It ended with sitting infront of the fireplace with a decaf chai while gabbing with a friend.

My week.  What a ridiculous 6 days!!!!!  When I look back on it, I give Jesus all the credit for keeping me sane and enveloping me in an Angie-sized grace bubble.

Sunday - I attended both church services as I served by running the Propresenter.  From church I went and prayed with a friend.  Dashed home and warmed-up some leftover soup before dashing out tbe door to the Elf musical.  My former Sunday school kiddo was starring in. And the day ended with a Christmas Hallmark movie with Lori. 

Monday - work which included payroll and a work sickie.  Monday night I went to my old church for their ladies Christmas tea.  I went because love does. 

Tuesday was another glorious day at the sewer plant.  (On a related note, slightly random, my work weeks are busy but no longer tense.  Stepping back and re-evaluating my reactions has been a huge help.)  Tuesday night was tutoring.  My tutoree asked me where I work.  Telling him at the sewer plant required some clarification that no, I do not work in the sewer pipes like a Ninja Turtle.  I am just a secretary for a bunch of engineers who follow the lead of Batman and Robin.

Wednesday involved more secretary-ing and then my new life group.  It's been 3 months so is it really a "new" life group?  Hmmmm...

Thursday was work which included the decorating of the department Christmas tree.  Was I feeling festive?  Not so much.  I was actually feeling why-can't-RAL-decorate-the-tree???   My work day was then followed by running home to fluff my gym clothes in the dryer then dashing to the gym where I did a few minutes of quasi-intense cardio and then I made a mad dash to Beef-a-roo for some sweet potato fries and steamed broccoli and a chit-chat with a dear friend.

This brings me to today.  Friiiiiiiiiiday!!!!!!  Work and then hurry home to warm up soup which I scarfed-down before dashing out the door to Meg's to meet my friend.  After a chai, we went to my church for the Christmas Sing Out Loud.  It was wonderful.

And now my flannel jammies are on and a very silly feline has taken up residency on my lap. 

I am soooooo thankful this week ended on such an encouraging note.

Tomorrow I have a few errands but I mostly want to...
1. Decorate my cute little Christmas tree.
2. Write out my cards.
3. Sew gifts.

Happy weekend-ing, blog-stalkers!!!!

Two books...two similar themes...

For the past week or so, I’ve been engrossed in the book How to Catch A Prince by Rachel Hauck.   

Last year, when I returned to the land of owning a library card (yeah!), I stumbled upon Rachel’s fine literary works Once upon A Prince and Princess Ever After.  I read through them in true smitten-with-this-book fashion…and I completely forgot that there was a promise (in 2015) of a third in the series The Royal Wedding Series.  Last weekend I was feeling the urge to go to the library and upon perusing the NEW BOOKS section, I found the third book!  Let me say that again.  I. FOUND. THE. THIRD. BOOK.  It was almost like in the movies when a light beam shines down from Heaven guiding the main character to her beloved.  In this instance – it was a book.  Sometimes it’s coffee.  Sometimes it’s yarn.  Sometimes it’s cute shoes.  {Sigh.}

Now I must backtrack…the book I was reading before How to Catch A Prince was called Love Does.  Not a deep theological work…but something that makes you ponder how you love…and that love clearly DOES. 

Several pages in to Emily’s book, the main character (to whom I feel a connection) is drawn to the fact that she is to love well.  The phrase is whispered throughout the book. 

Today I finished the book and then I had this epiphany…the 1^st book was love does and this past week my brain has been filled with love well.  Coincidence?  I think not!!!  There are no coincidences with God.

I’ve been contemplating love doing and loving well…and I’ve come to the conclusion that perhaps they go hand in hand…and when you love well, you are doing (showing) love. 

Love responds kindly to an upset email.

Love helping a persnickety co-worker after Ms. Persnickety 

has retaliated in an unbecoming way.

To love well means to set aside what I want and focus on what someone else needs.

Loving well is easy at times and at other times – it’s tough.

I’m so glad the Lord orchestrated two rather “fluffy” reads to encourage and challenge my heart to DO love and love WELL.

What a wonderful blessing!!!

Love Does by Bob Goff

I'm nearing the end of the book Love Does by Bob Goff and I have to say that this book has really inspired me to be more active in this little thing called LIFE.  I don't want to be outloud - look at me...but I want to be more engaged in life and in the lives of others.  I think sometimes we get soo wrapped up, ok, so I GET MORE WRAPPED UP in this bubble of my little world...working, church, fellowshipping with friends, laundry, stopping at the library, knitting, etc.  I get so caught up in Angie Good's world that I forget to look OUT...and look for ways to encourage others.


This book has changed that...in that I am working on being more aware.  I'm praying the Lord will help me be more aware.  As the hymn writer penned, "Open my eyes that I may see..."  Truly a prayer of my heart...


I've started with something small...as in 3" x 5" small.  Notecards.  Nothing fancy.  No stationary or frills.  Just a simple notecard with a handwritten note...  This week it was another 3" x 5" with 2 verses from Psalm 34 and a sticky note to say, "I'm praying for you!" 


Today I was sitting under the hair dryer at the salon (I love haircut days!) and I read the chapter titled:  Jailbreak.  I'm hoping Mr. Goff doesn't mind if I share a bit of this chapter with you. 


Bob Goff writes:
What I've learned the more time I've spent following Jesus is that God delights in answering our impossible prayers.  The kind of prayers made in a dark cell by someone holding unwashed hands.  Prayers asking for things we couldn't possibly think could happen for us or someone else.  Ones we might even feel a little bad saying, as if it's just asking God for too much.  But what I forget is that we're talking to a God who knows that what we need the most is to return to Him, to return to our lives.  And like the judge, God knows that we can't fully return until we've been forgiven.  ~ Page 181


I'm not sure what this week will bring...and what I will be asked of Him to do but I know this...LOVE DOES.