Stuff the Bus

Thank you for your sweet notes to us yesterday! We appreciated them! Tracy, you are right...we came here on blind faith, not being sure what God had for us, but trusting His lead. There are some things we still feel like we don't know regarding our eventual future involvement here, but we are confident this is the area where He wants us. (And we hope He wants us here a long, long time.) 

Today I wanted to show you a bit more of our adventures from this past Friday! One of Ryan's big goals for himself in his new work is to try to make as many community connections as he can. I am SO impressed with how well he has already done with this. I've overheard some conversations at some of the events we've been to recently and am amazed at how much he already knows about area resources and what they do. And not just resources...but people, too! 

As part of his quest to make connections, meet people, and be part of community outreach at large, he signed us up to volunteer a couple of hours at Stuff the Bus in Decatur.

I did not do my own research very well on this, and for a long time, I thought Stuff the Bus was about collecting school supplies. (It made sense in my head that you would stuff a bus with school supplies.) But it was actually a food/paper product/hygiene product drive

Our shift was from 1-3 on Friday afternoon, and our Friday was hotttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt and sunny. The good news was that we were inside the bus, so we didn't have to worry about sunburns. The bad news was that we were inside the bus, and it was hotttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt. (DID I mention the heat?) 

We asked what we should do, and they said a fairly large donation had come in that morning, and it needed to be sorted. Food pantries were coming that evening to collect their share of the donations, and if things were already sorted, it would help the division of food be equal. 

So we spent our entire two hours on that hot, sticky bus, sorting food. 

And Ryan wanted to pretend to drive the bus, of course. :) 

And one more picture for the road:

We used a lot of sanitizer after that adventure - until we could get home to shower. If you smelled something questionable on Friday afternoon, it was probably us! 

It was a good way to be involved in our new community. Ryan is much more of a natural at this than I am, but I am glad he's teaching me to be better! 

Sunday Sentiments

 

We have had a full weekend already - and it's not even over yet. But it's been full in all the best ways. I haven't had a chance yet to sift through my pictures, so stay tuned for those, but in the meantime...I have a few thoughts from the fullness and goodness of the days.

Friday afternoon, Ryan and I volunteered (representing Love INC) at Stuff the Bus. Contrary to what I first thought when I heard about it, it's not a school supply drive, but rather a food/supply drive. We arrived at the bus for our afternoon shift and found out we were going to be spending the afternoon ON an actual school bus, sorting donations into like items.

Speaking of liking...you learn you must really like each other when you can spend two full hours on a sunny, 88-degree day sorting canned goods and more while squished in a school bus. That aisle is a LOT narrower when you're an adult than it was in childhood. But we felt good about getting to put our organizational skills to use and hope the people who came for the shift following ours found everything sorted to their liking!

Yesterday morning, we headed to our church to volunteer (representing Love INC) at the Back 2 School Bash. I can't wait to show you more of what this looked like from the pictures I took, but I have to say it was a great honor to be part of it. 

We put together a photo booth and set it up for kids (and adults!) to take pictures during the festivities. Even though we were there representing work, it was also at our church, so it was the first time we've served at a big event with our church, and that was very meaningful for us. It was fun to get to take some pictures with new-to-us friends and feel like we had a place to fit in and serve alongside them. 

And then last night, we had our small group. One of the guys in the group just graduated with his Master's Degree, and we had a little celebration for him. He was completely surprised to find the night was a mini-party for him, and that was a lot of fun for all of us! The guys played a board game and the girls told stories...and we left with full cups. 

Today we will become members at our new church, and we are excited to make that commitment official on paper.

It has been a good and full weekend. We've been able to serve our community, serve alongside our church, and enjoy the encouragement of friendship. 

Being part of a community like this is something that hasn't always been part of our lives, so we don't take it for granted. My heart is thankful today. 

The Saturday Six

 

Today's post is inspired by fun things I found on Pinterest this week. Totally random, but they caught my eye!

One.

This one is not as much about the outfits themselves as it is about the challenge. (The post is also a few years old, so keep that in mind.) The blogger chose outfits from Pinterest and recreated them via thrifted finds. I think I'd have to go back into Fort Wayne to find thrift stores that would offer enough selection to try this, but I love the idea of the challenge!! It would be SO FUN to see how much money I could save on some of the outfit ideas I have! 

Two.

