5 Friday Favorites: December 6, 2024

   

It's time for my Friday link up with  A Little Bit of Everything and Momfessionals. 

On Fridays I share things that made me happy from the week - a photo, a song, a quote, a beauty product, a recipe, a pair of cute shoes, etc. If it's a product, sometimes it's something I actually own and sometimes something I just saw online that gave me a smile. Sometimes it's serious and sometimes it's silly. I suppose I believe that God is in the simple details of life and yes, I can even find Him in a tube of lipstick.

Good morning and happy December! This week has been boring and routine and basic and I have loved every second of it. I traveled so much in October and November, so it was nice to hang out in my own house, sleep in my own bed and only be responsible for feeding one other human and one small dog. 

I will also say that last week in particular took a lot out of me. And I'm not saying that because I cooked for three days straight and hosted nine people for Thanksgiving. I'm referring to a certain rivalry game that made its way back to college football after a 13 year absence. It was a glorious return and we celebrated the fire out of the Texas Longhorns win over the Aggies. Drew and Joe were still here to watch the game with us. It's safe to say that there was a level of enthusiasm that Drew and I brought to the evening which ranged from pretty intense to downright undignified.

At one point when A&M blocked a punt, I got so upset, I left the room and went into the bathroom. When I came back Drew said, "Mom, did you go in there to throw up?"

It was a valid question.

I was listening to the BigBoo Cast this week and Melanie mentioned that a woman had gotten so intense during the overtime of a game she was watching that she fell out of her chair and her Apple Watch tried to call 911 for her. I'm not sure I've ever related to someone so much in my life. Also, no Apple watches for me, apparently.

Here are some other things I loved from the week. Although none compares to our defense not allowing the Aggie offense to score A SINGLE POINT.

1. Let Me Tell You 'Bout My Jesus - Anne Wilson

I heard this song for the first time a long time ago and I love it. Anne Wilson's story is heartbreaking and this song is a true testament to how the Lord can make beauty out of ashes.

2. Luggage Set

I've been obsessed with luggage sets lately because I traveled a lot in the fall. I cannot believe this 5 piece set is only $159.00. That weekender travel bag might be worth the entire cost. 

3. Clarins V-Facial Intensive Wrap Mask

I've  mentioned this facial mask before, but I love it. I use it at least once a week. It's not a miracle by any means, but it definitely helps with puffiness after I've had too much salt or wine. It's almost never on sale, but you can get it for 15% off right now.

4. Shrinking Season 2

Steve and I are watching Season 2 of Shrinking and I adore it. I love a show where you can't even decide who your favorite character is because you fall in love with all of them. Although, I will say that D-Train is my fave. Obviously. Just FYI, you have to get past some pretty harsh language, but there are the sweetest lessons to be found in the stories of these people. It's made me think a lot about forgiveness and redemption and healing. Which brings us to a bunch of rambling:

5. The Miracle of Forgiveness

I think and write a lot about everyday miracles. I have found as a Christian and a writer, I have been given either the great gift or great burden of being on the lookout for beauty, meaning and the odd joke or two in the most ordinary of circumstances. God gave me a core belief that He is big enough to care about the small things and show up in a life that is seemingly pretty basic. And perhaps that might be because I haven't been forced to look for those things - for evidence that God is real and true and present - in harrowing tragedy. Though my life has certainly had challenges and difficulties, I do not have a testimony (yet) that contains heartbreaking stories of suffering of great magnitude. So I have set out to accept that calling, all the while knowing (and working very hard not to fear) that the true testing of my faith is surely to come.

For this reason, I've not often had to think too much about forgiveness and restoration. But in the past few years, I've thought a lot about both of those things. And I've thought quite a bit about miracles. God and I are still working through this together. My thoughts are not fully formed which usually means I shouldn't write my thoughts. Oops.

It occurs to me that forgiveness itself is a miracle. The way the Lord can turn a stone cold heart that has been damaged and beaten down and worn flat out into one that is soft and open and healing is a miracle. Have you ever prayed and prayed and prayed for something to change and then one day decided you were done asking? I've often said the phrase "It is what it is." And that is a very helpful and true thing to remember in a lot of situations. But I don't think God is down with that. At least that's what I've found. Even when our hope has run out, even when restoration seems impossible, even when we flat out stop asking for His help, He. still. works. Just because you think the story has ended, doesn't mean that God isn't still writing it with an ending that you could have never seen coming. I've been on the planet for 55 years and I've been following Jesus for a long, long time. And He still surprises me with the way He makes all things new and works all things out for good. He's relentless like that. I'm so grateful.

Have a great weekend, Friends.

HOOK EM HORNS. Beat Georgia. 

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