1. Picked up a sick young’un from school Monday morning.

2. Took said sick young’un to the doctor’s office, where he was promptly diagnosed with strep.

3. Encouraged that same young’un to RUN TO THE GRASS when he needed to throw up in the doctor’s office parking lot.

4. Reminded myself that it’s a doctor’s office parking lot, so it certainly wasn’t the grassy area’s first throw-up rodeo.

5. Discovered that we have not been buying bully sticks for Hazel; we have been buying bravo sticks. I do apologize for any confusion.

6. Spent ONE HOUR yesterday trying to get a movie to stream from my Mac to the Apple TV. I said on Twitter that I had discovered a whole new level of hatred for devices with inputs and was contemplating maybe just performing a skit.

7. Called my husband at work to get him to walk me through how I could play a movie. Turned out that I was changing the inputs on the wrong device. This is hardly surprising considering that there are about 15 things plugged into our TV.

8. Slightly exaggerated the number of things plugged into our TV because maybe there are only 14. And yes, I have romanticized the days of the VCR and my utterly reliable VHS tapes.

9. Washed about five loads of clothes and actually folded all of them.

10. Celebrated with Alex when his fever broke because he hasn’t been that sick in a lonnnnng time. Bless.

10. Put away all the folded clothes except for the stack of towels that’s staring at me from across the room right now.

11. Wondered if that the same stack of towels will still be there Saturday. My guess is YES.

12. Made a doctor’s appointment for me because I felt yuck yesterday and immediately got paranoid that OH NO, IT’S THE STREP.

13. Felt relieved that it was only sinus / allergy issues. So basically it was par for the springtime course.

14. Slowed down when I was driving down our street this morning because the dogwoods are starting to bloom and they’re my favorite.

15. Marveled at Hazel’s deep affection for shoes. She loves them and likes to have one in her mouth at all times unless she’s sleeping. This is why almost all of the shoes in this house are resting on an elevated surface right now.

16. Made the bold statement that McAlister’s Deli has the very best iced tea – but then I had some iced tea from Zaxby’s and now I’m wavering. I think I’ll stick with McAlister’s, though, since I’ve loved it longer.

17. Changed the lyrics to “Do You Want To Build A Snowman?” for pretty much every question I’ve asked Alex in the last 48 hours. And he is all better now, by the way. I doubt his recovery is directly connected to my singing, but it may have made him even more determined to get back to school so that he could escape my renditions of the songs from the Frozen soundtrack.

17. Discovered that there is a Sea Salt Caramel flavor of Talenti gelato and CALLED ON THE LORD right there next to the frozen food in the grocery store. I am trying to stay away from sweets during Lent, but y’all – SEA SALT CARAMEL GELATO. I stared at it for a long time and then pretended I could taste it and then practically caught a wheelie moving my grocery cart over to the cheese aisle so I could pretend again that some cheese would totally satisfy my gelato craving.

18. Packed an overnight bag because I’m meeting Melanie in Chicago tomorrow. We’re gonna spend Friday with our Tyndale people and I am just as tickled as I can be about that.

19. Listened to this album by the Oh, Hello’s over and over and over and over and over. Adore it.

20. Caught up on our Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon episodes on the DVR. It is such a treat.

21. Sneezed.

22. Rubbed my eyes.

23. Wondered why Taco Bell decided to get in the breakfast business and why teenage boys seem to think that it’s THE TASTIEST FOOD EVER.

24. Put a dress at Nordstrom in my online shopping cart – only to delete it. And then put it back in the shopping cart again. And then delete it. And then put it back in the shopping cart without buying it because DRESS COMMITMENTS ARE HARD.

How are y’all?

Earlier today I finally saw this little gem.

Now y’all know that I’m terrible about going to the movies; I always put it off because it feels like such a big commitment in terms of time. I inevitably wind up telling myself that I could write X number of words in the three hours it would take to go to the movies, so I wind up seeing practically nothing at the theatre and about two movies a year via iTunes. I think we can all agree that it’s a very impressive cinematic track record.

That was sarcasm.

Today, though, I was part of a little celebration with some of my favorite high school girls, and they suggested that we watch Frozen as part of our fun. I thought it was a great idea, but honestly, I didn’t really expect to watch. I figured I’d answer some texts and check some email and whatnot. Heaven forbid that I actually sit down and pay attention.

Well.

The first ten minutes of the movie totally pulled me in. I won’t go into details in case you haven’t seen it yet, but for me it rivaled Up in terms of requiring me to make a big ole emotional investment from the get-go. I was hooked – so I sat and watched the rest of movie, and I was completely captivated. There was so much that I loved about it that I couldn’t even begin to list it all.

