A Latte and a Best Friend

I am an extrovert.  Maybe not as much as I once was , but I still am energized in the company of others.  I love being with friends, whether my colleagues at work, my care group, or my dear high school best friends.

I have been blessed with three of the most amazing women who have been my best friends since I was 14.  They have been through many mountains and valleys with me- 24 years of friendship allows for plenty of both.  They are my go-to prayer warriors, my “call me on my crap” people, my sisters of the heart.  I am a better person for their input into my life, and every time I walk away from time with all or one of them, I am a happier person.  Add in a latte (caramel macchiatos are my favourite) and I am a very happy woman.

This past week I was able to spend time with one of my friends.  She works with a missions organization and spent years living overseas, so any time I can spend with her in person is a gift.  She is light and laughter and wisdom personified.  Time with her makes me a more empathetic person as she shares stories from missionaries around the world.

Proverbs 27:17 says that “Iron sharpens iron, and one [wo]man sharpens another.”  Iron sharpening iron- that is a beautiful word picture.  Two objects that are strong in and of themselves, but which will be more effective for the task they are designed for by having come into contact with each other.  Good friends are not afraid to encourage, but also to call out sin or areas of issue in our lives.  This is the mark of a true friend.  The other half of the equation is being willing to receive correction that is given in love.  This is the beauty of true friendship.

Photo by Adam Sherez on Unsplash

I am so grateful for every minute I get to spend with my best friends.  They make me a better, more thoughtful person, and I hope I do the same to them.  I’m looking forward to the next 24 years of friendship- come look for us in the care home.  We’ll be the ones hysterically laughing in the corner.

What’s on my Playlist?

January 2020 Edition.

A few years ago, Ben introduced me to Spotify.  When I first met Ben, I think I had 20 CDs which I purchased from Publishers Clearing House (remember that scam?).  Ben had close to 500, everything from classical to country to Norwegian death metal (eclectic, I know).  With streaming music, all of those options were available at the touch of a finger.  As I have listened more and taken advantage of the Suggested Music, I have increased my musical library.

These are the albums that currently dominate my playlist:

Front Porch by Joy Williams

I was/am a huge Civil Wars fan, and was so sad when they ceased making music together.  Joy Williams put out a new album this past spring and it was the number one album on my playlist. The title track, “Front Porch,” has become my year’s anthem.

Every Mile Mattered by Nicole Nordeman

Nicole Nordeman was one of the first artists that I did purchase with my Clearing House subscription.  She is a beautiful songwriter and her song “Dear Me” is a new favourite.  I have used that song in my Creative Writing class, asking the kids to write letters to their younger selves sharing advice.  They came up with some poignant and insightful things to share with their younger selves.  The final track on the album called “Slow Down”, about how children grow so quickly, will require at least one tissue if you have younger (or maybe even older) children.

Evergreen by Audrey Assad

Audrey Assad is one of the best Christian singers/songwriters around.  She doesn’t shy away from hard topics, and she creates beautiful melodies.  My favourite songs include “Little Things with Great Love” and “River” (feat. Propoganda).  On her other albums, she does a beautiful rendition of “Be Thou My Vision” (my favourite song) and “I Shall Not Want”.

Twelve by Handsome and Gretyl

“My Heart is Set” is one of my favourite songs.  I love this understanding of committed love.  I will sing the chorus to Ben and he gives me funny side glances, but it makes me happy.  They also do a lovely cover of “I’ve Got You Babe”.

What’s on your current playlists? Send me some suggestions.

2020 Word of the Year: MORE

I can’t remember when I first heard about picking a word of the year rather than New Year’s resolutions, but ever since, I have switched my mindset about setting goals.  Some of the words I have chosen over the years include Dwell, Abide, Still, Trust, and Eucharisteo (thanksgiving in Greek).  Often those words defined the year that I spent meditating and focusing on them, even before the year’s events played out.  God is funny that way.

For more on choosing a word of the year, and to hear other Christian leaders explain their 2020 words, watch this video from See Hear Love, a Christian women’s online channel with Melinda Estabrooks.  It’s also Canadian, so that’s an extra bonus.

This year, I have chosen the word: MORE

As I mentioned last post, I have spent the past 6 months trying to edit anything and everything possible from my life.  This didn’t have the expected, or hoped for, results.  So I will try the opposite.  Instead of pursing less, I want more, but more of things that are life-giving, rather than life-draining.  I have three areas that I am looking to focus on:

1. More Nature

A year and a half ago, we invested in building a front deck.  It is my absolute favourite spot in our whole house.  I spend hours out there in the summer, but winter in Canada makes getting outside more difficult (especially as I hate being cold).

So my goal is to be outside more.  Whether it’s a walk around the block after school or heading out for a quick walk to the lake over lunch hour, I want to prioritize having sun on my face and breathing fresh air.  I know it will make a difference for my mental health; I just need to plan for it and schedule it in.  It’s only 5 more months til I will be back enjoying this deck.

2. More Writing/Reading

I am excited to be back at this hobby I have missed.  I thought being creative in the classroom would be enough, but it hasn’t been.  I have done little writing since I finished my Master’s thesis, and it has been even longer since I have engaged in non-academic writing. This just feels right. And fun. And exhilarating.  I am excited to put pen to paper, fingers to keyboard, and to share my thoughts.

3. More Intentional Time with Friends and Family

My goal this year is to prioritize time spent with my family and friends.  I have three very special women who have been my best friends for almost 25 years and I don’t spend as much time with them as I want to.  That will change.  Ben has encouraged me to make plans and be more regular in visiting each other.  We all have kids and jobs that make getting together more complicated, but it is worth the planning.  Time spent with women who love me unconditionally (and they were with me through the 90s hair and fashion) and who challenge and encourage me spiritually, as well as mentally and emotionally; these are friendships worth cultivating.

I will also be more intentional with my time spent with my family.  I was reminded that we only have 18 summers/years with our children- my oldest is almost a teenager and the days are limited.  I want to take advantage of every possible day.

So this is what I hope the year of 2020 looks like- more nature, more writing, more time with friends and family.  You can never have too much of a good thing.

 

Beginning…Again

It seems like every time I think I have enough margin in my life to write on this blog again, a million little tasks steal my attention and this little corner of the internet remains dormant.  This past few months have been a time of reimagining and rethinking about what I need in my life to be whole and well.  I spent much of the past year not well.  I am one whose mental/spiritual/emotional well being takes a toll on my physical wellbeing.  Over the last 12 months, I overextended myself in areas that were life-draining and I cut out all the activities that were actually life-giving.  I did this in the belief that if I cut extra stress out of my life, it would help me deal with the other stressors that I couldn’t remove.  This didn’t work out well.  But I am so very thankful  for Ben.

Not that long ago, Ben looked me in the eye and spoke truth to me- “You are not doing well.  You need to think through why you are not doing well.” Then he gave me time to think through what he said.  We reconvened and I had to admit that no, I was/am not doing well.  Now, I am not the most observant person but Ben is, and I swear he knows me better than I know myself.  He had thought through several ideas he believed would be life-giving to me. One of those ideas was writing again.  Writing anything. Writing something.  But to be diligent and focused in writing.

And so, I am again here in this very dusty corner of the internet, dusting off the cobwebs and hoping that this process of putting words on the page will help me and maybe, just maybe, provide some fodder for thought for you. For those who have continued to ask me about my writing and encouraging me to begin again, I am so very thankful.  You have encouraged my heart.  Let’s begin..again.

 

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