This past week marked the start of school back in our home county, and this coming week marks the start of school in our new home area. Since many of our friends have school-age kids, we've been seeing all the back-to-school pictures and enjoying all the stories. With the return to school (or work, for us) there is the need for lunch ideas!! I loved this cheat sheet for mixing and matching your own Bento Box meal. I love it that these don't require a ton of heating or prep work and are still filling and tasty! 

Three.

Ahhhh the English language and its many impossibilities in pronunciation. I found this poem and learned that indeed, there were a small handful of words I did not know. It also confirmed that the only rule is...there are no rules! Also - this is impossible to read quickly (out loud). 

Four.

Waiting can be so unbelievably hard. I would venture to guess that all of us are waiting on at least one thing in some are of life. If that's you, I want to share this beautiful little article I stumbled across this week. There are ways to be purposeful and faith-filled in the waiting! I know I needed to hear these words, so maybe you do, too! 

Five.

This shirt (which comes in multiple colors) is simple and sweet. I like it. 

Six.

Our camping life this summer has been halted by a mixture of tending the yard, high gas prices, and busy weekends. But we aren't done camping just because we had one rough season! I found these ideas to store away for later: foods to take camping that don't need refrigeration! 

What Ryan Did Right

 I had a conversation the other day with a single friend of mine. She's navigating the dating world right now and never fails to have a host of stories for me about her adventures. Her attitude is positive and bright, but I can tell she's tired.

She's tired because she didn't think she would still be navigating the dating world at her age. She's tired because what seems like common sense to her (and to me, too!) apparently does not to the guys. She's tired because her heart has already been through so much and she's rightfully wary of putting it through more. 

As Ryan and I enter a full decade together, I have spent time thinking back over our dating days and some of the things he did exceptionally well. I wanted to write about them today for those of you who might have young men in your life who need encouragement as they pursue relationships! I want to be clear that I don't think some of these fall into a right-or-wrong category, but I do think some of these practices can go a long way in settling a girl's heart if she's walked a long road of singleness! 

1. Ryan purposefully asked me out on dates.

I've shared before that in my previous relationships - which were not abundant, but there were a few - it was very rare for the guy to actually ask me out. Whether it was a first or subsequent date, we normally mutually decided we would go out to eat or go do something. Ryan knew that, and he knew there was a part of my heart that wanted to be asked. Specifically, purposefully asked. And so he did! He called me up on the phone and asked me to go on a date with him. And he has done it many times since. He still sometimes asks me out, old-school style. It makes me feel chosen, loved, and appreciated. I know I am all those things, but the extra boost of it is a blessing. (Side note: Ryan told me, after I said yes to that first date, that even though he knew I would say yes, he was still nervous to call and ask. I think that's why some guys don't ask. It's a risk!)

2. He planned things that showed he put effort into the relationship.

Not only did he ask me out on that first date, he planned the entire date from start to finish. (And it was a full day!) And he has planned many dates since then - both throughout our dating days and into our marriage. Some of my very favorite dates we've ever been on were ones he planned. I appreciate the way he puts thought and effort into every plan. From the idea, to the reservations (if necessary), to the surprise element he almost always puts into the day, I really appreciate it. I love planning dates too, but it's a really fun experience for me when he takes charge of the planning and I get to simply enjoy the adventure!

3. He was completely honest about his feelings from the beginning.

I felt like every guy I had ever liked (whether or not we officially went on a date) was a giant mystery for the entire time of my crush. It was a game, and I never knew how to work the strategy. Did they like me? No? A little? A lot? Do they want me to call them? Do they want to call me? If I don't call, will they be brave enough to call? Is this too much? Is this not enough? WHAT IS HAPPENING!?!?!? That was my dating experience until Ryan. He told me from the very beginning that he had feelings for me, and he would continue to pursue me unless God told him to stop. That took SO MUCH PRESSURE off the relationship. I could just enjoy everything we did and said without second-guessing what it might secretly mean. This, again, was a risk. But he did it. And it was completely comforting to me, especially after some of the hurts I had experienced. (Note: even though things went positively in this realm, Ryan's honesty meant I also knew I would know if his feelings were changing. I didn't want that to happen, of course, but it was comforting to know he wouldn't hide it if it did happen.)

