Love Learn Lead April 19, 2018

Hello Friends. We have made it past the middle of April. Hopefully, wherever you are, there are promising signs of spring—and not more rain than necessary.

This weekend, Tony and I are gearing up for a trip to the Finger Lakes, in New York, with our closest friends. A few snow storms earlier this month, made winter feel that much longer and we are ready to get out of town. We are praying for good weather, but know that whatever we get we are going to make the most of the weekend. I hope that no matter your weekend plans, you too are in good company.

Today, I am sharing something I love about spring, an important new book on embracing our identities, and a leadership quote to make you think. Enjoy!

Love

One of my favorite things about living in the middle of farm country, Pennsylvania, is buying local foods. Early in our marriage, I read a book on the importance of eating local produce. Soon after, Tony and I decided to shop as much as we could at our farmer’s market. And we quickly realized that eating local, in season fruits and vegetables is AMAZING! A tomato shipped from California has nothing on one grown down the street. Everything tastes better fresher.

So, as you can imagine, around this time of year, I get a little excited when the first local asparagus, string beans, and scallions start making their appearance. Asparagus is the earliest and seems to have the shortest season.That is why, almost weekly, we snatch up a bundle or two of homegrown Asparagus at the market. Then, we roast it with a little olive oil and Italian seasoning at 400 degrees for around ten minutes. It is SO good!

What do you love about spring?

Have you tried eating your veggies “in season?”

Learn

It seems that one of our most difficult jobs in life is figuring out our identity. To go beyond who other people say we are, or who we see in the mirror, and to really know and embrace ourselves is not any easy task. Yet, I have found this process to be key in succeeding in life. And thankfully, there are incredible resources to guide us through this process.

Recently, I read Jo Saxton’s newest book, The Dream of You. In it’s pages, Jo shares her own journey of recognizing the broken or false things she believed about herself, how she was able to heal and let go, and then how she began to embrace her true identity. In many ways, Jo leaves us a map for how to reckon with our own story, to sift through the things it has told us about ourselves, and to embrace the truth. It is a powerful book. If you are seeking for a greater sense of grounding within yourself, I highly recommend it.