simplicity 2016: finally reading "seven"

I've been a reader and a learner almost my entire life.

My parents taught me to read around the age of five, I hated the stupid books I had to learn to read with, and then I discovered Disney.

And that changed everything.

I think my dad was the most proud and also relieved, because the idea of having a child who hated books really bothered his bibliophile's heart.

This love of knowledge is great. And being a lover of books is great.

Except when I keep buying books, putting them on my shelf and reading BuzzFeed for a thousand hours.

Am I learning? Sure. About which Beyonce song best describes my life. Or the 21 vegan spots in London I just CAN'T miss. Or that I can purchase and own Kim Kardashian crying face earrings. Cause we all know that's a priority.

All this brings me back to my theme for the year. And how I've been falling off that wagon recently. Oops.

My friend Renee suggested this book to me about three months ago.

In a nutshell it's about simplifying your dang life.

And in a broader sense... I have no idea, because I haven't started it yet, and it's 6 days overdue at the library.

Which means I will owe the library $.70 if I return it today, and more than that if I actually read the book before returning it.

Oh hey simplifying my finances! That makes tons of sense to have overdue library books. I'm really only fooling myself that I am practicing simplicity by using the library instead of Amazon Prime.

Moving on....

I'm going to read this book. Hopefully by the weekend. I'm going to not watch my shows on Hulu until it's done. Wait for me Olivia Benson!

And hopefully, I will have gained some good nuggets from this paperback self help book vs BuzzFeed telling me which donuts I should eat. I can't eat donuts you horrible cretin!

What kind of sick twisty trash is this website anyway.... (who am I kidding, I will never stop reading).

Signing off to go read now. I'll let you know how it goes. When I've read it. Completely. No skimming allowed.

#simplicity2016

simplicity 2016: mark one thirty five

Jesus, teach me to pray like you. 

teach me to always have my heart in a position of prayer. so that my actions and my words are consistently and worshipful for prayer.

prayer is an intimate conversation I have with my Father every day.

and it's amazing.

but sometimes I'm not very good at it.

on Saturday morning, early, He showed me how He loves to talk with me.

my heart felt recharged and I felt challenged to make my time with Him more intentional and special. 

then last night at church, the Spirit hit me there again.

guess it's what I needed to hear and focus on.

so Lord? please never stop teaching me how to pray....

{for prayer - a poem about worship}

the sun went down

the lights are low 

the candles lit 

for prayer 

my phone turned off

the tv dark

my book is closed

for prayer

my pen is ready

my journal open

names are flowing 

for prayer 

the Father hears me

the Spirit guides me

the family gathers

for prayer 

i know He loves me

i know He seeks me

i know He joins me

for prayer

a sacred place

a scheduled time 

a somber night 

for prayer 

#simplicity2016

simplicity 2016: peter rabbit's garden

"once upon a time there were four little rabbits, and their names were--flopsy, mopsy, cottontail, and peter." - beatrix potter

over one year ago i made a list. a list to plant a garden.

a list that i named 'peter rabbit plants a garden'

(because if you have never read anything by beatrix potter, then you must.

it is whimsical, delightful and takes you back to simpler times)

but i never planted the garden. i didn't make time, and before i knew it, the winter came and went.

and no garden.

this evening, the sun was too beautiful and the wind too sweet.

i couldn't keep myself from buying seeds and finally planting my garden.

you see, i come from a family of green thumbs, but haven't ever dabbled in it myself.

i'll eat what my uncle grows all day long, and i adore the smell of fresh flowers.

i guess i'm just nervous i'll suck at it. and i don't want too...

i purchased a lavender plant, a white bleeding heart, and three herb packets. 

some lovely pots and organic potting soil.

even if my little garden fails, the pure bliss of digging my hands into that soil and walking around barefoot makes it worth it.

so my little seeds are in the ground. covered, watered and tucked in for the night.

and hopefully, in two weeks, little sprouts of basil, parsley and cilantro will erupt from the ground.

life will begin and freshness will burst forth from the earth.

and that's so beautiful. beautiful because we get to see the miracle of life. a miracle that our Jesus gave us when HE created

our world.

it's something that constantly blows my mind. 

because it's complex, while still remaining simple.

plant. water. tend. gather. repeat.

simple and beautiful. 

#simplicity2016

simplicity 2016: earrings from africa

One of my favorite characteristics of Jesus is that He is a creative storyteller.

Today I am in La Mirada, California, at BIOLA University's annual missions conference.

I'm here with Serve Seattle, recruiting for our summer program.

Not normally something that falls into my job description, but it's a cool adventure, so I'll take it.

Also... I love talking about Serve Seattle!

We are not the only ministry represented though, and the last day and a half has been spent settling in and getting to know people.

