Showing posts with label loose ends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label loose ends. Show all posts

On Marshmallows, Mushrooms, and Monotasking

🍄

'It's amazing how many marshmallows there are,' I enthused as Tim and I tromped over the damp woodchipped lawn.  I had just kicked a great big mushroom right off its hinges as we headed off for a morning walk.

I caught myself.  'MUSHROOMS!,' I shouted, 'MUSHROOMS!'  And started laughing as he rolled his eyes.

He's gotten used this.  Those closest to me have.  They might patiently wait for me to figure out the missing word, ignore my misnomer, or decide to fill in the blank.  If I say, 'you know, ol' what's his name' or 'what's her face' they're usually able to track with me.  

Kind of like a game of charades.  But this is no game.  And it doesn't end after a 20 minute round or two.

🍄

Before the month ends, there'll be more candles than ever on my cake.  68 is looming and I don't mind telling you that I'm not a big fan of the aging process.  Physically, mentally.  Truth be told, from time to time it unsettles me.  A whole lot.

YET ...

God hasn't given us a spirit of fear.  But power, love, and a sound mind. 
(2 Timothy 1:7)

Plus a sense of humor.  And the capacity to re-invent ourselves, pivot a bit, and prepare for unknown transitions ahead, knowing with confidence that He's already written the rest of our own uniquely personal story.

🍄

Let's face it.  We're all dying daily.  We don't like to hear that, but it's our reality as human beings.  Yet it serves no healthy or holy purpose dwelling on worst case scenarios or getting caught up in the downward spiral of 'what if this' and 'what if that.'

For awhile, I've quietly claimed the desire to live a 'no regrets' lifestyle so that when all is said and done, I can be at peace knowing that I did the best I could do at the time.  For me, that's required the hard work of relinquishing dreams, confessions of sin, changes of attitude, the giving of forgiveness, ability to say 'sorry, no, thanks,' embracing new habits, increased attention to strengthening my faith and my health.  

And now in this season, to gracefully re-invent how I do life, making some major tweaks to well-worn, deeply ingrained routines that don't serve me well anymore.

My goal is to become increasingly mindful and attentive to the conversation, situation, or task right in front of me.

🍄

That brings me to monotasking.

I'm embracing it.  Aiming to bring my full attention to one conversation at a time.  Finishing one task at a time.  Reading one book at a time.  Straightening one room before moving to the next.  Batching blogging stuff, bill paying, or information seeking and then shutting down the computer.

The secret is completing the next right thing before moving on to the next right thing.

*  An old fashioned paper checklist is my life saver these days.  There's great satisfaction in listing every must-do (small and big) and then crossing off one item after another, knowing that I'm not wasting time trying to remember something that's totally slipped my over-crowded mind.

*  Silencing my phone and keeping it out of sight is starting to keep me from endless random surfing which I swear has short-circuited my brain.

I used to be able to multi-task with the best of them.  It's not my preference anymore.  And most days there's no need to.  Accepting this reality has lifted remaining self-expectations to juggle a whole bunch of balls at the same time.  And in this new process, my body is calming, my brain is clearing, and my soul is more attentive to hearing the still small Voice of the One I rely on and love best of all.  

In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.
Isaiah 30:15

It's like God is using my need to leave multi-tasking mastery behind so that I can become the best version of my soon-to-be 68 year old self.  And able to focus on what I've always loved best ... meaningful one-on-one conversations.  Reaching out and listening well and responding in ways that will bring some kind of encouragement to the soul right in front of my nose. 

And yes, continuing to write something (hopefully) of value and connect with you right here in this space.

Read more about monotasking here.  These days #4 - #6 hit home for me.

When all is said and done, there's no one-size-fits-all to the aging process (or anything else for that matter).  I'd love to hear what's working for you ... or what you've learned by watching others a few steps ahead of where you find yourself.
Linda

Topics , , , , , ,
Share this Post Pin This Email This

Tip-toeing Through the Liminal Space

Greetings, friends!  I'm so glad you've joined me for this month's e-zine.  My heart is filled with gratitude for you, wise and cherished readers.  You are the best encouragers, cheerleaders, mentors, trailblazers, creatives, sojourners, companions.