4. He made talking a priority.

Now, if you know Ryan, you know he makes talking a priority every day with everyone! He just likes to talk! He also likes to listen. I know there are some guys who don't really enjoy either one - and the same is true for some girls. But in our early relationship days, we talked for hourrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs. We talked on the phone, we talked in person, we talked over text...we never stopped talking. I really appreciated that, too, because it allowed me to get to know him so much better. We already knew each other before we started dating, so there were many things I already knew. But there were also a ton of stories that were brand new to me, and I loved hearing them. I appreciated the emphasis on conversation. And I still do. We still talk on the phone...and over text...and in person. (I actually generally hate talking on the phone, but I can talk to him forever without minding it.) 

5. He made space for me. For us.

I had dated guys before who wanted to spend time with me...until it meant introducing me to their families, friends, or other sections of their world. That was hard for my heart! Ryan made space right away. I knew I was welcome with him no matter where he was. If there was a family event, I was there. His boss hosted a dinner one Friday night for all the people in their department, just so Ryan could introduce me to his coworkers. He wanted to meet all of my extended family and coworkers. He showed up at my bridal shower, just so he could meet friends and family he hadn't seen yet. Once we started dating, we were an us everywhere, and that meant so much to me. We're still an us in that way. There are very, very few things in life we don't do together. We prefer to share all the things. I know not everyone does, but we like it, and it's actually really comforting to me to know he welcomes and wants me in every part of his life. 

It's not an exhaustive list of everything he did well, but it's what I would encourage a guy to do if he asked me for dating advice. For those of you waiting (and tired), I know I can't offer you magical answers, but I can offer you a hug and the encouragement to keep on in the journey! Much love to you today!

116 Months

 A couple of days ago, we celebrated our 116th monthiversary. Ryan had a work breakfast, so we started the day by being apart - ha! 

We had a great talk during his lunch hour. I love it on the days when he goes for a walk at lunch and calls me so we can talk for a while. And this was just such a day!

After he came home, we headed out to the River Greenway for a walk. It was so pretty out! (And for those who are worried, the pavement was not too hot for Lexi, and we took water for everyone and took frequent hydration breaks.)

The river is more of a shade of murky than blue, but it's water, so we don't care.

After our walk, we wanted to have a picnic, but we were ready for air conditioning by then, so we opted for an INDOOR picnic. :) 

Ryan grilled brats and we watched our favorite game shows while we ate. 

It was a fun day, and we enjoyed reminiscing!

Closing in on 120 months and the double digits in years! 

Nothing is Something

 

In my slow crawl through Genesis, I am finishing up the account of when Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac. I happen to think he made a good choice...since her name was Rebekah. :)

But yesterday, as I did my commentary study, I hovered over the part that talked specifically about when the caravan (with Rebekah) arrived back in Canaan where Isaac lived. The verses says that Isaac had gone out into the field toward evening to meditate, and that was when he saw the caravan coming back, carrying his bride-to-be.

The commentator spent some time talking about Isaac's decision to go out into the field to meditate (or pray) and the great value in that for believers.

He talked about how imperative it is for us to carve out time in our days to be alone, to pray, to talk with the Lord, and to cease from the endless busyness.

Gulp.

As Ryan and I have been figuring out our new rhythm with work and church and life, we have had some great conversations about how days should look and how to find a balance between work and rest.

I told him just yesterday that it's too bad our western culture tends to place shame and guilt on time spent in rest or quietness. 

We are really great about carving time out for rest, and then in last-minute rushes, people ask for our help on something and we cast aside our reset time. On the calendar, that time looks like free time, not like an appointment to rest. 

We must get better at this. We must learn to protect that rest time as the important time it truly is. 

Rest does not equal lazy.

Nothing really is something.

Here's the truth I'm preaching to myself as much as (or more than) to any of you:

When I go away on vacation, I do not feel guilty about time spent sitting in rest or in conversation with the Lord. I'm not home. I am not available. I don't feel bad about that time of soul respite.

When I'm home (which is much more often than I'm on vacation), I feel absolutely guilty about time spent sitting in rest or conversation with the Lord - because I see all that needs to be done, and for some reason, I feel like there's a prize for getting it done in the next half hour. I feel guilty for telling someone no or for not answering my phone because I'm home and therefore I should be available. 

It's okay to not be available to the masses.

It's okay to sit alone.

It's okay to do nothing, because it's really something valuable.

This is what we're learning. We are far from proficient at it.

