Now what?

I wore my peach jumper with a purple halter-top beneath it. Something makes me feel extra happy when I manage to put on dangling earrings and a chunky ring. The pace of life has been moving rather quickly and adding jewelry helps me slow down and feel a tad less machine-like and a bit more like a human.

The month of August can be summed up in one word, “launch.”

• The kids launched back into school

• We launched year two of “The Hope House”

• I launched a book, Feel (On sale at Amazon- shameless plug)

To put it simply, I barely slept and when I did, I didn’t actually feel rested.

But, today—I feel pretty in my color-blocked outfit. And even though my hair is about an inch too long right now, I feel at peace on the outside and on the inside. I think it’s rare to feel that way (at least for me). So, I’m savoring the simplicity of feeling relaxed all the way through.

What’s next? I have been asked this many times since launching my book last week.

Will I write another book? What will it be? Now what?

Off my lips float the word—recover.

To bo honest, I can barely remember to buy cat food. So the thought of writing another book or proposal right now makes my brain hurt.

My plan now is to rest in the recovery of a long-hard-fought-journey. I’ll probably celebrate a little too. Most likely, I'll wear a lot of purple (because it makes me happy) and earrings that weigh down my earlobes. I’ll drink a lot of ice tea and catch up on some reading. And buy cat food, of course.

Recover.

Re-cover.

Re-cove-r.

I love breaking down this word.

Recover—to heal.

Re-covered. I imagine pulling up the covers on my bed. I sink into the (hopefully) clean sheets that create a cocoon for me to rest.

Re-cove-r. Think of the word cove—a small shelter at the inlet of a bay. It is a little safe place between land and sea. It’s a tucked away haven.

This is what I’ll be doing next—recovering, in every sense of the word.

Maybe you need to recover too.

Start by connecting to something you love. Even if it is as small as a daily delight. Receive the rest God has for you and may you find a bit of healing after a season of a lot of work.

Of course, if you haven’t ordered my book, Feel—A collection of Liturgies Offering Hope for Every Complicated Emotion, I’d love for you to have it. It’s a beautiful book that helps you connect to your heart, God, and others.

Thank you for letting me take up space in your in-box. I’m so grateful!