But here’s what surprised me the most: the Gospel is all over that thing, y’all.

I have a feeling that there are probably lots of people who have written about the redemptive thread that runs through the movie, but I’m gonna write about it anyway because, well, it surprised me. If you’ve seen Frozen, you probably know what I’m talking about. And if you haven’t seen it, you’ll probably want to stop reading now because SPOILERS.

SPOILERS.

SPOILERS.

(I don’t know why I’m trying so hard to notify people about spoilers; I think that there are about 17 people in the whole world who haven’t seen Frozen yet, but ounce of prevention, pound of cure, etc.)

All righty. Here’s what I’ve been thinking about ever since the movie ended.

I should warn you that you are about to see me NERD IT UP.

I blame every bit of it on the fact that I was an English major.

1) “Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let it show…” is the world’s favorite coping mechanism.

It’s what Elsa learns from her father when she can’t control her powers, and then she preaches it to herself when she leaves Arendelle. Honestly, it’s probably default behavior for most of us when we’re facing a struggle or wrestling with our own brokenness. But it’s a bad idea. It creates shame, it isolates us, and it damages our relationships. Just ask Anna. And by the way, “Do You Want To Build A Snowman?” LAID ME OUT.

2) So much of what we think of as “freedom” is a counterfeit.

When Elsa leaves Arendelle and unleashes winter on her kingdom in the wake of her shame, she revels in the fact that she’s been exposed (“well now they know”) and decides that she’s going to be WIDE OPEN in terms of everything that she has previously tried to control. She’s doing exactly what she wants (“No right, no wrong, no rules for me – I’m free”), and it looks like she’s finally taking charge of her life (“the fears that once controlled me can’t get to me at all”). The problem is that she’s actually in a very beautiful prison of her own making. She thinks she’s empowered, but she’s more enslaved by her brokenness than ever. I should mention that you could’ve seen this same pattern at work in my early 20’s, oh bless my heart.

3) Our brokenness – left unchecked – will always affect other people.

Elsa breaks Anna’s heart early in the movie with her insistence on isolation. Elsa’s kingdom, Arendelle, literally sits in the winter of her discontent. And while Elsa tells herself that she’s just fine (“I may be alone, but I’m alone and free”), learning the reality of what she’s done to Arendelle is more than she can bear. Instead of trying to make it right, though, she retreats into her shame and lashes out in fear – and this time around, she doesn’t just break Anna’s heart; she freezes it. I couldn’t help but think of all the times I’ve tried to minimize my own sin and pretend like my issues weren’t my issues – but that stuff just has a way of welling up and seeping out and hurting the people we love, doesn’t it? Also, please know that I am very much aware that this movie has apparently touched a nerve in me and caused me to lapse into severe over-analysis and thank you for sticking around if you are still here right now because I imagine that I have reached staggering new levels of annoying.

4) “Only an act of true love can thaw a frozen heart.”

That’s the truth, isn’t it? It’s the Truth, too. (And how much do I appreciate the fact that the relationship between Anna and Elsa takes precedent over the relationship between Anna and Kristoff? WELL PLAYED, DISNEY.)

5) Real freedom comes through sacrificial love.

Anna never stops pursuing her sister. She knocks at her bedroom door through all the stages of her childhood. She chases after her when she runs from Arendelle. Anna finds a way up the mountain, she endures brutal weather, she walks up a seemingly endless staircase – and at every turn, she tries to help her sister, to walk with her, to assure Elsa that they’ll get through everything together. And in that steady, faithful pursuit, Anna faces rejection over and over. Even still, at the end of the movie, when Elsa’s life is in danger, Anna steps in again and lays down her life for her sister. That sacrificial love is what thaws Elsa’s heart – and when Elsa’s heart thaws, that changes everything. Sacrificial love ripples in beautiful ways throughout the movie, and my goodness, I can certainly say that the same thing, by God’s grace, is true in real life (1 John 3:16-18, amen).

When Alex and I were driving home this afternoon, I was telling him how much I loved the movie (he saw it before Christmas), and he said, “You always think things are allegorical, Mama.” I’m afraid he’s right about that. But all in all – especially considering that the last movie I saw was Gravity, which seemed to imply that any renewal that takes place in the human heart is the result of sheer determination and will – I just thought Frozen was oh-so-awesome. I love that it has some real depth to it (whether the Gospel overtones were intentional or not) and the story has hung around in my head all afternoon and night.

The stories that hang around awhile are my very favorite kind, by the way.

Y’all have a great weekend!

