Be prepared in season and out of season

Volleyball is my sport.  I have played since middle school and still continue to play on several rec leagues and man, I miss the every day practices that made me good at my craft of being a setter.  Now that I only play once or twice a week, the ball doesn't always go exactly where I planned... Sometimes it's too far off the net, too tight, or I didn't get to the pass quick enough and the attempted set goes right in the net.  I work my booty off to try to bring my skills back to where they were in my glory days, but being that we only play once or twice a week, the perfection of my skills can only go so far.  

If you want to be able to ever-so-lightly touch the volleyball so that it comes off your fingertips with no-spin and is effortlessly placed at the perfect spot off the net, at just the right height, so that your hitter's hand can contact the ball at the top of their swing and follow through, slamming the ball into the ground destroying any possibility of the other team being able to dig the ball and create a new play... you can't just show up on the first game day and expect perfection to happen.  You have to be in shape.  You have to be super quick on your feet to get to every ball whether the pass is perfect or not.  You have to have strong forearms so the set can be created with ease.  You need to have strong legs to get low enough to dig a short ball, and to be able to jump high enough to block the other team's attempt to spike or to jump-set a pass that was way too tight to the net.  And none of that happens overnight.  If you want to be a prime athlete, you need to be prepared in season and out of season.  

As a follower of Christ, my goal is to become more and more like Him everyday so that I might be a good representation of God's love and encourage others to get to know Him and be a part of what He is doing.  But just like I can't be an amazing setter without much preparation and practice, I can't be a great representation of Christ without training.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."  As practice, strengthening, and endurance are key factors in becoming a good volleyball player- the Word of God is crucial in training to be a woman of God who is equipped for every good work. 

2 Timothy goes on to say in chapter 4 verse 2, "Preach the word: be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage-- with great patience, and careful instruction." I believe wholeheartedly that the Bible is God-breathed and is central to my growth, but just like I am only practicing volleyball in season right now, am I doing this too when it comes to the word?

How often am I studying the Bible only when I am really struggling, or when I am in a season of sadness or desperation?  God's word says that if I am to going to be thoroughly equipped, I need to be prepared in season and out of season.  Seeking the Bible only when I'm feeling weak or needing wisdom isn't going to do the trick.  I need to be seeking His wisdom always- to be seeking correction, training, and teaching in all seasons.

What a great conviction that I need to really get to work on being a more disciplined reader of the Word (and I've just exposed the truth that I should practice volleyball more too ;).  Guess it's time to get to work.

taken care of

It is so crazy to me how God loves us so much and knows us so well that He gives us just what we need when we need to be taken care of.   

Today marks a year for when my sweet grandpa left us as he was called home to be with the Lord.  Coming up to this day, I wasn't quite sure how I would feel.  Being at his bedside, watching him breathe his last was not an easy moment - and yet it was one that was so beautifully orchestrated, so God-breathed and glory-filled that it is one that will forever mark my heart.  [If you're new here and have yet to read that story, please check it out- it is a story that deserves to be heard.]  

Dealing with grief and figuring out what life looks like without a loved one here on earth with us, is not an easy task and one that takes much more than a year to come to terms with.  I've had my ups and downs throughout this year, my fair share of tears and many moments missing his presence.  But today, I am determined to choose joy and focus on not only his life on earth, but be absorbed by the peace that passes all understanding knowing that he is indeed in Paradise with our heavenly father.  

Waking up this morning, fearing a heavy heart- I drew back my shades to find the brightest sun shining in my window.  It immediately brought joy to my heart and gave me an assurance that this day is not for grieving but for rejoicing.  For it is as 1 Thessalonians 4:13 says, "do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who do not have hope."  But I have to backtrack a little bit and tell you why it was simply the sun shining in my window that made this instant connection to joy.  

My grandpa was quite the sun-bather.  Many of my memories involve gramps soaking up the sun on his face, whether it be in the dead of summer or perched in a chair at the top of the ski hill with his head leaned back and a beer in his hand.  Even into his 80's he would take his sun chair, walk down the 18 steps it takes to get to the pier (sometimes wearing a turtle neck and long pants and hiking boots haha) and allow himself one full hour of sun on his face before he required himself to go back up.  Often when we would come to visit his face would be burnt, we'd scold him, and he'd say- "I was only out for an hour yesterday."  He crraaaved the sun.  

So in the moment when Grandpa went to be with the Lord, and there appeared outside the window the most beautiful sunset with the brightest and most radiant sun I have ever seen, we knew this had to be from the Lord.  (No joke, it was spectacular).  The nurse who came to care for us even pointed out the window and said, "do you see this?"  This sunset was so fitting and so encouraging- it was like the Lord knew just what we needed to see, to yet again be reminded that He was in control and He had in fact come to call my grandpa home. 

For the next three days, I kid you not, it felt like the sun was brighter.  Being September in Wisconsin you never know what you're going to get, but those few days as we planned gramps' service and dealt with the initial waves of grief, it felt as if the Lord made the sun brighter- like He was saying, "it's okay- he's here with me!"  This brought such great peace and joy to my heart- that I don't think I'll look at a bright bright sun the same ever again.  

This is why I say, it's so crazy how God loves us so much and knows us so well, that he provides just what we need to be taken care of.  Waking up this morning, seeing the bright bright shining sun, is exactly what I needed to be reminded of the glorious moments of Grandpa's homecoming and the blessing of knowing that he is truly with the Lord.  I again felt like the Lord was saying to me, "it's okay Mindy, he's here with me!"  

It is because of these encouragements and this promise that God really does follow through when He says He will come back for us and bring us to the place He has prepared for us, that I can choose joy today even when my heart is sad.  

God is so good.  I am SO thankful for the way He cares for me.  And I cannot wait to someday meet Him in heaven, when my time comes to be called home.  

A month and a bit later....

Well, here I am over a month later finally saying hello, and that I've missed you here on lovemin.  I took an unexpected blogcation as life has seriously been NUTS.   From spending time up north with family and friends, to relatives coming to visit from California, to a Packer game, and many wedding festivities... this summer has left me very little time to slow down, let alone sit down long enough to write out a blog post!   It's crazy to think that this summer has basically come and gone in what feels like a blink-of-an-eye.  It has been oh so busy, and yet so much fun because it's been jam-packed with so many great things!! For what feels like the first time ever, I am looking forward to fall and the anticipation of a little bit of a slower schedule.  Although I'm ready to say goodbye to the constant busyness, I'm still clinging to the warm weather and hoping that the fun will carry through as well.  

