A time to replay the weekend & a reminder from Matthew 11

Saquish Beach on Saturday

This week flew by for me, very busy but very fun :)

On Saturday some good friends and I drove out to the beach for the day. The weather was beautiful and the water was warm enough to go for a little swim too. I love the refreshing feeling of a dip in the ocean! {hair after the ocean = my favorite} 

After a day at the beach, we enjoyed dinner out and then saw "The Dark Knight Rises"in IMAX, which made for a very thrilling experience. 

Mitchell and I before dinner&movie
[checkout my instagram for more pics from Saturday]

Today I got to wear my new white jeans from crewcuts, they are actually boys! Crazy, I know! 

But hey, {boy's or not} the jeans are cute, fit well, and were a great deal [under $10]. 

jeans - Crewcuts
scarf - J.crew
tank- J.crew
sandals- Roxy
earrings- Target

Thanks Mitchell for snapping some photos this afternoon!

And friends to close out this Sunday, I would like to leave you with a few thoughts on resting in the Lord.

Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,  for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Whether it may be the bore of a lackluster crawl through the mundane week; the anguish and heartache resulting from a devastating loss; or just somewhere in between, we must always remember Jesus has  made Himself available to us! He is our rest, and not just a holiday or a break, but in every minute of every day we have the privilege, opportunity, and choice to "take His yoke upon us": to be coupled, linked, and tied to the gentle and humble heart of Jesus. 

I thank God for this tremendous blessing He has made available to us! 

Rest in Him 

~Shannon

A time for picture potpourri

top: J.Crew
shorts: AE (old)
ring: Loft

Love the Klorane shampoo with Chamomile {via July's Birchbox}
Shampoo for blonde that actually clarifies, protects, and intensifies
Top: J.Crew

Today I prepped an asian-slaw salad for my lunch tomorrow:  Combining these two recipes {Asian Cabbage Mango Slaw&Asian Slaw with Ginger-Peanut Dressing} (+ a little improv) to work with what I had on hand.

The dressing: oil, ginger, soy sauce, sweet chili sauce,
spicy Thai sauce, vinegar, and peanut butter

toasted some cashews for a little crunch 

shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, mango, and pepper

Can't wait to eat this up! So easy and delicious :)

~Shannon

A time to set an intention

Yoga is often misunderstood by onlookers, much like Christianity. But as I have been practicing hot yoga, I see such a unique illustration of my walk with the Lord.
At the beginning of each class, yoga students are given the opportunity to 'set an intention for this practice.' Much like I have the opportunity with  everything I do to 'set an intention to honor God.'
Throughout a yoga practice, students are reminded to stay focussed on the present and let everything else take the back seat at this time. I think of Priscilla Shirer in The Resolution for Women , when she expounds on the wisdom of a friend's words regarding priorities. "When you choose to do everything, you can't do anything well. But when honoring God is your focus, it pares down your purpose and narrows your focus." Just like I focus on my yoga mat, I need to have the priorities of my life in balance  for this time, this place: this season of my life. 
As a yoga class continues, the exercise intensifies and the body is stretched to new lengths with every inhale and exhale; and as a relationship with the Lord grows and develops we are stretched and challenged more and more with each experience presented before us.
I hear the voice of the yoga instructor, "reach" "grow" "hold here", not much different from the words of instruction, direction, and promise the Lord has pressed upon my heart and mind 

I find it amazing the ways God reminds us of all His blessings; even through a hot yoga class ;)

Of course,  a little red mango after yoga