If Variety Really is the Spice of Life...

Then my mind is quite spicy!  Because right now, I've got a variety of things going on...

-In the last week I have met with or talked to 5 brides.  As of now, I have 5 weddings booked for this year. That makes me very happy and tingly inside.  This little side business that I've poured no money into and only as much time as necessary, seems to have a real blessing on it.  All of my wedding business so far is by word of mouth and is just enough for me to handle.  You know, without having my own shop and my own employees.  Which was, is and always has been a dream of mine.  But for now, I'm very grateful and very thankful for exactly what I've been given.  It's plenty to keep me busy in between the many other things I've got going on.  In fact, as of tonight, I've got 5 proposals to work on for my next round of meetings.  Hmmm...How is that going to happen??

-I took Ava out today for a little adventure and I happened upon Ann Taylor Loft.  Don't you love when your adventures lead you there??  On a whim, I decided to look for some jeans.  That statement alone usually causes me to break out into a sweat and head straight back into the car, but I poured through the racks and in a moment of divine bliss, I found a pair ON CLEARANCE, PLUS an ADDITIONAL 40% OFF!!  Seriously.  The Heavens parted and the angels sang.  Well, that might be a little bit dramatic, but it was the BEST deal.  I got a great pair for $11.  And in this new post-baby body, that is a miracle my friends.  I was almost so giddy I could have cried...

-And speaking of crying, I don't know what it is, but I am a total faucet these days.  EVERYTHING makes me cry.  A sad story, a nice contestant on American Idol and anything involving Haiti.  I am such a mess.  My hormones must be off the charts because I'm not sure I've ever experienced a season of spontaneously bursting into tears at any given moment, like this one.  The evening news about sends me over the edge.  I just can't bear the heartache that is oozing out of Haiti.  Those orphans and those precious people who are homeless, traumatized and starving.  I just can't get them off my mind.  Which frankly, is a good thing.  I hope I never get to a point where a tragedy like this one leaves me unaffected. It's ok that I can't seem to keep my mascara from running...especially since that's the worst thing I'm facing right now.

-Today I had the sweet pleasure of re-connecting with a student who has been a burden on my heart for YEARS.  A student who has faced insurmountable odds with almost no resources and no parents, an orphan of a different kind.  My heart has been broken by her, for her and with her on several occasions.  Travis and I have weathered a season of being heavily involved, followed by a season of almost no contact.  Through it all, I've asked the Lord so many questions and wondered what in the world He was doing with us (specifically me) but today I felt like I got a little glimpse of an answer.  It was a conversation that lit my fire a little more intensely and gave me a dose of re-ignition that I needed.  One of those talks that makes me remember why we are in junior high ministry again.  I'm still left with plenty of questions and trying to keep my heart from expecting anything, but I do have hope.  Hope for her, hope for the possibilities in her future.  I LOVE when the Lord does that.  She has been on my mind constantly today.

-It's been delightfully warmer here, like double digits, for the last week or so.  I've loved it.  But it appears that we are about to get another dose of reality this weekend.  Much, much colder temps are on their way as is a generous amount of ice.  Yuck.  I've been avoiding the grocery store because I need to make a meal plan first, but tomorrow is my chance.  Well, hopefully tomorrow.  We've got Ava's 9 mo. appt. and I've got another meeting with a bride, so if I can squeeze the grocery store in there then I won't have to go on Saturday.  Because THAT will be a nightmare.  When cold weather is predicted, the shoppers come out of the woodwork.  Couple that with a weekend crowd and I'd rather get a tooth pulled.  Well, maybe not.  I guess I'm not really a fan of anything involving my tooth.  Or teeth.  Good thing this is purely hypothetical.

-I know this is riveting so far, but Travis just walked in the door and Ava is still sleeping, so I'm off to enjoy these rare moments.  I'm trying to be very good about only blogging when someone doesn't need my attention and right now, I believe Travis would LOVE my attention!

Hope your day has been a blessed one, or in my case a spicy one!!