What Lent is REALLY About

I decided a couple of days ago that I was going to give up being lazy for Lent.  So, in true "Fat Tuesday" form, I went to bed at 8:30PM last night.  (Jeff was out of town and Sam spent the night with his grandparents, so it was - truly - a Lenten miracle.)

I woke up this morning feeling as fresh as a daisy - likely the most well-rested I have been in YEARS.  Until, that is, I glanced at the clock and realized it was already almost 6:30AM. (Apparently I slept through my 4:30AM alarm that I set so I could get up and pull my house back in order, etc. before Jeff comes home and life resumes as normal today.)  I have to be at school at 7.

SO, on the first morning of Lent, I did not wake up and spend time in prayer and the Word while I casually sipped coffee and watched the sun rise.  I didn't start the day focused on the things that "truly matter" like I really want to do during this time.  Instead, I jumped out of bed frazzled and disappointed in myself.  I frantically texted our sitter to apologize for the disaster that is our house (Lord, let me be as wonderful a woman as her one day) and said a silent prayer that I wouldn't hit any stoplights on the way to work today.  Then, as I got in the shower to wake myself up, I let a few tears sneak out of my eyelids.

This wasn't exactly what I had in mind for Lent 2014.

I'm not sure it bodes well for me that I've already messed up on my commitment to not being lazy in only the first 24 6 hours of Lent... But, I have been thinking this morning about what Lent is REALLY about and that maybe - just maybe - there is something important to be learned from my "bad start" today...

By definition, lent is the "solemn religious observance in the liturgical calendar of many Christian denominations that begins on Ash Wednesday [today] and covers approximately six weeks [or 40 days] before Easter."  

(Side Note: This definition is from Wikipedia, which pretty much goes against everything I believe as an English teacher, but I like it and I'm too lazy to do any further research.  Ugh.  I just broke my "Lenten resolution" again. Awesome.)

Wikipedia goes on to explain lent as "the preparation of the believer through prayer, penance, repentance of sins, almsgiving, atonement, and self-denial."  (Sounds fun, right?!?)

The Roman Catholic Church (and many other Protestant denominations - although not the Southern Baptist one in which I grew up) practices these things through a period of fasting from meat and/or giving up something as a form of sacrifice and penitence for 40 days (symbolic of the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert just prior to his crucifixion).

Source

Recently, as a culture, I think we have become pretty enamored with the idea of "giving something up" for Lent.  I've heard it called "spring training for Christians," and I know my own tendency towards treating it as a "re-set" for all my new year's resolutions gone wrong.  This year, about half of my Facebook friends are giving it up for Lent (been there done that), my mom gives up sugar every year, and many in the blogosophere are into getting rid of "40 bags in 40 days" where they purge their house of excess stuff. 

I've done those things too (remember, last year I gave up my blog), and I think they are all REALLY good endeavors.  I think God will honor these sacrifices and, I hope, many will go in to Easter Week feeling freed from "chains" that tie them down during the rest of the year.  I, too, plan to "give something up" for Lent; but, I think there is a big risk that in all the "hype" of the season we miss the point and - really - sell ourselves quite short on the message of the cross...

At least in the spiritual/preparatory sense, Lent isn't about practicing our own self-control and DOING something for God; it is about admitting that we are completely weak before Him and desperate for His sacrifice.

It is, I'm afraid, more about waking up in the morning feeling "doomed" (like I did today), and recognizing that we will fail every.single.time when we try to do it alone; and, instead, being overwhelmed with gratitude for the fact that we don't have to.

I don't think it's bad to "give up" something for Lent... But, I do think it's crucial that we remember our insignificant our "sacrifice" really is.  God doesn't need our Facebook pages, processed foods, or bags of stuff.  He isn't disappointed in me because I overslept this morning; in fact, he will never be disappointed with me because Jesus already paid that debt.

Yes, for the next 40 days, I'm going to focus on being less lazy - on being intentional with my time in the way that I care for my family, invest in other people, and make my spiritual life a priority.  BUT, more than that, I am committing to see myself more the way that God sees me and really LIVING IN the truth of what Jesus' death means.

Are you with me?

Five Things to Prove I'm Still Alive

I'm still here!  Sorry for my absence lately... It's been almost two weeks now since I "lost" my domain, and - now that the shock and "surely I'll be able to fix this" attitude has worn off - I'm actually enjoying a little less pressure to blog and feeling very excited about what's next.  I'm putting some of my creative/writing energy into my new space - hence the lack of posting here - but I don't mean to leave you all hanging...

So, while things are still getting finalized at my new "home" (which I'm hoping to launch on my 30th birthday - March 26th), allow me to update you on some tidbits of life here:

1. My Family Portrait.

Just in case you missed when I posted this on Instagram, I wanted to share our little family portrait (remember, this is what Jeff gave me for Valentine's Day) from My Little Buffalo:

I LOVE it.  What do you think?



2. The Bachelor.

I know, I'm so late to this party! Would you believe I had Bible study on Tuesday night (what is ABC trying to do to me?) and missed the Fantasy Suite episode?  I felt like such a martyr.  (KIDDING!)  Anyway, it's taken me four full days to get through all the drama from that night; but I made it, and am all caught up and ready for the infamous "Women Tell All" tonight.

Here are my thoughts going into it...

