Morning Prayers

These past couple of days, I've been managing to say prayers when I'm almost awake and not really distracted. This is a very new thing for me, as usually I'm just too exhausted to actually focus for more than a couple minutes.

I was loving Devon Gundry's Refrenergy this morning, along with rediscovering one of my favorite prayers for God's Will and protection and this quote:

The purpose underlying the revelation of every heavenly Book, nay, of every divinely-revealed verse, is to endue all men with righteousness and understanding, so that peace and tranquillity may be firmly established amongst them. Whatsoever instilleth assurance into the hearts of men, whatsoever exalteth their station or promoteth their contentment, is acceptable in the sight of God. How lofty is the station which man, if he but choose to fulfill his high destiny, can attain! To what depths of degradation he can sink, depths which the meanest of creatures have never reached! Seize, O friends, the chance which this Day offereth you, and deprive not yourselves of the liberal effusions of His grace. I beseech God that He may graciously enable every one of you to adorn himself, in this blessed Day, with the ornament of pure and holy deeds. He, verily, doeth whatsoever He willeth.

A quiet Saturday

I think today has been the most low-key weekend I've had since the end of April. It's been far too long. There's been great travels and great celebrations and great visitors, but it's kind of nice to have some quiet time too.

I've read, watched the first episode of Eureka (yay for summer start TV shows), done some errands, made a yummy stir fry, walked to Starbucks for my afternoon treat :), and read a lot of The Male Brain by Louann Brizendine, the exciting companion to the well-known Female Brain. Some of it has been, "Well yeah, that's what everyone says," and some of it has been, "Huh, I didn't know it worked that way." It's been an enjoyable and very quick read so far. I've gone through baby, boy, adolescent, mate-searching, and am in to "Daddy Brain". Some of it I wonder how much we're accurately interpreting the data that we think we're getting, but it's an interesting perspective. I'm looking forward to re-reading The Female Brain afterward.

I watched "Dear John" yesterday, and actually thought a lot about The Female Brain, as to why I wanted to watch it ;). It's very cathartic for me to watch tear-jerker movies. It must stimulate the oxytocin and whatever other "feel-good" chemicals in my brain there are. It doesn't really make logical sense why I would enjoy watching other people's difficulties, but there is the feeling of relief, victory, and knowing other people struggle with things too. It was a great evening with a friend, including cat fun, delicious waffles, beautiful pictures and reliving memories, and movie time.

I was disappointed to find out that Eat, Pray, Love is becoming a movie with Julia Roberts. I don't think I'll even see it, because it was such a personal experience with me and that book, I think a movie would just distance it from me.

Exciting and scary times I'm in right now, all at the same time. It feels like I'm on a daily roller coaster. Stay tuned.

Almost my birthday!

Tomorrow's my birthday! Good times will be had.

Over the last month, I have:

Planned a class

Attended 3 weddings, all beautiful and happy

Gone home for a visit

Gone to Charleston

Spent time with my favorite people

Gone to rural NC

Started teaching my class

Thought about what the fall semester holds for me

Eaten delicious food from my CSA share

Eaten delicious food other places

Had more doctor's appointments and scheduled some too :-P