Life Lately ...

Howdy y'all!

I do apologise for my lack of blogging presence, but I have not been able to sit still long enough to concentrate on a blog post. I am just too excited and when I am excited, I am very unproductive and I have a hard time staying focused.

So, I thought I would ramble for a bit, because that is all I am capable of right now.

The wedding of my cousin-but-we're-so-close-she-might-as-well-be-my-sister, is on Saturday.

Saturday!!

That's 4 days away.

On top of all the excitement (and stress on the bride and groom's part) of final dress fittings, order of the day lists being sent out, nightmares about forgetting to do something important and the bride never forgiving me, breaking in my shoes, finalising hair and make-up, transport and a few other little bits and bobs ... is the fact that my family are arriving on Friday!

Yes, my lovely mother, father and the absolute light of my life baby brother (he's going to be 12 in 2 weeks, but he will always be my baby I don't care what anyone says) are coming over for the wedding and I am so excited to see them and spend some quality time with them.

I usually only see them once a year when I go home for Christmas, so it's such a treat to get to see them twice. Time with them is always such a special gift.

So, that is why I am excited and useless ...

GETTING HEALTHY AND FIT UPDATE

On the plus side, my vow to get fit and healthy has been working like a charm (nothing like a tight deadline and an even tighter dress to get you to get your act together). I have been making healthier food choices, eating apples, keeping my coffee to a minimum and running. Although, the running has been tough. I am trying to not get too competitive about it in my head and just enjoy it. I put too much pressure on myself when I run to be faster every time, to run harder, to go farther, to not be as out of breath, and sometimes it's a slog.

*pic via weheartit

 I am trying to enjoy the time to myself, the feeling of the blood pumping to my limbs, my breath coming fast and shallow, the view of London from the heath, the pull in my legs and arms and that feeling when I reach my front gate and I know I have done it. And I am better and healthier for it. That is what I need to cling to when I am sitting behind a desk going ... "Urgh, can't be assed ..."

FINDING MY WAY BACK TO CHURCH

In other news, I am finding my way back to church and am starting to get into the habit of planning my Sundays around going to church. I have been twice over the past two weeks and have really enjoyed it. It's still quite nerve-wracking walking into church solo, facing a mass of smiling strangers who all seem to know each other ... it's all a bit daunting and for now I am quite happy to sit in the back and do my thing, but hope that I will get up the courage to become more involved.

This past Sunday the guest speaker was Philip Yancey. What an interesting man. He is a journalist and christian writer from Denver, Colorado who has published over 20 books on faith and God. His views are enlightening, and if you are at all so inclined, head on over to his website.

There were a few 'aha!' moments during his talk on Sunday but the biggest one was around the idea of Grace.

*pic via weheartit

 In the Bible (I can't recall the passage) it says that people need to lead with Grace and with Truth. The Church is very good at issues of truth. Sometimes too good at laying down what is true and what is not. But, what it does not often convey is the idea of grace ... living our lives with grace, with consideration, with decency and decorum, dignity and manners. 

On the whole, the world lacks grace. If people acted with grace there would be so much less hatred, bitterness, anger and revenge in the world.

Guilty as charged.

Pic via weheartit

So, that is a word, I am thinking about every day ... grace.

Wishing you all a lovely Tuesday afternoon**