But if you're like the two of us, and you need a little permission to sit alone with the Lord and not be online...not answer the phone...not go to the door...and just BE...then here is your permission.

Nothing really is something. And I am determined to learn to honor it. 

Random

 

Today is our 116th monthiversary, and I want to pause to honor that! Ryan, thank you for this life you have crafted with me. I thoroughly, fully, and truly enjoy every single day lived by your side. Even when life itself is maddening, it is a joy to be maddened alongside you. :) When life is delightful, it is a joy to be delighted alongside you. You are fun, you are thoughtful, you are a man of God and a man of your word, and you teach me so much every single day. 

Thank you for choosing me. Every monthiversary is a chance to marvel at what God has done, and I'm glad I have my 116th chance to do that today. I love you!

And speaking of Ryan...we had a fun weekend together!

Friday night, my parents came to visit! This is the second time they've been able to come see us at our new home, and we had a lot of fun with them! When they came to our house the first time (Mother's Day), we were able to show them around the house itself. This time we showed them our community! We did a driving tour to take them to Love INC and let them see where we work...past our church, so they could see the outside of the building...past the place where Abby the RV lives, so they could see her home...and past a few friends' houses too, so they could learn more about where we spend our days. And then we went out for dinner! 

I thought you might like to see a few pictures from that night. Lexi went with us on the driving tour, so she's in the picture at Love INC. You'll noticed she's snuggled up to her favorite Grandpa. Those two are crazy about each other. I'm not sure which one loves the other more. It's adorable. Anyway, we did not take Lexi along for dinner - ha!

Saturday morning was chores-around-the-house time, and then that afternoon, we went to Lynnette's parents' 50th anniversary open house. Congratulations, Bob and Janice, on your 600th monthiversary! That is such a blessing. :)

And thennnnnnn, since we were right down the road, we finally got our Ivanhoe's date! You may or may not remember how dearly I love their strawberry shortcake, and I had not had one (to my recollection) in four years. We tried to go earlier this summer, but our date was scheduled for the day the carbon monoxide detector malfunctioned in our house, and the FIRE DEPARTMENT showed up. We were too afraid to leave town after that (until the detector was replaced) because if it happened again and they had to come while we were gone...we just couldn't do it. 

So I finally got it, and I savored every single bite. It was pretty much my main meal for the day, and that isn't something I'd recommend on the regular, but for a splurge - oh yes, please!!!

Ryan got a German chocolate cake sundae, and he said it was delicious. He also ate a full meal AND his sundae AND started digesting while I was still savoring my shortcake. LOL!!!

After we left Ivanhoe's, we stopped by our friends' house (Hi, Michele!!!!) to see some of the renovation work they've been doing. It's BEAUITUFL. I am so happy for them! And it was really fun to just sit and catch up with them for a while.

Sunday, we were the Scripture readers at church. I was so grateful there were no 38 letter names to pronounce in our assigned passage. LOL! It was our first time to do that at this church, and we really enjoyed it.

And then Sunday night, we helped the beginning of the setup for the Back to School Bash at church this weekend. We were able to meet some new people as we served, and that was a lot of fun. (Hi Becky! I met your daughter!) 

It was a full, fun, and faith-boosting weekend. I was grateful for all of it.

And also. I might need a nap. 

Goals for August 2022

Good morning, friends, and welcome to a brand new month! August is here, and I am welcoming it with a new list of goals I hope to accomplish before the end of the month arrives! 

1. Write a week of devotional readings.

I mentioned this on the blog last week, but one of the things I had to lay aside during my time at WillowBridge was any kind of in-depth writing, because I did not have the time to lock myself away for hours on end to research and get lost in writing. A couple of weeks ago, I accepted a writing assignment for the Wesleyan Church, and the week of readings I was given to write is due later this month. So for sure, heading my list of goals is to not only write those, but write them well. This type of writing takes a lot of precision, and I haven't done that for a while! 

2. Prepare for a women's retreat this fall.

I am speaking (in September) at a women's retreat, and though they have chosen to use a theme I've spoken from before - several times, actually - I need to polish it up and go back over the material to make sure I'm extra familiar with it. I haven't done this particular retreat in a few years, so I'm sure some of the sections could stand an updating of stories. I'm really excited for the weekend, though!

