Friday Favorites

•Yes! This is my daily struggle! 

•When people believe in what you're doing, and donate awesome things. ❤️ I'm helping put on and decorate for a Valentine's Day luncheon for some women in Pontiac, and have been overwhelmed by people's generosity! Seriously, I was given money back at an estate sale, and ended up with glass jars for free! I also was given the most beautiful "log slices" (seriously, there must be a prettier way to say that!). I can't wait to use them for centerpieces. 

•This Album. I'm obsessed. It's been on repeat for the last seven days. Do yourself a favor and listen to it! (My current favorites are Psalm 130 & Only In You.) 

•Winter sunrises. God just outdoes Himself day after day. 

• Dove Chocolates. These are one of my favorite things ever. I have had them in a bag in almost every airport and country I have ever traveled to. I love the cute sayings on the inside of wrappers, and they taste amazing. 

 

•This shirt. It's so soft and cozy, perfect for sleeping, lounging around, or running errands around town. I love Old Navy. 

http://m.oldnavy.gap.com/product.html?dn=op9787110120004&cid=1021772&pid=9787110120004&locale=en_US 

•Brunch dates with best friends. Coffee. Muffins. Laughs. Love. 

Happy weekend. Michelle. 

Friday Favorites.

•Gilmore Girls is my favorite tv show ever. I'm obsessed. I have seen every episode more times than I should probably admit. I recently discovered a fan fiction website that gives us three more whole seasons! I'm surprised at how much I am enjoying reading it, and how well it holds to the intregrity of the show and the characters. 

http://virtualgilmore.squarepins.org/index.php

•I love when the numbers on the odometer are the same. 

• I have been really into over sized, cozy sweaters with leggings or skinny jeans. Winter clothing can be both cute and effortless. My latest find is from the Salvation Army. (The best place for unique treasures!) I love this black sweater with gold flecks. Also. I'm really digging my short hair lately. 

• Gold Spray Paint. 

I. Just. Can't. Stop. (did y'all know you can paint Xmas lights?!)

•My house was feeling a little sad after I took down my Christmas tree, so I put up "just because" decorations. 

• This is my life. I love to twirl around in circles, daydream, drink milk straight out of the carton, and I say the word "murder" multiple times on first dates. It is what it is. 

• I love that my Auntie is halfway done with chemo, and her white and red blood cell counts are the best they've been this whole journey. Praying to hear that sweet word, "remission". 

• I am loving shoveling my sidewalk lately. That's probably weird, right? I think I shoveled and salted 4x this week, and every time with a smile and a song. I'm just thankful the snow has been minimal over all this winter. I don't mind a few inches once in a while. It kinda looks pretty and clean. I have discovered though, that I completely despise clearing the snow off my car. 

Love, M

Thankful Thursday.

Today I need to make the choice to rejoice. I'm kinda grumpy. So I will be choose to be thankful. 

I am thankful that when I got to work there was a brand new, large canister of coffee waiting for me. I am so tired. (Why is it okay to snow blow at 3 am, directly outside of this girl's bedroom window?!) 

I am thankful for new days, full of second chances to love. “Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” - L.M. Montgomery 

I am thankful that snow boogers are not frozen solid to my car. I can kick them off without any trouble. Also. I love kicking them off my car. Is that weird? 

I am thankful for a best friend that always keeps me laughing. I love my Bill...er...Boo. 

I am thankful that despite my crankiness, God is still so faithful, with mercies new every morning, and love that never ceases. 

What are you thankful for this morning? 

Have a great day! 

M 

Thankful Thursday.

Today I need to make the choice to rejoice. I'm kinda grumpy. So I will be choose to be thankful. 

I am thankful that when I got to work there was a brand new, large canister of coffee waiting for me. I am so tired. (Why is it okay to snow blow at 3 am, directly outside of this girl's bedroom window?!) 

I am thankful for new days, full of second chances to love. “Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” - L.M. Montgomery 

I am thankful that snow boogers are not frozen solid to my car. I can kick them off without any trouble. Also. I love kicking them off my car. Is that weird? 

I am thankful for a best friend that always keeps me laughing. I love my Bill...er...Boo. 

I am thankful that despite my crankiness, God is still so faithful, with mercies new every morning, and love that never ceases. 

What are you thankful for this morning? 