You guys, people who deeply love Jesus are doing amazing things in our world.

And while I do have a tendency to be a little jaded when it comes to "corporate" Christian events, today really blessed me.

Because Jesus wrote me a story.

Our table is set up inside a tent with about 30 other ministry displays.

Yesterday, after we set up, I walked over to the table next to us to see what they were all about. 

Correction: they had super rad earrings made from bottle caps on display and I totally wanted a pair....#sorrynotsorry

I started chatting with Chuck and found out he volunteers at this conference, helping his friend recruit teachers for schools in Africa.

Super cool.

And the earrings I was eyeing? Made by a widow in Malawi... 

Then I shared what we do in Seattle and he shared what he does full time.

He is a police chaplain in San Diego.

Which to some might not seem like a big deal, but having a dad who was in law enforcement gives all those men and women a special place in my heart.

We chatted for awhile about the law enforcement community and how the Lord is using him in this capacity.

And probably the coolest thing we talked about was how the community of law enforcement is actually a really beautiful example of how Jesus wants us to live with each other each day.

Not a bombastic story at all. But it never fails to amaze me that when we are open to the creativity of Jesus, we meet the coolest people and walk away blessed in ways we wouldn't have otherwise been.

Chuck gave me some earrings, a couple books and a blessing in my heart.

God is cool and I love Him.

#simplicity2016

simplicity 2016: grandpa charlie

I collect grandpas.

Now, before you get all creeped out and envision a basement full of old men, smoking and listening to jazz (which would be amazing), let me explain.

Almost everywhere I go, I run into cute, wrinkly, grandpa-esque old men. Who love to chat and tell stories about life. 

Sometimes you get a creepy one, but usually they are adorable and precious.

And most of the time I view my encounters with them as little reminders of my grandpa.

He passed away a few years ago, but man, he was the sunshine on a cloudy day for me.

We always had such a great time together. 

I'd make him blush whenever he'd ask about my love life. I'd say, "Grandpa, I can't get married yet. I haven't met anyone as nice as you."

He get embarrassed and bashful, while beaming a little bit. He thought I was joking, I wasn't. He was that wonderful.

Anyone that kisses your hand each time you get an answer right in "Wheel a Fortune" is a keeper.

For some reason I just missed him a lot today. I also kept seeing grandpas that reminded me of him. So that didn't help.

On my way to the gym, I popped into Half-Price Books to look at their records. 

I will forever be poor, simply due to my music and book obsession. 

I found some good ones and went to check out.

Standing behind me in line was a man who looked to be in his 80s. Blue collared shirt, gray sweater vest, black beret and a permeating haze of pretty good cologne.

I turned and smiled. Because I saw him trying to see what records I was buying. No discretion either. Just all up over my shoulder.

I turned and pointed them in his direction so he could see, and he said, "Is that a real Glenn Miller recording? The Mills Brothers? Beach Boys? You've got good taste!"

Why thank you. I do. My dad and grandpa would be proud.

But, it didn't end there. And that's what I love about these moments.

The story was just getting started. I learned all about what his hobbies are and what his wife does for a living. 

I also learned they have an apartment in...Paris...

He talked about music and gave me a full history lesson about clarinets. Specifically the man who was the instrument repairman for the Glenn Miller Orchestra. 

It was delightful. 

And hilarious. Because I didn't say more than twenty words. And I didn't ask a single question. 

He was so excited to share this information with someone, that when it was his turn to pay, he was throwing change around and whipping hundred dollar bills out of his wallet like they were nothing.

Calm down Grandpa Charlie. You're going to get mugged. 

He was so delightful and I'm so glad I stopped to listen. 

For as much as I love technology and the perks it offers, I find myself nostalgic for a time I never knew when I spend time with Charlie's generation. 

Hours spent on Google will never give you the education or experience that ten minutes in a bookstore with Grandpa Charlie will. 

After we both left the shop, I got in my car and cried for a minute.

Because I miss my Grandpa Wally. 

I miss his laugh and his jokes and just the chance to sit with him and learn.

And though I can't sit with him today, I'm going to run into the gym, get my sweat on and then head home to listen to my "great taste in music." Because it helps me feel close to him. 

I wasn't looking for a moment to point me towards simplicity today. But it kind of creeped up on me anyway. And it was lovely.

#simplicity2016

simplicity 2016: tshirts and chuck taylors

Yesterday I had a conversation.

It went like this....


Me: Hey Ellie, how was your day? Amazing?

Ellie: It really was! I started my internship and it was great.

Me: That's awesome.

Ellie: How was your day?

Me: Honestly? My day was great!

Ellie: What made it great?

Me: Well, I'm wearing my favorite shirt and my favorite shoes and my favorite pants. My hair looks pretty legit... Oh, and I ate cake for lunch."

