Refreshed!

So I got the privilege of spending a very stormy and wet weekend in the Coastal California Redwoods at Mt. Gilead's Women's Retreat with my mom for the second year in a row. It is such a blessing in my life, as I have shared before. The place where I grew up in my faith and met my husband. Gilead is the place where I am convinced that Jesus lives :) . So, I will try to go every year that God allows! This year was all about healing fractured relationships, accepting grace and believing the truth that God loves me just the way I am. The two things that were pounded into my brain were: "Jesus knows me, this I love", and to "get out of my own way", so that Christ can use me! I cannot do this life successfully without him. Some great reminders for me. I also was extremely encouraged by listening to women share their struggles and faith journey's. I got to reconnect with some old friends also! Mom and I had a wonderful time together too :) I feel refreshed, focused and incredibly grateful for my life and circumstances. God. Is. Good.

After a crazy storm on Sunday evening, somehow, these logs were picked up
and thrown up into the power lines!

More crazy storm aftermath....a tree branch pierced the dining hall awning!

Ruth Burch, Terah Lites and I, all former Mt. Gilead staffers.

Mom and I :)

Sweet Sacrifice

Ok. So lent has not been something that I usually participate in. Kinda like I don't really make New Years Resolutions either. I figure, why set myself up for failure? I know, high expectations eh? The thing is, I am always trying to have more discipline in my life, and it is an ongoing battle. But I felt a desire to give something up this year for the lent season. I have felt particularly lazy and unmotivated recently, with my spiritual walk, and in everyday life, so I gave up the thing I think I am most addicted to, and in the area I am the least disciplined in, which would be eating. I have some sort of sugar fix about 3 times a day, and it's not always a big dessert, but still it adds up (especially since I dump a ton in my coffee every morning). I figured, if I have this desire for sugar, three times a day, then three times a day I can remember why I am not having it, and have found myself thanking God for who he is, and remembering his sacrifice for me, and that I really don't deserve to be alive, much less have a sugar fix. It really is small potatoes, considering the bigger picture, and that others don't even get three meals a day. I am craving sugar, for sure, but so far am enjoying the discipline - go figure!