it's your homegurl, lex!
remember me?! MAN, it has been SOME time.
i am currently sitting in starbucks on this beautiful day, sandwiched between dropping fran off for a baby shower (ha, isn't that great?! a guys' baby shower to celebrate his friend, mitch!) and going to an exciting wedding with him at 3:00! i had free time and i'm a little far from home to head back, so here i am! sidenote: this nitro thing that is taking over coffee shops these days is something i can GET BEHIND, ha. my friend aft told me yesterday that i'm waaay behind the times with this, but i don't even care. my go-to order is nitro cold brew with sweet cream, PLEASE and thank you. and boy, there's probably lots to catch you up on, but i most prefer random lil tidbits, so here's what's in my head today...
hm. well, if you're wondering how my marriage is, because i actually really love when people ask me that, i will tell you I LOVE IT SO MUCH. it's been the sweetest thing in my life! OF COURSE it's not perfect, OF COURSE there are bumps and i know we're only 4 months in. it's funny, i feel like i need to put a disclaimer on my happiness.. like qualify it by saying all these 'buts.' right now, i'm cherishing it every day! i hope i always cherish it. seeing fran is my favorite part of the day when i get home, and we joke a lot and have a lot of fun together. he is more endearing than i realized.. just so totally lovable. i love it so much. i love him so much. i'm very happy these days. i'll keep going on, so i might as well move to the next thing, ha...
what else? oh, i started a new job! it's going okay. i'm so new and don't know that much yet and no one really knows me. i don't know, it's a new job. there are things i like, things i don't like. and i'm gonna try my hardest every day.
our church community is great! we're starting to feel known and starting to know people, but i do think that'll take more time. being part of a community group really helps. i signed up for a women's retreat in october and i think that'll be good for me. a hard part of the season i'm currently in has been my female friendships feel far away and distant. i know i play a big part in that, not reaching out to my sisters. it leaves me feeling lonely often. i used to have good friends at work also, and that's changed too. this women's retreat was a little intimidating to sign up for, but i'm glad i did.
our pastor is doing a lil series about the why behind certain rituals, like communion, why we exist as a church, etc., and today's message was the why behind our sunday morning gatherings. i loved it. so so necessary to think about and talk about, especially as all of us have questions- "can't i just do a podcast at home for church? can't a small group at a coffee shop be church?- why do we have to meet on Sunday mornings?" i loved thinking through this and hearing his insight.
i'm thinkin of you, ariel! thanks for missing my blog. made me feel so special when you reached out. i miss you!
i've been cooking like 95% more than i ever did before getting married. my go-to when i was living on my own? tortilla chips with cheese melted on top and salsa. mmm baby. sometimes, i'd exert myself for a bag of steam-in-bag veggies. ha. i've really stepped up my game, and honestly, i'm surprising myself. guys, i'm like pretty decent at cooking! me & francis' favorite thing that i make is something i learned from my mom, and i'll share with you so you can make it and love it like we do. ya ready? BURGER BOWLS. you heard it right. cooked hamburger meat in a bowl (like how you'd cook it if you were makin spaghetti), shredded lettuce, chopped onions, chopped pickles, chopped tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, ketchup, mustard, mix it all up like a burrito bowl kinda, and ohhh baby you have the floods' favorite meal. make it make it and tell us we're wrong!
my relationship with Jesus. bein honest, it's been dry, guys. i've been apathetic, unmotivated, and have let some questions about Him and the world creep in and negatively impact my prayer life and my desire to spend time with Him. it makes me sad. i love Him so much and want to be close to Him. but i also see myself not really trying, and choosing others things to fill my time instead. that's just where it's at. He is still beautiful and merciful and kind and faithful even though i'm lame.