Furloughed

I sit here looking at my life and wonder how in the world I made it to this point. My mind is filled with ideas for several different posts and I have not the ability to focus on any one in particular much less write anything that makes sense. The hours in my days seem to get stripped from me each day and I start the next trying to recall what needs to be handled on this new day that was put off on the day that has past. Did that make any sense at all? See what I mean? I hate busy. The only reason I sit this morning typing a blog post is that I'm furloughed from work, so I have an extra twenty minutes that I can do something with and maybe I won't feel too guilty over something else left undone.
Last weekend I was able to sit still and hear Lysa Terkeurst speak at a church in Roswell. I loved every second of it and didn't even mind feeling so raw at the end of the day. The photo with Lysa and me and flat hair is on my phone, so I'll have to post it on another day. (She has on a really cute sweater that may make up for my flat hair.)
On Sunday, my church had a guest speaker, Dave Edwards, and he made me laugh and I think I cried again.
My gratitude list continues:
31. snow in Georgia
32. God's way of speaking to me
33. the ministry of Lysa Terkeurst
34. Paul's story
35. Saints winning the Super Bowl
36. Christian friends at work
37. Valentine hearts
38. having a burden for my students
39. conviction to forgive
40. Tiramisu

Plan b & Renee Swope

My day started out very rushed with one thing or another making me take deep breaths and saying " okay, so let's move on to plan b". Plan a was just not gonna happen today. I would love to tell you that I am this wonderfully patient woman that handles curveballs without so much as a flinch, but it would be just a big ole lie. Today though I would like to humbly thank my heavenly Father for his gift of deep breathing and reminding me that my circumstances will pass, but his joy would stand firm through the challenges of getting a family off for the day.

I had read this earlier (before the morning got out of control) and had even printed it out and tucked it into my journal.
It's from Renee Swope's blog and it's simplicity really spoke to me this morning.

An strong oak or a puney pine?

Before Christ, I felt like a weak and wimpy pine tree. Tossed by the winds of my emotions. Defined by my circumstances. Uprooted by life's storms. Despair was my story.

But in CHRIST - I am rooted in God's love. With Christ I am...Strengthened by life's storms. Transformed by trials. An oak of righteousness, planted for HIS glory!

Because of Jesus, that is what we are...

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor. ~Isaiah 61:3

I'm linking this to Tuesdays Unwrapped over at Chatting at the Sky.This oak tree stood firm through the winds of Katrina.