With the arrival of a new season, there are many new and exciting things on the horizon.  I look forward to seeing what God has for me in this time, and to (hopefully more regularly) sharing all these things with you.  But for now as I settle into a new role as a virtual assistant and prepare for another busy weekend ahead, I'll leave you with just a few pictures to give you a taste of what I've been up to for the last month.  

xo

A different kind of Follower

What's the first thing that comes into your mind when you think about being a follower?  Do you think of that term positively or negatively?  If someone said they wanted to follow you, would you be honored or annoyed? Outside of the Christian mindset of being a follower of Jesus, in my mind, I've given "being a follower" a negative connotation.  Maybe I'm channeling too far back, thinking about being a follower in the middle school days which was more likely referred to as being a copy cat...but I can vividly remember being annoyed when so-and-so would do something exactly like I did it, or literally follow me around on the playground when she didn't really ask me if she could do that.  One of my friends even went so far as to get super mad at me because she thought I cut my hair to be just like her!  For whatever reason, that idea has left a bad taste in my mouth about being a follower.  Like I want to say, "Why don't you just do things your own way?  If you're a follower that must mean that you aren't cool enough to be unique and do things your own way."

But really, isn't being a follower more like saying- "hey I think you are cool! So much so, that I want to be like you!" When someone follows you on Instagram or Twitter, are you annoyed or going to call them a copy cat?  No, you'll probably think it's affirming- that they like what they see.  And same for this space.  If someone started following me on bloglovin, I wouldn't be annoyed, I would be thrilled!  It would be an encouragement that someone likes what I have to say, right?

What got me thinking about all of this, was a discussion I had with my new bible study group where we were talking about what it means to be a follower of Jesus.  A part of our study was reading an article called Following Christ, by a man named Joseph Stowell.  In his article he talks about his relationship with his wife as compared to that of being a follower.  He talks about how he loves his wife so much that he continually wants to get to know her, he wants to care for her as best as he can, he wants to be where she is, and he is so compelled by her that he has been with her for 32 years now (as of 1996 when the article was written).  He says, "It is the pleasure and power of that relationship that affects not only my conduct toward her, but also the way I live all of my life."That's one of the things that got me thinking, because doesn't that make following sound really awesome?

Instead of it being a negative connotation it's more like- I like you, I think you're really great.  And because of that, I want to get to know you so well, to understand how you live so that I too might live like you.  The way Stowell writes this, really put it into perspective for me.  He said, "the New Testament word for 'following'..."involves identifying so intimately with the one being followed that we incorporate our lives with his."  Based on this perspective of following, I most definitely want my relationship with my husband to reflect this idea; for our relationship to be so strong and so intimate that it affects how we live our lives.  And even more importantly, I want this to be so true of my relationship with Christ.

I think this is an area that I have been a little flat on lately.  I love Jesus and I know and value the fact that through Him I can have a relationship with God, but it's like I have put that relationship on the back burner.  He's still very much a part of my life and my thoughts, but I have not been intentional about pursuing the relationship, learning more about Him, and making it stronger.  And yet I still ask myself questions like, "why do I feel so far from Him, and why am I making stupid choices when I know that I want to live like He is living?"  Well, I mean, duh!  If I'm not as close to Him, how am I going to more easily walk in his ways?  (Same with my husband- how am I going to know how he needs to be cared for if we never talked to each other or something!)

Thinking about my relationship with Christ in this light, is the motivation I have needed to kick it back into gear.  Stowell encouraged this thinking by saying, "When I am far away form Him, replicating His character and conduct will seem like too tough a chore.  When, however, He is the central relationship in my life, radical reformation becomes the intriguing adventure of life."  I don't want to be so far away from Him that living like Him seems impossible.  I want to be up close and personal, getting to know Him more and more so that the essence of who He is just pours out of me.

Although this summer is crazy and sometimes it seems like there's not enough time in the day to be intentional about relationships, my hope and prayer is that this will be the encouragement I needed.  That the desire to be closer will truly motivate me and push me forward.

How Lavender Changed my Life

For as long as I can remember, I have had trouble sleeping.  I've always been a night owl, so that probably plays into it a bit - but there comes a time when your body can't handle the college student hours of staying up until 2 or 3 in the morning.  After college, trying to dial back my hours to be a bit more normal just did not work for me.

Wayyy too many times I would go to bed around 11 or so, and lay there forever.  2:00 would roll around, then 3:00, sometimes 4:00 and by then I'm so frustrated with the fact that I am not sleeping that it's almost impossible to sleep because I'm all worked up.  Any time I had a big event for work, I could almost guarantee that this would happen.  Before going on a retreat, when I would really like the most sleep to help prepare for a work trip, I would not sleep the night before.  Then I would just pray that the fact that I'm so tired would make me be able to sleep the next night.  

There was one period, a couple years ago that it got so bad, I really thought I was going to lose my mind.  Two weeks, two really long weeks- I got maybe 1 or 2 hours of sleep a night.  It was terrible.  I would get so frustrated, move to the couch, try to watch TV, read, do anything to make myself get tired.  And then the cycle just continued, until I got so frustrated, was basically in tears and made an appointment with my doctor.  Long story short, I got little to no help, was sent home with a low-dose anti-anxiety medicine to try to help me get back on a cycle and then I was left on my own.  Thank God I got through those weeks of not sleeping, but my battle with sleep was definitely not over.  

That is until I met Lavender.  

Having tried essential oils here and there when my mom would pass something my way, I was a little skeptical.  But all of that changed when Lavender essential oil changed my sleep life.  My mom had at one point passed a bottle of Young Living's Lavender Essential oil, and for awhile it just sat in my cupboard.  But one night, when I was laying there in my lack of sleep I decided to look up a few remedies with essential oil.  I googled "lavender essential oil for sleep" or something of the like.  And praise God, I found the information that made an amazing difference in my life.  2 or 3 drops of lavender dropped into my left palm rubbed clockwise with my right hand and then rubbed on my spine, is all it took to promote restful sleep, turning me into a good sleeper.  

When I say Lavender changed my life, I know that it sounds like one of those over-exaggerated statements to which you'd want to respond with an eye roll and "yeah okay".  But I mean it.  Sure, I still have a few nights here and there where I have a hard time falling asleep, but it has never been the same.  Before Lavender, I was skeptical about the power of essential oils but now I am believer, and I'm hooked.  (And Lavender is for much more than just sleep!! It's great for helping maintain a healthy life in regards to anxiety, cuts, and burns- including sunburn!)  It was like my gateway drug because now I'm all about trying different oils to better my physical and emotional health.  

