Shopping

I've realized there is something about shopping I just like. I don't know what it is. Maybe the excitement and fun of owning something new? Or the fact that I gradually browse and browse for something and only buy it when I love it? It is a greater reward that way and it's no different when it comes to Christmas shopping. Because I love it. Shopping for gifts for my family is one of my favorite things. It's the work and time and effort you put into thinking about the best thing I could get for my Mom. Then the fun of her getting her gift and it being something she really really likes.

It's one of my strengths actually. Part of my #1 strength, individualization, means that I give good gifts to people because I understand them and am able to discern something that they would really like. So as I'm browsing for a gift for my Mom online and trying to think of what she would love I am having just as much fun looking online as I will giving her the gift. Actually that's probably not true, giving gifts is the best but I do love some good searching to produce one great gift.

Jack Frost

"If your happy thought isn't how much God loves you, then in times of crisis you'll look for comfort in all the wrong places." Jack Frost

Sometimes what gets me through the day is knowing I have something exciting to do that night, or that I have a week off from life next week when I'm on vacation.

This relates to a personal disbelief in how much God loves me. But it's all about love. And God would love me no matter what and I do not have to strive. Yet I sometimes believe that he only loves me when I am faithful with the blessings he has given me. I think sometimes I make an idol out of making wise decisions. Instead of believing that
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

I am a slave to making good decisions I'm afraid. But I say this with conviction not condemnation. I want a constant revelation of how I can break from my flesh and latch on to the spirit.

Mumford and Sons

They were amazing. So good. Their humility made me like them even more and their new music they played at the concert made my soul happy and now I cannot wait for new music from them.

These guys rock.

And they definitely "Awake My Soul"

Pat Conroy

So Pat Conroy is my favorite author. And he just came out with a new book on Tuesday called My Reading Life which I'm dying to read. And I looked him up online at http://www.patconroy.com/ and found he was doing a book signing in Atlanta in a few weeks! How exciting! I think it'd be great to go and see and author I claim is one of my favorites. But I don't want to go by myself... So I email my Mom. I say 

Hey Mom
Wanna go to a book signing by Pat Conroy? He just came out with a new book today and he's one of my favorite authors.

She responds with:

Thanks so much for inviting me, m but I have to go vote and then work at chick fil a night and then pass out from exhaustion!

Love ya,

Mom

It was just pretty funny to me that she responded with such a formal thanks but no thanks. Maybe she thought there were other people I was inviting? But whatever it was I don't think she realized that I wouldn't go if she didn't go with me. Oh well. Guess I'll have to travel to South Carolina sometime soon to hear him and I would totally be okay with that.