5 Friday Favorites: March 20, 2020

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

On Fridays I share things that made me happy from the week - a photo, a song, a quote or Bible verse, 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.

Well, hello there, dear reader. What's new?

Global pandemic?

Same, Girl. Same.

I keep hearing that we just need some regular routines to save us from ourselves so I'm going to go ahead and write a 5 Friday Favorites this week.

I haven't written much at all in a couple of weeks which is not great for me because then all the thoughts stay in my head. And I don't know about your own experience with self-quarantine, but for me it seems to increase the thoughts I have to a degree that I don't think would be recommended by professionals. They either fester there or bounce around so much that my brain feels like a pinball machine.

So before we get to 5 Friday Favorites: The Global Pandemic Edition, I'll share some of my thoughts on this weirdo universe in which we find ourselves. If you don't want to read them just go back to watching Season 4 of Friday Night Lights. I don't blame you because Tim Riggins.

I was pretty chill about this whole thing for approximately 3.5 days, but there have been a few moments of anxiety wash over me in the last couple. I have experienced panic attacks in the past and the worst part of having one of those is that you are forevermore panicked that you might panic again.

Sounds like so much fun, doesn't it? It's a blast.

Anyway, so far so good in that regard as long as I don't think too far into the future. There are truths in this situation that are real and factual. And then there are the things that my anxiety tells me might be true about this situation. That's why I have to spend a lot of time in Scripture to find what I know to be true.

(One thing we know for sure that will come out of this pandemic is that my people will definitely never stop calling me Bible-Beating Betty.)

When my mind swirls with what ifs, I work hard to focus on what is. Here's what is:

The Lord has loved me and my people every single minute of our lives. He knew us before we even took a breath. There have been times I have suffered and have watched my family and friends suffer and I could not see His face. And yet, I knew that He could see mine. He has always been as near to me as my very breath. I know that there will be a gift for us in this time. I know that as Romans 8:18 tells us, our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us. I know that as
Psalm 46 tells us, God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. I know that as Isaiah tells us, we have been engraved on the palms of His hands.

Again, I cannot quit telling myself that the Lord has an intentional gift for us in this. Likely, many, many gifts. We have to keep looking for them.

Just for today. I will let go of what if and I will rest in what is. 

So, anyhoo, now you know that I've spent a whole lot of time in the Word.

Also, I've perfected 3 Tik Tok dances, obviously. Which brings us to my first Friday Favorite.

1. Allison Holker and Sir Twitch A Lot on Instagram

I've mentioned this couple before and the content they are putting out into the world is made for a quarantine. On each of their Instagrams they offer workouts or just fun dances. They are pure happiness. If you're feeling low, I highly recommend them. Did I spend 20 minutes in front of my bathroom mirror learning a few of their dances? Yes. Yes, I did. It's the times, y'all.

2. Friends Reruns on TBS

You can watch Friends for hours on end on TBS. To be specific you can find the gang from 11:00 am EST to 4:00 pm EST. I'm not saying you should. I'm just saying you can. Also, I would suggest as many comedy specials as you can pull up. We've liked Seth Meyer's Lobby Baby and John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous.

3. Miss Spa Facial Masks

You can get a whole pack of Miss Spa Face Masks from Amazon from $19.95. With no where to go and no need to put on make up, I have been caring for my skin in the past week with a focus and intention that has not been seen in my lifetime. It's as if the Lord looked down at my age spots and crow's feet and said, "Hey, Cactus Flower Hydrating Sheet Mask, who knows but that you have come to this royal position for such a time as this?"  Based on the amount of masks, lactic acid essences, and Vitamin C serums that have spent time on my face this week, I should look like I'm about 22 years old when this is done.

4. Oribe Gold Lust Transformative Hair Masque

Speaking of masks, I also plan to put this Oribe Gold Lust Transformative Hair Masque on my hair tonight. Now, rest assured that I did not spend 66 American dollars on this. I guess they think they can justify that price by calling it a "masque" instead of a "mask". Who knows. I have a sample that I got when I ordered something from Ulta last year, so I'm using it for free. I'll report back next week on if it is worth your hard earned $66.

5. Trying a New HairStyle

I bought this curling wand a long, long time ago, but never could figure out how to use it because I never had the patience to sit down and watch a hair tutorial. So it has been there stuck under my sink for months wondering if the Lord would provide it a way out.  Well, won't He do it? This is the time for us to try all the hair styles we've always wanted to try. Melanie Shankle has a hair tutorial on her Instagram stories. YouTube has approximately a billion hair tutorials. You can even look them up by your specific curling wand. Is the Google a wonder or what?

Let's say your hair ends up looking terrible. WHO CARES, MAN? Just put on a Hydrating/Cleansing/Age-Defying face mask and lie down in your bed and read.

Bonus #6 Favorite (Because Everything is Weird and We Make up Our Own Rules Now) 
On the Bright Side: Stories About Friendship, Love and Being True to Yourself

By Melanie Shankle 

If the curling wand thing didn't work out and you're sitting there with a terrible hairstyle and kale and papaya running down your face, Melanie Shankle has written a book that was absolutely made for us right now. Read On the Bright Side. It is funny and smart and delightful. If there ever was a time to look for the bright side, it's now.

Hang in there, Friends. This is hard. It's sad. It's confusing. It is.  Keep remembering that He is who He says He is, too. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, 

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.

Psalm 91:1

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