Recently my Work Workout Buddies tried out the YouTube video, “Yoga for Core (and Booty!)” by Yoga with Adriene.  In addition to (you guessed it, working our booties), Adriene mentioned the concept of “Body Appreciation Day” or “B.A.D.”

What a beautiful concept, be happy with yourself.  Be happy with how you have been made.  How wonderfully you have been crafted.

As we prepare ourselves for the onslaught of Holiday feasts, remember to forgive yourself.  Appreciate who you are.

None other than the Holy Bible endorses the concept of Body Appreciation.

“I praise you, for I am fearfully (i.e.  ‘with great reference’) and wonderfully made.
    Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.”  (Psalm 139:14)

Indeed, you are beautiful.  Appreciate yourself.  Give yourself a pass.  Be thankful for all your are, because you are wonderfully made.

The exclamation make all the difference…

The other day, I came across a lovely phrase.  In fact, I had always read it another way with a very different meaning.  “Enough!”  Yes, that’s it.  Short and sweet.  Actually, I usually think of “Enough!” as short and somewhat rude.

Well, in Genesis, Joseph’s brothers (yep, the Joseph of the Coat of Many Colors) go to tell their father Jacob that Joseph is alive and is doing quite well in Egypt.  Jacob’s response surprised me.  “Enough!  My son Joseph is still alive.  I must go and see him before I die.”  (Genesis 45:28)

I found it a little odd that Jacob was so rude to his sons, who had delivered such good and unexpected news.  Then I read the explanation and it turns out that “Enough!” is shorthand for putting the past behind and moving onto new possibilities.

What a beautiful phrase that we can all use.  “Enough!”  A great way to end the day.

“Enough!”  Leave it all behind.

“Enough!”  Get ready to start fresh tomorrow.

“Enough!”  Something we all have the power to experience with each sunrise.

“Enough!”  The liberating gift of a new start.

At first I was impressed that the boys wrote something on the grocery list.  Then I thought to myself, “Impossible!  More likely that Kirby the Beagle learned to write in a desperate act of self preservation.” Yep, that has to be it.

Sign that my son’s room needed cleaning – random jellybeans sitting under stuff on his dresser.

Sign that my diet may need reconsideration – my delight in his authorization that I could eat the recently uncovered jelly beans of wonder.

Say no more, my child.  Your generosity is appreciated more than you will ever know.

Comparing the photo of this year’s Lefse Making Fest with last year’s, I noticed something.

This year, there’s “lefse” me.

Whew!  My friends, that was a long week.  A long week of the normal stuff.  Work, trying to be healthy, cleaning dishes, shuttling kids around, checking homework, paying bills, trying to do your best in general.

So after a long week, we had some “Chocolate Mug Cake.”  I know I have referenced the beauty of the mug cake in the past, but oh tonight it was glorious.  All sorts of chocolaty and quick.  Perfect, when on the brink of tired.  Perfect, when on the brink of the holidays.  Perfect, when arriving at week’s end.

So I ate my mug cake and as I was putting my 8-year-old son Ben to bed, he read me a passage from the Bible.  An assignment for tonight from Sunday School, but just what my tired ears and winded soul needed.  “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Yes, just what I needed.  The perfect reminder for tonight.  Even as we are exhausted, we can remember that this is our one shot.  Our one shot to make a fresh mug cake.  Our one shot to enjoy those around us.  Our one shot to be kind.  Our one shot to share love.  Our one shot at life.  Be thankful.  You are living in a special moment.  Right here.  Right now.  As you go to bed smile.  You are breathing in this moment and sometimes that’s reason enough to rejoice.

CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

Sorry, no photo tonight.  We gobbled it up too quick.   :0)

4 Tablespoons Flour

4 Tablespoons Sugar

2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder

1 Egg

3 Tablespoons Milk

3 Tablespoons Canola Oil

3 Tablespoons Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

A Small Splash of Vanilla Extract

Coat a large coffee mug with cooking spray.

Put the flour, sugar, and cocoa powder into the mug and stir.

Add the egg and stir again.

Add the milk and canola oil.  Stir, yet again.

Add the chocolate chips and vanilla extract.  You guessed it, stir.

Microwave for 3 minutes.

Let cool a little bit and then eat.

Makes 1 mug cake.

Revised Source:  A random piece of paper that I have had for a long time with a trusty recipe for “5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake.”

Oh, I feel your pain stuffed bear.  I feel your pain.

Tonight I was wondering how I would fit it all in.  Clean the dishes.  Fold the clothes.  Check the homework (including checking water flow rates from different sinks throughout the house).  Wrap a birthday gift that arrived in the mail, before it was discovered.  Shuttle kids to Confirmation, basketball practice, and back.  Get to bed soon, in order to wake up early for the gym.  Plus most important, write my evening blog post.

Then a blessing, my son Sam’s socks on the kitchen counter appearing to read a National Geographic Kids.  Easy post.  A gift.  So nice that I’ll forgive their general status of filth.

Small price to pay for good blog material.

Read up, dirty socks.  Pleased to see that you are reading something squeaky clean.

Never underestimate the power of a t-shirt.

You may think you are ready to part ways.  Your shirt is tattered.  Torn.  No longer fits.

Regardless of the valid reason, add a touch of sentimental value and that t-shirt suddenly has unlimited staying power.

Goodwill will have to wait.