fun things about February

Wow...it's been awhile since I've posted. Instead of my usual bemoaning during this time of year when I begin to feel like winter has out-stayed its welcome, I wanted to report that there were actually fun things that happened in February. Since I do a lot of counseling during the week, I like to think of these things as categories of "therapy" (ha, ha). Therapy that is perhaps "out of the box." But practices that, nonetheless, can be refreshing to a woman who tends to pour herself into work and ministry at the expense of good soul-care and relationships with people I love.

Without further ado, I introduce my new therapy method #1: IKEA therapy -- Seth and I practiced this with great delight in being able to get rid of his bachelor-esque TV cabinet in exchange for a new one. We actually had fun putting the furniture together (I call it "adult Legos"). And we added this beautiful wine cabinet below as well:


And now, the therapy that ALL who live in wintry climates already practice, or at least strive to: #2: beach therapy. Nothing does the soul and body better than taking a flight to Ft. Lauderdale to visit a good friend and soak up the sunshine. Although it was only a couple weeks ago, it already seems too far away!!

My first journal entry shows the immediate success of such practice: "I sit on a white sand beach under a sunny, brilliant blue sky as turquoise waves crash in front of me. And I am SO thankful to you, Lord, that you sent me away to be refreshed in a land of eternal summer with a good friend."

And a spontaneous poem came out as well:
Palm trees in paradise
Instant spring
Warmth -- from the inside out
Joys of old friendship
Resurrection life
Returning to refreshment
And rest. Thanks again, Nan & Pete, for hosting me!! I would say beach therapy has been quite successful.

Seriously, an article (in Discipleship Journal by Ben Patterson) that I read about TRUE everlasting Joy, found not in a place or in new furniture, sums up what I long to practice every day: "...the joys of a day were signpost to Joy, to the good and gracious God ... The reason I loved that day was because it was a little like the God who gave it."