Weekending.

late Sunday afternoon

My entire weekend looked a lot like that photo I shared Friday afternoon. I finished the body of the sweater and by yesterday evening was well into the first sleeve. Most of that knitting was accompanied by Small Great Things, which I really liked (except for the first 100 or so pages when I was completely regretting telling my girlfriend this would be the Jodi Picoult I'd read if she'd choose it for bookclub, which she did). But it also saw a little of the ACC tournament - sadly, despite my Carolina blue, Duke won. (but that's ok, Carolina still got the #1 seed.)

this shade of blue is especially hard to capture in my house - I promise - it really does look a lot more like the sky two photos down!

Besides knitting and reading and college basketball, there was also pilates. This 21-day challenge has completely hooked me.

it's not too late to join!

And one chilly walk in the sunshine.  This is the tree that was covered in pink blossoms last month. It is wonderful to see green on the branches again!

But the real highlight was church yesterday morning - our annual "Gifts of Women" service. This is an annual event sponsored by the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (which has ordained women as elders since 1930 and as pastors since 1956). Our congregation is blessed with two women pastors and a host of fantastic women leaders and congregants. This year's worship theme is gratitude and the prayers, hymns, music and sermon left me light-hearted and thankful.

I was honored to be a liturgist for the first part of the service that includes the Prayer of Adoration. These lines especially spoke to me and it was even more meaningful to be the one to read them aloud:

O God,
you richly bless us with all that we need.
With all your creatures, great and small
we sing of your goodness,
for in the cycles of the seasons,
and the wonders of each creature,
you reveal your generosity.
Grant us one thing more:
grateful hearts to sing your praise... Amen.

Wishing each of you a wonderful week!