We're flipping to the final calendar page of 2020.  It was the year that was.  We've talked incessantly, written repeatedly, prayed fervently, trying to process all that's assailed us.  We speak what is true about where we find ourselves, we validate the very real emotions we continue to face.  

We let each other know that we are not alone.  We build hope generously laced with kindness and respect into each other's lives.  Our online connection lends some sort of steadying rhythm in the midst of all that's become distressingly topsy-turvy.

I am so sick of talking about covid.  I despise the ways it has taken over our lives.

The pandemic is still at the forefront and we wait and wonder and battle the reality of emotional fatigue, the ever-present overwhelm over continuously changing uncertainties, the confusing updates in safety and travel guidelines.  Covid testing sites seem to be elusive as hen's teeth and the hopeful distribution of a vaccine has us pondering if we really want to be guinea pigs. 

We're sorrowing over missed family milestones and celebrations.  Many are leery of gathering indoors to worship.  We have learned, often painfully, that we control very little in life.  Many have been navigating through major decisions and discovering that the best laid plans must be held in wide open hands.  We lament the continued suffering, the growing numbness, the losses that are hitting near home.  

We find ourselves in uncharted territory ... the liminal space between how life used to be and what life will become.  We're neither here nor there, and this weird transition leaves us kind of hanging in mid-air, fragile and vulnerable, prime targets for the enemy of our souls.

But this is my testimony, my end of 2020 story ...

Our God is strong and steady as a rock.  He has not changed one single bit even though much around our souls has given way.  He has proved Himself compassionately faithful in the midst of debilitating pain and anxiety, life-altering decisions and ongoing lament.  

He is our all-knowing Guide.  

And the huge sense of relief and the deepest gratitude that's emerged from following Him repeatedly through the next open door outweighs the myriad of frustrations, disappointments, and sadness that have woven their way into this year.  

What a wonderful Savior.

Bless you as we sit quietly and discover the spiritual treasures in store for us this Advent season.  May the Spirit guide us into refreshing new rhythms and deeper grace as He continues to whisper, 'this is the way, walk ye in it' {Isaiah 30:21}.

Linda

P.S. #1  I spent a whole evening penning the usual monthly e-zine, complete with links and commentary on books, surprise treasured finds, my home reorganizing saga, and musings about Christmas.  But after sharing my heart so deeply, it just didn't feel right to tack on the fun stuff.  I think you understand.  Maybe another day?

P.S. #2   But it sure sounds like we're all in sync when it comes to red berries and turquoise doors ... On the Porch * Red Berries Edition

P.S. #3  Have you subscribed yet?

P.S. #4  Visiting with Jeanne & Lisa & Richella is always a bright and lively weekly past time with friends old and new.

Our 1st 2021 Book Club Read Is ...  >>


Topics , , , , , ,
Share this Post Pin This Email This

Loose Ends * 7 Autumn Reflections



Welcome, welcome!  I'm so glad you've joined me today.  

I can't even begin to fathom that the year is careening toward a close ... complete with two holidays that will most likely bear little resemblance to past traditional celebrations.  If you're anything like me, you will be so very glad to hang your fresh, new 2021 calendar on the wall and tuck 2020's pages in the bottom of the deepest drawer you have in your house.

7 realities I'm reflecting on ...

1.  The absolute necessity of lots of pencils & a few very large erasers.

As I flip through the last few months of my calendar, I see that fully 50% of what had been penned in ended up being crossed out, scribbled over with black ink.  Appointments cancelled.  Long-planned visits delayed again and again.  Get-togethers with friends postponed.