If there's something that you're struggling with in your life, like I was with sleep, I highly encourage you to check out the amazing resource in essential oils.  If there's any way that I can encourage you or help you learn more about what they could do for you, please don't hesitate to contact me.  I am very much still learning but love being able to share what I know, in hopes that I might be able to help others get connected to this amazing blessing that the Lord has given us.

xo

July is here!

Good grief... can anyone tell me where June went?!  I sincerely apologize for my absence on lovemin - life has been crazy!!!  Things should definitely think about slowing down this summer.  Despite the craziness, June has been an awesome month.

Here's where I came out on my goals:

• read "Where'd you go, Bernadette?" - having a hard time getting into this one, we'll see
• host a Young Living class!!! - TUESDAY this is happening :)
• get some quality water skiing action in up north, as much as possible - CHECK
• change up my hairstyle- CHECK! I'm a blonde again!
• go on a date with my man - this NEEDS to happen. We have been basically passing in the night
• soak up my favorite TV show - So You Think You Can Dance - DONE -love love love this show
• make the front yard pretty- aka pull out most of the greens (there's too many) - I'm crossing out half because I definitely made progress, but I'm still working on this.

Not everything I wanted to do got done, but one amazing thing happened... we took my mom on a surprise trip for her 60th birthday and it was so great.  I'll tell you more of the story later (and share some pics of the beauty in Maine- check out a few on my Instagram) but it went off without a hitch.  Every day she kept saying, "this is so surreal" and "another beautiful day in paradise." So I am thinking that it was a success.

As for July.... I feel like I am just trying to keep my head on straight.  As much as I love summer, it is just so busy.  Every single weekend from now until September is booked.  They are all great things, but yikes- it's nice to have a little freedom in the schedule here and there.  Oh well, I am going to do my best to soak up all the goodness and take free moments to create spontaneous fun.  Here's what's on the docket for my goals.

• go on a date with Chris- for real this time
• soak up warm summer days – go to the beach or sit out on a patio
• find peace amidst the crazy – take a day for me to breathe
• read a novel
• get dressed up and go out- dinner, dancing, wine, or something
• think more about blog stuff – what do I want to make of this space?

That's all I've got for now!  Looking forward to re-energizing and gearing up for another crazy but awesome month.  Praying that yours may be equally amazing.

Want to share your goals? 
Join me as I link up with Hayley over at The Tiny Twig.

Let us Rejoice

Ending the night last night in the bathtub, praise God, I realized that I have been really terrible at taking moments to breathe, to appreciate the silence, and allow God time.  So, this afternoon I am pushing off the things that need doing and spending some time in the word.  I am still working on my study at Shereadstruth about Nehemiah (which I have fallen way behind in... they are already 5 or 6 days in on the next study, oops)  And today I found in it, some words that I so often need to be reminded of.

At this point in Nehemiah, the people finished building the wall and were getting settled inside the city.  From morning to midday they stood at the gate as Ezra read the Book of the Law.  And as the people listened, they wept.  This is not the response Nehemiah and the teachers wanted the people to have, so he said to them, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared.  This day is sacred to our Lord.  Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Neh. 8:10)  The people were so focused on how they messed up, how they disobeyed the Lord that they could not see the whole picture- they couldn't see the joyous truth found in His forgiveness and grace.  Nehemiah wanted to help the people see that their response to the Word was not to be an inward focus with weeping over the ways they screwed up, but to be one of praise, of worship for how good  the Lord is.  He wanted them to rejoice for the goodness and forgiveness that is found in Him.  

This is a lesson that I need to be schooled on over and over again.  When I do something that I know is wrong, or stupid, or mean, or disobedient to how the Lord wants me to be, I have a terrible time getting over it.  For way too long, I am like the people who hear the Word and just weep.  Instead of seeking forgiveness, finding freedom in His grace, and letting it go as a lesson learned, I apparently prefer to hunker down in the sadness and shame of my sin and just sit there.  I relive the moment by rehashing it over and over in my mind thinking about what I did, what I could have done differently, and basically shaming myself over and over again.   I don't know why I have such a hard time with this, or why I am so hard on myself but it is definitely a big struggle for me to let go of mistakes I've made.  I am so thankful that the truth of the Lord is not about shame and discipline, but instead it is about forgiveness, grace, and transformation.  What I need to work on is grasping that- and letting the truth permeate my being, and lead me to joy.

I like how Matthew Henry encourages this in his commentary where he says, "“Even sorrow for sin must not hinder our joy in God, but rather lead us to it… when they understood, they rejoiced.” (emphasis added) What a great way of looking at it. It's important to have some sorrow over our sin, in fact I think it's necessary, because it shows we realize we've done wrong... but if it starts to hinder our joy in God, then it's gone too far.  I don't want to dwell in the sadness of my sins anymore- I want to repent and be led to joy in Him!

Amanda Williams, author over at Shereadstruth says it well as she challenges us by saying, "Sisters, let us seek to understand the fullness of the Gospel today. Let us remember our great God, recognize our sin and take hold of His complete forgiveness. And let us rejoice."

Boom.  Amen to that.   

Bonjour June

I don't think I have ever been so excited to see June!  Probably because with this June has come WARM WEATHER!  Woohooo!!!! It has been so good to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and see a little color on my skin, and to just enjoy being outside without freezing my toes off. I am sooo thankful!!!

With the arrival of June, it's time to see how I did on my May to-do list:

• celebrate my birthday!! Watch out 28, I'm coming for ya!- CHECK
  My birthday was lovely.  I didn't do anything crazy, as I didn't feel like hosting a hoopla.  But quality time with the fam and some friends was perfecto.  There was in fact a Piñata though, so that was pretty amazing.
• host a lovely Mother's Day brunch at our house (in-laws and all) - CHECK
  Mother's day brunch was a success!! It was fun having both families over for the first time together at our new house and being able to celebrate our moms and enjoy some tasty brunch, mimosas, and some quality hang time in the yard.
• Put my DSLR to good use more often - maybe plan a fun lil shoot?
  This is on my list for summer for sure.
• start a new personal Bible study *** CHECK
  I started a new Bible study!!! It's pretty great.  It's over on www.shereadstruth.com and it's so user friendly and quick and easy to use, and the writers are pretty great and encouraging.  I'm a little behind and catching up on the study of Nehemiah, but I'm loving it.  Definitely check it out.
• finish the last book of the Divergent series - CHECK
  Yup. It is finished.  I am not sure how I feel about it.  Anyone else finish?  So curious what other people think.  It was a great series though.

