ash wednesday

well, those of you out in cyber space who read my last post must have been praying for me.  Last week was incredible.  I so enjoyed my children and husband and life.  i got extra time to paint and finished a sweet little portrait of my friend vanessa's youngest.  i had good conversations with friends, old and new.  it was wonderful. 
and now the dust of wednesday looms before me, and i welcome it's coming.  Lent.  It used to be a time i almost dreaded - i don't usually seek out self-denial on a daily basis.  but after a few years of this rhythm in my life, i see it as a time of refreshment, re-centering, re-configuring my life around God's desires. it's awesome. 
so, here's the plan for this year: 
  what I'm giving up:  television all week (except for sabbath), and sugar on Fridays.  it's historical to fast one day a week, usually Friday, but fasting should not be attempted by those with sickness, pregnancy (i'm not), breast feeding (again, i'm not) or women who turn into evil mommies when not given frequent nourishment (bingo!), so a partial fast is best.
  what I'm practicing:  i'd like to spend my usually watching t.v. time journalling, and writing letters.  i have not been journalling at all since i started to blog, so i'm looking forward to picking up my pen again (oooh, maybe i'll get a new one!).  the same goes for letter writing.  A dear friend of mine decided this year to forgo Christmas cards and instead write lovely letters to friends after Christmas.  She's inspired me (I love you Cori).  and i've been reading some amazing works of fiction lately and find that i just want to prioritize the written word in my life.   I'd also like to spend time reading non-fiction for a change :).  starting with Gary Thomas' book "sacred parenting", which explores the premise that parenting is designed for spiritual formation.  preach it.

tomorrow is fat Tuesday (is it phat?), but i think i'm going to pass on the pancakes.  i've been sick all week-end with a pretty brutal strepp throat (doctor said today "you win the prize for the worst throat i've seen all week".     yippee.) and therefore have not been cooking.  so, for my last meal i'm looking forward to a roasted rosemary chicken basted in butter and crying with deliciousness. 

i pray for a blessed beginning of lent for you all, a time of anticipation for what Christ will whisper in your ear as you journey with Him from the desert to the cross.