I will buy my pencils in bulk from now on.  And keep a couple of these large erasers at the ready.  {As an Amazon associate I may receive a very small financial compensation when you use these links!!}


2.  Hold all plans loosely.  Don't carve anything but the most absolute essentials in stone.

One day at a time is the name of the game.  Keeping our plans held loosely, with trusting hands raised up to our loving Heavenly Father, keeps us from the awful pain of having our hopes and dreams pried away from our grasping fingers.  

There's a reason why Jesus said, 'Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.  God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes' {Matthew 6:34 MSG}.



3.  It pays to listen to the Spirit's nudging.

When I decided to unplug from blogging last month, a kind reader wrote, 'May September be Sabbath for you.'  I was so taken by her benediction that I wrote it on my calendar, glancing at her thoughtful words often. 

Sabbath not only honors God, but inspires us to rest from our seemingly endless labors.  And a time of retreat and re-calibration prepares us for the hard times that announce themselves with an unexpected yet not surprising phone call that changes everything.


4.  Covid, the elderly, & their families.

No family member should have to cool their heels all day in the ER waiting room with a mask on, marking time as they wait on some kind of update after their disabled 90 year old mother takes a particularly nasty fall at home.  No elderly person should be forced to choose which child can stay with her throughout the day as she waits for test results.  No elderly person and her children should have to make the difficult but necessary choice to move her to a care facility right smack dab in the middle of this seemingly endless pandemic.  

No daughter should have to kiss her mother good-bye through a mask right before she is wheeled inside to her new home.  Or watch the door swing closed behind her with a firm lock.  Or sob alone in the beautifully appointed gardens at the entrance as she experiences such deep sorrow, a separation that's surprising in its intensity.  

And it just seems wrong that two sisters only get 30 minutes together with their mom every Thursday afternoon, with one hug a piece.  Generously applying hand sanitizer before and after the hug, faces turned away from each other.  No kisses.  

But the mask.  Always the mask.

This is my family's autumn story. 

I think of several dear friends in recent months who were not able to be with their loved ones at the end of their lives.  None of us should have to face life and death alone without the comfort of family members present.  It goes against everything we value. 

My heart continues to go out to you.  Who would have ever guessed that we would be cut off from those closest to us when they needed us most.

God, thank You that You never left their side for a single moment.

Comfort our unsettled souls with Your lavish peace.

And bless all those who faithfully care for those we love.  May they be kind and gentle with them, please.


5.  Even in the midst of the madness, good things deserve to be celebrated.

You might have to walk around with a magnifying glass to spy them, but all around us there are big answers to prayer that bring a smile and a song of gratitude to our lips.  A granddaughter gets accepted to college.  A house sells for more than expected.  The doctor reports good news.  A beloved presents you with the largest glazed donut ever seen.  Your eyes are opened to opportunities to encourage others with your words, your presence, your silence, your handyman / woman expertise, your culinary skills, your artistic endeavors.



6.  Ah, the insanity of the political fray.

I said all that I needed to say in this post right here.  Maybe it will get you through this exhausting season?  Hope so.

Let's pray the prayer that never fails ... 'Thy will be done.'



7.  The support group.

It's been so rewarding to facilitate a group for women making their way, three steps forward, one step back through the pandemic.  

Led by the Spirit's gentle wooing and direction, courageous participants emerged out of their comfort zones to deeply connect with each other through ongoing conversation and prayer.  Clear guidelines enabled the group to be safe for all ... no interrupting, advising, analyzing, fixing, or preaching at each other.  Weekly, we became more attentive, empathetic listeners as our spirits deeply resonated over shared stories of isolation, abrupt changes in gathering with family and friends, the reality of fear and anxiety and anger, the demise of long-established routines, accumulating losses and build up of grief, the disruption in church life.  We refused to sugarcoat the disappointments and frustrations, fragility and sadness, the lack of meaningful purpose that the pandemic has left in its wake.  
 
We turned a corner at each meeting, with Philippians 4:4-9 guiding us as we did the hard work of re-framing our challenges and heartaches into opportunities for gratitude and spiritual growth.  We focused on designing unique, Christ-honoring routines and rhythms, emphasizing ongoing devotional encounters with our Savior to grow our faith and meet our deepest needs for relationship, clarify new vision, and discover God's call on our lives going forward.