Boom.  Done and done... almost.  Just need to give my camera a lil more lovin'.

And now for June - -
I have high hopes for June and this upcoming summer.  It is definitely going to be a busy month (hello weddings, bridal showers, travels up north, etc), but it is going to be a great one, I can feel it.  Here's what I'm hoping to accomplish:

• read "Where'd you go, Bernadette?"
• host a Young Living class!!! *** 
  [I've been using YL oils for 4+ years and they have made a significant impact in my life.  I am excited to finally be sharing my passion for essential oils and encouraging others to see how God can use them in their lives! In fact, I don't know why I have yet to share about them on here?? Stay tuned for that. ;)]
• get some quality water skiing action in up north, as much as possible
• change up my hairstyle
  I've been rocking the ombre for awhile now, and thinking it might be time for a change.  FYI changing up my hairstyle is one of my most favorite things (and most analyzed- right Audra?)
• go on a date with my man
• soak up my favorite TV show - So You Think You Can Dance
• make the front yard pretty- aka pull out most of the greens (there's too many) 

I feel like I could keep this list coming, just cause I have all sorts of things I'd like to do in June.  But I better save some for the rest of the summer ;)  Hope your summer is off to an amazing start.

xoxo

Want to share your goals? 
Join me as I link up with Hayley over at
The Tiny Twig

Waiting time is never wasted

"Beloved, our great and pressing need today is to give ourselves to waiting upon God, because waiting time is never wasted time."  - Ian Hamilton

I came across this quote in the new Bible study I started through Shereadstruth.com (check it out, pretty cool daily bible study). The current study is on Nehemiah; specifically in regards to this quote, Nehemiah 1:11-2:8.  In this part of the book, Nehemiah has just discovered that his hometown Jerusalem has been destroyed- the wall has been broken down and the city gates have been burned by fire.  He is very far away from home which makes it difficult to do anything and yet he feels it so heavy on his heart that it brings him to tears and to his knees.  The reason that this quote is brought into the study is because Nehemiah prayed, waiting on the Lord for the right opportunity to ask the king, whom he worked for as cupbearer for the opportunity to go and rebuild the wall in Jerusalem.

When I think about waiting, I think that's pretty much how I view it- as wasted time I could've spent doing something else.  I mean really, seeing the act of waiting as a positive and even important time is so far from our culture's understanding of that term, is it not?  Sitting in the waiting room at the doctor's office, and just waaaiiting to be called in?  Ick- no thanks (that could partly be my bent against going to the doctor, but still).  Waiting to hear back about an interview.  Waiting for a page to load on the computer.  Waiting for results after a big test.  Waiting to be served at a restaurant, or for a table to open up.  Waiting for a friend who is running late.  Most often, waiting is the pits!  So it has a pretty negative connotation, don't you think?

Being in this place as a housewife, I feel like waiting is kind of the story of my life.  If you ask me why I haven't pursued employment or taken a step towards figuring out what's next, its because I honestly feel like I am waiting on the Lord to lead me to what's next.  And who knows, maybe being housewife right now is exactly what the Lord wants me to wait for- I don't know.  But reading the quote, "waiting time is never wasted time" got my brain thinking- why is it that waiting is always viewed negatively, and why is it that whenever you have to wait, so often it really does feel like wasted time?  It's like we are so focused on getting to the next thing, the next point on our agenda, the next goal, that we completely miss the waiting time in between that is most likely just as beautiful if not more than the next step in front of us.

It's such a twisted view from what I think God intends it to be, and one that I'd really like to work on in my own life.  I don't to view any of my time as wasted!  I don't want to look back on this period of time in my life and say, geez Mindy, if only you appreciated the waiting time for the blessing and growing time that it was, instead of being so concerned about what's happening next.

I would like to be intentional about changing my attitude about waiting.  I'm going to try to be less concerned about the time spent waiting, or getting to the next thing on my agenda, and try to find the beauty in each moment (even in the doctor's office waiting room- ick).  To view waiting time as a blessing, as a brief break from the craziness that is so often our lives.  To really seek God and praise Him for this time in my life.  And to allow Him to lead me in HIS timing not mine because I know that He is worth waiting upon.

Thinking about this topic, a Bethany Dillon song came to my mind- in fact it's called To Those Who Wait and the chorus says, "Lord, today You know what I need to do.  But You can do more in my waiting than in my doing I could do.  So I won't run anymore, I'm waiting on you." 

I love this encouragement.  He really can do way more in my waiting than I could do in my doing.  I don't ever want to get one step ahead of the Lord and what He has planned for me, I want to make sure He is right beside me leading me in the way I should go... and sometimes, most times, that requires waiting.  Waiting time is never wasted IF we use it as an opportunity to trust the Lord to lead us in His perfect timing.

Instead of being negative, let's go soak up times of waiting!  Let's pause, pray, view them as a blessing, and enjoy each moment for what it's worth.

Friendships in your 20's

Growing up, I’ve realized that friendships in your 20’s are hard. Everything seems to change in your relationships because people are moving across the country, getting married, figuring out who they are and who they want to be, having babies, getting established in a career, and all the other joys of getting older. All of these things are great, don’t get me wrong, but all of this contributes to a new place in life where friendships seem to be a lot more difficult to maintain.

I miss the easiness of friendship in college and high school, when it was all about fun and games, when you saw each other every day, and building friendships and spending time together was really a huge focus in our lives. I understand that things change, and that friendships won’t always look the same, but I have to be honest- this has been a really, really difficult realization for me to grasp lately.

I highly value my relationships and have always been a huge fan of having heart to hearts, intentional hang time, being vulnerable, and really just living life with one another through the nitty gritty as well as the fun. Not having as much of this in my life lately, I’m really craving depth and intentionality in my relationships, and missing the times that it came so naturally.

God created us to live in community, to need each other, to support each other, to encourage one another and build each other up. I’m so thankful for that reminder because it encourages me that my desires for deep friendships are not me being crazy or selfish or something, it’s just how God created me to be.

Struggling with this void, I’ve learned that you can’t force things, and you can’t make relationships fill a hole that the other person might not even know is there. I’ve shed a few tears here and there, but I don’t want to wallow in this sadness. I want to try to adjust and figure out what the Lord might be teaching me in this time. I’ve been blessed with some amazing friendships, I am so thankful! I just now need to focus less on what is missing and more on making the most of every relationship I have in front of me.

