1000 reasons

bless the lord, oh my soul... (one of my fave songs)

I think today might be the first time in a really, really, really long time that I truly took a Sabbath all day Sunday... rest, time with God, time with people (well, over the phone at least lol), time with nature, and a good dose of gratefulness. much joy in small things. (documentation so I don't forget, a la Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts)

- 1.5hr good-morning-and-on-the-way-to-church call with big sister huzzah!
- magic porridge (transformation of my homemade PB granola bars plus steelcut oats and liberal sprinkling of chia soaked overnight and cooked in the morning)
- alone-at-home psalms-listening and worship-jamming time
- esvonline
- highlighters that don't bleed through the super-thin pages of the Bible
- pens with smooth-flowing ink
- hill country bible church central. what a lovely church. so excited for its transition (merging with midtown) next week, and for what God's doing in and through this vibrant and loving congregation.
- also, really needed to hear today's message on ps131. humility. amen.
- this thin-lined journal that Ms. C gave me... faithful companion for notes and thoughts and scribblings this year.
- stir fryyyyyy
- also, period. this year is the first year that I've experienced the aches and pains that come along with it... so, while unpleasant now, I am very thankful for the good decade or so of undeserved and un-planned-for reprieve.
- naps
- firm mattresses
- new music to dance in my room to! hehe (thanks to RW for sharing the link!)
- mwahahaha broil-your-own-pizza partay (mozz, jalapeno, and evoo on pita)
- shoal creek is my new fave trail. haha it's also the only trail that's walking-accessible to me sans vehicle in this city, but SO COOL. walked/jogged (but mostly explored) 6.5mi post-dinner -- so much green space! trees. greenery. stream to cross (many times). rocks to clamber over. big tree trunks to climb. signposts with historical factoids. stony overhangs. leash-free dogs. trail interspersed with parks -- with swings! also, WHO KNEW there was a skateboarding park here?! so fun to watch these fellas zooming up and down and all around keke =D. ended at town lake, got to listen to tonight's free concert (courtesy of the Austin Symphony, every Sunday at 8pm over the summer) -- brass/jazz ensemble today -- from the bridge as I leaned on the railing and watched the sun go down. beautiful. moon just a sliver in the sky. very thankful for not getting lost... and for not getting in trouble for exploring parts of the trail that may or may not have been closed. haha. and thankful for time just to BE with God, and to think out a lot of the burdens/worries I've been carrying and pushing to the back burner.
- a surprisingly juicy month-old lime for an impromptu honey-limeade for rehydration (haha made me think of moses getting water out of a rock...)
- goodnight phone calls.
- faithful C who has been my partner in Fabs Harford's spiritual bootcamp (toned-down version) all year -- today's Day 216 (!!! say whaaa?!)
- nine days left before going home!