The Thrill of Hope Continues

I have officially reached the time of the year where I no longer remember how old I am. 

My birthday is near enough that I start thinking I may be a year older than I am, but then once my birthday comes, I often add on another year and then I have aged two years in a span of six weeks. For example, I am currently 27. (I just had to use a calculator to double check. #Truth) Right around Christmas, I started thinking I was 28. Then last week, I had a freak out about turning 29 so soon because 30 would only be a year away and I still had so much to accomplish on my 30/30 list. So, in the span of four weeks, I had gone from being 27 to thinking I was turning 29. I hope I'm not the only one this happens to, though I don't expect anybody else to own up to this brand of crazy.

Anyhow, all that to say, part of me feels ashamed that it has taken me until 27 to realize I am living real life. That being said, I would not have traded my mid-twenties for the world. While life was not easy, I had the opportunity to work a job I could only dream of. I had three sweet years with my parents and worked with some of the best kids ever. The sweetest part of the whole gig, though, was knowing I was exactly where God intended me to be. Please don't think I am doubting Thailand in the least, but I had such a sweet and perfect peace about those first three years in North Dakota.

Now, being 25 days into 2016, I have felt some of that sweet peace return. I have a pretty good routine during the week that allows for work and play each day. The new year has certainly brought with it the new start and fresh beginning I dreamed of only a couple of weeks ago. Teaching is going well so far, I'm not too far behind on my grading, coaching is winding down, grad school is picking up, workouts are being done, travels are being planned, and I have a summer for the books ready to go. I have a certain peace and fulfillment about life right now... I'm in a sweet spot so to say. And after the last year I had, I am grateful.

I know Christmas is gone, but these words continue to resonate in my soul:

The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.

My soul, my core, my inner being is finally feeling reason to rejoice because my hope is being restored. I am grateful for 2016 so far and pray the year continues to be one of growth and rejoicing. I know not every moment will be sweet, but I pray I will continue to savor the ones that are.

May you be blessed this year as well. Soli deo gloria.

Book Club Kick-Off

Let's get this party started! I am very excited to share this month's book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, with you. It is a book I started reading at a friend's apartment about five years ago and have been meaning to finish since, but never took the time. I always love a good excuse to kick back with a book and not feel guilty, so I chose to start reading The Immortal Life at the end of last semester. When Kelly and I discussed our 2CBC listing for the upcoming year, I was super excited when she was willing to make this one of the selections and was even more excited she was willing to make it January's selection! Anyhow, I can wax poetic more next week when we come together to discuss the book. This week, I leave you our discussion questions. I tried to include a mix of questions that were both casual and "literary", if you will, so we had a little bit of everything for everyone.

(via)

1. Did you like the book? Was it what you were expecting or hoping for? Why or why not?
2. What did you think of the style of the book? Skloot wrote a nonfiction piece that read

as a piece of narrative fiction. Did you enjoy that? Why or why not?

3. Of the two concurrent storylines in the book, did you find yourself favoring one over the other?

4. Who was your favorite character and/or to whom did you find yourself most attached?

5. What are your final reactions after reading the book? So many issues were raised and so many ideas were presented. How do you feel as you walk away from the book?

Please come back on Saturday, January 30, to share your take on the book and be part of our first book club meeting of 2016!

Oh, Dontcha Know

My foray into recovering from life is taking much longer than I expected. I took an almost two week break from all technology over Christmas vacation and I am ever so slowly easing myself back into the routine of things. I have spent the last two weeks trying to establish productive habits both at work (aka working to maximize my minutes so I have less to bring home at night) and at home (aka learning to clear my mind so I can actually relax and sleep at night). I have pretty much been a permanent fixture on the Hot Mess Express since October and I'm trying really hard to make sure I steer clear of that train again.

All that to say, I have a lot of catching up to do. But I would like to remind you, if you haven't seen on Kelly's blog, that we are giving the Second Chance Book Club yet another chance this year (a second chance on the second chance?) and I will be hosting this month's read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. 

Much to do, much to get caught up on, but much to be made of the time at hand.

May your day be blessed.