Good afternoon on this glorious Sunday.
Okay, let’s celebrate small victories friends. All three of my kids sat in the pew the entire time during Mass today and no one had a meltdown. Who am I kidding? This is a huge victory! At the end of Mass, our Pastor was announcing our Parish’s upcoming March events. It’s a jam-packed month in our Parish but most of all, Lent starts THIS WEEK.
SAYWHAT?!
Even though Lent starts fairly late this year, it still kind of snuck up on me. What about you all? The past week I’ve been praying about what my Lenten prayer, almsgiving, and fasting promises should be. My friend Beth talks about asking God to show you what He wants from you this season, so the Father did me a solid and spelled it out for me pretty specifically this year. (THANKS DAD)
Read MoreThis past weekend, I traveled to Phoenix for the first Blessed Is She retreat of the year. This year’s theme is SHINE. And it truly did shine. I’ve been spending a few days unpacking the weekend — how God spoke to me, the fruitful conversations I had with other women, the community, and my dear sisters. Not only did I get to spend time with some of my best friends, but I made new relationships with some of the most incredible people I’ve ever met.
While there are many little takeaways from the weekend, there are a few that stand out.
Friendships rooted in Christ can withstand time, distance, and stages of life.
The women I’ve encountered through this ministry are from all over the country. We are in different life stages. We are single or married, a religious or a lay person, we have small kids or kids in college. We have different backgrounds, different ethnicities, different ideas. But we are rooted in the same thing — Christ. That is the firmest foundation of all.
Jesus loves me and He wants me to let Him love on me.
Throughout the weekend, a profound image kept coming to mind. Jesus, staring at my face, into my eyes and just adoring me. He saw past my insecurities, my sins, my failings, my self-doubt, and pierced my soul with His gaze. He wanted me to know that He loves every single cell of my body, every single piece of my being. And He wants me to let Him love me. Instead of turning my gaze away in shame or fear or doubt, He wants me to let Him love me and He wants to shower me with His unending, perfect love. He told me to stop averting my eyes and just His love wash over me in every moment of my day.
Sometimes I need to let it go.
I’m a very methodical and measured person. My days are often planned to the minute. But constantly holding it in and holding it together, is a recipe for failure and pain and anxiety and emotional numbness. Sometimes, I just need to let it go. So I did. I threw my hands up in praise and sang at the top of my lungs. I got down on my knees and worshiped Him without caring who was watching. I wept and laughed and allowed my heart to burst open. I danced. I let loose. I partied. I celebrated. I enjoyed. I indulged. It was like an emotional reset. Letting go is hard for me, but I need to do it. And what better way to let loose than singing His praises then having a couple of Manhattans with my girls?
Read MoreHear ye, hear ye! It’s March’s planner spread and I’m in love.
I’m also plopping week 9 in here too because they are themed similarly. I found this sticker pad at Hobby Lobby during Christmas time and I just love it.
Confession. I’ve always loved stickers. When I was young, I collected stickers. Also gel pens. (Remember mom?) Well, I used to not use the stickers I loved the most. I just kept them catalogued, unused, and sitting there. Over the past year or so, as I’ve been using my Blessed Is She planner more intentionally, I’ve realized that those stickers I LOVE and ADORE should be used! I mean what’s the point of them sitting in the sticker book?
My planner, stationery, and sticker obsession is something I enjoy for no other reason than they are pretty and beautiful and I should actually USE them.
Read MoreWell, at SOME point, I promise to post about something other than my planner.
But truthfully — can I be honest with you — I almost have too much stuff going on in my head that it’s hard to write about it. Do you ever feel that way? Like, there is so much to digest and talk about and work through that your mind shuts down and you can’t articulate any of it?
I am going to the Blessed Is She Shine retreat this coming weekend (yayayay!!) and I’ll be spending some time in Eucharistic Adoration and I’m hoping to unpack a lot of muh feels with the Lord Himself.
Speaking of the Shine retreat? Is anyone else going? I am heading to the one in Phoenix this weekend but there will be others this year including Kansas City, Nashville, Houston, and Ireland. There will be a couple of other locations I think, but those have not been announced yet.
On to the planner! I have some adorable “journaling doodles” stickers that I wanted to use so I paired them with some washi and voila! I also used some travel themed stickers for my trip at the end of the week.
Read More(and other Blessed Is She good news!)
I’m not going to lie, I love Valentine’s Day. I have never had that *shakes fist in the air* angst about love day. I know it is super commercialized and that it legitimately bothers people that the feast day has been hijacked, but I can’t help it. I love LOVE.
The seemingly endless winter can leave us listless and craving sunshine, so this holiday falls just when I am so sick of the dark winter nights that I can’t take it anymore. It is restorative! It is PINK AND RED threw up on everything! It’s candy! It’s love!
Okay, calm down Samantha.
This week’s planner spread is inspired by — to no surprise by anyone — Valentine’s day!
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