On this day in February

Around the house...not this! Double Dark Chocolate donut from Krispy Kreme. Because I ate it. And it was delicious.

I am thankful...for you—my sweet online community—and that I get to write about you for the community series this month at Do Not Depart. And on Valentine’s Day, no less!

I am wondering...about something I signed up to do that I’m not sure I want to do

In the learning rooms...I finally finished Jenna’s 11th grade scrapbook

I am creating...the last one—12th grade! (never mind that she’s a college sophomore already)

I am hoping...I have no further connectivity problems with my 2nd generation Kindle because I do love it so, even though it’s “old” (relatively speaking)

I am appreciating...the privilege of listening to a variety of voices read scripture last Sunday morning

I am hearing...City on the Hill by Casting Crowns (and watching the video)

You see, the poets thought the dancers were shallow
And the soldiers thought the poets were weak
And the elders saw the young ones as foolish
And the rich man never heard the poor man speak

And one by one, they ran away
With their made-up minds to leave it all behind
And the light began to fade in the city on the hill
The city on the hill

I am pondering these words...from Insurgent because it’s one of the reasons I am in the community of Christ-followers: “I decide to keep the shirt to remind me why I chose Dauntless in the first place: not because they are perfect, but because they are alive. Because they are free.”

I am looking forward to...the 3rd book of the Divergent series from Veronica Roth. I finished Insurgent on Saturday and it mesmerized me. Filming for Divergent the movie begins in Chicago this April; to be released in Spring 2014.

I am reading...Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate

I am thinking...how so many things I “randomly” read, see, hear, experience are so thematically connected to each other—it’s a God thing

I am praying...to “ruthlessly eliminate hurry from my life, for hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life” (Dallas Willard) as I practice slowing down this month

I am studying...and memorizing Psalm 71 and so benefiting from it. This week: “Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you” Psalm 71:6.

One of my favorite things (and now sad thing)...was the lovely Auburn tradition of rolling the oaks at Toomer’s Corner, now ending at a big block party on April 20, 2013, because the trees were poisoned.

I am excited...to soon see the house that Morgan and Fuller are buying

A few plans for this week...Jenna coming home; loving on our homeless community at the annual King’s Banquet; our monthly family meal at my baby sister’s house

A picture to share...the winning photo for the 2013 Outdoor Alabama contest, youth 13-18 category. So I’m not just a biased mother after all? :-)

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What’s exciting in your world this week?

the simple woman's daybook
...where every day is a blank page

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