I'm already anticipating what God will do in our next round.


What's on your heart as October rolls to a close?
Linda

subscribe here!

*

<<  Are You Expecting?

*

joining Jeanne & Lisa

Topics ,
Share this Post Pin This Email This

Loose Ends * Let's Chill Edition


Dearest Friends & Faithful Readers ~

I've been spotting some silver linings recently.

And some outright miracles.  Even in the midst of loss.  Adjustment.  Apprehension.  Uncertainty.

How 'bout you?

Without sticking our heads in the sand, more of us are purposefully choosing to chill.  We're refusing to give in to defeat or linger too long over worse case scenarios.  We're turning away from divisive political rhetoric, instead choosing to sharpen our identity as grace-filled Christ-followers.

We're rediscovering the need to listen well.  We're drawing a line in the sand as we decide what's worth standing up for ... even while letting go of our cast-in-stone mindset and constant focus on the latest news feed.

We've experienced what stress does to our bodies and souls and we're saying, 'no more.'

 We're sending up 'more than we can ask or imagine' prayers and praising God while we await His responses.  

In the process, we're finding His grace in the most unexpected places.  We've become the awe-struck recipients of the generous kindness of others ... even while we're learning to embrace the art of sacrificial giving.

And more of us have had no choice but to finally launch into the common sense journey toward simplifying our lives and our spaces.  Cheryl Smith's memoir / guidebook Biblical Minimalism opened that door to a hefty, life-altering conversation, didn't it.  Click here to check out that post.

Because of the monumental health and lifestyle shifts we've been forced to encounter, we're realizing how little we actually control.  

Instead many of us are heading back toward a more substantial faith.  We're embracing each in-person connection we're gifted with.  We're figuring out what a back to the basics lifestyle looks like, we're cultivating our own fledgling creativity.  And we're making our way outside to tend our gardens or walk our neighborhoods, meeting and greeting the dog walkers, the joggers, the bikers, and the stroll-ers.

When the oppressive humidity doesn't overwhelm.

The simplest pleasures we used to take for granted are now sheer gold.

And while I've been wondering this year if these just might be the last days, it's clear that God's not done yet.  He hasn't changed a bit, and He is not shocked or taken off guard by what's coming around the next corner.

Therein lies peace.

 He's already penned the end of the story.

Debby Hudson

*

 LINKS WORTH YOUR LEISURELY ATTENTION


Melissa Schlies

possibility
Barbara Cutting

*




















 *

 YOUR FAVORITE CONVERSATION
AROUND HERE THIS MONTH
Hands down, Have You Run Into Karen Lately? sparked the most fascinating dialogue.  You won't believe some of the stories our readers shared!  Click here to read every last word.

AND THE BIGGEST PANDEMIC POST
SO FAR?
Honestly, I was surprised at the huge response to Designing Your Morning Invitations.  The impact of the pandemic, the myriad of unsettling challenges, the resulting out-of-kilter rhythms we're struggling with.  Together we discern what God might be inviting us to in the midst of the crazy, the scary, and the yearning for fresh practical routines and deeper spiritual formation.  Click here to see what unfolded during our interaction.

Stay cool.  Be generous.  Pray lots.  Eat ice cream.
Linda


*


*

visiting with 
Lisa & Mary
Topics ,
Share this Post Pin This Email This

Loose Ends * Joyful June Edition


I can hear your voice in every word.  You’re real, honest, and open. Reading what you write is as refreshing as that 20 minute walk or a morning meditation.
Barbara
@

I never, ever leave your site without being spiritually refreshed and prompted to move closer to Jesus. I wish I could give you a huge hug. How grateful I am for you and your presence, not only here in the blogosphere, but in my life. 
Cheryl
@

Hey My Dear Summertime Lovers ~

You keep telling me that you look enjoy reading these monthly Loose Ends wrap ups and, simply put, that makes me happy.

After all, my love language is words of affirmation.

And I know I'm not the only one.

You don't have to do anything to get this electronic magazine in your inbox except subscribe to the blog.  And then like magic, each brand new edition of the e-zine arrives toward the end of every month.

You'll also receive The Bookbag, the well-received mid-month post where we talk back and forth about our most recent favorite page turners, our toppling must-read lists, and the potpourri of bookish / writing / creative / blogging links I've scoped out just for you.

Sorry, I offer no exclusive bonuses, cool gifts, or secret passwords when you subscribe.

But you will receive every post I pen whenever the Spirit moves.  No set dates or times.  No well-planned series or calendar driven posts.  You'll never know what will pop up next in your inbox.  I like it that way.  I continue to pay attention to what God is whispering and then allow that direction to guide me in my writing.

That's how we roll around here.  I always strive to give you my absolute best every time I hit the orange Publish button.  I aim for excellence, but never perfection.  That way I don't make myself crazy.

 Being perfect is highly overrated and exhausting, ya' know?




This month was filled with unexpected surprises, huge decisions, and finally after a very long year, more peaks than valleys.  Praise God!  To say I'm grateful would be an understatement.

I'm continuing to learn  ➜

 *  God's mercies are new every morning and we have to permit ourselves to grab hold of them and celebrate each and every grace given.

*  God doesn't abandon us when we find ourselves in the deepest, scariest pits ... and those seemingly endless dark nights of the soul do not last forever.

*  God specializes in mingling our grief, physical pain, and anxiety with a quiet peace and joy that could come only from Him.

*  God honors our sacrifice of praise and propels us forward as we purposely cultivate gratitude in our minds and hearts ... and speak it out loud and often.

*  God uses our life experiences to minister to others who find themselves in the same boat.  As He brings hope and healing to His beloved children, He delights in connecting us to each other, to listen well, to love deeply, to lead each other forward.

And this right here  ➜

What we continually focus on ends up defining who we are.

If we constantly look back at what was, we miss the sweet gifts that God is trying to deliver to our yearning hearts right in this moment.  I encourage you to honor your traumas, to name them clearly, to recognize their impact on your lives, and make moment by moment choices to process and release them to the Sacred Healer.  Don't become weary as you take those faithful baby steps forward toward what God has for your future.

For your health's sake.  For His glory.


For some reason, I'm singing more.  Eight verses of old hymns that haven't passed through my mind in decades.  Snippets of choruses that suddenly make an off-key appearance.  Enthusiastic worship songs that stay with me long after Sunday morning has passed.  In the shower, in the kitchen, as I wander through my day.

This has been a favorite in recent months.  Even this non-dancer is captivated and on her feet!  Because as I look back at the first half of 2020, I can sincerely sing,  'Jesus, You're the only reason that I'm even breathing.'





7 online reads that caught my eye, captured my heart, or both ➜

Justice Too Long Delayed
Timothy Dalrymple

No One Is Immune
Pam Ecrement

10 Ways to Fight Back Against Stress and Burnout
Carey Nieuwhof

Identifying Your Core Values
Kenna Griffin

Harvard researcher says the most emotionally intelligent people have these 12 traits.  Which do you have?
Daniel Goleman

When Pandemic Grief Hits You All Over Again
Melissa Schlies

(the) Best Summer Yet Worksheet
Joanna Gaines



A half century later, those delicious, well-loved family recipes are the ones I reach for first.  You too?




After it seemed like all our long-awaited summertime family plans had vanished into thin air, these final snapshots capture the sheer joy of a completely unexpected, last minute family reunion.  Thank you, Jenn, for pulling it all together.  The best family gathering ever, relaxed and unscheduled, lots of active outdoor time mixed with quiet moments on the porch for those most precious 1 - 1 conversations.  What a way to launch into the second half of 2020!


