.good-bye July. (cheesy titles and 10 things I learned in July).

Let me just start off by saying that I dislike very much that the title of this post rhymes.  It's cheesy.  but I've also had only one cup of coffee. So I'm asking for some grace.

Anyway, I've started this exercise, for lack of a better word, where every month I take a look in the review mirror and look back on the last 30 days or so.  I've been quite inspired by other bloggers who have done this and it's changed the way I've looked at my day-to-day life, namely that there's really no such thing as day-to-day living.  We have our daily responsibilities, activities, laughs, and minor/major freak-outs.  But in those everyday things we have the chance to take a moment and thank God and maybe have another laugh about that one time when you tried opening your front door with your car key (i'm not naming names here).
So, this is my taking-a-moment....

1. What even happened to July?  I do not know.  This month I learned that the older you get, the faster July (and really every month) will go.

2. The 4th of July is not as much fun when you're minding your own business and suddenly glowing pieces of firework are falling around you and your family.  When Grandma's panicked about her lawn chair going up in flames, you know you sat too close.

3. July 13th was my Mama's birthday and I learned that the best way to celebrate is to spend some time with a llama.  She wouldn't have had it any other way.

4. Sometimes you think cornbread is a corn dog, when really it's just cornbread. this one's for you, Aunt Carm.

5. Hope and my plans and God's time are all very much in His hands.  It's one of those "all the time, every time, never-ending" things He does. In July, He taught me this all over again. Sometimes, I'm a very slow learner.

6. I learned that my on-again off-again relationship Coca-Cola is officially on- again.  All through June I was doing really well with my water bottles and such.  But come July,  he was back in my life.  He knows I'm sentimental and that I associate his red can and fancy lettering with summertime memories.  Plus, I really like hot dogs. And Coke goes really well with hot dogs.  So. This is what happens.

7. My grandmother had hip surgery and I learned all over again that she's superwoman.

8.  My brother and I went to our first major concert together (how lame is it that it's only our first?) and I learned that he is my favorite concert buddy.  and just my favorite in general.

9.  Sometimes waiting on the Lord does a number on you...but He is always worth our wait.
"I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!  Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!"

10.  Having breakfast in the morning changes my outlook on the entire ever-loving day.

.redecorate.

this heart of mine will always need a restoration.

from old unceasing expectations
from impossibly high standards
from not quite measuring up
from careless words with good intentions

from not feeling "enough"
witty enough
pretty enough
smart enough
not saying enough...
or saying too much

from the guilt and shame
from my constant awareness of my shortcomings
from being too much of this
but not enough that
from the knowing that I am not and cannot ever be "perfect"
and how much that bothers me.

Be my restoration.
Be what drives me to do what isn't possible without You.
You make me worthy of Your love because of who You are
and you are the only one who can plant rest and grace and beauty inside this heart.

So let your light into the dilapidated, dark corners of this heart of mine so that nothing remains hidden,
and redecorate the walls with pictures of You so that I'll always remember to whom I belong.

May we know deeply that we are Your creation and so,
we are made beautiful and glorious in You.
That is the truth that restores us.