Welcome to How to Live the Little Way. A weekly post here at The Littlest Way where I gather all the ordinary things that happen or are happening in my day to day. Things like what I’m reading or listening to, eating, cleaning, and learning. These are the small moments that make up my blessed daily life and I want to remember them. My prompts may change depending on season and circumstance.
Thanking God for…
::cooler weather
::celebrating Chris for his birthday
::friends who love him like their own
::kids doing a funny skit
::Veronica and friends in for the weekend
::Torchy’s Tacos
::Leo’s First Holy Communion
::the kindness of our priest
::bending verses breaking
::listening to friends harmonize in our silo
Praying…
Lord, I’m praying to be tender-hearted to the brokenhearted and praying for a thick skin without being calloused.
Pondering…
I’m pondering using tools as insight into natural tendencies. There are various personality assessments available and I think they can be ok, as long as used only a tool and not an excuse. For example, using the Four Temperaments, I’m a Melancholic/Choleric. Someone could very easily use that knowledge to explain why they might naturally be more rigid, bossy, or depressed. Or…we can take that information and realize that although our natural tendency might be to look at things in a more melancholic manner, we can make the choice, and train our mind to respond to situations in a more positive way. Same with the Meyers-Briggs, or the Enneagram. These are all tools to offer insight, but only for the purpose of knowing our natural tendency, working to overcome it and grow to be more like Jesus. (By the way for the curious, I’m supposedly an ISTJ or a “Guardian” [but an online friend who is well versed in all this says I’m an INFJ] and a 6w5).
I’m also pondering a recent conversation and I’d like your thoughts on it. There’s a blog post in it that I’m fleshing out. The conversation was, people are intimidated by people who are real. So what does that mean? What does that look like? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Listening to…
I have various playlists going in Spotify–workout, good morning, folk, chill and relax, favorites, and a kitchen sink playlist that includes a wide variety of music. I really like this song right now, Our Love bu Judah and the Lion.
Reading…
Bible in a Year: Your Daily Encounter with God
This is my “quantity” Bible to make sure I get the Word inside me each and every day.
Catholic Journaling Bible and the Inspire Catholic Bible NLT: The Bible for Coloring & Creative Journaling
These are my study and journaling Bibles.
Mother and Son: The Respect Effect
#Struggles: Following Jesus in a Selfie-Centered World
* I’ve written an ebook to guide you through the whys and hows to get started with Bible Journaling, Bible Journaling Tips, Inspiration and Permission, and to encourage and inspire you in your Bible journaling!
Bible Reading…
I’ve been sharing my notes from my Bible reading on the app YouVersion. If you’re on YouVersion, friend me and then we can share notes from our Bible reading!
Psalm 86:11
Teach me your ways…Grant me purity of heart
Psalm 85:8
God speaks peace to the faithful
2 Kings 5:13-14
The difficulty of something doesn’t necessarily prove its effectiveness or value. Some things, some solutions are simple but their simplicity or the obedience and discipline needed to do them don’t make them easy.
2 Kings 5:11
“I thought…I expected…” These can be dangerous words!
Psalm 81:6
Now=God’s timing
Around the House…
We are having a family reunion like get together this weekend so we’re getting the house and farm ready. Chris is a little more stressed and worried about this than I am.
In the Kitchen…
It’s been hot this past week which makes me want to keep it super simple and cool foods. Lots of salads or crockpot meals, breakfast is always a favorite!
Use this link to receive $10 off your first Walmart Online Grocery order.
Self Care
I tend to get bored easily in my exercise so I sat down with my friend/trainer the other night and added some variety to my program. I tried the first one last night and loved it! It was just the right amount of hard and I was dripping with sweat afterward.
So many of you are asking what I’m doing and I’m not being secretive I promise! So the workouts our friend designed is part of a much larger program designed specifically for athletes. This will eventually be a complete paid training program. I asked him to tweak it so I could use it at home. Since so many of you have been asking about it we’re working on coming up with a group plan that includes accountability and a monthly challenge, but this takes time.
I said this last week I think but I’ll say it again or for the first time if I didn’t mention it last week, I credit some of the success of my consistent working out, building lean muscle, and losing a shirt and pant size already to drinking NingXia and Nitro. This drink has nourished and fueled my body as well as increased my energy and stamina.
(I used to purchase my essential oils from Amazon or Edens Garden instead of a distributor. You can read my thoughts on why here, “Where I’m From…” I’ve since decided I don’t have the time or resources to properly educate myself on using the oils to their fullest potential. That’s why I signed up with Young Living under a former Family Practice Physician.)
The Littlest Way
Our Online Bible Study Community is finishing up our July study titled, “Me and God.” This study focused on Scripture affirmations and was just the encouragement so many of us needed! We start our next study on August 1st and we will be reading, writing, praying, and studying the Book of Ruth.
If you’re looking for a Bible study that’s convenient–in your own home and your own time, fun–we are a great group of women! And in-depth but not overwhelming, I’m pretty sure you’ll love our Online Bible Study Community. This post tells you everything you need to know.
Our Domestic Church…
Not your Domestic Church but mine–Leo received his First Holy Communion over the weekend! Leo wanted Veronica here for it and our priest was so gracious to allow us to schedule it when she was going to be home for the weekend. There is nothing like a child, especially your youngest, receiving our Lord for the first time!
Captured…
Michelle says
I love what your praying. Love.
And for me, when someone is real, it may touch or trigger something real and maybe painful in me or my life…and that can be scary or intimidating to face…but it’s my favorite way.
Oh and I love the song too.
Have a great time this weekend.