5 Friday Favorites: March 28, 2025

   

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.

Hello and happy last weekend of March. April is coming and we've had little glimpses of Spring this week. The other day I heard a pastor say that Spring is the evidence that in the cold and dark of winter, even though we couldn't have perceived it, God was working all along. Bring it on.

Here are some favorites from this week.

1. Veep

My son, Joe, has been so frustrated with me because the number of times he told me that I would love the show, Veep, with Julia Louis-Dreyfus is infinity times. For some reason, I never would start it. This week I finally decided to watch and I flew through the first season. I then promptly sent Joe a text saying, "I can't believe you didn't ever tell me to watch Veep. This is like the best show ever. I'm calling a flagrant personal foul on you." He replied, "There's no way you could've  known." Sarcasm is our love language.The actors are perfectly cast and the dialogue is so quick and smart that I have to rewind to be sure I don't miss anything. 5 Stars.

2. Universal Thread Linen Jumpsuit

There is no world in which I need another jumpsuit/romper, but alas, this one is on its way to me. It comes in black, olive and blue also. I'm not sure how long the Target Circle discounts are happening, but I think they are still in play today. There is some great summer style at Target right now and the discounts are pretty fire.

3. Fresca

Listen. I'm over a decade late to Veep and now I'm going to bring up Fresca which according to the Internet has been around since 1966. I've really got my finger on the pulse, friends. This is the thing. My sister and I were discussing the rough patch we both seem to be having in our relationship with wine these days. For some reason, even if I drink one glass of wine lately, I sleep terribly and I feel like garbage the next day. I'm not saying we're breaking up, but we're going to start seeing other people. Add this new revelation to the 753 symptoms that menopause has so kindly delivered to my life.

While I love a Cosmo, they are a bit labor-intensive for making at home. So, Fresca with a splash of something else has entered the chat. The Fresquila, the Frodka or the Frumsca. We're workshopping the names. They're not great. No matter what you want to call it, this is my new cocktail of choice. It slaps. (Sorry for all the bro lingo. Can you tell I've spent a lot of time with the 20 year olds lately?)

4. Square Aviators Take 2

I bought these sunglasses last year and mentioned them here. I love them. But I sat on them last weekend. I ordered another pair because they're only $14.00ish with the coupon. So you can sit on them at will and not feel too bad about it.

5. Some Words on Following His Voice - Mostly from Kate Bowler

This week I spoke at my church's Wednesday service. It's legitimately my most favorite thing that happened this week. The Lord has given me many opportunities to speak at my own church and other local churches in the past several years. If you would have told me ten years ago that this would be something I was capable of, I would have called you a lunatic. And every single time before I walk up to the front of the congregation, I tell myself I'm a lunatic for agreeing to do this. Every. Single. Time. But, God, amiright? 

Along with writing this book I've been working on for the past twelve years ;-), my soul tells me these speaking gigs are God's call for me. Maybe you've heard that still small voice calling you to something new as well? Or maybe that dream you had tucked way down deep in your heart years ago is pushing through again? I think many of us who find ourselves inching toward a new season of life without the responsibilities of raising decent humans, not to mention without the carpool schedule, find the possibilities of how to live out the rest of this one precious life both exciting and terrifying. 

Did I hear You correctly? Is this Your voice or mine? Because if it is You, why am I so unsure? Is this dream my plan or Yours?  And why does acknowledging that I really want to do this - the writing and the speaking - seem not only scary, but even a little embarrassing? Because if it really is You, then in the words of Psalm 8:3 "Who am I, Lord, that You are mindful of me?" 

In the past few months, I think I've been hearing God clearly. There have been new friends, new opportunities, new hope. I'm stepping forward in obedience, trying to quiet my own shaming voice of self-doubt who is so very loud. These are tiny steps forward that seem to require such enormous faith.

This week I read a poem in Kate Bowler's book, Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day. Maybe it will be a blessing for you if a new dream has shown up or the old one won't die no matter how stuck in self doubt you have been. It was an encouragement for me to just keep listening. Just keep moving. Just keep trusting. 

God go, and I will follow.

Because truly, I cannot lead.

I cannot drag myself forward,

chin up and eyes on the horizon,

when all I see is the mud

caking around my feet.

God, go and grace will follow

I've seen it all before.

How in the smallest moments

the tiniest efforts

multiply in your wake.

We've seen the sun rise 

over an empty tomb

and life spring up from nothing but dust,

so all things considered,

I suppose I should finally believe

that you could do a lot with this day,

my life and these weary limbs,

and learn to follow

the God who goes first.

Have a beautiful weekend, friends.

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