3. Take another stab at finding a workout plan that works for me.

I've talked about this quite a bit in recent posts, but I'm still on the hunt for a workout plan that fits my needs and makes me excited to actually do it. Ryan is helping me think through my needs - and of course, he is much smarter about all things exercise than I am, so I value his input and suggestions! I'm hoping to have a better report in this area for you at the end of August than I did at the end of July.

4. Do some list-making with Ryan.

Ryan and I have had a ton of conversations lately about our dreams for the work at Love INC and also just for our own future. We don't have any immediate decisions that need to be made in either realm, but we are at a point where making some lists to define our dreams and desires - as well as to see some pros and cons in print - would be really helpful. I want to spend some time this month working more specifically on those things. 

5. Continue decorating at Love INC.

I started decorating Ryan's office last month, and I am already so happy with how it looks. But it needs more work, as do some of the other areas in the office. Delightfully, my sister did some thrift store/garage sale shopping for us over the summer, and she is bringing the stash with her when she comes to visit this month. I am so excited to use some of the things she found to make the place look cozier and even more inviting. (It's not bad now, but I like more homestyle warmth.)

6. Pray some bold prayers.

Part of this goes along with #4 above and part of this is just for my own faith's sake. I tend to heavily hedge my prayers - for reasons I don't entirely understand. Perhaps part of it is that I am not sure I trust God enough to do big things. Perhaps part of it is that big things scare me. But I want to work on being bold and brave. I'm terrified about it, but I think it could be a really good thing, too. 

Sunday Sentiments

 

One of my writing prompts this week pushed me pray about the things that hinder me.

Ouch.

I hesitated before exploring that one in writing. It's kind of like praying for patience. I never leap into that one. ;) 

But I took some brave steps forward into asking God to reveal to my heart the things that hinder me.

I'm not here today to write about all the specific things I wrote and prayed about that day, because some of them were deeply personal, but I do want to share a couple of things that happened in those moments. 

I found myself praying that God would free me (and us) from chasing dreams that fly into the wind so we can chase the ones that are grounded in Him.

Until I saw the words on the screen, I didn't even know it was a prayer of my heart. (I learn a lot about myself and life by writing out my thoughts.) Ryan and I both love to dream about our lives and the future, and I believe many of those dreams are put in our hearts by the Lord Himself. I don't think He wants to stifle our dreams. But I do think it matters that we pray for dreams that honor Him and not just chase wildly after everything that pops into our heads.

And then I wrote this:

Help me to see, with great clarity, the things that are hindering me. Perhaps there are more things, even now, that are holding me back, and I can't even see them. Help me to see them. Help me to WANT to see them. Maybe I don't really want to see what the clarity means...but what it means is FREEDOM. A chance for change. Show me and free me to see and become more. 

It's a bold prayer. 

I don't regret praying it, and I meant every word, but I do recognize that it's a bold thing to ask. It could be costly.

My words are few today, but I challenge you to pray a bold prayer too. What is hindering you? 

The Saturday Six

 

I've been updating some of my shopping and wish lists lately, so I thought I would share some of the finds with you today!

One.

When we moved into our house in Kokomo, we found that the previous owners had installed a very business-like gold "No Soliciting" sticker in the front window. I noticed a lot of them in the neighborhood, so I'm guessing at some point, that was a big issue. We didn't like how the sign looked, so we took it down, and I can't remember more than a couple of doorbell rings in the whole four years we lived there. But HERE!!!! My goodness. We've only been here four months, and we've already had at least two long-winded, ill-timed solicitors showed up. I am over it. (The second one woke me up from a nap, which is not something I would really ever advise.) So I've been hunting for signs that convey the message without looking like we are a business. This one from Etsy is currently in the lead. I actually also really like this one, but it is pretty wordy, so I fear the very real message I'm trying to convey might get lost in the shuffle. 

Two.

Over the last few years, I've been trying to move our Easter decor away from eggs and bunnies and more toward the actual reason for Easter. We have a couple of art pieces I love that convey the message of Jesus' resurrection, and after this one popped up on my social media feed a while ago, I added it to my wish list. I LOVE everything about it, from the aesthetic to the message. (We are definitely keeping all the eggs we own, though. I learned one year that they can keep kids occupied for HOURS.)

Three.

