Gifts from my 2019 word Explore: presence, reach, savor, be still, breathe…

Savor each moment to the fullest. Even when that means we pick up the plate and lick up every last morsel. Turn the cup up and sip out every last drop of goodness. Care enough for those watching that this little act of vitality will encourage them to do the same! Let the candle wax drop onto the table. Linger.

Grab a coffee and let’s spill the beans!

Confession: I’m a leaner. Brady says I physically can’t take a picture without leaning=) So true. Now I’m trying to take that posture into the rest of my world…

So how about you? How do you extend grace? To yourself? To others? 

Show up anyway; no plan needed. Simply come to the table.

I was recently able to bring sweet potatoes back into my diet. This isn’t really a recipe as much as encouragement to bless yourself with some sweet potato chips and yummy chimichurri dipping sauce.

I truly believe we encourage each other the most when we are authentically ourselves and simply show up. Nothing more, nothing less. 

Roasting veggies, hands down, are my favorite way to eat them. ALL of them.  I was tossing these green beans in some coconut oil before they went in the oven and I was struck with their beautiful green color.

ALWAYS make extra because leftovers are yet another gift!

Give yourself...grace, time, opportunities to swim, do-overs, the glad game...

Be it a relationship, a new learned skill or a new way of thinking, whatever it is, let’s treat it with intentionality to help it thrive. Maybe it’s not something new; it’s just something that has grown a little stagnant and needs some attention. As my wise, dear friend says, “Needs change over time.” Agreed. So let’s identify areas for growth and get back to life-breathing fundamentals. And enjoy the process.

May we genuinely share whatever knack or gift we have. As Shauna Niequist put it, “What God gave you is not for you; it’s for the world.”

Whether its an over-packed action list or over-run emotions, sometimes the best thing we can do is slow down. Even if it’s only a few tiny minutes, make the most of them by being fully present. Maybe we only get two things done out of our list of 10. That’s okay. Those two things will make us stronger. Allow us to really listen. Breathe.

In a flurry of heightened demands, to-do lists and over-crowded schedules, sometimes the very thing that needs to float to the top are sabbath moments filled with grace and true rest. Whatever that looks like for you, make it happen. You're worth it. 

Happy day to you! I so pray you're absorbing all the goodness of this season as we start transitioning from summer into fall! It's truly a sweet spot! I'm tickled to share the continuation of responses I received from a few friends I polled with the question, "What are two things you're currently doing to better manage the flow of your day?"

So I polled a few friends last week and asked "What are two things you're currently doing to better manage the flow of your day?" Their responses were a gift. Each one was refreshing and great practices we can all take from and incorporate into our day.

Happy day! Just a bit of reflection and gratitude that offering whatever resources or talents we have can be such a gift!