Romans 14:19 has been an encouragement to me in this time as it says, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification.” This section of Romans talks about how we are to treat our brothers and sisters in Christ, how we are to accept one another, just as Christ accepts us.  I know it might sound slightly unrelated, but it has really helped me change my focus.  Instead of trying to fix what's missing or force my relationships to be what I need all the time, I'm trying to make every effort to bring peace into them.  The way I see it is, I have two choices-  to be frustrated and sad, or make every effort to make the most of them. That’s what I’d like to be my goal as I navigate this new territory, to seek the Lord and make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification in my relationships.

Praying that you, too, might be encouraged with any struggle you're dealing with.  You are not alone.  Sending love your way!  xoxo

28 and counting...

27 was quite the year...

• We bought a house!!! 
• We found fleas at our final closing and lived with my sister for a couple weeks.
• My grandpa blessed me with a DSLR for my 27th birthday.
• I took a photography class.
• The Lord blessed us with the honor of ushering my sweet grandpa into heaven- and we have been missing him every day.  
• We celebrated 30 years for my sister!
• I went to the Influence Conference; a conference all about making my online life mean something and making much of Christ.  It was a huge blessing where the Lord spoke to my heart, I found encouragement as a writer, and got connected with so many amazing ladies.  
• I finally shared my heart behind lovemin and gave my blog a home at loveminblog.com
• We went to Puerto Rico with our good friends Julie and Shaun.
• Finn, our sweet kitty, joined the family!  

These are just a few of the memorable moments that took place during my 27th year.  Learning how to navigate a season of grief, adjusting to a new home and a role as housewife, fun times with friends, lots of laughter with family, feeling content mixed with desires to know more, to be more, and holding dear to the loved ones the Lord has blessed me with, are just a few of the other highs and lows that make this year it's own.  

I have SO much to be thankful for.  God is sooo good, and I am incredibly blessed by the way that He continually extends me grace and loves me even when I don't deserve it.  As I think about turning 28, and preparing for another year in my life, Proverbs 16:9 comes to mind.  It says, "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."  My prayer is that this verse would be echoed in the way that I navigate my life this next year- that He would lead me in the way I should go, and that each step would glorify Him.  

Cheers to 28!  Can't wait to see what this next year holds. 

hello May

Why hello, May!  I'm excited for this month.  May is one of my favorite months, maybe partly because it is my birthday month, but also it just seems like a month of new beginnings.  May is when school finishes up for the summer, when the weather finally starts to make a change in WI, when the sun is shining more, when the trees bud, when the first trip up north takes place.  It's just a good month.  So I'm happy to share the goals/to-dos I have come up with for the month.

But first, a quick re-cap on how I did on my April goals:

• fight off feelings of insecurity & take advantage of a freer schedule - CHECK
  I worked really hard on this one and definitely felt the benefits of embracing my housewife status and making good use of my time.  This shall stay on my to do list until the next chapter of my life.  
• be content with the weather.................
  Having a new fireplace this spring has made the cooler nights more enjoyable.  I'm still very ready for warmer weather though....
• write two letters of appreciation - CHECK
  I loved doing this.  I sent one to my friend Tara and to my lovely parents.  Thank you notes are so underrated.  

Check out the cute thank you notes I sent!  I love these cards by Eva Marie Typography  Her designs are great.

• pray over anxious feelings as soon as they pop into my head
  I need to keep working on this one.  I did a better job than previous months, but I need to get into a better habit of lifting everything up in prayer.

Remember how I had "find an area rug" on my to do list forever?!? Well I finally found one!!!! It's from West Elm and I LOVE it.  I can't wait to share more photos of our house as it's starting to feel more and more put together.  Here's a sneak peek of the new beauty.

Overall, I really enjoyed my to do list this month because I wanted it to induce an attitude adjustment, and I think it did!  It takes intentionality to be positive- just need to work on continuing that.

Here's what's on the docket for May:

• celebrate my birthday!! Watch out 28, I'm coming for ya!
• host a lovely Mother's Day brunch at our house (in-laws and all)
• put my DSLR to good use more often - maybe plan a fun lil shoot? 
• start a new personal Bible study ***  
• finish the last book of the Divergent series

That's what I've got going so far!  Can't wait to see what May has for me.  

Have some goals/to dos you'd like to share?  
Join me as I link up with Hayley over at The Tiny Twig.

Making every day Worship

“…every day is a worship experience when your body is yielded to the Lord.”

This quote from Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on Romans called Be Right, really hit home for me. Finding myself in a place where my current job title is “housewife”. I often struggle with an insecurity and fear that I’m not doing enough. When I worked as a ministry assistant for a college ministry, this question never came up because furthering God’s kingdom wasn’t just my heartbeat, it was my career. Feeling a bit isolated in this place, sometimes I wonder “how am I making His name known? How am I making a difference in His kingdom when my sphere is much smaller and my opportunity for ministry isn’t as direct?” Fighting this insecurity and seeking truth in this period of my life, I was so encouraged when I came across this quote.

...........................

Want to read more? Head on over to Circle of Friends to read the full post. 

a 27 year old housewife

As I sit here sipping my coffee, and looking around my now "spic and span" home (seriously, I'm pretty proud of this level of clean- excuse me for tooting my own horn) I am so thankful for a break from the cleaning craze.  I worked my tail off the past few days, trying to get the home ready for a little get-together at my house earlier this week and prepare for in-laws coming in May.  So being able to take a little rest today and look around me and be content with how the house looks, is just so nice.  

Being newer homeowners with several projects in swing, I didn't realize how long it can really take to clean up the mess and chaos and get the house in order.  It seems like all I've been doing the past couple weeks is cleaning and organizing.  And cleaning more.  And organizing.  And re-cleaning.  And organizing.  After my grandma passed away, my grandpa developed a strong respect for housewives and was often heard saying, "Once I finally get all the housework done for the day, the day is over and it's time for bed!" If only he were around, I'd love to call him up and say, "Gramps, You were right!" 

I must admit though, that the amount of housework involved and an increased respect for housewives, doesn't even touch the tip of the iceberg of all the thoughts that have been swirling around in my head about being a 27 year old housewife.  I touched on this subject very briefly in my April goals post, as I shared that sometimes I feel like a misfit in this world because I don't have a "real" job.  And honestly, it's a subject that's been on my mind for quite awhile now.  Being in this place, I think I feel like a misfit partly because it seems like I'm the only 27 year old housewife without children (thank you Linda for encouraging me I'm not alone), but mostly because I feel highly misunderstood. With a capital M.  