Do any of you wear the blue-light-blocking glasses that are non-prescription? I have listed these on my Amazon shopping list, but I have never actually tried any. As a bit of back story...I do not wear glasses or contacts. My vision is better than perfect, though it's not as amazingly better-than-perfect as it used to be. Sad day. I am not ready for readers or even a light prescription, which is fabulous, and I have no complaints about that. But I do love glasses as an accessory. I have loved them ever since I was a kid. (Back then, they sold clear-glass "Attitude" glasses, and I had some and loved them. I wore them to school, got in trouble from a teacher's assistant, and wasn't allowed to wear them to school anymore. I think that was the first time I begged my parents to tell the school to back off. They both worked in the school, so my argument fell flat.) Since I do spend so much time on my computer and phone, the blue-light-blocking glasses intrigue me - plus they could double as an accessory. But I am just wondering if anyone has tried them and has a review on how they work or don't work? 

Four.

I saw this candle on someone's social media feed and had to put it on my wish list. How cool is the design!? Plus, it's unscented (unless you get the citronella version) and made from beeswax, so it's not a terrible candle for you! It's based on the courting candles of yore...when they burned down to the clip, it was time for the suitor to go home. (Ryan can stay.) 

Five.

One of the ladies I follow on Instagram recommended this neck massager - and I've had it on my wish list ever since. She's an artist and spends a lot of time painting, so her neck/back/shoulders are often tight from extensive painting sessions. I have a feeling if I owned this, I'd never let it out of my sight. 

Six.

And finally, this is in the running (ha! See what I did there?) for a rug for our foyer. We are doing fine without a rug, but I think this would be a sweet completer piece to that area! I have another one that I'm looking at too, but I think this one would coordinate perfectly with our living room area rug, which isn't that far away from the foyer! 

Update on July Goals

1. Try out some regular office hours at Love INC.

I spent the first week of the month in the office each day with Ryan, filling in for his office manager while she was on vacation. It was incredibly helpful for me to sit in that role to learn (by immersion!) how the daily operations go. I really enjoyed it, even though at times, it was overwhelming to figure out how to make it run smoothly. (It probably didn't help that Ryan said he had never seen the place as busy as it was the week I was there - ha!) After that, I spent one day each week in the office and worked the rest of the days from home. The two environments are very different, and there are pros and cons to each. But I enjoyed the change of pace, for sure. Maybe sometime I'll do a post about the difference in the two environments! 

2. Return to a regular workout schedule.

Remember how great I felt after a month of stretching? I didn't feel quite as great (even though I kept the daily stretching!) after adding workouts back into the schedule. WHEW! Even though they were manageable in every way (time, intensity, equipment, etc.), they also made me so, so sore. And then I got an actual hamstring injury. Ryan advised me to take a few days to recover, and I listened to him. After all, he's the one with the degree and the one who has to work on me when I get hurt! The whole thing taught me quite a bit about the purpose of working out, as I shared yesterday! Ultimately, I hit the reset button on the workouts and decided to keep pursuing a search for something that works better for me. (More on this in another post?) So to officially update the goal, I did work out some this month, but it did not happen every day, and I still haven't found the final answer on my next plan. 

3. Continue making plans for our tenth anniversary. 

And....done! Well, mostly, anyway. We started the month by making sure all our lodging reservations were secured, and then I moved on to mapping out the itinerary. It is done in its main form. The disadvantage of planning so early is that most places haven't released their event schedule that far out. (The bonus of getting married in the Christmas season is that holiday celebrations are underway no matter where we go. But not every location had their festivity calendar listed yet. I found what I could and worked it into the schedule. I'll keep checking as we get closer to see if I need to do any tweaking!)  We are both super excited about everything we have planned! We would be wishing it here in a hurry if that didn't mean wishing away the rest of our warm summer days.

4. Try one fun hair thing each week.

The first week of July was the last week before I got my hair cut and colored, so I had to be pretty careful about what I did. No need to accentuate the roots, right? I did a half-pull-back thing that I actually really liked. It kept the hair out of my face nicely while I worked at the office!

By the second week, I had gotten my roots touched up, so I had a bit more freedom. I did a couple of braids on one side the day we went to the fair. We were running late as we left, so I didn't get a picture until the end of the day, and it was starting to look a little bedraggled by then. Ryan said it had looked more polished at the start of the day.

The third week, I tried a Dutch braid that morphed into a ponytail. I did this the day of the parade we attended, because the forecast said it was going to be suuuuuuuuuuuuper hot, and I wanted everything out of my face. I am rusty on my braiding, but I thought it turned out pretty well, considering! 

