Weekend links

I usually post weekend links on Saturday mornings. However, I feel I can get off the hook for two reasons: I just finished a 31 days series which wasn't a walk in the park, and also because today is a holiday in Brazil and I deserve a break!

We are spending the weekend with some cousins that could use a boost after losing a beloved family member, so we are aiming for an uplifting and stress-free three day weekend. In the mean time, here are my suggestions for weekend links:

Ruthy shared some joyous news last Friday. If you haven't seen Parker Penny yet, go fall in love with that cutie!

Elizabeth is starting a new challenge for November (which thankfully does not include posting every day- boy, am I beat!). Join us!

Looking for a good recipe? How about this seven-layer dip? Looks delicious!

This is quite controversial.... but Jennifer wrote a post about Halloween I really could relate to. I don't have kids yet, but I'll keep her arguments in mind when I do!

Oh, and sweetie Alesha's Etsy shop is now open. Look at all that gorgeous stuff!

Have a blessed weekend y'all!

On emptying my Bloglovin' roll

When I discovered the wonders of the world of blogging, I couldn't believe how I had lived without them before. All those blogs with organizing tips, decor inspirations and lesson plan ideas all looked so interesting, so perfect, so needed.

After a while I started to understand that I don't need to read all posts from my favorite blogs. I was actually proud of myself when I realised I could unfollow a blog I first thought was great but now found it a bit hu-hum.

For a while now I've had a busy week (or month or two) and I hadn't been able to keep up with my Bloglovin' roll. I kept seeing it climb from 36 to 257 to 812 to 1981 unread posts. Part of me itched to click Mark all as 'read' , but part of me thought I couldn't do it.

So I compromised. I actually read though some of my favorite blogs, such as Lysa's, Megan's, Katrin's, Ruthie's, Natalia's and Alesha's. The rest solemly got marked as read. And you know what? It felt good!

I'm slowly letting go of the need to read things and learn things that might be useful someday. Focusing on the now. Reading (even when it comes to blogs) stricktly for pleasure.

Peek Inside My Journal

For a while now I've had a secret friend on the blogging world. She is so secret, she doesn't even know I exist! But the truth is, every time I hop onto Blessed to Be a Blessing, I feel I am reading words from a long lost friend.

Alesha is the sweetest. I could totally see her in my church, as a buddy in my Sunday Bible Study class or as a volunteer in the children's ministry by my side. The stuff she writes makes my heart connect to her in a way that just shows me how much the internet can be used for good and can connect sisters in Christ.

Out of all her posts, my favorites are definetely Tuesdays. Tuesdays are PIMJ days, as in Peek inside my journal days. How brave is that? Well, I figured, if she is able to open her heart like that, I could do the same, and hopefully bless someone else in the meantime.

A couple of weeks ago our Pastor, Paulo Andrade gave us an assignment. He casually mentioned it would be lovely to write our own Psalms, so we could read them after a couple of years and see how much God did for us. Being the good pupil I am, I promptly wrote in all caps in my notepad WRITE PSALMS. A couple of days later, I really did feel like David crying out to God, and wrote my first one.

It was actually too personal for the web, so it's between God and I. But I've been working on them, and this one I'll share:



You alone knows all I need

And how to comfort my heart

When it demands too much

And expects things too fast

As I am about to lose hope

As I am about to give up

Only You, Oh Lord

Steps in and rescues me

You teach me to be still

And to live steady as it goes

Teaching me to trust You

A little more each day

All I ask is that You remain

My most precious treasure

Removing all that keeps me from You

And bringing in only what shall add to Your Glory

Have a blessed day, everyone!