Had you asked me 3 years ago if this was my plan, I would have laughed in your face.  I worked with a college ministry and pictured myself in that type of role until death do us part.  But now, here I am, and I'm learning how to embrace and be content with where the Lord has me... and yet, I have a horrible time because so often I am faced with questions like "so... what do you do all day?  Don't you get bored?" accompanied by a "hmm.." or the occasional "that must be nice."  Hearing all those questions is really starting to make my blood boil.  Not because they are insincere or something but because along with the question comes this cynicism/judgement that what I am doing doesn't compare to the norm.  

It's hard to write this post without getting a little fired up.  I know that not all people who ask me about what I'm doing are judging me.  And I also understand that a lot of it is probably just my own insecurity and lack of confidence in where I am at right now, because it isn't where I expected to be...  

So, here's where I'd like to go from here.  To tell you that being a housewife does not mean that I can be found sitting on my couch in my robe from sun up to sun down watching movies, painting my nails, watching TV, and taking naps.  And no, I don't get bored because I'm not just sitting here waiting for the day to pass by.  Sure, there are slower days here and there but for the most part, I am just as busy as you are in your job; it just looks different.  Instead of clocking in at an office or establishment, I am volunteering in a classroom twice a week, I'm dropping off and picking up my husband's dry cleaning, I'm grocery shopping, I'm heading to the gym, I'm cleaning and organizing our new home, I'm working on my writing, I'm doing projects here and there for my dad's work, and I'm looking forward to leading a bible study this summer.  I assure you, I am not just sitting around all the time.  

Saying all that, sounding a bit defensive (forgive me) I guess all that I am hoping for is to be more understood, and to be respected and encouraged for where I'm at.  I am learning to be at peace with this, (I think sharing these thoughts with you plays a big role) and to embrace this time as the blessing that it really is.  [A huge shout out to my husband for supporting me.]  I know that I won't be here forever, and I look forward to wherever the Lord is calling me next.  But for now, I'm learning to be content and confident that my role as a 27 year old housewife is just as valuable as being in any other place.  

Romans 8:28 that says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  This time in my life has a purpose in God's plan for me, and I am bound and determined to soak it up for all that it's worth.  

March madness brings April..... gladness???

When I made this list at the beginning of March,  I knew the month was going to jam-packed, but I really thought that I could make it happen.  Here's what I was working towards-

• go look at (and hopefully) buy the area rug from West Elm - 
  April is the month I can feel it....
• celebrate my sister's big 30 with all sorts of fun all month - success!!
• eat breakfast every day - 
  I'm half crossing this off because I've gotten better, but definitely still need to work on making this happen every day
• read 2 books - YES! I read Bitterblue and Divergent. I loved Divergent (way better than the movie in my opinion)
• try a Yoga class
• work on project for dad's work

All in all, 3 out of 6 isn't terrible, but not my best work.  As far as April goes, I don't think making a to-do list full of tasks/must do's, is the motivation that I am looking for this month [and yes I realize we are already halfway through the month-yikes].

Lately, I have felt like I've been in a bit of a slump.  Some days I'll be totally fine, and dominate the day and its craziness... and then the next, I'm dragggggging myself through the day, fighting off insecurities and anxieties.  It's difficult and tiring to keep up with that swing of emotions!  So, what I'd really like to do this month, instead of task oriented goals, is make somewhat of an attitude adjustment and be more intentional about being a happier, more joyful version of myself.

• fight off feelings of insecurity & take advantage of a freer schedule -
  As a 27 year old housewife, sometimes I feel like a misfit in this world due to society's lame way of judging each other based on what we "do" as a career.  I want to fight against this insecurity and be content with where the Lord has me right now.  And I want to make the best of it by taking the opportunity to help others out/spend some quality time [ways to do this: take mom out to lunch over her spring break from her bible study responsibilities, continue volunteering in Steph's classroom twice a week, be intentional about spending time with my dear friend Tara before she moves]
• be content with the weather.................
  ugh.  Even writing that, I struggle not to roll my eyes.  I really really really need Spring to come and STAY.  I can feel my body's lack of Vitamin D, I really need the sun.  But I also really need to be content with what the Lord has provided- even in the cold in April.  I need to adjust this attitude.
• write two letters of appreciation
  A big part of being joyful is being thankful, is it not?  This month I want to think less about myself and the concerns, worries, and whatever, and think more about those around me- letting them know that they are loved and appreciated.
• pray over anxious feelings as soon as they pop into my head
  For some reason, my prayer life has been seriously lacking lately.  I know that this plays a significant role in seeking joy and peace.

I honestly am really looking forward to working on these things during the last few weeks of April!  My prayer is that it has a significant impact on the level of joy and peace in my life.  Hope your month is off to a great start.

xoxo

The heart behind lovemin

When I started this blog 2 years ago, (wow can’t believe it’s been so long!!) I wasn’t too concerned about a name.  Not knowing much about blogging, what I wanted the space to be, and figuring that me, myself, and I would be the only ones reading it… I decided to name it exactly what it was, “New to me.”   I knew that was pretty boring, and since I was a French minor and well, everything sounds better in French (right?) I called my space Nouvelle a Moi. Plain and simple.  And then there was my description…

“In some ways I compare my new stage in life to arriving on Pandora in the movie Avatar (I’m not as dorky as this makes me sound, I swear). It is a beautiful place, full of beautiful amazing things- and yet there are aspects of it that are frightening, and almost everything about it is new. This blog is a way to help me figure out what this new place looks like- I have no idea what to expect, but plan to enjoy as much as I can.”

Go ahead and giggle at me. Reading that, I’m laughing right along with you. As you might be able to tell, I had a slight obsession with Avatar. Seriously, I loved that movie. And for whatever reason, apparently I felt really connected with it at the time, hah.

Besides giving myself a little laugh, looking back shows me how far my space has come, and how much I have grown since it’s beginning. Realizing that my blog was much more than just a random outlet - I decided it was time for a new name. I wanted it to be more than just what I was feeling at that time in life (Avatar, hello) and instead, be more of an extension of who I am. I wanted it to be true to me, who I want to be, and what I hope my blog will be.

Looking for a name that did a good job of that, one that I wanted to be near and dear to my heart, took F.O.R.E.V.E.R. I’m terrible at naming things and wanted it to be just right. So, after much thought and many random ideas, lovemin found its way into my heart.

I shared the unveiling with you back when I first named the space, but now that I’ve officially switched over with a new logo and made www.loveminblog.com my home- it feels like time to share the heart behind the name.

