Currently {This Is a Biggie}...

I'm engaged!

Since April, in fact!  I know, I keep secrets well.  Things will be changing & winding down here on Bess' Bag, & as much as it pains me to say goodbye, it's a bittersweet thing because it's a new beginning of a brand new chapter & there's beauty in that unknown blank story God already has every line to... & I trust Him in the writing of it.  I pray you do, too, for the one He's writing in your life.

Thank you for being here!  Stay tuned for a couple more posts before I officially say farewell.  I plan to leave the blog up for anyone who may want to look back over any of the DIYs, printables, style tips, godly girl talk, music, & random craziness these past 7 years of Bess' Bag have rendered.  Again, I thank you so much for being here.  I will miss you.

Love,

-Bess-

Currently {March}

+Reading... Atlas Girl by Emily T. Wierenga.  This raw & vulnerable memoir is touching me deep & blessing my soul.

+Listening... to Matt Hammitt tunes, especially "All of Me" & "Let Go."

+Thankful... for the astounding gifts He bestows on me daily + His loving patience towards me.  How often I forget to see them.  Help me, Father God, to have eyes to see & a heart that speaks continual gratitude to You, the giver of all good.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

+Praying... for purity, a hunger for my Maker, & to be more like Jesus & less like me {the sometimes scary prayers}.

+Learning... to trust {again & again & again}, because He is good & for me {& I am a stubborn mule}, & I am completely forgiven, & to relish the unexpected season I am in {seasons are fleeting & this one will not last forever}.

+Loving... sitting on my favorite boulder perch, feet dangling over the river, & walking old & new trails with my Abba, Father.

Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: What are you up to lately?

Currently {Feb.}

+Reading... Love Without Limits by Nick Vujicic {review coming soon} & the book of Hebrews.

+Working... as a substitute teacher {that's where the uber-sweet unicorn card came from that now resides on my fridge}.

+Praying... for God's will & strength {always}.

+Seeking... to be more selfless, giving, & trusting.

+Thankful... for the amazing guy God's placed in my life & all the smiles & love he brings!

+Excited... about future adventures & new places!

Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: What are you up to lately?

Currently {Jan.}

+Reading... Fearless by Max Lucado, Savor daily devotional by Shauna Niequist, & Job/Psalms in the Bible.  I'm still working on my Bible reading plan that I started last summer & I'm more than half way through!

+Working... as a temporary librarian at a school for the month of January.  It's "inner-city," & some moments are a real challenge, but I'm leaning into Jesus & that's the best place to be.  Josh Wilson's Pushing Back the Dark is my anthem for these days.

+Missing... someone very special.  The miles in-between seem so far.

+Cleaning... out tons of stuff I really, really don't need!  It's time to live with less; I'm bogged down by all this stuff I never use.  I think I could have been a millionaire if I had just saved my $ & not gone shopping.  Yep.

+Excited... about 2016 & all that it mysteriously unfolds daily.

+Praying... for God's continued miracles & peace for the hurting & sick loved ones in my life.

+Praising... our awesome God that Pastor Saeed Abedini is now released from prison!!!  Plus, so many blessings in my life currently!

+Fighting... fear.  It's a daily battle, but in Him is my victory.

+Wearing... whatever is warm & cozy & layered.  It's freezing here!

Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: What are you up to lately?

Currently {Sept.}

+Celebrating... my nephew's 7th b-day this weekend!  He's full force in the Pokemon stage.

+Missing... someone special.  Counting down the weeks until I see him again.

+Reading... Acts in my Bible.  So much history on the early church & guidance/examples for the body of Christ today!  I'm on week 15 of my read through the Bible in a year plan.

+Praying... for God's guidance & grace daily {24/7/365}.

+Working... my part-time library gig & substitute teaching {the latter one is my fave of the two}.

+Ready... to switch out my summer stuff & make my apt. fallish.  Bring on the pumpkins!

+Fighting... my insecurities {& the enemy's lies} through God's strength & Truth.  It's not easy, but 1 John 4:4!

Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: What are you up to lately?

Currently {July}

+Watching... reruns of That Girl starring Marlo Thomas.  It's my fave retro show ever!

+Waiting... to start my new part time library gig.  My 1st day's tomorrow!  It's actually the same job I had about 8 years ago {my 1st ever paying job, in fact}, & here I am again...  God knows what He's doing, so I trust Him.