Well, I don’t know about y’all, but for me yesterday was the day when the allergies showed up and said, “HELLO! WE ARE READY TO COME BACK INTO YOUR LIFE AGAIN!” I felt like I was rubbing my eyes and sniffing all day long. However, I am not complaining because there are actual flowers outside and a forecast that calls for real-live sunshine today. So basically I will take all of these things over, say, the month of January.

Also, I got very tickled reading your comments about paper towels. I am always being just a little bit silly when I post about not-so-serious stuff like that, but by diggity I do like my full-size paper towels (which are more and more difficult to find without some sort of design on them, and that, THAT IS ANOTHER STORY ALTOGETHER). Anyway, my informal assessment of the comments is that people with small children seem to prefer the select-a-size over the full size, and that makes perfect sense to me (smaller people, smaller messes). It did bring me some degree of comfort to know that my fellow full-size paper towel fans seem to share the tendency to become BLINDINGLY ANGRY when they accidentally get home from the store with a roll (or even worse: a CASE) of the select-a-size. So this has all been very enlightening.

Anyway. Here are some things and some links and some more things.

– For the last year or so I’ve admired Rachel’s sunset pictures on Twitter and Instagram (at some point I hope we get to go chase some sunsets together). She has taken some stunning photos from some of Birmingham’s best-known landmarks, and about a month ago, she created a website that I just love: Picture Birmingham. Many of her sunset pictures are there, but the best part is that she’s attached a greater good to those photos. You can buy prints or notecards, and here’s the best part: all profits go to The WellHouse, which is a ministry here in Birmingham that provides shelter, counseling, and so much more to victims of sex trafficking.

So. If you’re looking for a great gift or maybe something special for your house, remember Picture Birmingham. The prices are super-reasonable, and the long-term benefits to The WellHouse are even better.

– A couple of months ago I mentioned that I’m speaking at the Allume conference this year. Well, tickets are on sale now, and I just thought I’d pass along that info just in case any of you are thinking about going. It would be delightful to see some of y’all there.

– The next Secret Church is Good Friday, April 18, from 6pm-midnight.

Secret Church – The Cross and Everyday Life – Promo 1 from David Platt on Vimeo.

Tickets at our church are sold out, but there’s a simulcast option available, and if you have a group of at least five people, it is super affordable. Plus, it’s just a great way to soak up some rock-solid, Bible-centered teaching – and this year’s topic has so much practical application in the day-to-day.

– I imagine that most of y’all have seen Kevin Bacon’s entrance on The Tonight Show last week. But just in case you haven’t, please do enjoy. The part that starts around the 2 minute mark makes me laugh so hard and reminds me of junior high.

– Shellie and Trent Monk released a new CD called We Are The Monks this week.

(I know that’s a terribly small image. I couldn’t figure out how to make it bigger in iTunes. I do apologize.)

Anyway, this CD is so joyful and soulful and good. Trent and Shellie’s harmonies are fantastic, and their message about love and truth and Truth is even better. For $7.92, this CD will brighten your whole week and make you want to see these two perform live and in person. Big thumbs up from me.

Hope y’all have a great Thursday!

First of all, chew toys.

Now granted, that was an odd way to start a blog post, but several of y’all asked about the magical chew toys that I mentioned yesterday, so I’m going to pass along that information before I forget. I’m not exactly sure how helpful this information is going to be, but I hope it’s specific enough that it can radically change your dog’s chew toy life forever.

I am exaggerating. Those are some high and potentially unrealistic hopes.

However comma the chew toys we’re using are called bully sticks (I think?), and I bought them at Hollywood Feed here in Birmingham. At our store they’re in a basket up front. They’re about 6 inches long, and they have three qualities that I like a lot: 1) they don’t upset Hazel’s stomach 2) they don’t have an odor and 3) they’re not messy. They seem pricy at first (they’re $5.98 each), but for a medium-sized puppy like we have, one chew stick will last her several days (and at night, when she’s getting tired, she will chew on one for two or three hours – she means business). There are larger chew sticks – some of them even braided – so if you have a larger dog, you can join the fun, too.

Here’s a chew stick (after a little puppy wear and tear):

Here’s Hazel with said chew stick:

These things saved my sanity at the beach. And come to think of it, the chew stick is saving my sanity right now because HAZEL ISN’T BARKING.

Second of all, pens.

Over the last year I’ve grown deeply attached to the Pentel Sign Pens. I prefer the blue but also use the black a good bit. I order them by the box from Amazon, and every single time I let someone borrow one, the reactions are like an infomercial:

“Why, I never knew that writing with a pen could be this much fun!”

