♥ My Peach had her two canine teeth removed about a week ago. Medicating her twice a day hasn’t been fun for either of us, but she already seems to feel better than she did before the surgery. I’m hoping to see her gain some weight – she’s gotten alarmingly bony in her back and shoulders.

♥ This was an excellent food weekend! On Saturday I went to Greek Fest with Alanna and two other friends. We each got something different to share. I love all Greek food, but am so addicted to spanakopita that I rarely choose anything else, so this was a good move! Last night my dad took me to dinner at Milano’s. We’ve both passed Milano’s a million times and never gone there, and are now regretting our former ignorance. I had lobster ravioli that I’m pretty sure was handmade, and it came with a side salad and garlic knots for under $10. Macaroni Grill who?

♥ I taught a yoga class last week! My yoga teacher asked me to sub for her. I wasn’t nearly as good as she is (and the only attendees were regulars, so everyone knew what to do anyway), but I felt accomplished and think it went well for my first ever teaching experience. I’m hoping for more experience and growth in that area.

♥ The Grizzlies lost to the LA Clippers in Game 7 of the playoffs yesterday. Sad times for the city.

♥ I’ve been new-car shopping! After trips to several dealerships and way too much internet research, I’ve settled on a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. But first, the man looking at my current car has to decide to buy it. So, much more about this if everything pans out.

I recently hit 70 subscribers to this blog! Again, this is nothing in the big time, but very exciting to me. Thank you all! :)

6 Comments + Posted in: life lately

Half a decade ago, I read Sheila Walsh’s excellent book on depression, The Heartache No One Sees. I had never heard of Sheila before (despite her fame as a singer, speaker, and writer), but I was quickly taken in by her transparency, hard-knocks wisdom, and obvious heart for encouragement. Her words were a lifeline to me, and I’ve admired her ever since. So when her latest book, God Loves Broken People, became available on Booksneeze, I snatched it up.

God Loves Broken People isn’t exactly revolutionary, but it’s sound and reassuring advice to people who are suffering, enduring trials or disappointments, or are still recovering from past difficulties. The crux of the message is one I’ve sought out and preached to myself for years now: that the hard things God allows into our lives are never meaningless or arbitrary. Suffering doesn’t mean that He doesn’t love us, or has abandoned us. He uses our pain to show us His love and provision, help us to grow, and make us more fit for service. Sheila Walsh elaborates on this theme through Scripture, true-life stories, and her own experience.

I often feel that my own emotional and spiritual scars are a liability, or grounds for rejection, but I’ve already seen proof of what He can do with those scars. I’ve also learned that pain holds great potential for spiritual growth if we’re willing to tap into it. This book reinforced those lessons and provided comfort. I hope it does the same for you!

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

1 Comment + Posted in: book reviews, faith, reading

I’ll tell you who I’m wild about at the moment: Florence + The Machine.

I love “Dog Days Are Over” – it was one of my 2010 anthems – but I wasn’t really that into Florence until recently. Then I started hearing songs from Ceremonials everywhere, downloaded the album, and basically became a superfan overnight. Florence Welch has the melodrama of Dolores O’Riordan of the Cranberries, infused with the spirit and courage of Eowyn from Lord of the Rings (who, as we all know, is my hero). Her songs are equally full of heartbreak and hope, mystical references and rallying cries. This is Gryffindor music, people.

I braved Beale Street Music Fest last Friday night to see Florence (and Needtobreathe, who played before her!). I remembered pretty quickly why I don’t go to Music Fest anymore – I’m too short to see much, I feel claustrophobic and icky when hundreds of strangers are touching me, etc. But the show was totally worth it. Florence was a spitfire on stage, and the instrumentation was amazing. I mean, how many popular acts tour with a harp?

I can’t embed any of the official videos, but my current favorite tracks are “Rabbit Heart,” “Shake It Out” and “No Light, No Light.” It’s hard to choose though. I think I’ll go listen to them now!

2 Comments + Posted in: music

So here’s what my garden looked like when I planted it on April 1:

And here it is a mere five weeks later:

So take note: raised beds make ALL the difference! I wish I hadn’t wasted so many years struggling with our heavy clay soil, when all I needed was a soaker hose, some old planks, and a few truckloads of Pro Mix.

Most of the tomato plants flowered weeks ago (Better Boy was the first), and tiny tomatoes are already growing! My pepper plants are also loaded with flowers. The squash and cucumbers haven’t done much yet, but they’re hot-weather plants anyway. (Not that it hasn’t been hot – it was in the 90s on Sunday.) If this is any indication of the harvest to come, I need to learn how to can for real!

I also planted some Moon and Stars watermelon seeds last weekend. As you can see in the first photo, they’ve already sprouted and are almost ready to thin out! This is my first time growing watermelons, so I’m excited that they’re doing so well.

I planted this gardenia bush two years ago, the same week my ex left me. Despite my best efforts (including digging it up and re-planting with better drainage), it’s never blossomed. But a few days ago, I opened the blinds and saw two beautiful gardenias, with more emerging! I’m taking it as a good omen. When I mentioned this on my non-public blog, a friend said it reminded her of Valancy’s rosebush in one of my all-time favorite books, The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery*. So now I feel even more hopeful about it. I’M READY TO BLOOM.

* = You can read it online for free here!

3 Comments + Posted in: gardening, hope

I am thankful:

– to be a daughter, sister, AND AUNT
– to be an American and a Southerner
– for my church
– to know many nice, interesting people who are different from me – it’s good to be stretched
– for friends who gladly include me in their family and other-friend-group events
– that I’m comfortable doing things on my own, okay with my own weirdness, and rarely feel like a third or fifth wheel
– that I’ve never felt better physically/athletically
– that many opportunities are available to me, even if it doesn’t feel that way sometimes
– for a hairdresser who’s consistently trustworthy with my hair
– for my garden, which is looking amazing
– for ice cream and YoLo
– that my face didn’t actually get sunburned on my jog today, I was just red from near-heatstroke
– that I live in the era of Joss Whedon (Avengers was amazing)
– that summer is unofficially here!

2 Comments + Posted in: thankful