Weekly Series

Letters Between Friends: THE CHART

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My Peoria church is quickly becoming a danger zone – once people start having kids, there will have to be strict NO DATING ANYONE IN YOUTH GROUP BECAUSE YOU ARE PROBABLY RELATED rules!

LettersBtwnFriends

Dear Tricia,

I still can’t see straight.  I’m still exhausted from this weekend’s activities.   Overall, Ashley & Daniel’s wedding  was a huge success.  No one body-checked anyone, the wedding ceremony went off without a hitch, at the reception, the food was great, we line danced, and we all left to go home before 10pm!  The hiccups, though all INCREDIBLY minor, consisted of 6 shout wipes and Ashley’s train before the ceremony, a BLUBBERY matron of honor speech and Ashley’s wallet sitting on my dining room table as they start the drive to Wisconsin.

There was a moment later into the reception where Wendy, Abby, Emily, Ashley & I were standing in a circle arms around each others’ shoulders.  I don’t remember who, but someone said, “We all are really sisters now…”  And it’s so crazy to wrap my brain around that.  I don’t know why, because we’ve talked about it for a LONG time…  Just more real I guess.

So for today, I made “THE CHART!”  I was giggling as I made this…We are one TWISTED group of people.  But no bubbles re-connect so that’s the important party RIGHT!?

I’m so GLAD you are having mental BREAKTHROUGH with the language!  You are pretty incredible.  You know that?

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!  Miss you like crazy!

Love,

Lindsay

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Workout Week n/a

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Astute readers of this blog will have noticed that last week, I did not write a Workout Week post.  Those astute readers will also quickly notice that this is also not a Workout Week post.

Here’s the deal:  The last time I worked out in the morning I threw up, so I don’t work out before leaving for class in the morning.  But I don’t get back from my class until 7:00, and after four hours of homework, it’s 11:00 and I don’t want to exercise.

Plus:  I hurt my left foot a couple weeks ago.  Not like, in any big deal way, but it hurts right in the middle any time I put pressure on it.  I think my new shoes, and then my new shoes falling apart at the heel, messed things up for me.  I’m now wearing TOMs all the time and wrapping my foot with athlete’s tape (thanks WebMD and YouTube!), and it feels a lot better.

For a week, I was not working out, AND I was feeling guilty for not working out.  The guilt made me want to eat more and be lazier, which is obviously not great.  So for my mental AND physical health, I’m taking a break from intentionally working out until my class is over.

That’s one more week!  So in two weeks, expect another Workout Week post!

 

Sunday Summary #19: What’s on the Internet

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Articles

1|  I’m still working my way through the list, but this is an awesome compilation of over 60 resources for couples (or interested singles) who want to shape their marriage around mutual submission instead of the more traditional “leader husband/submissive wife” roles.

Videos

1|  Solid gold parody!

2|  This passes the “laugh out loud” reblog rule MULTIPLE times.

Letters Between Friends: WEDDING WEEKEND

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LettersBtwnFriends

This week Lindsay is spending all of her time helping her sister-in-law get married, so I thought it was a great opportunity to remember HER wedding in all its silly, beautiful grandeur.  Check out my letter to Lindsay on her site, Wild Ginger.

Lindsay's Blog Logo

 

Letters Between Friends: EXTERNAL PROCESSOR’S STRESS

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Lindsay’s letter this week just makes me mad that we are writing letters to each other and not going out for coffee dates.  I want to externally process Lindsay’s external processing problems with her!  

LettersBtwnFriends

Dear Tricia,

My goal is to do 2 things today…

Make you slightly jealous of the snow (because I hate it), then just blabber a little.

Just within the last few days, it has been warm enough that if the kids wanted to play in the snow, they wouldn’t freeze.  I believe I am truly blessed though, because all the girls really want to do is find the fresh snow and put their shoe print in it.  They hate the idea of being wet or dirty.  Tess did realize though, that if the snow is too deep, then her foot gets wet.  …and she stepped in a puddle the other day because Ruthie did in her purple rain boots…that’s didn’t work out so well for Tess in her crocs.

So, it began to snow when we got out of the car on Tuesday night and Ruthie was determined to catch it in her mouth…and Tessa was determined to do whatever Ruthie was doing, but she couldn’t figure out the whole tongue thing.

Now, in the mornings when I wake the girls up, Ruthie, in her groggy 3 year old morning voice, asks, “Mommy, is it still Christmas out?”  and I usually reply, “Yes, but it will probably melt some more today.”  It’s supposed to be in the 60s this weekend!!! WHAT?!?!?

______

I don’t know if you can speak into this slightly, but alls to say all I really need to do is externally process my external processing.

At the Hearts @ Home Conference last year, I shared the stuff with you about how I was blown away, but all totally clicked that I was an introvert because of how I recharge, AND an EXTERNAL processor by how I make decisions.  When I make a decision, everyone around me will know my reasoning because I have talked them out over and over again.  This also means that if I say I will do something, you can’t count on it until I actually do it…me externally saying something is BIG step toward the end result, but I needed to hear myself make the commitment, before I actually MAKE the choice.  Does that make any sense?!?

Well, currently, I am in a situation at work, where things have to remain confidential.  AND I’ve made a commitment to myself, that I wouldn’t post work issues on here, first, because they are kids, but mostly because my work peeps read my blog and this is not a place to hash that out!  Alls to say though, this situation at work is causing LOTS of stress and I CANT TALK ABOUT IT!

