Good Day!

I did 4 podcasts today.  I'm still trying to catch up on the Bible Study one, which I seem to be perpetually behind on. BUT I did 2 Book Review Podcasts with the Camp Friend (who is now the Author Friend) and we talked about both of her books!  As a reminder, they are Letters to Zell and New Charity Blues  and you should read both of them, because she is awesome.  And I had sooo much fun talking to her today.  It was an honor to have her as my first-ever podcast guest, and I hope I did her and her books justice because I really don't know what I'm doing yet on this whole podcast thingamabob.

I also just discovered that today is Auntie's Day!  I HAVE an auntie and I also AM an auntie.  Dangit, I should have been home to celebrate with everyone.  Rude.  I will say that I love my auntie very very much and am so grateful for everything she has done for and been to me in my life.  I am also proud to be an auntie and hope my nieces know how much I love them.

Try not to be too shocked, but I'm not really in a shoe mood tonight, so I'm just going to share a picture of me and my auntie:

Weren't we cute?

Also a picture of me and my dad's sister, who died a couple of year's ago and who I miss terribly:

And my twin aunties.  Of whom I clearly need a more recent picture:

Except how awesome is THIS picture?

And that is all.  The end.

More Birthdays!

Today is my dad's oldest sister's birthday, which is always tough because it reminds me of how much I miss her.  But it's also the Seminary Roommate's birthday, which is much happier!  Although, I miss her like crazy, too, but at least she's only as far away as Seattle.  In honor of the SR's birthday, I'm doing shoes named for her (I just did a post of shoes named after the auntie).

Cute!  I need a pair of cute, dressy flats for work, and I think this would be perfect.

A  black dress shoe is as essential as a little black dress.  This one is classic and would go with almost anything.

Oh dear.  Nononono.

I like where these are headed, the sparkles and bows are festive, but that type of short wedge heel always feels wrong to me.  It just doesn't look right.

The color is good.  This would be cuter if it wasn't a sandal.  Would a turquoise Mary Jane clog be so much better? 

Again, not quite right.  I want to like them, really I do.

OK, this one is adorable, thankfully.  I was getting a little frustrated with the selection of shoes named after my sweet friend.  She deserves better namesake shoes!  I'm not sure she would wear any of these (certainly not the heel, but maybe the first and last?), but she does have excellent taste in adorable practical shoes.  At any rate...Happy Birthday, SR!

Memory Lane: 2013. 2014. 2015.

I've been struggling with my 3 things this week.  Some days I stare at the cursor desperately trying to think of the things that make me happy and for which I'm grateful.  Which makes me sound amazingly ungrateful, because there are numerous good things about my life.  Those damn voices that I fight so much are insidious, though, and they like to tell me that my life sucks and I have nothing to offer.  They've been louder this week because the hubby (and I am in no way blaming him) told our employees yesterday and today that I was a pastor before I started working with him.  He says I'm on leave, which is kind of true, and really really untrue.  Then of course there are a million questions and reactions and projections, and it's made me a little confused emotionally.  I miss parts of being a pastor.  I miss my congregations.  I feel like an absolute failure as a pastor.  It's been 2 years since I went on leave and I'm still confused about whether or not it's healthy for me to go back.  I feel like my life is lacking in purpose.  I feel like I suck at this new job with the hubby.  I worry I'll never find contentment with a job.  See?  It's not the hubby's fault I'm an emotional wreck.  But, it's my Lenten discipline to practice gratitude and joy with at least 3 things each day, so the voices just need to shut the expletive up and let me get on with it.

3 Things:

1. Remembering the love always present in my auntie's hugs and smile.
2. The amazing friendship of the SR.
3. Puppy snuggles.  (I know I've said this one before, but they really are therapeutic)