Thinking and Praying...

I'm praying...

• for an upcoming "milestone" of sorts
• in anticipation of plans for the next few days of rest
• for a variety of friends and family attending a great conference for the next few days
• for understanding as I continue to process some events from the weekend
• for a heart that is okay with a mind that doesn't understand
• with gratefulness for the continued rain and refreshing
• with a thankful heart for a couple of nights in a row of sleep that was relatively uniterrupted and dreamless (that combination doesn't come often for me)
• with the smile that comes from knowing I'm loved
• while thinking about a heart that is growing more peaceful
• while reading various news headlines
• with regret over past comments
• and the hope of not speaking from insecurity and causing hurt in the future
• with a heart that is feeling some joy and hope again
• for persecuted believers around the world, after reading an email and a news article that called them again to mind
• for friends from around the blogging world, whose struggles and needs are known or unknown
• for patience for one more day at the office

My Own Pillow!

A few nights of being away from my own bed has made me appreciate it all the more.

I'd taken my own pillow along with me to the hostel in Kelowna, but upon arriving discovered that they did not allow any outside bedding in.

It seems there has been a recent outbreak of bedbugs at a hostel in Vancouver, and they're trying to avoid this in Kelowna by banning outside pillows and bedding.

And can I just say that the pillow they provided was both hard and flat?

I was so excited to be back in my own bed on Monday night.

Treating Myself Carefully

A little while back I talked about needing to allow quiet and stillness. Part of that for me is treating myself well so that I feel rested and not stressed out, making it easier for me to ease into silence.

Tonight was one of those rare nights when I didn't have to cook dinner. It was nice to come home and just relax.

After dinner I did some needed filing work and cleaning in my bedroom (remember that a clean space is one that I find less stressful), but I also drank tea (a gift mailed from Czech by a friend!), put a clay mask on my face, and then took a long hot shower.

I'm taking time to play a game for a while, and watch a bit of a television show I enjoy.

I'll go to bed at a decent hour.

I'll make the time to work through my nightly devotional and to pray a little.

And I'll be oh so grateful to remember that today was slightly better at work than yesterday, and that tomorrow is my last day at the office for this week.

And that there will be moments of quiet, and likely moments of great joy over the long weekend of time for rest and restoration that I've scheduled for myself.

Treating myself carefully generally pays off. I'm hoping that will be true this week as well.

Quoting saints...

A few recent quotes from the calendar that sits on my desk at work.

Then I saw truly that it gives more praise to God and more delight if we pray steadfast in love, trusting his goodness, clinging to him by grace, than if we ask for everything our thoughts can name....The best prayer is to rest in the goodness of God.

Blessed Julian of Norwich.

I am happy to exist. I am content with everything that surrounds me, because in everything I detect a gift of God. All the peace that fills and pervades my heart comes from possessing Jesus.

Carla Ronci

Wedding!

This wedding was in some ways a bit challenging to attend. M. has been a very dear friend for a long time, but there have been a few relational bumps in the last year or so. Also, many of their good friends are people who were less than happy with me when I made a decision to no longer attend a particular church a few years back, and generally ignore my existence, making for a somewhat challenging social setting. However, it was my privilege to join both her and J. to celebrate their marriage. More pictures can be found here.

M. walking in on her dad's arm, looking towards J.

A much needed and very healing hug.

With the bride!