“Wait! It’s like a marker, but it writes like a pen!”

“I only used this pen one time, but already I look 15 pounds thinner!”

(Maybe not so much with that last one.)

If you are particular about your pens – and if you don’t mind writing with a pen that isn’t super-fine – I think you will really enjoy these. We use this type of pen for voting in our county, and that’s how I discovered them. Also, I am sad to say that I can’t resist a pun saying that it was love at first WRITE, and oh, I do apologize for that.

I have found the best prices for these pens at Amazon. And that’s not an affiliate link. In case you were wondering. Though you probably weren’t.

Third of all, paper towels.

This past Sunday night I ignited a firestorm of controversy (slight overstatement) (the reality is that about eight people responded) (but “firestorm of controversy” sounds so much more dramatic, don’t you think?) with the following tweet.

True story: I am deeply annoyed by select-a-size paper towels. TRUST ME, paper companies, w/ my paper resources. I PROMISE I AM CAPABLE. :-)

— Sophie Hudson (@boomama) March 23, 2014

And y’all, it’s true. Those select-a-size paper towels make me insane. We’re talking high levels of deeply irrational anger. It just seems like one of those things where a company feels like they solved a problem that wasn’t really actually a problem at all. Because if I want a smaller piece of paper towel, I CAN TEAR IT OFF. Plus, over the years I have developed very specific folding techniques for a full-size paper towel, and those methods don’t work as well anymore because the perforations make me feel like I’M FOLDING IT ALL WRONG.

As you can see, the select-a-size paper towels have filled my life with difficulty and also confusion.

So. If you are comfortable sharing, I would like to know your feelings about the select-a-size. The eight people who weighed in on Twitter were mostly in the GIVE ME MY REGULAR PAPER TOWELS camp, but that might just be because those of us who do not care for select-a-size tend to be a passionate, opinionated people on this subject.

That being said, I trust that we’ll give each other a wide berth of grace as we examine this potentially divisive issue.

But if it gets heated, we could always order some pens or gnaw on a chew toy.

That’ll calm us all down in no time.

I made myself stay away from the blog for most of last week because I was really trying to focus on the new book. Honestly, I’m glad I did because the new book and I bonded a little bit. We have a way to go still, but yay for (mostly) uninterrupted writing time and the luxury of being able to think and the sound of the Gulf coming up on the shore. These are all very good things.

It was also a very good thing to have Hazel for company during those first few days when I was by myself. She is very much a puppy and sometimes makes me feel like I’m in the middle of Marley & Me; she loves trying to tip over trashcans and pull toilet paper off the roll and bark loudly and frequently for no discernible reason.

But she is cute as a button. And she is smart as a whip. And she is funny as all get out. Except when she’s biting.

So last week, in order to document the cuteness that is Hazel, I went a little overboard on Instagram since I wasn’t blogging here.

For example.

Before we left Birmingham, the folks at the pet store told me that there was a certain kind of chew stick that wasn’t bad for her and would keep her occupied for hours. Well, they were not kidding. Hazel and the chew stick bonded like crazy, and when she finally finished it (seriously – it was two days later), she looked all over the condo trying to find it. She was sad and despondent. And I became very co-dependent and enabling and WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME WITH THIS DOG I DON’T EVEN KNOW MYSELF ANYMORE.

And then there was her deep and abiding love for one of the chaise lounges on the balcony. I’d sit in the chair beside her and type and type – and she would faithfully sit in her little spot and sun and sun. She loved it out there. I like to think that the Gulf calmed her.

My friend Alison drove down to the beach with her boys Wednesday afternoon, and they were kind enough to bring my boy with them. He and Hazel were thrilled to see each other, and she still has not left his side – not even Thursday afternoon when he took a very uncharacteristic nap.

And here’s my favorite. Friday afternoon I was sitting on the couch, trying to write – and I decided to walk out on the balcony to check on Hazel, who’d been in her usual spot. As soon as I stepped outside, she ran inside and jumped on the couch. When I followed her inside, this is what I saw.

I’m sorry. But that is a pretty adorable dog.

So anyway. I don’t want to bore y’all to death with Hazel this and Hazel that, but she has been the sweetest addition to our little family. I’m mighty grateful to have had such a fun week with her (thanks to Scott and Rose, the best condo-sharing in-laws ever).

And I’m not even bitter about how she destroyed my favorite flip-flops. Or how she drank out of my coffee mug. Or how she attacked the hem of my yoga pants. Or how she tee-teed all over my foot in the elevator.

If she starts to go after my bacon, though, we may have issues.