Tag: love

Arrived

Things have improved much on our trip. We talked through some things last night and this morning, and cleared up some important points in how we each were relating to the trip and aspects of it. We had a slightly tough start at the Jack Daniel’s Distillery, but ended up having a lovely time throughout it, and then an awesome time visiting with my sister tonight. We both tend to get very defensive, very quickly, so it is certainly a process to stop relating to things as a potential threat or unkindness from which e must defend ourselves… but we are improving as a whole, and I am certainly grateful for that!

I think this will be a lovely visit with my sister tomorrow and Monday morning. Thank you, God, for these blessings so far. Please, help us to continue to honor you through our love in all its forms. In your name, I pray. Thank you. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

Prayer

My mom told me the other night, ‘I just listened to Mark Wahlberg say the rosary.’

Uhm… What?????

It’s this prayer app called “Hallow”. I immediately downloaded it and did the daily rosary with narrator Mark, who happens to be the Mark Wahlberg. Super cool.

But it gets a bit better.

The app tracks your use in terms of streaks… ‘Congrats! You’re on a one-day streak!’ We all know that I’m a fan of streaks, what with an 808-day streak on Duolingo right now. So, where I’ve already been wanting to pray more, and I find this app with lots of really cool prayer options – the organization and usability could use some definite improvement, and having the paid options listed all mixed in with the free ones (with no filter) is a bit of a big hassle, though – that not only has Mark Wahlberg for the rosaries, but that also makes it like a game of sorts. I’m in!

Check it out, y’all, and have fun with prayer and meditations and learning all those prayers we hear so rarely but to which everyone else always seems to know the words! (Yes, those are all on there for free, too!)

Post-a-day 2022

Let it go…*

And, some days, life is just tough. Things can go up and down and back and forth from high stress to, ‘I can do this,’ and back all day long. Sometimes, too, it can continue into the night.

Dear God, help me to let go of whatever it is to which I am currently clinging that is causing me such stress and pains. Help me to open my hands and myself fully to you and your will. Help me to release, to let go and let God… in your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

*Ironically, I’ve had one of the Frozen songs in my head all afternoon and evening today, but not that one! “…finish each other’s…” “…sandwiches!”

Dancing

We went to a dance event tonight. It was a country event, but we came for the west coast swing finals part of it, and the social dancing after those events. My man and I did.

And it was awesome.

We danced with each other and with other people. I gave him a sort of mini lesson after we first went downstairs and he got a bit overwhelmed just by seeing everything. (Apparently he had spent the whole day being scared and nervous and trying to create reasons not to come because of that. I had kept asking him all day what was wrong and what was going on, since he was being so snippy and unkind toward me and stressed and all. He had only ever told me that he just needed to ‘get over it’ about each little thing.m, though he never really did… until we started dancing, that is.) He then asked me to dance in the main room before and after the competitions and awards, and he voluntarily sought out four other women and danced with them (always while I was out of the room, naturally). And he and I danced more and more, and I showed him more and more bits, and he got better and better. And it was awesome.

I had begun being comfortable with the idea that I likely would not get to do west coast swing with my husband, whoever he would be, because I never much liked the men who would frequent events and get involved in the typical social culture of dance events and all – read ‘lots of alcohol and sleeping around and being pompous’ – and found it unlikely I would meet my man at any event. And then this guy showed up. In our first night of knowing one another, he voluntarily offers up that he grew up doing a bit of ballroom for kids, and that his favorite dance was probably west coast swing. He’d only learned a bit, and it was all self-taught, but he loved it. And so, God blesses us…

Thank you, God, for this lovely opportunity. Thank you for bringing my man and me together. Thank you for this awesome step into the dance world for the both of us this weekend. Phew. Thank you. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

Weeping Wednesday?

I cried at least three times at work today, because of work. Talk about being overwhelmed, and you’re talking about me today. But I managed to let it out as it came up, and then get down to business again and again throughout the day. I spoke a couple times with the teacher for whom I am teaching the first quarter – she’s on maternity leave – and what she had to share with me helped immensely with my stress. I now know somewhat decently what specifically is expected of me regarding content and presentation for class, and I have my next steps clearly in place for tomorrow (and the future classes as a whole). There is much for me to learn regarding the subject matter – Sacred Scripture and Catholicism – and I want to learn it all. But it will take time. And I have a clear plan as to how to do that now. Phew.

