What I Learned in March... A Random List of Things

It's time! It's time! It's true... it's time for my favorite Link Up of the month, over at Emily Freemans' place, where we look back and list off random things that we have learned in the past month! They can be serious or silly - (most often times, a bit of both!)  We went a few months in between so last post I had tons of things that I had learned.  This time? Well it seems nearly impossible that I can think of even 2 things from last month - but you know how I roll and I will refer back to all the Bossy Media and remind myself of life lessons learned! (Hey... I'm 43, ya'll... this is real life!)

So - here we go!  Let's see what I learned...

Random Things that I learned in March:

1. I learned that Lent is not just a Catholic thing!  I know, I know... (I'm sorry!)  My ignorance is showing... but ya know what? That's okay because what I gave up for Lent this year is Self-Doubt and Hesitation and that is causing all KINDS of havoc in this little world of mine! Turns out - when you lay those down... a whole slew of others go with them and what you have left is a lot of room to step in to who you really are! So - yeah... I'm planning on leaving those idols laying down in the dust even after 40 days have come and gone! Honestly - I have Ann Voskamp to thank for teaching me about Advent, and Jennifer Dukes Lee for teaching me about Lent! (Non-affiliate links - they are both just really really great books, ya'll!)

2. I learned some things about those Photo-A-Day Challenges on Instagram...  Those are fun, right? I think I have attempted them now three or four times! I am all about it for the first two weeks... but slowly I am all like, "You're not the Boss of me!" and "How can I care enough to remember to even take a picture of something green today? I can't... that is the answer. The answer is: I can not."  So... by week three it's sporadic at best and by week four I have pretty much given up! And yet... it's a new month, with new challenges... and it's a little like creating art and I just can't not try, right?  Am I alone here? Do any of you play along with these? (And if so, what's your Instagram handle?)

#sorrynotsorry

3. I learned that this can actually be done: Leaving Self Doubt at home for a Writers Conference!  For real though - it was like the ultimate challenge and right off the bat, too! I know I already wrote about the conference and what it felt like (hint - it felt a lot like freedom!) to leave Self Doubt behind and stay present and confident in who I am (because of Whose I am, and because I am learning to believe what He says about me!) but in all honesty... I wasn't convinced that it could be done! It was one of those times when you are happy to be wrong! 

4. I learned that this even exists: Aloe Vera King Drink! So I am all for healthy choices and all. I really am.  But ya'll know me and my love for beverages and we just couldn't seem to get over the little bits of aloe gel... still - we bought several bottles over the weekend and drank them all! They taste great (Peach was our fav) and surely they must be healthy, right? Of course, they will never replace my coffee!

5. I learned the answer to: Who needs actual time to plan a pretty awesome Baby Shower? Answer - not this girl! We decided pretty last minute to throw my niece a Baby Shower when the whole family was in town and while it was only two weeks notice... well, I fought the urge to waste days on Pinterest pining (not pinning... pining... did ya see what I didn't do there?) away and just jumped right in, paid attention to my budget, and stayed in reality and managed to still pull off a pretty fun Shower.  My #1 goal? To make sure that she felt the love. Her Mom, after the party, hugged me close and said she loved how there was so much love poured in to the details.  And then, from my niece in her Thank You card to me, she wrote this: "Thank you for a beautiful shower and a nice visit. I am always amazed at how you make everything so pretty, and less crazy." (#forthewin!)

6. I learned that sometimes to really see and understand your OneWord (Vision), well - poor eyesight can actually help... Well - not that I like this... but it is what it is and sometimes we all need a little down time, less screen time, and to just - ya know - close. our. eyes.  Thank you for the prayers! My vision does seem to be improving and this whole more time not sitting in front of this screen (or that screen...) may just be my new normal and that is actually a really great thing!

7. I learned that I still really love a House FULL of Family!  As much as this family is made up of Introverts, I get filled up when the house is full and every one is loving every one and the older we get the less it happens and so I find myself in a corner, watching it all unfold and loving every noisy second of it! Even when all the Introverts are overwhelmed and are - uh - introverting on their own devices... we are all together and sharing in the quiet and I am busy counting gifts, one by one!

