Home Sweet Home!

Well, I made it through my three days back to work! What I had been dreading for months was actually rather fun, although I am so certain that I am not supposed to go back there for good! The oppression I felt for a few years towards the end of my stint at the job, clung back onto me like a bad odor when I walked in the door.

I'm not sure whether it's materialism or whether it's superficial beauty issues that disturbs me the most. The thought of people obsessing about facial wrinkles and spidery legs all day long just doesn't sit well within my spirit. I think part of it has to do with growing up with my mother and her physical situation with the paralyzed face. I struggle with the fact that we are so much more than the external appearance.

One of my favorite verses is in 1 Peter 3:3,4:

Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

Sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day aiding people in their quest for "outward beauty" while their internal beauty is in jeopardy disturbs me in a way I can't begin to express. I'm not against us looking after ourselves at all, although I am a self-professed "low maintenance" kinda girl (woman). I guess I just feel sad when we, as women, get wrapped up in society's definition of beauty.

Why as a society do we focus so much on the external, that can so easily be burned, beaten, pulvarized and mutilated in a split second? People aren't able to put food on the table, yet dig up enough money to do Botox or fillers in their facial crevices to "feel" young. Why are we not able to see the beauty within that is SO precious to God? I want to be someone who looks at who the world sees as "unlovely" and see the lovely inside them. I want to spend my energies being lovely inside. So, needless to say, I'm glad to be home and back in my reality. The makeup free days and simple life of non-striving, no-fuss existence.

On a side note... Book Club was a BLAST last night! This woman, K, who has been very enthusiastic in participating (like myself) through the past few month's meetings, suggested me (thanks so much!) for leading our next meeting when M & her pals are not able to be there. I have felt a kindred spirit with K since the beginning of the year but have never had the chance to speak to her until last night. As she suggested me, I was suggesting her to lead next month. Well, to make a long story short (sort of), we have decided to jointly lead the meeting. I'm looking forward to getting to know her and hopefully a new friendship will blossom from this as well as blessing the group next month.

Lastly ... I feel so spoiled this week from my sweet hubby! Last night when I arrived home from Book Club, I saw this little white cord sitting on my laptop. "What's this?" I asked D. He then pointed towards a tiny little black box sitting alongside my laptop. Now you may be thinking "tiny" as in "jewelery" but it was a little bigger than that . It was a tiny little external hard drive for my laptop. So small it will fit perfectly in my computer bag to take along with me when I travel! PLUS... look what was waiting for me when I arrived home today from work:

Aren't they beautiful? D told me that our house needed something bright to fill the void left by Meg. I love my honey!!