It’s been a heavy week. (this really wasn’t the TGIF! opening I thought I’d be writing back on Monday) I’ve run out of fingers to count the tragic and downright crazy awful news stories that have filled my newsfeed since last Friday. and I’m sure more than a handful of y’all have experienced personal news that has knocked you for a loop (at best). geez, even I – the eternal optimist – wrote “? not feeling it” next to Tuesday’s entry about Hope. and of course things got worse. Wednesday’s pantry runs helped a ton. as did Thursday’s spring weather. and then I woke up this morning to the news of the Christchurch shooting. It’s been a really heavy week.
So instead of my usual TGIF thing, today I’m sharing a few things that have helped me lighten my load – I hope they might resonate with you as well.
That bowl of amaryllis bulbs (photo above) is still going strong. I’m not sure you can really tell from the photo, but I think there are two more flower stalks growing from that front bulb. It’s been more than three months and these bulbs are still growing.
My neighborhood bookclub met last night to talk about Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane. Our host adopted a daughter from China and they visited there this past summer. She made tea (from a tea cake) and we drank it together. and then she facilitated a really good discussion about culture, family, (new) wealth, and friendship.
In spite of all the rain, Marc played golf three times this week (he even wore shorts yesterday).
I got a spring pedicure today. 
That’s ten toes of OPI’s Kiss Me On My Tulips … and 309 stitches of the collar on Natsu. Honestly, both are making me smile!
And finally, from last Sunday’s church service. Specifically the last part of the sermon where our pastor quoted Richard Rohr:
We have been conditioned to focus on the negative in ourselves and others. Think of a negative phrase you have said aloud or thought to yourself that stems from a sense of shame rather than your inherent dignity. Now, turn it upside down and say, in the first-person present tense, an affirmation of your God-given (identity, belovedness) and value,
I am alone…
I am indwelled by God’s presence.I am unlovable…
I am infinitely loved.I don’t have enough…
I have everything I need.I am stupid…
I have the mind of Christ.I am worthless…
I am precious in God’s eyes, I am honored, and God loves me.Rohr invites us to “repeat the positive statement aloud, slowly, with intention and trust, several times. Then rest silently in the awareness that you are already and forever, without any effort or achievement on your part, a beloved child of God“.
(emphasis mine)
I challenge you to “turn something upside down” this weekend … and celebrate it!
Happy weekend, my friends.
mere-et-filles 
the new season of queer eye is out today! that’s one to put in the “love triumphs over hate” column
What a wonderful sermon part / affirmation ..
It’s been quite a week, that’s for sure. We’ve had some big kerfuffles in our little town and, while the end result is welcome, it’s been a difficult road. Cheers to spring toes and spring temps, I hope I have both around here soon!
It has been a very hard week. And, I too found comfort in powerful words this week. They were from Brueggemann’s devotion for Friday: “What if the church becomes the venue for processing loss and acknowledging grief for a world that is gone? It is precisely such processing of grief that permits hope.”
Stunningly, these words were profoundly important to read on Friday with the news of the Mosque killings. Thinking about the idea that out of grief comes hope has filled my thoughts.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful post!
the news has been heavy and on twitter it’s getting nastier every time I take a peek. I’ve been turtling in my shell and avoiding the constant news. It helps! Yesterday was screen free and it was a fantastic day!
I actually had to just . . . check out . . . last Friday, which ended up lasting through the weekend. Sometimes it just gets too overwhelming. Digging deep and hoping to find some hope this week. XO
Wishing us all a better week this week.
Spring toes – a great idea!!!
I, too, had trouble finding hope last week. First there was the death of my uncle. Then the shooting. Then the funeral and shiva this weekend. I’ve got a heavy heart. But this week, I’m hoping thing get better.