In the in-between & new favorites

It struck me today that much of our lives are spent in "in-between" phases. We dwell in the already-past or the not-quite-yet. We're caught in the cradle of reflection and anticipation and we dream and think of the future. I write about this all the time, mostly because I think about it a lot.

I tend to think about life in a linear sense (is that how you think about it?). Every once in awhile, I'll glimpse a circumferential view of my life. Our lives are marked by transitions, but yet again, much of our lives are not transitional. So how am I trying to live well in the in-between?

1. Acknowledge that the in-between segments can be sticky and (sometimes) hard
2. Dwell in His truth: going to it not just in times of crisis but as often as possible, because it is never changing and always reliable
3. Realize that hard things can be really, really good for us, eventually leading to endurance and character and hope!

I've been reading and journaling through Romans 5 and 6 and it is so good. I can't remember the last time I've felt such joy in reading a book of the Bible—

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5

Here are some other little things I'm immensely enjoying right now, because little things are the bread and butter of in-between seasons:

For self care:

• feeling increased strength, flexibility and ease in several yoga poses, especially my downward-facing dog (I'm still in the midst of "30 days of yoga with Adriene" on YouTube)
• sleeping in today, at the start of a stretch of 6 days off(!)
• Planning some stay-cation activities with Nicholas during my time off

For body care:

• hurraw! lip balm (is amazing!)
• a coconut hand scrub from LUSH
• a beeswax lotion bar to keep in my purse for on-the-go moisturizing

For busy hands:

• knitting with Brooklyn Tweed's Quarry yarn: I'm loving this so much! Plus, this yarn even smells good
• mini pecan pies (aka pecan tassies) I make them exactly as specified, except I add 1/2 tsp cardamom to the filling
• using a little sheep progress keeper as I knit (it's a motivator!)
• A little magnetic wooden block set I bought for Nicholas for Christmas. Every time I look at his desk it's in a new shape.

Odds and ends that bring a little brightness to life:

• a cute woven dishtowel on clearance at Target
• the blend of purify and lemon in the diffuser, and a new soy candle
• The mellow album The Things We Did at First by Sean Feucht
• my new go-to journal: the blank, narrow-lined journals from Rifle Paper Co.
• flowers a coworker gave me at the end of a long shift yesterday
• and the oh-such-cuteness of an in-progress sweater