Friday night was book club- this book was so good! It had a few cringe moments but overall- I really enjoyed it. It is filled with twists and I was so glad it was a book club read so that I had someone to talk to about it! At one point while I was reading it I literally dropped the book and had to walk away for a few minutes.
Saturday morning was the Teal Ribbon Run- It was GREAT!
Always happy when I get so do a race with my sister <3
It was hot in the sunshine but I didn't let myself wimp out and just kept on running. I really wished I brought my earbuds- as it ended up being a pretty quiet run. But overall I left it with all good feeling. I think positive self talk helped me a lot. My mantra: Stronger. Powerful.
Love the shirt this year! Trying to show here how great it goes with my favorite running shorts.
We got to hang out with the nephew a bit in the afternoon.
Chancer likes Mimi and Papa's house a lot more when all the nieces and nephews are not there! ;-P
We did a LIVE video making fajitas and margaritas for dinner. It was supposed to be a Pampered Chef Party but we ended up making it a virtual. Life happens. This recipe {Salsa Chicken} is so yummy though! It also makes yummy chicken nachos ;-)
Hannah and I had a movie night and watched Camp Rock. So fun to watch with her. Ten years ago we watched it every. single. day.
The new chairs are in at church...
I spent a portion of the afternoon preparing for our last Armor of God Study. Felt great to be back at Mom's Connect last night!
Our guys were away camping this weekend...I'm a little jealous of these views!
This weekend I was once again able to attend my Ladies Retreat with our church district.
I am happy to report that our trip to and from Retreat was easy and uneventful- unlike our first trip ;-)
Ladies Retreat never disappoints me. It is always a time of laughter & refreshment. This year was no exception.
There is just something about being on that campground, under that tent with 300ish ladies singing praise to our Lord. <3
The theme this year was Rise Up the speaker, Amy Carroll. She was fantastic!
I went to a workshop on "Telling Your Story", I think it ended up being one of my favorite parts. The session started- we were basically sketching out the bones of our testimony on our packets. - Crap. We are probably going to have to shareour stories at the end. I started thinking about ways to escape. I left my page blank until almost the end. All the sudden the words poured out onto the page. I still didn't want to share out loud. But. I. Did. Out loud. With actual words. To ladies who were not in my immediate, intimate "friend" circle. And one complete stranger. Not quite as hard as I imagined. And you just never know how your story might touch another.
Throughout the weekend...
We learned about letting of who we are not and embracing who we are.
We did Zumba in the early morning.
We painted signs made from old pallets. (Mine is pictured at the top).
We gathered and prayed.
We shed tears and shared hugs.
We took communion.
We left hungry for more.
It felt good to being sharing Retreat with Aimee again. We have been friends since the 6th grade. This weekend gave us lots of time to reconnect. Sometimes life and busyness gets in the way.
One of my favorite parts about Retreat is fellowship with my church ladies. Connecting with people I might not have otherwise. We sat around the campfire Saturday night until well after midnight.
Sunday the peaceful morning was calling to me. I spent the time between breakfast and the final session having some quiet time. I filled the blank "note" pages in the retreat book and the back cover with prayers. <3
My favorite song from Retreat- I don't remember ever hearing it before but then yesterday I heard twice on KLOVE.
In the coming year I am committed to praying for next year's retreat. For hearts that God is preparing even now. God is going to do good things in the coming year...
I came home to this-
Our church is transitioning to chairs...another one of those changes that has been in the works for a while. Another one of those changes that has not been easy for me ;-) Having my very own pew in my kitchen took a little of the sting out.
If you know me you know I am not a big fan of change and/or new things.
Its been a few years now since the below change was set in motion. I thought it was dumb and I pretty much told my Pastor and his wife so in so many words. I mean it wasn't like I was leaving the Church over it or anything... but I didn't have to like it either. It was kinda tabled for a little while- I prayed it would never come to pass... but low and behold it resurfaced this spring. Instead of kicking and screaming- I prayed God to change my heart.
He did. Sunday morning I donned my brand new super soft Alive Wesleyan Church shirt with excitement instead of bad feelings.
It was also move up Sunday. Three new Kindergarteners in my class.
I used Italian Chicken Sausage from Aldi and Trader Joe's BBQ Rub Coffee and Garlic- I of course cooked it on my Large Bar Pan
It was super yummy.
Last night I went to a local Pampered Chef team meeting.
I decided a couple weeks ago I needed to get connected with local pampered chef peeps. Last night the meeting date rolled around... cue anxiety.
I thought about just bailing again. The director posted a reminder for the meeting on facebook. I commented I was going to try and keep myself from backing out or pretending I forgot or couldn't make it. Well- if no one comments- I won't go. Like 4 or 5 people commented back. 💖 I texted my friend- she told me I would be glad I went. I knew she was right. It was great to be back among pampered chef people again- I felt welcome and part of the group from the moment I walked in the door. I am excited that I have booked 3 parties in the last two days! I can not wait for recipe night at the end of the month! =D
Don'tcha wanna Pampered Chef with ME? :D
It's good to do new things, push your boundaries a little, do things that scare you... I hear that's how you grow.
It's finally Friday! This week has felt so long- which is weird because Monday was a holiday and thus a short week. I don't know. But I am sooo happy its Friday!
Last night I went for a run along the canal before heading home. It was hotter than I expected, harder than I would have liked. But oh so satisfying! I did 4+ miles... it took awhile for my watch to sync up- and then I kept going until my watch read 4 miles because- if I don't have data to back it up did it really happen?? :P
This shady stretch felt glorious when I hit it again at the end of my run!
I listened to this book (also from MMD Summer Reading Guide!) It is the 2nd book I have read/listened to by Ruth Reichl. She was a restaurant critic in NYC and this book is after that when she was the Editor in Cheif of Gourmet Magazine.
I'm dreaming of running tomorrow at Green Lakes. I have been majorly slacking! Its time to get back on track!
I am thankful for my job. I complain about it a lot. Some days I hate it. But the truth is I am here for a reason. The other day Mikayla said to me- "Remember how excited you were when you got that job?" That thought kinda jolted some perspective into me. So I am choosing to be thankful and content for as long as God has me here...
I am wearing This morning I broke out a sweater and long pants...still holding on to the flip flops though!
I am reading
Daisy Jones and the Six (Hardcover/Library) This book as a lot of hype, so far I am not loving it, and I'm having trouble with the format and keeping all the characters straight.
The Island of Sea Women (Kindle/Library) I'm liking this one a bit more. Also from MMD Summer Reading Guide. It's the story of women divers back in the 40's on an island off Korea.
I am hoping to get 4 miles in after work...
I am learning This summer I have been reading Priscilla Shirer's study The Armor of God. It is so good! I'm entering the last chapter. I think I'm going to go back to the beginning and do it again when I am done.
