1. Do NOT fear
2. Do NOT worry
These two phrases woke me up this morning and they’ve been echoing in my mind ever since. Fear and worry are powerful enemies that can steal your hope, dampen your spirit, and rob you of courage. Left unchecked, they can pull you into a cycle of depression and doubt. Today I’m intentionally choosing neither fear nor worry, no matter the circumstances. As scripture urges, “be anxious for nothing.”
Instead of giving in to anxiety, we should bring everything to God in prayer — with thanksgiving, earnest petitions, and constant supplication. The God who loves us promises peace: a peace that surpasses all human understanding. We often think peace comes only after everything is settled and our circumstances are perfect. But God’s peace doesn’t depend on external conditions. He can grant calm in the middle of a storm and steadiness when every reason points toward worry. That’s the kind of peace I’m choosing to hold onto today.
On a lighter note, the man I married, Mr. N, traveled for a conference this past weekend. That may not sound like much, but it’s the first time in three years he’s been away from home. For those three years we’ve seen each other every single day. So when he left, we missed each other like crazy — lots of calls and texts until he returned. We acted like teenagers in love. Ha.
Speaking of changes, our hair needs attention. I desperately need to change my hairstyle and my three daughters’ this week. They’ve had yarn and crochet braids for about two months and everyone is ready for something new. Having daughters means there are times I dread undoing multiple styles — mine and theirs — then detangling, washing, detangling again, and restyling. The finished results are always satisfying, but the process is a lot of work.
I’m already brainstorming new looks. We’ve tried everything from cornrows to crochet braids to traditional braids. Sometimes I’m stumped about what to do next with all that hair. If you have any cute hairstyle ideas for little girls — and ideas for grown-up styles too — please share them in the comments. I’d really appreciate suggestions.
Do you remember making simple spaghetti with sardines (titus) as a student? I cooked that recently for dinner and everyone loved it. The best part: it took only about thirty minutes to prepare. I’m thinking this will become a regular quick-dinner option for our family. I posted the easy recipe on my Instagram and Facebook.
Can you believe January ends tomorrow? Time is flying — it feels like we just stepped into the year. I’m so grateful for how the year has started. Even though it began with an irritating neck pain, I still managed to accomplish more than I expected. Thank you, Jesus. And thank you, everyone, for being with me through it all. ♥
Let’s make this a great week. What’s new with you?