Lexa
Melanie     Brooke
Kate     Lydz     Andrew

Bless your home, bless your family, bless your summer ~
Linda


*

doing summertime with
Topics ,
Share this Post Pin This Email This

Loose Ends * What's Saving My Life Edition


It's that time again, gang!

The monthly e-zine, this electronic newsletter sent from my heart to yours.

 This edition focuses on what's been saving my life so far this year.

Sitting quietly and considering what gifts or truths God has brought into our lives is certainly a most beneficial practice.  His lavish loving kindness has saved us, grown us, healed us, propelled us.  As we sift through what we've experienced, we figure out how to embrace the discoveries and in the process, we become better equipped to move forward with a bit more clarity, a renewed sense of purpose or mission.

And hopefully a whole lot wiser, more empathetic, more attuned to the Spirit's movement than we were before.




2020 has not served me well.  At all.

Grieving the death of three dear loved ones, none of whom I got to say good-bye to.  A simple dental procedure gone awry, unending physical pain, growing anxiety, the blood clots in my lungs that led to a brief hospitalization, the closure of my counseling practice, family health issues, the pandemic's unwelcome, scary arrival. 

It'd be fair to say that my world has pretty much turned upside down and inside out.

I'd be a fool if I didn't acknowledge the raw truth of my reality and its impact on my life and my work.  And even more of a fool if I hadn't learned anything of value during this rough patch, which, praise God, I am emerging from.

For we're all students in process of learning something ... or re-learning what we thought we had down pat.  God is always at work, stretching our faith and growing us to be more like His dear Son.

He is always, always, saving our lives.




1.  The older I get, the more I realize how little I know.
What freedom to admit you don't have to have all the answers and your responsibility isn't to save the world and give your opinion every five minutes.  I'm long past being a know-it-all ... and more likely to be still and listen quietly these days.  Just because you've got a few letters sprinkled after your name doesn't mean you're some kind of genius.

Saying 'I just don't know' works fine for me.

Click here to read that post and the stimulating follow-up dialogue.


2.  Family matters.
I can't begin to tell you how I miss my girls, their men, and especially the grandkids.  It's been six months since we've been able to spend time together.  Our annual summertime plans have gone up in smoke.  This is not working for us, young or old.  And we're not quite sure what to do about it.

August maybe?

* sigh *


3.  Zoom, texting, What'sApp, emails, and phone calls are all well and good.  
But they don't hold a candle to actually being fully present with the ones you love, to look in their eyes, to see their body language, to sense their unspoken words.  The dynamics are all so different than what we are used to.

This goes for connecting with far flung family and friends, Bible Studies, and church services.


4.  Uncolored gray roots are the least of my concerns.
Who really cares anyway?


5.  Excellent doctors are worth their weight in gold ... and praise be for virtual phone visits.
A lifeline, a gift, a huge benefit.  Sure beats wasting time Googling weird symptoms or futilely trying to self-diagnose any day of the week.


6.  Any kind of perfectionistic 'all or nothing at all' philosophy proves to be an albatross.
No, I don't have to walk for hours on end.  20 minutes might suit me just fine today, thank you very much.

No, my devotional time doesn't have to be an endless marathon with a burdensome checklist of chapters or prayers that must be completed.  There are days when a few minutes here and a few more over there are my soul's delight.

No, the outdoor work doesn't have to be finished in one day.  I'm much happier puttering for as long as my body holds up.  The weeds will be there tomorrow.  Our home is a work in progress and that's fine with us.

That goes for cleaning the house, too.

And sometimes a frozen pizza or chicken pot pie absolutely hits the suppertime spot.  I am not in the practice of whipping up gourmet delights.  I'm not Joanna or Martha or anyone else.  It's all good.


7.  I don't need to be obsessed with the news.
One of my smartest choices this spring?  Pretty much giving up the evening TV news marathons, the opinionated talking heads, the endless news conferences, the pundits and prophets and politicians with their hidden agendas and axes to grind.  A morning update comes in my inbox and I'm good to go.

