable way to keep my hair out of my face in our department.

for a headset to wear while on the phone that prevents me from getting a crik in my neck.

for vacation that starts in less than 3 days.

for time last night spent with great friends.

for time tonight with my roommate and KJ watching the Revenge season finale.

for coworkers that help make work fun.

for stressful days at work that equal job security.