Bits for Sunday, January 25, 2009

I thought I would have to introduce this week as “the week with no theme” – but I can’t have a week without a theme. It’s very unBekahlike. So I thought about it and found a theme.

YAY!

That’s the theme. Not yay that I found one…yay is IT.

I spend a lot of time reminding myself of the areas where I need to do better. I read a book and underline all the areas where I fall short so I can work on improvement. I hear a sermon and squirm when the points seem to sail right down the aisle and hit me in the face. And anyone at my work can tell you I always automatically assume myself the culprit when we’re collectively reminded of something we should be doing (or not doing). It’s the Bekah way.

But this week I found myself pleasantly surprised when some things went right. And for that, I say YAY!

* One of my focus areas this year is prayer. (Back to that whole “areas that need improvement” list…) This week I spent a few days wondering if my prayers were going anywhere at all. Some of them have been in the works for years and it’s hard to pray for something that long and see nothing happen. And then in the space of one week, two of my friends, who had asked me to pray for them, received answers within hours. I was so excited for them – but it was also a good reminder to me that the prayers are heard, and the timing of the answers is none of my business. (I will admit, though, I thought about taking the approach of “God, I have this friend….” to see if that would result in a faster answer for mine!)

* I’ve mentioned before that my friend Lynnette and I are reading the same devotional book this year and we’re emailing back and forth throughout the week to share what we’ve been learning. This week the devotions have been about embracing this day – and have largely focused on single women. For a couple of days, I felt restless as I read because I was already doing the things the book suggested. It gave many practical ideas on how to live a good and full life even if you aren’t married…making your house a home, cooking meals, inviting people in…those sorts of things. I hated not being able to underline. But then God very gently pointed out the blessing I was missing. As I read during those days, there was cause to celebrate that I am doing something right. I am living a good life and there was a day when I didn’t know how to do it. Progress!

* Yesterday I was able to hang out with my good friend and scrapping buddy, Faith. We try to get together now and then on a Saturday to catch up on each other’s lives and to crank out as many scrapbook pages as is humanly possible – and then add a couple more because we’re overachievers. Yesterday, though, I took a break from scrapping and worked on making cards. I was a horrible card-maker last year. I didn’t plan ahead and then I was mortified about the quality of most of the rushed cards I did make. This year I devised a plan-ahead schedule and a make-three-times-what-I-actually-need plan so I would have a reserve in case of emergency. I made close to 50 cards yesterday and have already written in and addressed several of them. I’d forgotten just how much I love putting that time into my version of an encouragement ministry. It was so much fun!

* And this has nothing to do with anything I did right – but it’s a big fat YAY in Bekahland anyway, so I’m going to write about it. As you know, I’m a rather ridiculously giddy Gaither fan. The newest taping is being released this coming week – two volumes of a Vocal Band reunion. If ever I feel tempted to call in sick when I’m really not, it will happen the day after I buy those DVD’s! (Never fear, Gaytha. I plan to get them over the weekend.) I plan to sit in the fat chair with my fleece blanket and a box of Puffs and watch every last second of that taping – probably three times. I got just a taste-let of it Saturday night when I happened upon it during a channel surf and I’ll admit – I cried. And not in a crazed fan (think teenage girl and Sanjaya on American Idol) kind of way. It really was very moving to watch these guys sing the songs that I have grown to love so much! And so…yay!

And now…it is less than 10 minutes until the Duggar wedding special airs, and I’m kind of a fan of the Duggar show. So I must get my cookbooks lined up in front of the TV (standard Sunday night project is menu planning) so I can be all ready to watch!