Out my Window: A well fed ground hog enjoying these cool days and fresh cut grass. Plowed fields.
Enjoying: Cool, sunny days. The schedule slowing down a bit. Cooking on the grill.
Listening to: Finished Breathing Underwater: Spirituality and the 12 Steps by Richard Rohr on Audible. The reading of it is a bit awkward, but there is a lot to think about. The intro alone made me want to get a hard copy so I could highlight much of it. There is definitely some stuff that I do not agree with, but much I want to get into my mind and heart. Some of it is very convicting because he expands addiction to everyone not just the alcoholic.
“All societies are addicted to themselves and create deep codependency on them. There are shared and agreed-upon addictions in every culture and every institution. These are often the hardest to heal because they do not look like addictions because we have all agreed to be compulsive about the same things and blind to the same problems. The Gospel exposes those lies in every culture…”
“One has to wonder, do we really want people to grow, or do we just want to be in control of the moment?”
Just started listening to Creative Quest by Questlove. I am loving it. I was planning on borrowing a hard copy from one of my boys to read, but I am so glad I decided to listen. The audio is creative in itself. I am going to recommend they listen to it even though they both have read it. Very enjoyable and fun, along with being thought provoking about creativity and the creative process.
Reading: I finished Let’s All Be Brave: Living Life with Everything You Have by Annie F. Downs. I had just read her new book Remember God not that long ago and so this book kind of made me sad because it seemed that she was in the same space. Definitely good reminders about stepping out and trusting God. Quick, easy read.
“I never felt brave. I never had a moment of extreme courage or belief that this was going to be the best decision I had ever made. I just did the next thing.”
I finally got my two reviews up for #Revellreads books The Intimate Connection: Secrets of Lifelong Romance by Kevin Lehman https://inkblotlife.com/2019/06/03/the-intimate-connection-a-book-review/ and Powerful Prayers for Your Son by Rob and Joanna Teigen. https://inkblotlife.com/2019/06/03/powerful-prayers-for-your-son-book-review/
Finished In His Image: 10 Ways God Calls Us to Reflect His Character by Jen Wilkins. This was a nightstand book. It was good but I think I would like to go through the Bible Study part at some point. I now have The Quest for Meekness and Quietness of Spirit by Matthew Henry by my bed. Reading this one in much smaller portions.
Our Ladies’ Small Group just started studying Romans 12, so in my morning study time I am using Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ sermons on Romans 12. I love his sermons on the Sermon on the Mount so much that I thought this would have the same flow. This feels a bit more tedious. Maybe I just need to get back into the flow of his speaking. I am also using Chip Ingram’s True Spirituality to help me. As always Chip’s study is very reader friendly and practical.
My carry around book is most likely going to be Glorious Weakness: Discovering God in all We Lack by Alia Joy. (If it ends up being too emotional for me I may have to save it for at home… we shall see.)
Pondering: The official #PracticeResurrection2019 Days are coming to an end https://inkblotlife.com/category/practicing-resurrection-2019/. This covers the days between Easter and Pentecost. I have been pondering what my take aways from this time have been. Wondering how I can incorporate this into daily life in a natural way when the accountability is gone, and what does it look like?
Learning: This weekend I was so tired. My brain was complete mush and I just needed rest and some connection time with my husband. It is June and I have not gotten my container gardens together. This is one thing I love, and can’t wait to get going. It is a simple way to add color and beauty to my yard. I desired to do this, but didn’t have it in me, so I stopped at the farm stand and picked up a few baskets to spread around until I can get to the other pots. The aroma and color were so encouraging. It was just what I needed. Learning what my needs are and how to meet them is significant. I am learning it doesn’t have to look like what I think. It is okay that I do it differently sometimes because it is better for my soul. I needed rest and I needed beauty. Picking up the flowers allowed me to rest and refresh my soul.
Home: I am missing home. I subbed a lot over the past week and now I am trying to get ready for a curriculum sale, so I am in keep up mode as I take care of a lot of loose ends. Although in theory everything should get cleaner as I sift through stuff.
Fitness and Mental Health: (same as last week) Good weather makes this such a pleasure. I have been walking and schlogging almost daily and doing 10 pushups (I am holding at 10, as I feel like I need to get stronger before moving up). I have been joining my son whenever he does the Sally Up Pushup Challenge. Thinking I want to add a plank or crunch. I will use the Atomic Habit Method of only allowing myself to do a small amount to start. Mental Health is really connected to moving and “practicing resurrection” right now.
Giving Thanks: Beautiful weather. For extra days to sub before the summer. For time to rest this weekend. For an opportunity for my younger son to see a band that he really likes with people he really enjoys. For extra time with my husband. For a group of ladies willing to spend the summer studying and growing together through Romans 12. For God’s ordering of my days to allow me to connect with who He wants, and especially the opportunity to see Him more.
Inkblot Life 