{WITH A} grain.of.salt

Another podcast that I'm enjoying is singer/songwriter Matthew West's podcast (with the catchiest theme song ever!).

Shelter-in-place made me into a neighborhood walking fiend.

I was thankfully able to work remotely for a few months. This was great! But some things occurred:

~ I ate wayyy too much during that first week, just because

~ Being in the house with my parents drove me stir crazy

~ Hearing the latest news updates on the radio / on phones was just too much

So with that, I decided to go walking in the evenings. Apparently, my neighbors had the same idea, HA! There were so many people walking, jogging, running, biking, gardening, renovating or just sitting out on the porch. It was and still is fun to wave and smile to everyone. The crowd has tapered off now though.

I walked so much, I wore out my Puma's. They had never worked so hard in their young lives. I remember buying them in 2009 and they too became a victim of 2020. So I got some Adidas on clearance at TJ Maxx (once they reopened, lol).

Walking has changed me. I make sure to wear my FitBit to track the number of steps and miles that I've gone. My clothing is a bit looser so I'm thrilled. But more importantly, it has given me mental clarity. 

While everything in the world is going haywire, the grass is still growing, flowers are still blooming and yes, even those mosquitoes were still biting :/. It was a great reminder that nature will still go on and do what it is supposed to. And I've taken to listening to podcasts while walking. So I'm learning while exercising. Mental and physical activity.

My next walk will be tomorrow and I'm definitely looking forward to it.

Do you have a favorite podcast? Do share. :)

I was privileged to hear an incredible message on Sunday night about Heaven. At the end, we gathered at the front and just glorified God for just being who He is. It felt SO good and oh, how it made me long to be there even more. 

Then came Monday.

I'm doing additional duties at work and it's been stressful. And that compounded with my annoying human worries on life's trajectory and the unknown future was not a good combination.

Monday was rough. 

It bothers me how I can get a taste of Heaven and then have to come back down into this chaos. 

We were never meant to make this world our permanent home but it almost feels selfish to want to be there to yes, worship God all of the time but honestly, also as a relief from the everyday mundane of life. 

It's complicated!

I had to take a break to talk to Jesus. During that time, I thought about what I am trying to convey to one of our new converts.... how important it is to build a strong foundation and get the Word in your heart. When He becomes our joy and our strength and our Rock to run to, His grace is able to empower us. We have access to a little bit of Heaven where ever we are. 

And while we're still walking the earth, we have a purpose to fulfill. 

 *tap tap* 

hello? is this thing on?

HI BLOG :o)

It's been so long. Way way way too long. But I think I'm back. 

I think. 

I feel like I need to start writing on here again and writing in my journal. It helps! And it's fun/insightful/cringe-worthy to look back on your past thoughts and experiences. 

So, we've landed in this crazy world called 2020, eh? Within the past few days, we've experienced what may have been the Hottest day on record in Death Valley. Over here in Dallas, this past weekend was our hottest of the summer. 

More heat stuff: Fire Tornadoes also just happened.

We were all shuttled into our homes, a virus is taking over, politicians fighting (well, that's nothing new, never mind), riot, protesting, toilet paper/sanitizer/cleaning product shortages, business for trampolines/pools/home office chairs are booming.... I looked up a tent that I split the cost with a friend last year. It was $70 in 2019 and is now $150 in 2020. Price gouging, I tell ya.

Oh and UFO's were confirmed by the government but in the chaos, no one even batted an eye.

SO! It's madness. But I thankful for a rock in these shifting sands.

Talk to ya later.