Here’s what lovemin is to me: 

• a play on the idea of "love, Mindy"
  All my blog posts are written from my heart, with love. I want people to feel loved when they stop by my page
• a play on my nickname of Min
  my name is Mindy, but those close to me often refer to me as Min… meaning I'll get personal and be real with you on my blog.  
• a play on sounding out the name as "love ‘em in" – as in, ‘love them in’ to the Kingdom.

This last one is the one that sold me on the name, because it gets to the real heart of the reason that I write. Let me explain. I believe that God loves us so much that He sent his Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross and save us from sin through His resurrection. And I believe that we have a loving God who He wants us to be a part of sharing His story and proclaiming His love with the world so that one day everyone might come to know Him. That’s a huge part of my heart, and ultimately the reason that I write- that’s the reason I live the way I do- And that’s my goal, to love others into His kingdom.

That is why lovemin is so near and dear to my heart; it is a reminder that just as my life is not all about me, I don’t want this space to be either. It’s about loving others in to His Kingdom. Having that name smack dab at the top of my blog, in my url, on my business cards and what-have-you, is a good reminder of all that I want this space to be- and of the creator who shows me His love each and every day, even when I don’t deserve it.

Sharing the heart behind lovemin , I hope that you have a greater understanding of who I am, and what you’re going to get when you visit this space. It is most definitely not going to be perfect, or clean-cut, or all about butterflies and roses, because life is messy and it is hard. But what you will find is this- words from a girl who writes from her heart, who will get personal and be real with you, and who wants you to leave knowing that you’re loved.

xoxo

Milwaukee Photo Scavenger Hunt

Just as I predicted in my March to-do list, this month has most definitely been crazy!!!! But this month, is particularly special in it's craziness because most of it is due to the celebration of my lovely sister (shown above) who turned 30 last weekend!  In honor of this milestone birthday, she decided to not be overwhelmed by the number but instead turn it into an awesome month in which she would accomplish a bucket list of 30 random items.  I have had the pleasure of accompanying her in checking off some of these items like, going to the Milwaukee Roller derby, having dinner with our relatives, and the latest and greatest adventure- a photo scavenger hunt!  My sister, Steph, has been wanting to do a photo scavenger hunt for YEARS, and so we decided this was the year to do it.  Excited to celebrate my sister in such a fun way, I went to work on planning the event.  

From finding the perfect spot to host the event- at our friend Robert Klemm's restaurant Industri Café, to invites, RSVPs, choosing appetizers to serve, and most importantly, creating the list for the hunt, everything went off without a hitch.  

With a quick meeting at Industri at 2:00, lists and rules were distributed and the teams were off and running.  For the next hour and half, 4 teams of 4 were scattered throughout the city gathering as many photos and videos from the list that they could manage before 4:00.  Walking like ducklings in a row, acting out an earthquake scene, taking a mustache selfie, and even making an attempt at a mechanical bull are just a few of the activities you may have seen had you spotted us out in Milwaukee that day.  Here's just a taste of the craziness and fun that went down last Saturday. 

Taking a nap on a bench or chairs & "I can't believe we all fit in here!"

Team selfie wearing mustaches & another "I can't believe we all fit in here!"

All four teams completing the  "jumping on a bridge" photo with at least 3 people in mid-air

In case you can't already tell from these images, let me tell you it was a BLAST.  Finishing as many items as possible and racing back to Industri by 4:00, we gathered for drinks, appetizers and a viewing of the results.  Many laughs were shared as we viewed each team's pictures and videos, and tallied the scores. It was so much fun to see what everyone came up with, and most importantly to see my sister thoroughly enjoying the celebration.  (Not to mention, it was in fact my team that pulled out the win!! woohoo!) 

If you've never done a photo scavenger hunt… I highly recommend it.  It was a great way to get out into our city, be a little crazy, and celebrate with friends.  

Want to plan one?  Here's a few recommendations:

• Set a time limit.  This keeps it from getting too long, anyone from getting bored, and brings the group back together.
• Make a list with both photos and videos.  The videos were pretty fun to watch.
• Mix in some location specific assignments.  It was fun to have a chance to be explore Milwaukee, and also run into the other teams at different points through the hunt.  (Note: We used cars for our hunt.  That way we had more flexibility to be all over the city.)
• View the photos/videos as a group!!!! What's the point of capturing the images if no one else will see them?? This was a highlight.

Need some more ideas?  Here's the list that I came up with.  It's a mix of ideas from my own head, as well as others that I found online.  If you happen to love it, feel free to use it!  Then tell me how it went, I'd love to hear about it.  

I am so glad that my sister put this item on her birthday bucket list - it was a highlight of my month, and an activity I look forward to planning again in the future. 

Thanks for tagging along- now go plan your own hunt!! 

xoxo

March madness

I seriously feel like I can't keep up with life lately.  I swear that just yesterday I was posting my February To-do list, and yet here we are in the first week of March.  Yikes.  Yesterday I was feeling so overwhelmed by all the things I needed, wanted to accomplish by the end of the day that instead of doing them I decided it would be a perfectly good day to crawl back into bed in the afternoon, catch up on a few episodes on Netflix, and just rest.  That's exactly what I wish time would do- realize that it's been racing around like a crazy person and take a breather and just slow down!! Wouldn't that be amazing?

As a result of life seeming to race by lately, I have to admit that I did a terrible job on my to-do list from February.  Here's how it panned out.

• find an area rug for the living room
  I'd like to partially cross off the first item because I did in fact find an area rug that I love… just haven't been able to purchase it yet.  I found it here  online at West Elm.  I absolutely love it, (not so much the price tag) but I need to make a trip to the Chicago area to look at it in person.
• rid Finn of his itchy mites (I hope I hope)- CHECK
  Yay!  We had the last Lime Sulfur dip for Finn at the Humane Society last week!  Praying that the last bath did the trick and that the mites are gone for good. 
• do something FUN!!!!!
  My husband and I had the pleasure of attending an Oscar Gala!!! We went to it last year (I wrote about it here) and it was soo great.  Getting dressed up, walking down a red carpet, getting a few photos snapped, and watching the Oscars while enjoying a delicious meal? Umm yes please! This is technically not in February but since it happened before I wrote the March goals list, I am counting it. hah. 
• celebrate my hubby - plan a date
  Life is so busy- I feel like my husband and I never see each other.  This is a must-do in the near future.
• read The Fault in Our Stars- CHECK
  Suuuuper good book.  Also super sad.  Definitely recommend it.  I also read Wool by Hugh Howey - I could take or leave that one.  
• work out weekly (at least once a week in addition to volleyball)
• get into a daily rhythm of reading the Bible

The last two on the list are ones that I am still working on but didn't quite get where I wanted to this month.  I am discovering more and more the importance for me to work out regularly, not just because it's a good thing to do but because I really need to have toned muscles that can support my efforts to having good posture.  And as far as reading the bible everyday, I tried really hard at the beginning of the month and it was going well!  And then I fell off the track or something and it just went downhill.  This will forever be on my to-do list.

