Friday Favorites: March, 2, 2018

It's been a long week, friends.

For some reason when I woke up on Wednesday I was positive it was Friday. And then Drew came downstairs and asked me what day it was because he said it felt like it should be Friday. And then I saw at least four or five posts on social media by different people saying the same thing. What does that mean? Does that have something to do with moon cycles? Are moon cycles even a real thing or is that like believing in horoscopes? I mean, I know moon cycles are a thing because I've studied all that waxing and waning business with my kids about 7,000 times over the years, but I wonder if that's why we don't have any idea what day it is. Also, it's so windy here right now that they canceled school. For real. A tree just fell down in our backyard. I feel like Dorothy and Toto are going to fly by my window any minute now.

Wow, this post is awesome so far.

I suppose that I should get to Friday Favorites now, but I'm going to be honest and tell you that I am hard pressed to find anything that falls into that category this week. Still, I'm bound and determined to do so because otherwise I might need to get up and call someone about that tree.

Here's what was not my favorite about this week: Our basement flooded on Sunday night due to a malfunctioning sump pump and then my husband had to leave town for three days. This caused great panic and whining because that meant I had to be an adult and deal with water damage people, insurance adjusters and plumbers. I faked it like a boss and now I have thirteen new best friends from various home repair companies who have been in and out of my house all week.

This brings us to the first item on our list.

1. A Water Damage Restoration Guy Named Big Mike

(I wish I had a photo of him. So much. He would make your whole day.)

One of the guys who came to deal with our water damage was a giant of a guy with gleaming white teeth who spoke with an accent which sounded Jamaican to me, but I don't know for sure. Everyone calls him "Big Mike". He smiles all the time while he tells me in his sweet voice that this is not a great situation. He looks at me with sympathy and such earnest kindness that it almost makes me cry. So I kinda feel like Big Mike should take the top spot on Friday Favorites this week. I'm holding on to his smile and kindness as evidence of God's promise that there is always light in the darkness. And sometimes that light comes in the kind smile of a giant service man who sounds like he's about to break into "Don't Worry, Be Happy" at any minute. When I've gotten overwhelmed this week, I think of Big Mike and repeat to myself, "This is a pain, not a tragedy. This is a pain, not a tragedy." over and over again. Thank you, Jesus, for Big Mike. You did a mighty work there.

2. Sweet Vanilla Fig Bath Gel by Philosophy 

I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned my great affinity for taking scalding hot bubble baths every single night which apparently is very old lady-ish, but I have no shame about it. You know how Jonah ran away from Ninevah straight to the ship to avoid God's call on his life? Well, for me Ninevah is all the things that seem too hard for me to deal with and my bathtub is the ship to which I flee when I want to avoid adulting. I've been known to find myself in gallons of hot water surrounded by bubbles at 2:00 in the afternoon if the opportunity for avoidance presents itself. I'm grateful I've yet to be swallowed by a whale during my escape. Unfortunately, our hot water heater stopped working the same night as the basement debacle which according to Big Mike and the gang was just an unhappy coincidence. Therefore I could not retreat to the bathtub to escape the realities of our basement clean up until yesterday. Now we have a brand spanking new hot water heater, so I took perhaps the longest, hottest bath ever recorded with about half a bottle of the Philosophy Sweet Vanilla Fig bath gel that I got for Christmas. I'm not sure you can find this scent anymore which is perhaps even clearer evidence that this particular body wash was created for such a time as this. Thank you, Philosophy.

Let's proceed to things that don't have to do with my home repair issues because it appears I'm getting a bit overly dramatic.

3. Proverbs31.org Devotionals

I've been reading devotional messages at proverbs31.org for years. During Lent they've been particularly helpful for me as each morning when I click the computer on, I'm trying really hard to go there first before email, social media or any where else. The devotionals are generally right on a topic I'm needing to hear because you know, GOD. They always have a few scripture verses to go along with them and I'm trying to be very intentional about scripture memorization this Lent. It's going okay-ish, but I'm keeping at it because I know that if I have a good word memorized that I can call upon at any time of the day, it helps a whole lot when, oh, I don't know, say you have to go to your best friend's house or to the gym to take a shower for a few days. I have lots of devotional books, but proverbs31.org's daily words are my favorite online.

4. St. Patrick's Day Cocktail Dress

We're invited to a fancy birthday party on March 17th this year. I've long been a fan of St. Patrick's Day and I think this dress would be perfect for the party. Unfortunately, I told myself that I wouldn't buy anything new because I have plenty of dresses to wear and I don't need this dress and also did I mention the basement clean-up? So, I'm just going to keep looking at it online. That'll be fun. :/

5. A Friend Who Can Make You Laugh When You Really Need It

My diet Coke addiction is well known among my friends and family because I believe the truth will set you free. Although telling them the truth has not set me free because I still love it with my whole heart. I've given it up for weeks at a time, but always fall back. Lately, I've been better about not drinking it everyday, but I'm certainly keeping it in the rotation, if you will. My friend, Sandy, sent me this text on a day when I was not having the best of days and telling her that although I'd been on the wagon I was currently on my way to McDonald's to get a large with extra ice. She understands that there are times in one's life when the diet coke is all that will do and apparently she was having that day as well. I heart you, Sandy. :-)

6. Obnoxious Texas Humor

Happy Texas Independence Day! Hug a Texan today or maybe just avoid us because we get a little impressed with ourselves on days like today. :-) 

PS My hair and I would be ever so grateful if you would say a prayer today for my hair stylist, Christopher, who had a much worse week than yours truly. He suffered serious burns to his hands and leg when a lithium battery exploded in his pocket. He's had a rough go of it, but has remained hilarious and positive all week. Please pray for his healing today, for his wife and kids, and for my hair to remain calm about this whole thing, would you? My 'do and I appreciate it!

Have a great weekend!