Every Morning

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning...

xoxo

Taking a Little Vacation

I'm a little giddy this morning because my husband gave me permission (he keeps me on a tight leash ;)) to plan our summer vacations! I often Google luxury hotels and restaurants in glamorous cities, close my eyes and pretend I'm there instead of sitting in this sand box that is West Texas. Even after living in downtown Chicago for a year and having this view from my cozy apartment, I still crave the bright lights and hustle and bustle of a big city.

John and I have been fortunate enough to eat lots of amazing meals together in major cities including L.A., Paris, Washington D.C., London, Chicago, San Francisco, and yes, Dallas. Food is one thing I don't like to skimp on, so you can be sure that our vacations will include lots of good eats!

You might have noticed from the list of cities above that we haven't done NYC together - we've visited separately, but never together. It's on our agenda for the summer, no doubt.

While tickling our fancies but bringing us back down to earth, I'm also planning a separate road trip through the deep south - think New Orleans, Atlanta (to visit family), Savannah and Charleston. Southern hospitality, pounds of butter and charming bed and breakfasts just can't be beat! ;)

So here's my question: Do you have any hotel and restaurant recommendations in any of these locations? I'm looking for charming, romantic and affordable hotels and restaurants that will give us a real taste of each city.

Is there anything better than planning a vacation??

xoxo

Spring Has Sprung

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, seek God.

Quiet moments, worship God.

Painful moments, trust God.

Every moment, thank God.

Lots of praising, seeking, and thanking going on around here today! Do you turn to God in the difficult moments? Better yet, do you sing His praises in moments of joy? I know I'm quick to let John know about my frustration or excitement before I talk to God. Maybe if I turned to the Lord first, I would allow John more of those quiet moments to worship :).

Spring in Texas... bluebonnet fields, long talks on the patio, Sunday afternoon naps with the windows open...if you're in the Lone Star State right now, you know what I'm talking about. Glorious!

I hope your week has been filled with joy!

xoxo

When Nothing Else Will Do

I started drinking afternoon coffee with my parents when I was home in college and even now, having a cup takes me back to their living room... lounging on their plush couch, sipping coffee, eating dessert and analyzing life (and trust me, we analyze... my dad's a therapist :)).

(Say hi to my mom and dad - aren't they cute?? :))

Although I adore the smell and taste, I went on a coffee hiatus, trading it out for green and herbal teas in hopes that I could maintain a high enough energy level without it.

Most days I'm reasonably functional without the caffeine. I find that drinking lots of water, eating well and exercising help me stay alert. But today, folks, that wasn't cutting it. I was up at 5:15 this morning for 6am yoga (that absolutely kicked my rear, by the way) and I literally just never woke up! You would think that after dozens of chatarungas, arm balances and squats, I would have come home alert, but I walked back in the door the same way I left - sleepy eyed and slightly irritated that I was up so early. Don't get me wrong, I love, love, love my morning yoga classes, but today I just needed a cup of jo.... know what I mean?

At 3:30 I hit a wall and ventured out to Starbucks for a grande vanilla latte. It. was. amazing!! Hate to say it, but if addiction is possible after one cup, I believe I'm there.

John - please add an extra cup to your five tomorrow morning. I'll be grateful, and nicer, and prettier (??), and more likely to make you breakfast... ;)

xoxo

P.S. I know ranting about coffee probably doesn't leave you feeling very blessed or inspired (except to maybe stop by Starbucks on your way home), so here's a little video to fuel your soul.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z15FlTONVo&feature=related

I Love You

Two flights, one hotel, six meetings, three trips to Whole Foods, one raw food restaurant and an upset tummy later, I'm finally home... right where I belong :). There's a big part of me that loves work travel... people watching in airports, exploring new cities, feeling independent. But when the chatty security guard decides to search my suitcase and take a sample of whatever might be on the palm of my hand at 5am, the trip is simply exhausting before it has even begun!

So, what does a girl do when she's exhausted, wet from the torrential rain, and has an upset tummy? She throws a fit, that's what! Despite my husband's incredibly sweet gestures when I got home yesterday evening (think red wine, dark chocolate and a love note), I pouted about my week, may or may not have kicked my legs in frustration a few times and ultimately whined (not wined, as he would have preferred ;)) myself to sleep.

That, my friends, is what a lack of appreciation looks like. Despite all the good things going on in my life last night, I was so focused on all the aggravating things that had gone wrong - what a waste, right?

Anyway, John, if you're reading this, I LOVE YOU and truly appreciate all you do for me! The best part about work trips is that I always get to come back home to you.

                           

                                  

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

xoxo

Rain or Shine

I'm feeling especially chipper on this dreary Monday morning. Maybe it's because of this sweet little excerpt from Jim Denison's God Issues email I received today:

A priest met a beggar. "God give you a good day, my friend," he said. The beggar answered, "I thank God I have never had a bad one." The priest said, "God give you a happy life, my friend." "I thank God," said the beggar, "I am never unhappy." The amazed priest asked, "What do you mean?" "Well," said the beggar, "When it is good weather, I thank God, when it rains, I thank God, when I have food, I thank God, when I'm hungry, I thank God. Since God's will is my will, and whatever pleases him pleases me, I am happy always."

The priest looked at the beggar in astonishment. "Who are you?" he asked. "I am a king," said the beggar, "Where is your kingdom?" The beggar answered quietly, "In my heart."

Whether it's rain or shine for you this morning, thank God and be pleased that his will is done.

xoxo

Simplify

As I pulled up to my yoga studio at 6am this morning, the first thing that caught my eye through the studio's windows was a wooded sign that read "Simplify". Let me tell you, that sign was put there just for me...ok, maybe not, but God made sure that I really took that message to heart this morning. Although yoga naturally reminds me to keep things simple by focusing solely on my breath and body while I'm on the mat, some weeks I need it to be spelled out for me: SIMPLIFY.

When life gets a little topsy-turvy, I start focusing on the aspects of my life that I can control. While I do believe that being proactive is crucial in easing stress and boosting confidence, those nagging little details that we want to have a grasp on often put our minds in overdrive.

Instead of trying to control events and surroundings, why not just simplify? For instance, this weekend John and I are attending a wedding that, like almost all weddings, will bring us much joy while simultaneously tugging at our heartstrings. We were sent an agenda of sorts for the weekend that made us feel a little tense. Be at the church at this time, attend this dinner at this time, email this person if you can make it, etc. Having planned a wedding of my own, I know it's a wee bit stressful for everyone involved, whether you want it to be or not!

My thought this morning was that instead of worrying about all the event details - where I have to be, what I have to wear, how I'll feel emotionally throughout the weekend - I'm going to simplify and focus on the bottom line: we'll be there to simply love those around us. That just makes me feel warm inside :).

No matter what is on your weekend agenda, keep it simple and approach everything you do with love and courage.

xoxo

"God is deeply attentive to our most secret hurts, concerns, and hopes." Beth Moore