I'm calling my March To-do list post March Madness because that's what I feel like this month is going to be like.  My days are planned out basically all the way through the end of the month.  I'm pretty sure I will be coming back to write the April post and be saying something very similar to how I started out today's.  Oh well, such is life.  I shall strap in and hang on for the ride.  Here's what I'm shooting for this month.

• go look at (and hopefully) buy the area rug from West Elm
• celebrate my sister's big 30 with all sorts of fun all month - 
  I have to pause and tell you about this one.  My sister is turning 30 this month and she has decided to do something awesome to celebrate her special year.  She is doing a "birthday bucket list" made up of 30 items that she will complete during her birthday month!  The items range from trying a new class at the gym to, going to a roller derby, to having a photo scavenger hunt- lots of random fun to be had.  I think it's such a brilliant idea and I'm blessed to be able to tag along for a lot of it :)
• eat breakfast every day 
• read 2 books
• try a Yoga class
• work on project for dad's work 

Thanks for tagging along for the ride with me again this month!  Have some goals you want to accomplish?  Join me and link up with The Tiny Twig.  Cheers to making March awesome.

xoxo

Sun in the Deep Freeze

I am a Wisconsin girl, born and raised.  I am used to the long winters.  I love snow and all its beauty.  But this winter has been BRUTAL.  We haven't seen the grass since the end of November.  There are gigantic ice chunks that have made their home on our roof (uh oh).  And this is the first time in years, that teachers have had 4 days off due to cold!!  Yikes.  I'm looking forward to the days where I can plan my outfits based on something other than, "Is this sweater thick enough to keep me warm?" or "Should I wear one pair of socks or two?"  Needless to say, I am so ready for this winter to be over.

Although this winter has been rough, there's one thing that has made it much more tolerable.  Usually, I remember winter being cold, snowy, and dreary.  You go to work in the dark, drive home in the dark, and if you're lucky maybe you'll catch a slight glimpse of sunlight through the window at lunchtime.  I mean shoot, that's why so many people struggle in the winter and deal with winter depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder).  It's terrible!  But this winter, although we've had more than our share of snow and freezing temperatures, it has been soo sunny!!!

When I started noticing that the sun was making more appearances, I noticed something interesting.  Every day that the temperatures dipped into the negative digits, the freezing cold was accompanied by the clearest of skies and the brightest sun.  We had a few days in the -20s, and from what I remember, each day the sun was bright and shining!  And the pattern has continued.  Today marks another day in this freezing winter with temperatures in the teens, and the sun is shining so beautifully through my window.  This has been so encouraging.  It warms my heart, my feet (!!), and not to mention my kitty is pretty happy, curled up, napping in the sunshine.  I can't help but praise the Lord for this because it feels like this is God's way of protecting and providing for us in the deep freeze.  Can you imagine how much colder these days would feel if the sun was not out?  It makes such a difference!

As I get ready to bundle up and venture out into the cold, I am choosing to put aside my frustrations with this winter and the eight pairs of socks I am going to want to put on, and instead be oh so thankful for the way that God provides.  I am so thankful for the sun today and the reminder it gives me to praise the Lord for the small ways that He cares for us, like sun in the deep freeze.

put the phone down….

Today I was listening to the local Christian radio and an ad came on that made me kind-of angry.  The K-love announcer was talking about smart phones; about how we are always pulling them out in dull moments like when you are waiting in the doctors office, for someone to meet you, or, in her example, in the line to pick kids up from school.  I nodded along with the ad thinking yup, that's me unfortunately.  But the next part really surprised me.  I cannot remember word for word what she said but it was something along the lines of this… "What should we do when we go to pull that phone out?  We have the answer for you.  Download the K-love app where you can connect with other Christians!"

I'm sorry, but what?!?  I think I even said that out loud to myself because that was SO not what I was expecting her to follow up with.  Being a Christian radio station I expected something more.  Instead of encouraging us to pull our phones out, to download yet another app on our iPhone, and spend even more time with our noses in technology, shouldn't we be challenged to put the phone down?!  Shouldn't we be encouraged to take those moments when we are sitting idle and waiting for the next appointment on our agenda to just sit and maybe look at the beautiful world right in front of our eyes?  Shouldn't we be challenged to spend those moments talking to the One who created us, to listen for Him, and to appreciate what He's given us in this real world beyond the little screen?  All the apps, the blogs, the games, sure, they have their place- but nothing should take the place of spending quality time with Him.  THAT is what I was expecting to hear from the K-love ad.  THAT is what I want to be reminded of.  THAT is what I need to be encouraged in.

Maybe you aren't in the same place as me.  Maybe you already do a good job of putting your phone down.  [If that's you, then Bravo!! I admire you!]  This is very much something I need to work on.  I have been terrible with wasting time on my phone lately.  TERRIBLE.  I'll pick up my phone, open my email, look at new ones, close that.   Open Instagram, scroll through, "like" a few photos, close that.  Open Facebook, scroll through the newsfeed, read any messages or notifications, close that.  Then I'll be like, "Mindy that's enough" click out of the apps, put down the phone, and then 2 minutes later I'm back looking at Facebook or Instagram for no reason.  Why?  Seriously. Why?  What am I possibly going to learn by checking my apps so frequently? And most importantly, how much am I going to learn about the Lord who loves me when my eyes are glued to my screen?

Less than a month ago, I shared about how putting my phone down over the holidays was such a blessing, about how it helped me in my pursuit to live out the Jim Elliot quote that says "Wherever you are, be all there."  It was so great being fully engaged in my surroundings and feeling more connected to the Lord; I was so proud!  Well… apparently I've had a relapse and slid back into the lame habit of filling way too many free minutes with my phone in my hand.  I guess I should have added this to my February To-Do list because I really need to work on this.  Maybe that means putting limits on how many times I can access an app a day?  Or taking full days off from using apps? Or having an analog weekend like some other bloggers I know?  I don't know, but it's time to get more disciplined.  There are lots of books to be read, sights to be seen (like the beautiful snow scene from snowshoeing with my family- image above), people to be appreciated, and a God who deserves to be worshipped- all of which do not require the iPhone.