Only You...

“Lord, when I feel that what I'm doing is insignificant and unimportant, help me to remember that everything I do is significant and important in your eyes, because you love me and you put me here, and no one else can do what I am doing in exactly the way I do it.”
― Brennan Manning, Souvenirs of Solitude: Finding Rest in Abba's Embrace

Hello Neighbor BLOCK PARTY

Things have been a little crazy around our casa...

and, my real life job is approaching event season...

so, essentially my life is over until September.

But, we did have TONS of FUN at the first

HELLO NEIGHBOR BLOCK PARTY...

Here is the day in pictures...

And, just so ya know...

We'll be doing it again in May.

Deets to follow, peeps.

And, let me be honest...the pics are with my iPhone & I didn't edit them.  

So, enjoy my awesome houseslippers.

 My bad. (smile)

The paint table...

All ready to create our Spring wreaths...

 

The Liberace of all wreaths created by my girl.  It's all BLINGED out!

 

My wreath...I love Easter.

 

Corinne's canvas...

 

Heather's canvas...

 

My mama's canvas & my awesome Target houseslippers.

 

Wendy's wreath for her Sock Money room!

 

My mama's wreath.  I love it.  

 

Wendy's canvas.

 

My canvas....

 

Heather's Daisy wreath.

 

Annie's fantastic spin on the book wreath.

 

It really was a lovely day.  With lovely ladies.  And, yummy food.

If you're in the KC area, I hope you'll join us in May!

Happy Weekend, Friends!

Jilly

Running to WIN....

I promise that soon we'll get back to FUN posts filled with creativity & thrift finds.  I scored some great finds last week on a quick excursion to my fave store.  But, lately life has been filled with bumps & bruises....literally & figuratively.  

We began the Daniel Plan back on January 6th.  We committed to just a 40 day trial & then quickly realized that it would become our lifestyle.

As part of our new "lifestyle", I started hitting the gym regularly...
like 6 days a week regular.  
The gym is a torture chamber to me.  
I hate it.  
Every minute. 
 I would much rather be creating or reading. 
 Not sweating. 

But, one glorious evening...I began to run.  
And, I ran.
And, ran.
And, ran.

I could see the B.I.G. grin on my face in the reflection of the TV attached to the treadmill.
The Gunny was running next to me & kept looking over in amazement.
I finished & I called my mama. 
 I told my kids.  
I announced my accomplishment on Instagram.  
I was SO stinkin' proud.
All weekend I thought I had finally broke through.
FINALLY.

Monday found us back at the gym.
My ankles were aching.
But, I was determined.
And, yes...even excited.

I began & immediately knew this wasn't going to be the experience I had just a mere two days before.  My ankles felt like they would explode with every step.

And, then....it happened.  
One minute I was standing up.
The next minute I wasn't.

I had realized every gym rat's worst nightmare.  
I fell.
At 6 o'clock...
 in a packed gym.

It was everything you imagined it would be.
Painful.
Mortifying.
Ugly.
(the picture above of my knees a WEEK later testifies to these facts.)

For the next two days, I licked my wounds. (figuratively)

And, on Thursday...
I laced up my shoes.

And, I went back.
Because, I'm running to win.

 I Corinthians 9:24-25

 You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally.

 

When Life Sucks OR an Opportunity for GREAT J.O.Y.

In these moments, I struggle against silence.

To shut down

To go off grid

To hide

Because life isn't what I expected.

Cuz this "mom" thing isn't what I expected.

This "wife" thing isn't what I expected.

I...am NOT what I expected.

It overwhelms.

This sense of despair.

I feel talent-less.

use-less.

hope-less.

And, I wonder...

When is it ever easy?

When does it go as planned?

When do I catch a break?

And, I sit.

And, I feel the tear slip down my face.

And, another.

And, a gut-wrenching cry well from deep within.

And, I hope the person in the car next to me doesn't look over.

I cry ugly tears.

I gulp for air.

And, I lash out...

There is no epiphany.

No light bulb goes off.

There is only silence.

And, I sink deeper.

I keep my sunglasses on as I run my errands.

Bank....check.

Grocery store....check.

Gas station....check.

Gym....check. (I take off my glasses for this)

I crawl back into the car. 

I focus on breathing.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

I drive home in silence.

 I am angry. 
Angry at Him for not letting me catch a break in this thing called LIFE.
Bitter that He doesn't reward this effort I've made to find J.O.Y.
Fighting a sense of entitlement that I deserve an easy go of it for a while.

And, then it slips in,
a verse that I memorized long ago...
 
James 1:2-4 (NLT)

² Dear brothers and sisters,when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Seriously, God???

Pain & heartache...trouble....

an opportunity for GREAT J.O.Y.

When will I EVER learn this lesson?

So, my friends, there may be a reason you're not catching that break...

A reason that it N.E.V.E.R. lets up...

because He is giving you an opportunity for GREAT 

J.O.Y.

So, I slip on my cap...

Fully acknowledging that is stands for 

SUPER JESUS

not

SUPER JILLAIN.

And, I stop & whisper a prayer of thanksgiving for another opportunity for 

GREAT J.O.Y.