Lenten and Event Inspiration

A couple of friends have told me how great Ann Voskamp's blog is... she's the author behind the New York Times Bestselling book One Thousand Gifts. After walking with my friend Jade yesterday and hearing Ann's name again I checked out her blog this morning. CHALLENGING. Her most recent post is about Lent... I want to include just a few of her statements here that really struck me after a hard conversation with AJ last night about how I get too caught up in things like this blog or Pinterest... I never want these things to impede on my quality time with AJ and somehow they do...

"How often is there change without growing pains? Maybe that is what the gnawing struggle of a Lent fast is all about- the growing pains of grace. ... The realest fast is to hold fast to Christ. Isn't that the motivation every fast needs - the possibility of holding fast to Christ. I could do that, make that the definition of my Lent and fast: Letting go of more of the world, to lay more hold of God. That would refine me."
Ann Voskamp

So I'm off of Pinterest for the rest of Lent. And I'm going to watch my time commitment to the blog too... I HATE being confronted about something I'm not doing right or as well as I could be. HATE HATE HATE it. But maybe this is what Ann calls "the growing pains of grace". I need a hubby who will honestly tell me when I'm spending time on stuff that isn't benefiting us (and I need to do the same for him). That being said, I want to be refined and simplified this Lent. So if watching my time commitment to these two things will do that then I'm in.

Okay, enough talking... but I do expect to hear from you in the comments! Want to enter into today with some creative inspiration? Here are a few pics from fun events I found online, sources below the photos.



via


via


via


via

PLEASE COMMENT:
Tell me, have you been challenged by anything this Lent? Spill. :)

ALSO : PLEASE DO ME A FAVOR:
I've been nominated for one of Apartment Therapy's best home design blogs this year. Thank you, Amber! Can you help me direct more traffic to the blog and VOTE  HERE? It will take you two minutes and I'm located towards the bottom because I was just nominated last night! THANK YOU... I owe you one. :)