I'm Gonna Pop Some Tags...

During this time of "shelter in place" I have to admit that I am mostly content. I am pretty happy to be in my own space with my family but there is one thing that I am really starting to miss...

Thrifting...

I love thrift stores and antique stores and especially the kind with piles and piles of stuff! Lots of things to sort through looking for those hidden treasures. The joy of thrifting isn't just in the acquisition of items there is so much more to it then that! 

I have a sentimental streak so I like to imagine the people who owned the items. That pyrex casserole dish...that might have held Myrna's famous casserole that she brought to all of the church potlucks. That little wooden box with the wonky blue and green heart painted on the top...that was little Lorena's treasure box that she kept her most special treasures in in the second grade.  That beat up copy of Treasure Island...that was Davey's favorite book in elementary school that inspired him to become a writer. 

Then there are the silly things that you find. One of my favorite's that I regret not buying was a coffee mug that said "I'd rather be 40 than Pregnant". There is whole Facebook page devoted to this kind of thing called "Weird Secondhand Finds That Just Need to be Shared". If you are in need of a giggle go check it out.

Thrifting is a fun solo activity but I really love thrifting with my friends. It's fun to have a friend help you look for and celebrate finding special treasures and to laugh uncontrollably over the silly things that you find. 

Thrifting is essentially looking through piles and piles of stuff to find the things that bring you delight and joy and wonder.  

While I can't go out to my favorite Thrifting spots right now I can use those same principles in my daily life to see all of the places that God is showing up. On a good day the world can seem like a big pile of random things to sort through and it seems like in these days we can get a little overwhelmed with all that we are trying to sort through. 

Right now many of us actually have time to stop and take a look around...sort through that pile of goodness to find those treasures. God is all around us trying to get our attention. 

He is in the birdsong. 

He is in the moments of belly laughs with your friends and families. 

He is in those quiet moments when you can breathe deep and just let yourself relax.

He is in the music that brings a lightness to your spirit for just a few minutes. 

He is here. He is moving. 

We just need to open our eyes and hearts and notice. 

I would love to hear some of the places that you are seeing God. What is bringing you delight and joy and wonder right now? It would be like thrifting with a friend! 

Know that you are loved and held today. 

I can....I need...I love

On a normal day it can be a lot to keep up with my extroverted, spirited daughter but during these long days at home with no school or friends to distract her, not to mention juggling my work and mental health during this global pandemic....well, let's just saying we're doing the best we can. 

Yesterday afternoon I hauled out my polymer clay supplies. I had her watch a beginner's polymer clay tutorial on YouTube while I set everything up. We turned on a movie and got to work. 

 Becca was quickly immersed in both the movie and the polymer clay. I had some things to do so I just left her to it. She sat there for more than 4 hours!

When I went to look at her creations I noticed this....

I was really intrigued by the words she chose. I asked her why she chose them and she shrugged and said, "I don't know they just seemed like important words." 

As we live in this time of uncertainty in the world around us I think these words really are so important. 

I can....what CAN you do? It can be easy to focus on all of the things we can't do but what exactly is it that you can do?

 Here is what I can do:

•  I can find things that bring me joy and hope and point them out to others who need to see them.
•  I can take care of myself physically by eating well and exercising. 
• I can soak in the time I have with my family. 
• I can pray.
•  I can be creative by making art, cooking, singing, and writing. 
• I can be kind
• I can be generous with my time and energy

I will stop there but there are LOTS of things that I CAN do! 

I need...this idea of need is really interesting to me right now. As people are panic buying all of the things, it really is a good time to assess what it is we really need. And you know what? It is ok to need things. Sometimes we need toilet paper, sometimes we need prayer, sometimes we need a hug....we all have needs. I hope that this is a time that we are able to sort out our wants and be able to express our needs. 

Here is what I need: 

• I need quiet time to read God's Word and to listen.
• I need to work through all of emotions I am feeling creatively. 
• I need the love of my family. 
• I need hope. 
• I need joy. 
• I need love. 
• I need peace. 

I love...this was the first one that Becca did and I asked her about it specifically. I asked what exactly was it she loved and she looked me dead in the eye and said very seriously, "Mama, I love EVERYTHING!"  Her love is so big it often leaks out through her body. My daughter is a serial hugger. She cannot help herself. This social distancing stuff is hard for a hugger but she is learning there are other ways to show her love to the world. 

Here is what I love: 

• I love God. 
• I love my family. 
• I love people, even when I am annoyed by them I really genuinely love them
• I love making things. 
• I love wide open schedules where I am free to think things through for as long as I need to. 
• I love pointing people in the direction of love, joy, hope, and peace. 
• I love words. 

This is another one that I could go on with but I will stop there. 

When we are in crisis mode it can be hard to slow down enough to think about what's important. Becca's clay project helped me to focus my thoughts and I wonder if they might do the same for you. 

I would love to hear your thoughts. 

I can...

I need....

I love...

I have set aside a special prayer journal for this specific season. If you have something you would like me to add to that journal you can comment here or private message me on Facebook or Instagram. 

Know that you are loved and held today.