It's the Weekly Recap!

* Sunday I was invited out for coffee with a new friend of mine. We had a great time hanging out in Starbucks for a few hours - mostly talking about the Lord. Those are some of the best conversations. I especially love hearing how He speaks to someone else...really makes me appreciate how detailed He is in each of our lives!

* Monday was a Monday. Know what I mean? I knew I should have stayed late to get caught up on work, but when one of my co-workers told me I looked flat out exhausted, I figured that was my cue to leave work behind and come back to life. So I went for a four mile walk outside. Just about froze my hands clean off my body, but had the most amazing talk with God while I was out. Loved it.


* Tuesday I pulled my first twelve hour work day of the busy season. I don't mind working over, but it always throws me for a loop when I don't know going into a day that it's going to be a twelve hour day. Thankfully my outfit was comfortable! I had to go out at lunch to buy an unexpected lunch AND dinner so I could be cooped up in the office that long. There seems to be something wrong with PAYING ten bucks for the privilege of working overtime.... * Wednesday it SNOWED. My thoughts on that: I took that picture on my way to have lunch at Adela Hufford's house. The expression in no way reflects my thoughts on spending the lunch hour with her. Just the snow. Adela is my friend from work who helped me eat leftover fondue after Valentine's Day. Wednesday she returned the favor and made a very yummy sausage/pasta/peppers/all kinds of goodness dish. Thanks, Adela!!

And when I went to church that night, I found out a couple of the girls were going to be painting a classroom. I heart painting!!!! So I asked if I could crash their party...best fun EVER. I was very glad I'd shown up in my workout clothes.

* Thursday I took a vacation day and drove up to the Crandalls' part of the state to go to Science Central with Julie and her daughter, Esther. Girls' day out! We had a blast playing there...eating the most spectacular lunch at Cheddars...and shopping at Target. Thanks, Julie, for giving me a break from the day job!
* Friday was April 1, so of course...new scenery in the world of the office calendar! (This is, for the record, one of my faves.)

Friday was uber busy. It was a visit day at IWU, so I did the whole visit day fair scene - and I taught a class, too. AND - I did it all with a cold. Yep, came down with a full blown cold. I sound like Roz from Monsters Inc. Pleasant, no doubt, for all to hear.

But the best part was Friday night when I got to help Angi with a cupcake order. No I didn't sneeze on them. And I only blew my nose on one. I'm KIDDING, people!! Anyway, aren't these cute? They were for a wedding shower. Not mine. (Just in case there's any question.)


* Saturday I decided to actually take care of myself, since I was sick, and I rested. What a concept. Stayed in bed most of the morning...drank some coffee...watched some TV...and then two great surprises! Surprise #1: Ronda dropped by with chicken noodle soup and strawberry pie. (I adore strawberry pie.)
Surprise #2 - Julie Crandall called and was in town, so she and the kids dropped by to eat their lunch, and they even brought me a sweet tea! My friends take such good care of me. I love em! I spent the rest of the day trying to rest. I did venture forth to the grocery store (which utterly exhausted me) and got in a workout (which nearly killed me).

Books I'm Reading: I really appreciated the lessons God had for me this week in Sparkling Gems from the Greek. It never ceases to be fascinating to me what words mean...so much deeper than I first think! Re-read another chapter in In a Pit with Lion on a Snowy Day and had a great talk with Olivia about that. FINISHED reading When Love Ends and the Ice Cream Carton is Empty. I feel so affirmed about the things I did right in healing from the loss of my relationship last year - and I also learned some great insights in hope for my future. If you ever know someone struggling to heal from lost love, I would HIGHLY recommend this book. Not your typical breakup book. I wish I would have had it back when I was actually going through the heart of the journey.

Favorite God Moment of the Whole Week: I hopped over to Beth Moore's blog one night this week to see if she had any updates, and she did. She'd posted a little 15 minute video where she introduced a lady she's been mentoring for several years, and this lady has just published a Bible study. As they talked about the process of that Bible study being birthed (which of course, the writer in me loved), Beth said this, and it resonated with me from all sides of my life: It could only be Jesus when it all happens...It takes perseverance to do the thing God has called you to do. You don't have it in you to do it naturally. It is something that is way beyond you. Whatever is in you that He's called you to do, since it's a Spirit-work, it's more than you can do. It takes perseverance to do the will of God.

Update on Last Week's Goals: Despite the curve-balls in the week - like pulling a 12 hour shift and getting sick, I do feel like I've regrouped. I've gotten into more of a routine again and that makes me feel less frazzled.

Goals for the Coming Week: Work on writing: God has laid a couple of projects on my heart and I need to immerse myself in them while they're fresh, so I can really get busy writing! I also want to make the spring cleaning plan. I have so many little projects around the house that need to be done, so I need to get organized about them...so I can get started!