I want to do a good job here, as with everything I do. That’s why I’m stressed – because I care so much. But I definitely sat under the desk and cried hard at one point near midday today. So, today was a lot in a lot of ways. I wonder if tomorrow will be quite so emotional…

Dear God, grant me the grace and perseverance to do the amazing job I know you have called me to do here. Help me to fulfill your will fully and wholeheartedly. And help me to see clearly where you want me and need me to go. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

A strained refrain – Refrain the strain?

When did the cute stop being cute?
When did the adorable
Become annoying?
The laughter that once
Filled the days and the nights,
When did it turn
To rude quips,
To snaps,
To frustrated sighs?
And when,
Oh, when
Did the shivers of delight,
Utter excite (ment)
Turn to crying at night
And wanting just to walk
Away,
So I stop causing
Such strain,
Such hassle,
Such pains?

But, really,
The question isn’t, “When?”
It is, “Why?”

And the answer
Is that I deCIDED.
I cut off all chances
Those wonderful things
Had at surviving,
Let alone thriving…

And,
While that is so sad,
So terrible to hear,
What’s wonderful about it
Is that I</> decided it all…
And so I</> can let it all go,
And choose sonething new.

I can create new life.

Post-a-day 2022

P.S. Happy birthday today to baby Grace!!

Simon and Schuster

Thank you, Simon and Schuster, for delivering so many wonderful books both to the world and to me personally. I thoroughly enjoy what I have been able to read from your offerings, and I am so grateful you chose to take them on. Without you, many of them might never have reached the public and/or me. So, thank you for saying yes to them. Woohoo!

Yay, books! And yay to good publishing companies! Woohoo!

Thank you, God, for all of it. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022

That was easy

Not…

My man did the morning workout today, while I went to work the karate tournament way far out. Then, he worked in the yard from about 9am to 1pm. Then we rode together on his motorcycle to the joint yoga-workout class that was a collaboration between our gym and a yoga place. It was ridiculously hot, starting at 97°F, and only getting hotter as we went along with a room packed with people. It was yoga to start, then about thirty minutes of cardio-type work that also used muscles, then a touch more yoga and rest to finish it off.T

hen it was like a party. We got free fancy foam rollers and snooty cookies that are actually delicious, plus sparkling waters and some complimentary chiropractic work. But we had to wait a while for the chiropractic work. It was totally worth it, though. We both got some good spots with our muscles sorted out better, and we got to experience cupping – a first for us both! It was weird but cool. It felt like someone rubbing a muscle and pushing in on it, but just not stopping. And then they came up with a slurp suction of sorts, and the muscles felt even more released and relaxed. It was quite cool.

Then we rode home, change clothes quickly, stopped at HEB for some specific chips and some bananas as the birthday present for the two-year-old birthday party we then attended. I can almost guarantee she will love the present. Her mom and dad agreed. 😛

I kid you not, my man slept almost the entire birthday party… on the sofa, passed out. and nobody minded in the least. We were the only people who weren’t family, but they truly didn’t mind at all. Everyone kept encouraging him – though it wasn’t like he heard any of it – saying how comfortable that sofa was and how they all always napped on it every time they were over at the house, too. Plus, they knew what he had done so far today. It was quite funny, really. Then he woke up at one point, and asked, “Could I have some cake, please?” He ate it and the ice cream I brought him, and then promptly passed right back out. He got a good nap.

Now, we have stumped home and are getting to sleep as soon as possible…

Goodnight, all.

Post-a-day 2022

Get out

Whenever I find myself spending time with repeated thoughts and ideas and conversations in my head, especially somewhat negative ones, I must remind myself: Get Out! Now! That is all… Thank you for listening.

And, you know, it is one of the best things I ever do for myself.

I’ve spent too much time in my head lately, dwelling on some of the same conversations and ideas, leaving myself feeling small and in-the-way and a problem for others and a failure for myself. It’s quite depressing, really. No joke. I’m letting that all go tonight, though, giving it up to God, and giving myself grace and respect. I am capable, and I am worth it. Period. So, let’s keep on improving as we have been doing, pursuing the path on which God has been calling us. We can do it.

I pray your name in gratitude, God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In your name, we pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2022