And the fourth week, I did a twisty thing that kept the hair out of my face but still looked sort of professional. I did this on a day when I was both hanging out at home and representing Love INC for part of the day, too!

5. Do a couple more of my top ten house project items. 

Well, I didn't get the painting done. That's a sad day. I really did think this might be a good month for it, but we'll try again another time. I did, however, get all the window candles put in windows. (Now we just have to get new batteries for them.) I did not have enough to put them in ALL the windows, but it's a start. Some day I'll get more. I also put lamps in the guest room and am very happy with how that turned out. 

6. Work on decorating Ryan's office at Love INC.

This will be a continual work in progress, but it's a fine start. The paint color in his office is challenging for decorating. It's a very bright green (even though it's light, it's still REALLY bright) and doesn't match much of anything we own. We don't have a decorating budget for the office, so I'm relying on things we already own or things I can find thrifted/inexpensively. I have put a few things in there to make it feel more like home for him, and I have also begun a list of things I want to look for to continue making it a better looking room. 

7. Start my Love INC training. 

I did this! You know what I learned first in my training? Those two years at WillowBridge really helped put me in the right frame of mind to understand the work of Love INC. God wastes nothing! The training I did this month was an online, introductory, self-paced module that taught me about the philosophy of Redemptive Compassion and the work of the Clearinghouse Coordinator, which will ultimately be part of what I do in working with Ryan. I really enjoyed the speaker and learned MUCH from what she had to say! What I did this month is the most I can do at this time. I have some other trainings coming up, but I have to wait for them, because they are live (either online or in person) and have to be done on specific days. This was a great start, though, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to start learning more specifically!

Other

 * I went through all our scrapbooks for the first time since we moved and put everything in order, made sure nothing was missing/unaccounted for from the move, and put them away in proper order. I also finished/ordered three more books, since there was an unlimited pages sale, and started on our next chronological album. I also knocked out an album of a trip from a few years ago that I had never scrapbooked. There's a whole story behind that, but completing this project was good for me in a variety of ways.

* I also went through all my old journals for the first time since we moved and made sure none had gotten lost/misplaced in the move. I put them all in order and made a mental note to read through them sometime just for funsies.

* Paula inspired me to crack down on my cleaning schedule, so I returned to that in full force this month. (I blogged about my cleaning schedule here, but I had slacked off on the weekly division of chores. Thanks, Paula, for getting me fully back on track!)

* I recreated most of the signs for the Love INC office so they would reflect the new logo the national office released earlier this year. I had so much fun making them! 

* While I was creating, I also made a number of promotional items Ryan can use when he speaks at churches and events. I made a couple of fun infographics for him to share with his board, to show what he's been doing throughout the month. I really enjoyed all the creating! 

* I did a lot of research on the whole wardrobe project I started back in June. I learned so much and began looking at clothing through new lenses of what ACTUALLY works for me. I started sorting through my clothes to see what needs to go and what I should bring in to replace them. I'll do a post about this sometime. 

* Ryan and I were able to speak at the Rotary Club this month (for Love INC), which we did not know about at the beginning of the month. But we were able to put together a presentation, and I thought it went really well. And then a week later, we spoke at a church, too! It was a quick time of sharing, but we were able to be there to meet some of the local people. We really enjoyed both things!

What I Learned in July

I know we have a couple more days left in July, so it's entirely possible I'll learn something else before it's said and done, but I wanted to give you a goal update tomorrow, and then Monday starts August! So today I'll tell you the things I've learned (so far) in July. 

* A group of pandas is called an embarrassment. (Also cupboard or bamboo.)

I actually don't remember now where I ran across this little tidbit of information. (It's also entirely possible that I've learned it before and forgotten it, so this might be a refresher!) I don't know if I saw it on social media or TV, but regardless of the source, I still think it's strange. If you go out to herd sheep, do you go out to embarrass pandas? 

* If you have trouble with a ring sliding off, secure it in place with a thin silicone ring.