Then, I talked to you about this a little Sunday (that was wonderful BTW), but there are some family opportunities and news at home that we can’t talk about publicly for the sake of family business stuff, but its BIG decisions.  AND I CAN’T TALK ABOUT IT!

My externally processing self is EATING MYSELF ALIVE from the inside out.  I avoid blogging, because I can’t physically think about anything else, and I am over agitated and anxious which I know others can see.  Tuesday night, I was up journaling/reading/working I didn’t even go to bed.  I finally closed my computer at 4:45am and jumped in the shower for work.  NOT OK.

Counselor friend, I need you.

DO NOT BE ANXIOUS about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phil 4:6

BUT knowing what God’s capable of gets me MORE anxious and excited.  Um. Now what.

Ok, I’ve talked too much about myself this time…

I miss you like CRAZY!  I pray for you constantly.  Let’s Skype again soon!

Love,

Lindsay

Sunday Summary #18: VALENTINE’S DAY EDITION

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Articles

1|  Hamilton-inspired Valentine’s!!!

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2|  THIS!  Maris Kreizman wrote a fantastic piece that tears to pieces all the dumb platitudes people say to singles, which is aptly summarized in her title: “I Found Love Because I Got Lucky, Not Because I Changed Myself.”

Videos

1|  My favorite kind of love.

Workout Week #10

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THIS WEEK’S GOAL:  20 minutes at least 5 times this week.

WorkoutWeek 2.7.16

GOAL NOT MET

Workout Notes

Isn’t it around now that I ought to have developed a habit!?  I worked really hard for eight weeks and now…it’s all falling apart.  I guess it’s not surprising, since I am in the middle of a lot of mental and emotional stress.  One Greek proverb is: A healthy mind in a healthy body, and I will add the opposite:  An unhealthy mind seeks an unhealthy body.

How are there some people who feel stressed and then WANT to work out?

Hm, okay.  I still have four more weeks of language classes, so my stress level is unlikely to decrease before then.  I’m going to have to think creatively…alright!  This week I’m going to focus on walking 10,000+ steps!  That seems more likely than actually working out, although of course I will count that if I do.

Food Notes

I did better with food this week than last, but it’s still not great.  I’m not regularly keeping track of calories, but I tried to buy healthier foods to snack on.  So that’s…good!

And anyway, I wanted to go easier on myself with food.  I NEVER want to lose my love of eating, I just want to eat smart and in proportion to how much I’m exercising.  Which, granted, is not much.  BUT STILL.  Food is delicious, and I refuse to punish myself for enjoying it.

But…I’ll try to do better counting calories next week.  It really does help me avoid mindlessly snacking.

NEXT WEEK’S GOAL:  Walk 10,000+ steps (or workout 20 minutes) at least 5 times.

Sunday Summary #17: What’s On the Internet

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Articles

1|  Relevant posted a cool article about how we don’t have to be desperate for God…and I really liked it.  I hadn’t thought of things in this way before, but I’ll try to from now on.

I know what people mean when they say they’re “desperate for God,” but I don’t think we have to feel that way. “Desperate” describes how someone feels when they’re not sure they’re going to ever get something. People in the desert are desperate for water. People who are lonely are desperate for relationship.

Being desperate for God is what someone feels who doesn’t really know what God has done. They don’t really know who God is for them. They don’t get that they are no longer living in a visitational culture. They are a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

2|  There are few things I love more than men getting fed up with rape culture and calling other men to a high standard, so naturally I adore Micah J. Murray for taking a stand against sexual assault.

3|  GASP.  The universe keeps delivering things I didn’t know I wanted!  Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote a book (out in just two months!) about his musical, aptly named: Hamilton the Revolution.  #hamiltome

Videos

1|  This week I discovered YouTubers PsychoSoprano (Colleen Ballinger) and JoshuaDTV (Joshua Evans).  They are funny apart, but they are SO CUTE together.  They dated for six years and they made the CUTEST video of their wedding last summer.  I cried during their vows, and I have only been aware of their existence for a couple days.

 

A Week in Greece #4: One Month Anniversary, Feeling Homesick

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It’s been a month!  I’ve officially stayed in Greece longer than anywhere other than Senegal (this week I passed the Mongolia mark).  I’m happy with this milestone – although I’m missing my homes in the United States, there’s nothing about Greece that I actively dislike.  It’s a really nice place to live.

As always, my life continues to revolve around my Greek class.  I was planning on saying, “Only one more week!” in this post, but on Thursday I talked with Dina and Argyris and we decided I should go ahead and take the Intensive Level II course.  It starts immediately after this one ends, and it will be FOUR hours a day, but for only three weeks.  I’m already exhausted just thinking about it.

However, if I’m going to continue studying Greek, this is definitely the best option.  1)  I will continue to study with Elvira and Emi, and I really like my new friends.  2)  It will be taught by Rosa (my teacher the first two weeks) and she is fantastic.  3)  I used to think I needed a break to let my knowledge settle, but when I gave myself last weekend off, I wound up forgetting a million things.  It’s better, I think, to keep going.  4)  I will be done on March 4, which will be when House Damaris renovations will be winding down and furnishings/planning will be winding up!   Continue reading →