Beating the heat

 So it's been a while since I've blogged. What have I been doing instead you ask? Dying in 95 degree weather that's humid and weird...even at night, like right now. I'm sweating while I sit here typing! I feel very reassured about my decision to get my windows tinted at the beginning of summer though...that has been so helpful!

Instead of blogging, I spent the last two weeks:

1. Practicing the guitar. I maintained my promise to Miss Hannah and can almost fluidly play through three whole songs. I won't say it isn't awkward, because it can be! But I am loving lessons and my practice times spent in worship. I seriously need it. Also, this last week I finally figured out how to use the capo, one would think I woulda jumped on that already, but better late than never, I suppose! It's opened a world of songs I'd never dreaming of playing.
2. Prayer journaling. It's been a definite grace to spend uninterrupted time pouring my heart out in prayer and waiting on The Lord. The One who knows me and gave Himself up for me. How I can't wait to be with Him! I am learning some important distinctions. Taking a break from being a Martha isn't the same as being a Mary.Being a Mary is actually just really quite a lot of work too.. Which leads me to...
3. Discovering shereadstruth.com and it's companion app. It's the most aesthetically pleasing, biblical devotional for women that I have yet to encounter! A new study "Open your Bible" starts tomorrow on it! They are simple and not aggressively long or ramble-y. The day's reading does disappear after the day ends, which somehow helps me get to it sooner and then leaves me wanting more of Jesus, so than I actually long to pick my Bible up later that day too. And I am NOT complaining about that!
4. Gardening. I love my little garden. I sing to it. Water it and fight off horribly evil caterpillars. I never realized how easily little plants can be destroyed from things other than lack of water. I've totally killed plants before by forgetting about them. But I realize that they are more like children. You have to do more than your fair "share" to get them to be healthy and produce jalapeños. I'm not gonna lie, I am not very good at it, as the caterpillars seem to have more time on their hands than I do. Nonetheless, I've been really trying and so far have two wax peppers and 4 jalapeños. While all my mint has been devastated, the oregano seems to be doing just fine. I'm so glad I don't actually live in little house on the prairie times...I'd be such a hopeless farmer!
5. Homework. Sooooo much homework! I feel silly because 12 units is totally do-able and happening, but, I forgot that even online classes take so much of your time. Thankfully, I have time and I have a sweet friend at work who is taking many classes as well so we hang out together and have "homework parties" where we don't talk or make eye contact. But we do stop intermittently to eat or tell a joke. I just passed midterms in my three fast track classes so one more month of studying for those and then all that will remain is my psych class.
6. Investigating nursing programs. There are so many options and so many requirements and so many fees. Whenever you happen to read this if you could just stop and pray that I have wisdom and diligence, I'd appreciate that greatly! I have to pass an entrance test that most programs require so now that I have the hang of this semester I am hoping to study and pass that very soon. Only time will tell!
7. Friendly. I've, believe it or not, been forcing myself to be friendly, to attempt to care and share with human beings that aren't toddlers. I hadn't originally foreseen this being a real problem for me at any point in life. And this doesn't  seem like an especially difficult task except that it is. Nothing is ever what I expect, which leads me to believe that I didn't read enough as a kid/youth. I'll just add reading to the list!

As for truth, the battle is real and hardly ever dull...
Resting in this tonight:
Ephesians 1:5-8
"In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight"