5 Friday Favorites: February 19, 2021

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.

Well, it seems everyone around the country is freezing their tails off this week. I am praying for my Texas people and hoping for sunny skies, increased temperatures, restored power, and maybe a few tequila shots to get you through. Here are some of my favorite things from a week that was not my favorite. Sometimes you gotta look REAL HARD. ;-)

1. Folex Carpet Spot Remover

Let's start with something super exciting because I am 52 and there's a pandemic so what do you want from me? Years ago I had my carpets cleaned by a professional company and they left a bottle of this Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover here. Then recently I saw someone on Instagram use it for cleaning a fabric chair. This chair of mine was so disgusting and although it certainly doesn't look brand new, the Folex, a toothbrush, a dry cloth, and a little elbow grease really did make a difference.

Before: Please don't ask me how it got this bad. 

After:

2. That Sounds Fun: The Joys of Being an Amateur, The Power of Falling in Love, and Why You Need a Hobby by Annie F. Downs

Annie F. Downs's podcast, That Sounds Fun, is one of my favorites. She recently released her book by the same name and I flew through in a just a few days. Annie talks about chasing after fun and understanding that fun is something God gives us even it the midst of dark times. Annie is positive and optimistic without sounding out of touch and "pollyanna-ish" and her voice is exactly what I need right now. To be honest, I'm not sure if you don't listen to her podcast if you would like the book as much as I do, but it might be worth a shot. I appreciate her spin on life's difficulties and her faith in God's goodness, so I really loved it. 

3. Here's My Heart, Lord by Crowder

This is one of my very, very favorite songs ever and I was so happy to hear my church's choir sing it on our virtual Ash Wednesday service this week. Gosh I love it so much. Lately - or maybe for my whole life - my mind and my worry try to create their own truths. All week, I've been reciting Mark 9:24 - "I believe. Help my unbelief." God speaks what is true - specifically that He is worthy of our faith and trust. We just have to turn off our minds, hand Him our hearts and let Him speak. Also, to be clear, He speaks in lots of ways for me. I believe He can speak in a voice you can hear, but I've never heard that. It's in the Bible that I hear His truth. It's in my friends who say they're praying and I know that it's not just a throw-away comment. It's in a blue jay I saw sitting in the snow this week staring right through me. My mom once told me that "God speaks in a whisper" and if you don't shut up for a second you might miss Him.

4. In and Of Itself on Hulu

  

  

Well, I'm not exactly sure what to even say about In and Of Itself on Hulu. I watched it yesterday. I don't even know if I've processed the whole thing yet. All I know is that I was completely captivated for the full hour and a half and I bawled my face off for the last twenty minutes. It's about discovering our identity or not putting limits on our identity or not letting other people define us or I don't even know, but it was somethin' else. I'm going to be thinking about it for awhile. 

5. All the Stuff to Wear in the Snow

It's been a whole week of snow and freezing rain and dreary cold so I am so grateful that after living here for almost 30 years, I finally learned how to clothe myself in the winter.  This hat is the best. It's so cute, comes in tons of colors, and isn't itchy at all.

This coat. I've said too many words about it, but they will never adequately convey my undying love and devotion to it. 

These boots are so warm and comfortable, I wear them around the house when I get back in. 

That's it for this week. I hope you are staying warm and if you could send up a prayer for my people in Texas, please do. There is so much suffering there. Have a blessed weekend.

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