8. I learned that praying for God to forgive my sin AS I am doing it is not the best choice... (otherwise known as Going to Bed Angry...) I know... honestly - marriage is work, ya'll - and we are blessed and found a rhythm early on in ours and we rarely fight.  But everyone has those days... the ones when communication is just not really happening and assumptions and misinterpretations are all the rage... We had had a full week, recuperating from above mentioned house full, then fighting off sickness, and lastly dealing with some serious health issues with our Dad... a night out with friends was planned and we were so ready to unwind and catch up!

So that part was great... as usual! (We have the BEST friends! We have done life with these guys for over 20 years now! So blessed!)  Anyway - the next day, my Honey had planned on going over to Seattle to see his Dad in the hospital.  All week long he had talked of going over but hadn't decided for sure until Friday afternoon.  He was hoping to head over with a sibling or two but they had their own travel plans for a few days later so he decided to just go on his own.  He kept using words like "I" and "me" and I assumed (yeah yeah... I know what that makes me!) that this did not include me.  And since I hadn't said anything about it - he assumed (see? even stevens!) that I didn't want to go along.  So he went to bed without saying good night... and I crawled in bed, way over on the edge of my side... so as, you know, not to touch him... and I prayed something like (and no, sadly - I am not kidding) "Lord, forgive me as I sin... I am going to bed angry... I am tired and I do not want to deal with this tonight.  He obviously wants to be on his own so fine... whatever.  Sorry Lord..."  I know... super. mature.  Thank God my Honey is older wiser more grown up than I am and he bridged the gap and we laid side by side, in the dark, and talked things out until we drifted off to sleep, holding hands.  I take no credit and the lesson I learned is that there is just honestly SO MUCH wisdom in not letting the sun go down on your anger.  It was nice to wake up, not having that hanging heavy on my heart!  Instead, we packed the car and headed out of town, holding hands, together.

 9. I (re)learned that a Day Trip to Seattle is doable and must happen more often... We left our little town with nothing but blue skies all around and within about 40 minutes, we approached a literal impressive WALL of clouds/fog.  It was crazy and looked almost apocalyptic and we thought we would drive right down into it and come back out to blue skies on the other side... but... well, not so much:

We had a nice visit with my Honey's parents and was happy to find his Dad looking much better than we expected! He is healing and we waited until they moved him from the Critical Care Unit to a normal room before leaving. (He is actually scheduled for another surgery at 3pm today... completely unrelated to the first! Prayers appreciated for his full recovery!) Before heading back to town, we braved the classic Seattle weather and walked around downtown a bit... finding a great little restaurant, spotting signs of Spring, and - you know - ComicCon2014... (What? I only snapped a couple of iphone pix!)

As we pulled back into our driveway we decided then and there that Day Trips to Seattle are totally doable and we must plan to make them more often!

10. I learned that I like to read what I write - out loud... in front of people. Is that weird?  I have given lectures or taught at Bible studies, I have shared a devotion time or led out in prayer but only recently have I had the chance to read portions of a post here or there and I have to say, I really like it.  I'm not sure why, but I am sure that it is one more confirmation in a direction that He is calling me. 

11. I learned that a New (to me) Desk causes me to get all kinds of Organized.. We have had the same computer desk in our kitchen since our Only was 3 or 4... 3 or 4, ya'll? She's almost 19!  Yeah - it was all old school with the printer shelf and the CD holder with Storage tower on top... it worked fine - but when a friend said she was getting rid of her more modern dark wood desk... I jumped at the chance! Of course - more modern means no drawers, shelves, or storage. Still - I was willing to go through All. The. Papers. (and old software... and old computer games. Pajama Sam, Nancy Drew, or Myst anyone?)  My work space feels so much cleaner... and less cluttered (go figure!) and now I just want to lean back in this chair and drink it all in (and still not work... uh oh?)

12. I learned that I love my Tuesday routine... (Coffee and quiet time, Bible study with my tribe, lunch, then a walk!)  But more importantly, I learned that I still really love Indian food - and I decided that I am going to remember this more often - so I can eat all. the. butter. chicken. (and naan!)  I love Tuesdays... but on last Tuesday, since my sissy was in town and she loves to go out to The Taj, we had a lunch date and OH. Mah. Gah.  #Icantstop  #Iwontstop  For the love, people... I can't get enough of the Butter Chicken and Naan! Who needs rice pudding dessert when you can just have - I don't know - MORE butter chicken?

I am Linking up with EMILY FREEMAN

Join us!

So what about you?  What did you learned in March?