+Reading... Leviticus in my Bible reading plan {it's a tough book to get through} & I just finished It's Not About Me by Max Lucado {really encouraging / I recommend it} & am now starting No Longer a Slumdog by K.P. Yohannan {founder of the organization Gospel for Asia - you can actually get this book for free here}.

+Eating... pumpkin pie in July - cause I just couldn't help myself.  I love it year-round.

+Thankful... for so many countless things, including my new baby nephew, sweet time with special people, safety, health, adventures, mini road trips, sunshine, my new job... Jesus.

+Praying... for the families & loved ones of those brave men who lost their lives in my city & for the gunman's family, too.

Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: What are you up to lately?

Currently {June}

+Waiting... for a baby boy to make his entrance {my sister's due very soon}!

+Watching... reruns of Chopped & The Great British Bake Off with my mom.  I'm really getting into this cooking/baking thing {miraculous, really, for the girl who lived in her 1st apt. more than a year before turning on her oven}!

+Wearing... lots of SPF lip balm & t-shirts.

+Wondering... why I'm so quick to forget that everyone's broken & flawed {Romans 3:23}, instead of listening to the enemy's lies that it's just me.

+Wanting... to continue to de-clutter & organize my closets {especially the bedroom one}.

+Wishing... girls {& guys, too} would dress modestly this summer.  It can be a challenge, but it's worth it to help each other stay pure in mind, body, & soul.

Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: What are you up to lately?

Currently {January}

+Planning... for God's mysterious will to unfold {in everything, but particularly one area, too}.  Okay, so I can't really plan for it - in fact, it feels more like the polar opposite of plan: I'm surrendering.  Ah, & it feels so completely out of control, crazy, & yet so sweetly necessary & good.  God be with me.

+Hoping... to be brave in all things to God's glory.  As a reader reminded me, it is He who makes us brave.  Philippians 4:13!

+Baking... nothing, but eager to try out some recipes soon!  I've been trying to be the next Julia Child, & I've been waiting to start the cooking process until age 32, so as to be authentic to her story {I've got a few years yet}.  Just kidding / poor {yet inventive} excuse.  Anyone else watching MasterChef Junior?  Now those kids inspire me!

+Wearing... layers!  This arctic blast forecast is no joke!

+Resolving... to leave it in God's hands {& not to pick it back up in a daily yo-yo of trust & doubt}.  He is my God & I trust Him {that's written on my chalkboard currently}!

Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: What are you up to lately?

Currently {November}

+Looking forward to celebrating my b-day more this weekend!  28 years, man!

+Creating tissue paper tassels & other Thanksgiving-y projects that I can't wait to share soon.  I've had a couple fails & made a few messes, but it's all good.

+Drinking Alka-Seltzer Plus trying to get over my second icky cold of autumn!

+Looking for a great classic {that I've never read} to dive into on this start of my 28th year.  Any suggestions?

+Loving the coziness of this season!  {You know what I mean?}

+Thankful that I live in a country where I can vote.

+Counting my blessings!  God is good!!!

+Listening to Sara Groves tunes.  I find her lyrics so thoughtful & real.

+Excited about the holiday season we're on the cusp of!  Giddy about it, really!

Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: What are you up to lately?

Currently {September}

+Reading: Miss Bianca & the Bridesmaid by Margery Sharp.  Why have I never been privy to this delectable {"Miss Bianca"} series before?  Yes, it’s a children’s chapter book, however I don't think it would be fully appreciated unless by older ears {eyes?}.  Remember the Disney movies The Rescuers & The Rescuers Down Under?  These charmingly written stories from the 60s/70s are about those mice!  Okay, so this may not excite the rest of you as it has me, but I have a real fetish for this kind of lit. 

+Listening: to Erin O’Donnell’s No Place So Far CD when driving around.  {Is it terribly old school to listen to CDs now?  I feel like vinyl is back & the old compact discs seem completely old fashioned, strangely instead.  Well, that’s me, anyway: O.F.  Did I mention this CD was around when I was in high school?}

+Enjoying: moonlight swims – I discovered if I go later I can have the whole of my apartment place’s pool to myself {at least it’s worked that way the last 2 nights}.  I can float & look up at the stars!  I’m “soaking” it up while I can; it’s almost time for the pool to close for the season.

+Working: on cleaning up my apt.  I like to be organized, but the creative side of me lends itself to big messes + lately I just haven't felt like it {see below}.

+Praying: for my mom & stepfather.  His cancer has returned.  He sorta shrugs it off, but it's extremely hard on my mom.  If you feel led to, I know they'd appreciate prayers!

Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: What are you up to lately?