Have a great day! 

M 

The Christmas tree is down.

I took my Christmas tree down today. 

I know that it's mid January, and everyone else has had their trees down for weeks. 

I know that my tiny living room will suddenly feel a little bit bigger and a lot more cleaner once that tree is in the closet. 

I know that Christmas decorations can't stay up year round.

I know that so many of those ornaments bring up so many mixed emotions, it will be nice to have them tucked away in tissue paper and boxes. 

I know all of this to be true. 

But. 

I couldn't stop crying tonight. 

I don't know where I will be next Christmas. The next time I open these boxes, I could be in another apartment, town, state, country, or even continent. 

I don't know who will be next to me next Christmas. The last five Christmases I have been alone. I have put up the tree and decorated by myself. I want to have someone by my side to tell the stories of every single ornanment. 

I don't know the circumstances of what life will look like when I open these boxes next. 

But. 

I do know this year is going to be the year full of changes. 

I really struggle with change. I wish I was always the girl ready for adventure, excited for new things ahead, and willing to just move on without holding on. But honestly, that's just not me right now. 

In a short few weeks, I will be done with my job. I have had the amazing honor of helping raise two of the most incredible children I have ever known. I have spent the last five years loving these babes, as if they were my own. My heart is not ready to let go, but it's almost time. 

Please be praying for me as I need peace, and a job for the next season. I currently have no prospects, and am feeling very overwhelmed. 

I told one of my dear friends that even though I was feeling a train wreck of emotions, that I was so excited. I know God is going to do something big this year. There isn't another option. There is currently nothing I can see as a solution to my problems. But I will trust and believe that He is working on the unseen. I will trust His perfect timing, even though I would prefer to have already known the plan. I will trust in His perfect provision, knowing He is my Father, and wants to take good care of me. 

As I was just writing this, I got a song stuck in my head. I haven't heard it in years, but it's quite applicable. 

God will make a way

Where there seems to be no way

He works in ways we cannot see

He will make a way for me

But, seriously, please be praying. I'm totally freaking out. 

Love you all. 

M

Friday Favorites.

•The last few weeks, I have been really digging salad. My current obsession is spring mix, baby spinach, dried cranberries, walnuts, chicken breast (from a grocery store rotisserie chicken), poppy seed dressing, and occasionally cut up apples, or strawberries. I have eaten this at least one meal a day for the last two weeks. It's that good. 

•Steffany Gretzinger. Look her up. Last weekend one of my friends had her album playing in the car. I fell so in love with her voice, I bought her album within minutes. This album has been on pretty much 24/7. Here are two of my favorites right now: 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yTfwwKWP9yM https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLoR758jaDqqe74jPerKtA3j5LdK2-kXDu&v=xSDkn9PtQm0

•Currently memorizing Jeremiah 31:3. I love that even when I feel that God is far away, He still come near, and appears to this girl. I love on the days I feel unlovable, He reminds me of His everlasting love towards me. I love on days full of doubt and distraction, I am reminded that He is faithful, and will continue to be faithful. I love that God's Word is so full of truths to cling to, no matter the day, situation, or feelings.

•I haven't spent any money at Kroger in over a year (I really love Neiman's.) But every time I get gas from a Kroger gas station, I punch in my phone number, and am told I have fuel rewards. I really don't understand. Who is giving me their rewards?! But I'm so thankful. I was able to fill up from completely empty, with a $20, and I got change back. Yay for .47!

•I love that days are getting a little bit longer. Working 12ish hour long days means in the winter, I drive to work in the dark, and drive back home in the dark. But this week, I have been able to catch the very ending of daylight, and I love it. 

•Christmas Lights! I know it's after Christmas, but I am still pretty obsessed with looking at all the lights, and coming home to a cute and cozy home. 

•Homemade Soup! My sister and I made soup for a couple of our pastors and their families after church. It was so yummy. (And so easy!!!) Here are the two we made. (For the potato, we omitted chicken, because she's a vegetarian, and we added an extra cup of cheese. For the tomato, we used cans of puréed tomatoes.) http://damndelicious.net/2014/01/17/chicken-potato-chowder/

http://www.thepinningmama.com/2014/02/02/copycat-panera-creamy-tomato-basil-soup-recipe/

Happy Weekend! Love, M