Click here to read the hows and whys of the most brilliant pandemic decision I've made.


8.  But I do love this blogging community more than ever.
You guys are the absolute best!  I can't even begin to tell you what you mean to me individually and as the wise and loving community you are as we gather around this virtual table, warts and all. The consistency and rhythm we've created together is a warm solace ... and I'll forever maintain that the iron-sharpening-iron conversations that spring from my sometimes meager offerings are often far better than the posts themselves.

I sense God's leading, His approval, His warm smile on what's happening around here.


9.  My tender soul craves about 15 minutes of meditation every morning, and this aging body craves a good 10 minute stretching routine morning and evening.
Two beautiful gifts I've embraced, two of the best decisions I've made this year.  Besides not being obsessed with the news.

Click here to find out more about the Christ-centered meditation that has become a calming, healing practice for me.


10.  My husband is a very capable food shopper.
It's been months since I've ventured into our local ginormous supermarket with its complex, ever-changing guidelines, fluorescent arrows and stop signs taped to the floors, irate fellow shoppers, and the uncertain check-out routine that shifts from day to day.

I'm happy to stay home and let him navigate the hoards of hoarders.  When he returns, I'll unpack and we'll both wash our hands and move on.


11.  The highlight of our day?  Our final moments together as I read a little devotional with said husband and we pray before he quickly conks off to sleep.
Prompted by the difficult challenges of this season, this quieting evening rhythm has become a sweet passage to usher in nighttime. We don't have it down pat, we're a work in progress.  I think he likes it, too.

Click here to check out the book we're paging through.

I can't wait to hear what's saving your life this year!  Do tell ...
Linda


*


*

doing life with
Topics ,
Share this Post Pin This Email This

Loose Ends * 4 Somethings / Homebody Edition


Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.  God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
- Matthew 6:34 {The Message}

You're here, friends, and I'm so happy!

What can I say.  Hasn't this been a month.  Or two.

I'm guessing I'm not the only one who's lost track of how many weeks we've been laying low, altering our routines, missing life as we knew it, grieving losses big and small, adjusting to the solitude our families have had no choice but to embrace.

One day at a time.

That's become my new mantra.  I'm not looking too far ahead.  Not to those special family events that I now hold quite loosely.  Appreciating every grace and joy given for the day.  Recalling how God has been so very faithful in the past.  Tending to my soul, body, and mind the best I can.  Grateful for the supportive camaraderie of the blogging community.  Thrilled that my husband now does all the grocery shopping.  Learning Zoom.  Connecting with those I care for online, on the phone, sending cards and notes when nothing less would do.

So here goes with 4 Somethings packed with tons of good stuff for you to sift through while you're biding your time inside your four walls.  I'm guessing you might find something that'll hit home for you.









 SOMETHING LOVED!
Noted Christian psychologist and author Henry Cloud just kicked off a live call-in radio show.  I'm a long time fan and delighted at his latest brainstorm, launched the day after it came to his mind, and unfolding weekdays from his dining room table.  The Dr. Cloud Show airs at 4 p.m. EST / 1 p.m. PST.  


Anne Bogel

Elaine Lipworth

Manyu Jiang

Candace Playforth

Jean Wise

Melissa Schlies

Emily Freeman

Kate Bowler
SOMETHING AHEAD!
My friend Nancy sent me this C.S. Lewis quote this week.  No truer words have been spoken -
'We do not know the play.  We do not even know whether we are in Act I or Act V.  We do not know who are the major and who are the minor characters.  The Author knows.'
- The World's Last Night and Other Essays

One day at a time ~
Linda

to subscribe

*

<<  Designing Your Morning Invitations

A Prayer For Those Who 
Aren't Doing Well  >>

*

Check out all the posts I'm loving 
over at my LinkedIn space 

*

Email, Twitter, FB, and Pinterest 
share buttons are quietly available
in the gray box below

*

spending time with
Topics , ,
Share this Post Pin This Email This