persevering

There are days that I come home from a run refreshed and energized and feeling like I could keep running and running.

And there are days like today where my body says I. am. not. running. After which a battle ensues where I try to reason with my heavy feet ("we did this yesterday, remember? it wasn't that bad then... it won't be today either") and subdue my muscles that are balking at the idea of any sort of movement. Usually I lose this battle and shorten my run or take a break and walk for awhile.

Today, however, I pushed through the sucky lack of motivation... or coordination... or energy... or something. And I have to tell you, I was pleasantly surprised. Turns out that sometimes persevering is just what my body needs. Sometime after the dreadfully terrible first mile, we figured out a compromise, my body and me. Albeit, my run was more of a shuffle (that was part of the compromise) and it took me a solid few minutes to catch up with and pass a man on a walk... more accurately an old man on a stroll... But we finished a few miles and are going to call that success for today.

I wonder how productive I could be if I pushed through my lack of motivation for the rest of the items that stay at the bottom of my to-do list?

for adam

This picture (at the science spectrum in lubbock) makes me laugh. Maybe someday, when adam is a real dentist, we can frame it for his desk.

the little things

before

after

You know how great it feels when you finally get to something that you've been meaning to do forever??? I have that feeling about our newly reorganized under-the-kitchen-sink area. I know it's weird that this stuff delights me so much. But it does. It's the little things, friends.

surprise down time

the oh-so-fluffy product of the tutu crafting

A canceled trip to the mountains (because of weather) = surprise down time for the gentry's. This never happens for us y'all, a wide open weekend I mean.

A glimpse of what I did for the last couple days:
Final four. Crafting (and not for an etsy order, just the regular, old, gift-for-a-friend and decor-for-my-house type of crafting). Friends over for dinner (the ones we were supposed to go to the mountains with). Kettlecorn and diet root beer. Twice. Sweet Home Alabama. Coffee with a sweet friend. Quality time with Burke. Tutu crafting with some girls. 27 Dresses. Hot peppermint tea. Screenprinting. The Office and Grey's (online). Glory, pure glory.

a king of circumstances?

Last week at church, our pastor Hunter was talking about how, throughout the course of history, God's people have continually been looking for the wrong kind of king. In the time of judges, the people asked Samuel to find them a king. They wanted a king like all the others they could see- one who would pursue military gain on their behalf. Then later, in the time of Christ, the Jews were expecting and looking for a king who would come, defeat the Romans and give them political power. Much to their surprise, the Messiah would come to bring a different kind of victory and power.

I've thought alot about this this week... Mostly because I feel like my priority when I ask the Lord to intervene in my life is almost always to change my circumstances. I, too, am looking for a king that will tailor my life to be as pain-free and enjoyable as possible. To me, that doesn't mean military gain or victory, but instead translates to financial stability, security in shaky times, fulfilling relationships and health- essentially a little buffer of comfort on all sides in my life. Rarely do I seek the Lord asking him to bring about the circumstances that would most benefit my character- just the ones that would most benefit my own happiness or security.

Ironically, the times of my life where my circumstances were the most unstable were the times where I drew nearest to the Lord (isn't that how it seems to go?). Remember how much I worried about selling the flip house? I was on my face in prayer every day about that. And actually, the ripple effect of praying so often for the flip house stretched out into all sorts of other areas of my life. My time in prayer expanded to include other things, and since I was talking to the Lord and reading God's Word constantly, He had an opportunity to develop in me patience and trust that wouldn't have come in a time of security and stability.

I'm not inviting struggle or suffering to an otherwise pretty even, unrocky season of our life. But I am praying that I would become a person who delights in our Good King as He brings about victory and blessing in ways that seem upside down to me, and that my priorities would begin to mirror His as I seek His hand at work in my life.

ps- Here's Hunter's message in it's entirety in case you want to listen too (just click on 3/29).

hail the conquering heroes!

Two of Adam's favorite parts of dental school: the people he's met and the chance to play IM sports. Isn't it lucky for him that those two things combine into an IM volleyball team that we love spending time with? Even better, his team won their division championship Wednesday night (see the white-sweatshirts-all-in-a-row? That was part of their prize)! YAY!

charles david fabulousness

Do I need these shoes?

Here are the pros:
-they're charles david, which always reminds me of the middleeast
-they're only 20 bucks (including shipping)
-I feel like they would go with lots of neutral-y outfits
-they'd probably make some plain-ish sundresses a little more dressy (I have lots of solid colored sundresses)
-they remind me of those j crew flats that I love love loved last winter... remember those heid?

And the cons:
-the 3" heel
-I can't decide if I need shoes like these anymore now that I mostly wear flats or Uggs
-do I need shoes that make things more dressy? I mean, I live in colorado and don't work outside of my own house...

Any thoughts?ps- They have green or blue too.. but I think the 'bronze' at the top are most versatile, don't you???