It hasn't happened too often, but there have been a handful of instances in my life when my engagement ring has fallen off and gone missing temporarily. (The most recent time was over a year ago at WillowBridge, and I found it in the landscaping! It was a cold day, I had walked outside, and it had slipped off my hand and fallen into the ivy along the sidewalk.) A few years ago, we tried to get a metal piece to attach to it to help it fit better in cold weather, but they were insanely expensive. I have a personal conviction about ever taking off my ring for any reason, so I don't want to take it off even to replace it with a silicone ring when I'm doing outdoor activities, etc. But I saw an idea this month to purchase a very thin silicone ring and slide it up against your ring to keep it in place when your fingers are cold, and your rings are likely to fall off. That idea appealed to me!

(I remember when we were doing the waterfall excursion in the Dominican Republic, and the water was FREEEEEEEEEEZING. I swam with my hand balled into a fist to keep my rings in place!)

* If you don't want a turkey gobbler in a photo, put your tongue on the roof of your mouth when you smile. 

I saw this one on Instagram! You know how it goes when you smile for a picture and then get frustrated by a double chin? If you put your tongue on the roof of your mouth when you smile, it will help eliminate that. I checked, and it really works! Now I just have to learn to do it with my mouth closed so it doesn't look like I'm sticking out my tongue between my teeth mid-smile! 

* It's important to know why you're working out.

One of my goals for the month of July was to return to regular workouts. I'll talk more about this tomorrow, but the short answer was that it did not go well. Rather than ONLY getting irritated by this, I tried to turn it into a learning experience. I read a very helpful article that pushed me to examine a handful of things, and one of those things was why I was working out. Was I doing it to check off goal boxes? To lose weight? To get stronger? 

Early on in the month, I got a pretty ugly hamstring injury, and Ryan advised me to take a break until it was better. I was not happy about it, because at that point, my goal WAS to check off boxes, but I knew he was right about taking a break if I wanted to heal. So, during my break, I found the helpful article and challenged myself to find a better why for working out, Ultimately, I realized I wanted (more than anything else) to become stronger and feel better about myself. And I really want to enjoy whatever it is I do for exercise. 

I also had to remind my Type A self that sometimes a workout is from life and not from a video. The day we reseeded the yard, I planned to still do a workout video, but by night, I couldn't move. I had done a neighborhood walk with Ryan and Lexi that morning. I had walked four miles on the greenway with my friend that afternoon. I had helped scatter straw over the entire yard. I had walked 20,000 steps and lifted/bent/carried...all of it. That is a workout. It's important for me to remind myself that workouts exist at all because in general, we don't move and work like people used to in daily life. If I have a manual-labor-intensive day, that really IS still a workout! 

This whole part of my life is still a work in progress, but I'm learning things that matter for the long haul, and that makes me happy. 

* I need new shorts.

I cannot tell you how many times this month I looked at pictures that popped up in my Facebook memories from 11-12 years ago and said to Ryan, "Hey! I'm wearing those shorts today!" TIME FOR NEW CLOTHES, BEKAH!!!!

I've actually been working on a new wardrobe plan, so new shorts (and other items, too) are on the list. You know, there's something to be said for clothing that has enough quality for longevity, but there's also something to be said for knowing when something needs to retire. These shorts need to retire. ;) 

* Our lives now allow for side work if we desire.

The work we did for the last two years was so all-encompassing that there was absolutely no room for any kind of side anything. Prior to WillowBridge, I did some freelance writing once or twice a year for the Wesleyan Church, but I had to decline the offers to write while we were at WillowBridge, because I didn't have the time to put in the research and writing time. (Devotional writing is a very specific genre that is SO challenging for me, because the word count is minimal. A lot of work goes into whittling down the message enough to fit in the space while still conveying something of value.) I'm grateful that somehow I remained on the list of people to contact for writing assignments, and this month I accepted one! 

In addition to that, we've been considering how we might do some work on the side, both for the fun of it and to supplement our income! To even have the freedom to consider this is something new and delightful. I am thankful for it. Dreaming is one of our favorite things, so this is extra fun. 

* There should be a whole course for people who buy brand new homes, so they know how to advocate for themselves when it comes to yard and landscaping.

I look forward to the day when my writing material does not revolve around yards. We have learned a TON in this yard-growing process, and unfortunately, much of it has been a costly learning experience. Ryan is experienced in yard work, he does lots of research, and we are fairly intelligent people, but we had a lot to learn that would have been nice TO learn before going through what we just went through. 

Maybe someday I'll write a post about it, but this is an area where we definitely wish we could have learned what to ask for, fight for, and advocate for. It would have saved us so much in time and money.