W.E.D.N.E.S.D.A.Y.

W – WONDERING: What is the best thing that’s happened to you all week? [I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!] …I love when “bad” things turn into “good” things, and when highlights aren’t necessarily incredible moments that occur but sometimes the ordinary things that we take for granted.

 

E – ENCOURAGED BY: My small group – aka “Fat Tuesday” (as mentioned above). I am so thankful for this group of friends who can get together once a week despite busy schedules, babies, and full lives and for the place of genuine support and community. I really think most of our world in North America is lived by people flying by one another without stopping to glance up and say more than “Hi,” or “I’m fine.” I am certainly guilty of this and even when I’m trying to be more present with people find my thoughts wandering and my mind filled with distractions. However, I’m encouraged by this group that commits to meet weekly as most are able and take time to listen to one another, to share stories of our own and open up, to drink good wine and laugh at the table, and to care for one another. “TAT” – thinking about thinking. That’s what we decided we do each week. We take time to THINK about our lives and connect on a deeper level, and I notice myself craving this time and this deeper, more genuine community. I am so encouraged by my Fat Tuesday buds. 😀

 

D – DEALING WITH: Fighting the night-time-blahs. Lately Mikey and I have been getting home late, and all we feel like doing is plunking down in front of the TV and vegging out. That’s not always bad, but we want to be careful of not justifying our actions with “We work so hard during the day and deserve this!” and instead make time for one another, for people, and for taking care of our bodies. The evenings are lighter longer, he’s been sitting much of the day, and I get antsy at night; why not go for a walk? Why not listen to a sermon together? Why not visit some friends? We’re totally okay with the occasional TV program and bowl of ice cream, but sometimes feel convicted when we’re flipping mindlessly through channels and go to bed feeling like we wasted some more valuable time with one another. So…we’re dealing with this. 😀

N – NOTICING: More trips to the pantry for handfuls of cereal. I’m trying to break it down and figure out why I’m doing this: mainly because I’m bored! It’s time to clean up my eating for real. I really want to challenge myself because, as my friend Janetha recently vlogged about, we don’t really NEED the extra, you know? I’m not lamenting my few pounds gained from vacation (so worth it! and I’m looking big picture, not day-by-day), but I want to be my fittest and healthiest, so why not try a little harder and say “no” to myself once and a while? I generally don’t – like the 3 cookies, 1 scoop of ice cream, and glass of wine I had with dinner last night at Fat Tuesday. Lived up to the name. 😉 Next time, I’ll choose ONE fun item – the cookie, the wine, etc – and allow myself to go without. I think it’s good for me every now and then!

E – EATING: Currently: JUICE! But not any kind of juice like orange juice from a can – fresh fruits and veggies juiced! Mikey and I have been wanting to clean up our nutrition recently (especially in lieu of “noticing” above) and finally decided to look up some juice recipes online (going to random sites but all real foods) and use his parents’ juicer. Our juice to start today included: cucumbers, celery, carrots, apples, oranges and a lemon. The result? Delish! We’re not necessarily on a diet, but working on eliminating sugar (always a good thing!), and cutting mindless carbs.

  

S – Sunny: Weather all around! Although the forecast does call for snow and rain tomorrow and Friday (say what?!), I’ve been soaking in every bit of sun and warmth. I just spent part of my break planning programs outside in the sunny weather and enjoyed sitting there taking it all in. No complaints from this Californian-girl!

(just like these guys!)

D – DOING: A little bit of home-training and a little bit of gym-training. I’m still balancing my roles and learning how to gauge my time to get downtown and not double-booking myself. That being said, Tuesday night I completely forgot about 2 clients that I had! I meant to cancel them (hate to do that!) and offer a free session to them (my 24-hour cancellation policy goes both ways!). I went to bed Monday and totally forgot that I hadn’t phoned them! Sorry Heather and Bruce! At any rate, I’m generally liking the flow of life right now although it still feels busy. Busy can be good, but it takes intentionality on my part to be mindful of how I’m spending my free time and how my perspective of the busy times is holding up.

A – ANTICIPATING: Adventures this weekend! It’s the May-long weekend here in Calgary (all of Canada? I know it’s a holiday for Alberta but each province is different) and that means a few things: sleepover with friends and a bonfire Friday night, Saturday hang out, some work [insert a few clients here], church Saturday night, an overnight backpack and then home to relax. The weather’s supposed to be beautiful and we’re thankful we have the time off to enjoy it and the people around us!

Y – YEARNING: For more of God…I find myself really craving God’s Word and cannot get enough sermons in my ears lately! At Fat Tuesday this week, we started the (audio) book by C.S. Lewis called The Screwtape Letters. The book is a series of letters written from the perspective of a senior devil to a junior devil (in training) with advice and encouragement to get him to win over his “patient” (a man) to Satan’s side. It’s all backwards from books I generally read; “the Enemy” is God and “our father below” is Satan, and it makes you use your mind and think in such different ways. It feels great to think through life and take a moment to empty our minds of the distractions and busyness that cloud it (which we think are “real life” issues but really don’t add as much to our lives as thinking through universal issues, which we often push aside in favor of going to make a sandwich in the kitchen). I am yearning for truth and yearning to grow and realizing that even in the “dry” times of life, God is leading, guiding, and allowing me to grow closer to him.

 

…and that concludes W.E.D.N.E.S.D.A.Y! Choose a letter above – got anything to share? Something your heart’s yearning for? – I also want a pair of red TOMS shoes. 😉 Is it sunny near you? What are you doing these days? Live well & be well friends,

Bonnie