_thursday is thankful for...encouragement_

The last couple weeks have been...well, interesting. They seem to be chock full of projects, stresses, and dramas I usually have no intention of ever getting overwhelmed with. But with the combination of it all, it seemed unavoidable. My default reaction is to worry, worry a lot, and worry secretly. I drink double the amount of tea (making it an obscene amount) and have almost uncontrollable urges to bake and relax.. but no time to do it, like I'm being pulled in so many directions at once.

But then, this magical thing happened. Well, it's not magic, but sometimes it sure feels like magic. Encouragement.  Not the fake, pat-yourself-on-the-back encouragement, but the random people that come completely out of the blue to say they are praying for you or think you are awesome. I don't think I've ever had a stretch like the last couple weeks that have been so encouraging. What I need to work on is getting better at accepting compliments and encouragements...but I'm thankful I am so much better at receiving than I've been in the past. I was pretty comical then.. but that's another story.

What are these magical encouragements? Well, there has been a range. For instance, the other day I was wearing my maxi dress, which I love; but, I know it makes me stick out a bit...which I do not love. Troy is not known for it's always upstanding gentlemen, so when one guy started to make a comment I instantly cringed, thinking it was going to be something derogative or cheap. ...but it wasn't even about the dress. This rough-around-the-edges guy gets my attention and says, "Hey, you're eyes are gorgeous." What?!? It was one of those compliments that stopped me dead in my tracks, and I was left speechless. That might not seem like an encouragement to most people, but to me it showed that people are seeing a little more than the obvious when they see me... and I think that is fantastic.

Also in the range of compliments, a good friend relayed a compliment to me given by someone I hadn't even met (..or was even standing near, if I remember?). But apparently this guy had called me 'Stunning.' What?!? Again, it was a slam-on-the-brakes moment for me. I like the way I dress, but I do not spend a lot of money or time or energy, really. I dress very conservatively....the way I dress is just not something I am looking for affirmation in. So when I get noticed,  I'm a little caught off guard.

Hanisch Bakery, Red Wing, MN.

Anyway, and for real straight-to-the-heart, I-don't-deserve-this types of encouragements, I've received multiples in a span of about 3 days. First, an amazing package in the mail from my grandparents that wasn't even expected. (Brown paper packages tied up with string? yes please. well, they are minus the string, but still unbelievable adorable). And what was the crazy unexpected surprise? Bread. Yes, I love bread. But this was Swedish Limpa Rye Bread from a Swedish bakery back home. This wonderful delicious bread had traveled 1250 miles to my doorstep. With an accompaniment of chocolate. And an amazing encouraging long letter.


Then, the next day, another unexpected encouraging package from my best friend back home, containing gifts that made me laugh out loud and jump out of excitement, and a letter that made me cry and laugh while reading it. I don't deserve this friendship, and yet she encourages me often and abundantly! There are no words to describe my love of this girl, she means the world to me!

This is probably more text than I've had in a post for.. forever. Good time to quit. But overall, I am left this week feeling busy, but very thankful. And thank you to everyone who encouraged me so graciously. You rock.

-AO