we had a girls night in! soooo much fun! i haven't laughed this hard is a really long time. honestly. ok. so seriously, i am still letting out those types of one laugh giggles that just seem to come out of nowhere because you see something that makes you think of something else.
honestly, i was really tired. i didn't get much sleep because my sleep schedule is, as the kids say these days, all outta whack. so late nights and waking up before 6:30am was not a good combo today. i'm still emotionally recovering from spain and a c-r-AZY week home. oh boy! and i just wasn't really in the mood. you know those types of mood? i'm all eh... i could go home now and i'd be ok. but i should just go cuz i said i did. well, again, God was like, you want a good time? i'll show you a good time.
and i mean, it wasn't the crafts. now don't get me wrong, the crafts were SUPER cute and a great balance of levels of difficulties and creativity. and if you know anything about me, you should know i heart crafting. but tonight, i was having some issues. my pretzals were clumping. my bead ornament was done all wrong. my card came out weird. (and i realized i think i left it there! boo hoo!) and the candy basket was, well, you probably catch my drift by now.
and it wasn't the food. OK, maybe the sugar had a little something to do with the heightened laughter levels.
can you find the reindeer with the missing head?!
but it all came down to the peeps! the women. another thing you should know about me is that i have a high value for female friendships. which is why i get so upset when my relationships with friends who are girls are broken. or when they don't happen so easily. i have been blessed with amazing women in my life: my sister. my sisters ;) my family. some childhood friends. i hope you all know who you are! i surely don't tell you enough how much i love you! and it is so important for us to support each other and stop competing with each other. ugh!
(including but not limited to all of these special ladies who teach me.)
so tonight, for me, was an encouragement. the few women who were there made me smile. they inspired me. not only with their creativity! (hello Craft Master Meredith! ;)) or talent to bake. or hospitality. or love. or ability to tell great stories. or the ability to express kind words. or the quickness to acknowledge something someone does well. or ability to ask questions and listen. or their ability to teach me gentleness. or new words like topiary! or honesty. or grace. or ability to laugh with others. but also for the love. the love that Christ has shown them is shining in these women.
note the topiary (shaped plants!) on the Christmas mantle!
by the end of the night, i was laughing so hard the pain in my cheeks no longer mattered because my stomach was hurting so badly. and i'm not even quite sure why... something about pilates, and a card with ribbon that was too long... and maybe chocolate was involved!?
i don't know. tonight was just what i needed.
it makes me think of psalm 139:1-3 "O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar...you are familiar with all my ways." God knows. Even though life seems pretty rough sometimes (or you may think all the time, like you just can't ever catch a break and that he must have something against you), God knows our every thought. Our every way. Because he created us. And he takes the mess that we so easily create, the life that we so quickly make all about me-me-me-meeee, and uses it for his glory. Because he sent Christ to die for our sins. He chooses to love us every waking moment even though we turn our backs on him and think we're doing fine without him. He has unconditional love. Unending mercy and grace. And he loves us especially when it hurts.
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