- For starters, I think Juan Pablo just might be my least favorite Bachelor ever (and that's saying a lot after Ben's season).  I hate to say it, but he is just dumb as a brick. We'll get to Andi later, but she totally said what we've all been thinking - his English seems perfectly fine until someone starts talking about something serious and then, suddenly, all he can say is "un besito."  Ugh.  That stopped being cute after about night one.

- I never thought I'd say this but - even before Andi went rogue - I think I've converted to Team Nikki for the win.  I honestly don't dislike her as much as I did to begin with... She seems really young and a little insecure to me; but, I really do think she is genuine.  Do I think they will last and she is "ready" to be a mom? No.  But, given my thoughts on Juan Pablo (see above) probably the best match for him.

- I'm practicing "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" with Clare.

- And, Andi.  Oh Andi. I LOVE her for seeing through Juan Pablo's handsome face and charming accent and calling a spade a spade.  Her reaction after last week's one-on-one was totally a "You Go Girl" moment for me.  Do I think she took it a little too far and seemed a little bit repetitive and a tiny bit crazy? YES.  But, letbehonestforaminute, aren't we all a little irrational and crazy when we are mad?  No? Maybe that's just me.  Either way, I love that she is smart and secure and not afraid to demand better for herself.  *Now, I think if she opts to be the next Bachelorette, she's pretty much just selling out, but whatever.

As for tonight, I really don't care what any of the girls have to say (accept maybe Victoria - haha); but, my favorite part of this episode is always seeing how different (and usually, even more beautiful) the girls look today.  Fun times.  What about you, will you be watching?

*For much better recaps/reviews of this week's Fantasy Suite episode, allow me to point you in the direction of The Possessionista and Pinterest Told Me To.  Both are PERFECT.  (I especially love the Possessionista's description of Nikki's horseback riding outfit. EPIC.)


3. Say Goodbye to Survival Mode.

I just finished this book last night by Crystal Paine from MoneySavingMom.com.  (Yes, if you remember when I first posted about it on Instagram, it took me a while to read it; but, once I got started, I really liked it.) I definitely feel like I've been living in "survival mode" for some time now, so this book was perfect for where I am.  Crystal gave some really great tips for bringing order back to my life and focusing on what REALLY MATTERS.  I especially liked her advice at the beginning about learning to say NO to things that aren't life giving to me; and, on committing to simple routines instead of overwhelming myself with schedules and "to do" lists.  I came away from this book with some very practical tips I can apply right away; but, most of all, with a list of my own "best stuff" - a great filter to run decisions through in deciding how to invest my time/money/energy/etc.  I definitely recommend this book if you can relate to the "chicken with its head cut off" lifestyle. #notthatIcan ;)

P.S. I think this will prove to be a great lead-in to the next book on my list - Hands Free Mama.  Have any of you read it yet?  I'm both excited and nervous to dig in to it! (Are you noticing a theme for 2014?)

4. The Oscars.

Let me be honest, I hadn't seen ANY of the nominated movies and only watched until about 9:30PM of the show.  BUT, I saw most of the beautiful dresses and heard Ellen's funny opening, so that counts for something, right?

I think my favorite looks of the night were Lupita Nyong, Sandra Bullock, and Kate Hudson.

I also loved Bette Midler's dress.

And, obviously, Olivia Pope Kerry Washington was STUNNING, right?

(Side Note: Blogher just announced that she is going to be their keynote speaker in San Diego this summer.  I'm not planning to go again this year; but, this almost made me change my mind!)

5.  March.

Can you believe it's March already?   This is the month I turn thirty!! Also, Lent starts on Wednesday.  More on both of those things soon; but, for now, here are some pretty new March Wallpapers for your desktop while we dream of spring weather (it's snowing here today)...

From The Ruche Blog

From Sweet Tea Paperie

From Laura Prestwich Designs

So, what's new with you?!?! 

Sister Style: Spring Wish List

Thanks again to those of you that are continuing to meet me here (and on FB/Instagram/etc.), leave comments, etc.  It has meant so much to me the past few days to know that the little community we have built is not dependent on a domain name... You guys are the best!

On that note, change is on its way here friends (or, well, not here... but you know what I mean).  I'm busy brainstorming and dreaming behind the scenes for something new on the horizon, but - in the meantime - I thought I'd go ahead and share some of the content I already had ready to go for E, Myself, and I... Like spring wish lists, naturally...

The weather here has been SO crazy this year.  Up until a few days ago, we had eight feet of snow on the ground, and yesterday it was almost 70 degrees outside!  I can't keep up!!!

Anyway, these sunny days have given me spring fever BAD.  And, while y'all may not have cared one way or the other about it, but I had a lot of fun doing last week's "Sister Style" post with my sis Kathryn.  SO.... I asked her to come back today to talk Spring Wish Lists!  Because this feels a little less greedy than giving our mom a handwritten list for our spring birthdays. ;)

Here's what I'm eyeing lately:

E's Spring Wish List

(Click the link for all the sources!)

Basically, I'm loving bright pastels, monograms (duh), neutral sandals, and Gap skinny jeans.  Ahhh.

And, Kathryn's:

KK's Spring Wish List

(Click the link for all the sources!)

I love how you can totally see our differences in these lists.  Kathryn is 100% the type to pull off a Tory Burch purse with Old Navy jeans and a fedora.  I love it - and am a little jealous to be honest. *Also, just a note, she says that she actually owns that dress in black and the colored pants in red and calls them the "most flattering things ever."  Who can resist that?!?

What's on your spring wish list?