***

When I was in the 3rd grade, I had this sweater. It was amazing. Machine woven polyester, covered in what we're supposed to be patterns of Yorkshire terriers. This sweater was my jam. And I absolutely HAD to wear it with my pleated plaid skirt. Because how else would you wear it??


I could do anything in this outfit. Talk about confidence for dayz... So of course I wore it three out of the five days in the school week. Because #homeschooled.

I was also completely oblivious to what anyone else thought, and had not yet had to start wearing deodorant. So clothes went farther between washes...

 ***

A few weeks ago I watched a YouTube video of a little girl named Jessica. She is standing in front of a mirror and shouting at the top of her lungs all the things she loves about her life.

"I LOVE MY MOM. I LOVE MY DAD. I LOVE MY HAIR. I LOVE MY PAJAMAS. I LOVE MY TOYS. I. LOVE. MY. WHOLE. HOUSE!"

Some of these things she loves so much she has to mention them twice. And even three times. It was amazing and I think Jessica and I should be friends.

 ***

 

What makes the perfect day? Is it everything going the way we want? Is it being surrounded by people we love? It is never having to worry about anything?

Personally, I think it is a little bit different for everyone.

For Jessica it was shouting personal affirmations at herself in the mirror and then continuing to shout aforementioned affirmations as she ran down the hallways in her favorite pajamas.

For 8-year old me, it was wearing my favorite sweater every day to give me confidence. Because school is fun, but 9-year olds are scary.

Last night I was reminded I don't need a lot to be happy and joyful. 

Slowing down isn't always possible. And simplicity isn't always the first option we have available.

But it was a good reminder that sometimes it only takes a pair of purple chucks and a slice of cake to make a perfect day.

 

simplicity 2016: pray for sunsets

I love prayer.

I love the peace that surrounds me when I am deep in it.

I love the mystical sense of wonder that fills me when it's taking place.

I love knowing that Jesus hears me and honestly gives two craps about what I have to say.

I also love the all consuming feeling of giddiness that fills me up when a super specific prayer gets answered.

On Monday morning, I drove a van full of people to Rockaway Beach, OR. Which by itself was loads of fun. But the amount of precipitation that fell from the sky while I was driving, was not.

Now don't get me wrong, I love a good rain shower. When I am inside. On a couch. With a warm blanket and a hot cup of coffee.

I do not enjoy driving in it.

Especially when I am surrounded by semi trucks and looping through windy roads.

Because I choose life. 

It then continued to pour off and on for the next two days.

Until Wednesday night.

But wait, let me back up for a minute.

On Monday afternoon, I spoke a super specific prayer for our group and our trip. And at the end of the prayer I said, 

"Jesus, can you please give us the most beautiful sunset ever on Wednesday night before we leave?"

Fast Forward to Wednesday...

Wednesday was a rough day. Actually, let me correct that. Wednesday was a day I probably could've used an N-A-P.

I'm not usually a crabby person, but as my aunt would say, "You probably just had your panties in a wad about something."

I was a little tired, my legs were sore from hiking, I was probably hangry and just needed a good hug.

So while I marinated in my little mood, I completely forgot about my prayer for a sunset.

Thankfully I had told my friend Melissa about it, because around 6pm on Wednesday evening, she grabs my arm and says, 

"Elizabeth! It's your sunset!!!"

Everything shifted in that moment.

We all ran to get our jackets, shoes and cameras. Then, we took off towards the beach.

I honestly don't know if I can put into words how unbelievably happy I was in that moment.

It was like everything else stopped and it was just me, God and the sunset.

Magical. Simply magical.

Then Jesus and I had some real talk. Because that's what happens when you stand on a beach in the middle of winter and stare at a sunset that absolutely blows your mind.

I don't know if other people hear God or even how He communicates to them. But with me it's pretty direct, a little sassy and slightly uncomfortable. All in a good way.

His words to me that night on the beach went as follows:

"When you asked Me, I gave you a denim couch. I gave you a free piano. I gave you a place to live, a dream job and NOW I have shifted the heavens for you to create this gorgeous masterpiece. 

So, when are you going to start asking me for what you REALLY want?"

Ouch. Don't hold back or anything, okay? #hateitwhenthathappens

He was right though. 

I haven't been asking for the things I really REALLY want. I've been asking, but there has always been a hesitation and a pause. 

Because sometimes asking is hard and uncomfortable. And even though I shouldn't, I still feel some shame when I ask for big things.

However, I believe in the power of prayer and I believe that my Jesus hears me. 

So I did it. I asked. And I am going to keep doing it. Because it works. Scary? Oh yes. Worth it? You bet.

So pray big.

Pray really big.

Pray for sunsets.

#simplicity2016