29 May 2020

He fills my life with good things


  • another week with amy here!
  • sweet treat and time on the river walk with my favorite sister
  • found the mural (and pondered all things murinal)


  • all things t-train went well...(especially thankful for her enjoyment of nick and nick's enjoyment of her!  and amy's investments into her)
  • anytime anyone shows up with golden doughnuts.
  • it's not necessarily the right size or font or color...but it's still what i want to be permanently reminded of


  • katie's ridiculously kind words in her marco polo
  • the grace to "take a minute"
  • birthday package for zoe from mama melinda


  • macy cardwell's song "A Thousand Times"
  • patrice and andrea's willingness to let me ask them questions about what being an anti-racist really looks like/what it can look like for me
  • can we please refuse to make room for hate? 


  • lane was here for the weekend!  (his enjoyment of afternoon coffee lines right up with mine)
  • when i ask/tell siri to "play good worship music", she does!!!
  • cousins making homemade nerds' ropes...


22 May 2020

so many gifts every.single.week.


  • emma's excitement about laura lane coming to visit
  • play kitchen for zoe's birthday (and how God is so kind and generous to provide!)
  • caroline's willingness to paint aforementioned kitchen


  • delicious meal from molly (what an amazing friend)
  • sweet potato chips
  • psalm 33:20-22


  • our return address stamp!
  • a husband who gives me breaks and encourages me to go do something refreshing (he should write a book about caring well for your wife)
  • i asked for a bench in the shade...God gave a bench with a table in the shade - even better than i asked for! such a sweet spot for reading and writing and watching ducks.


  • having amy here for nearly a week....and how capable and smart and courageous and kind she is (AND the fact that she's back!)
  • trip to aldi with amy's debit card :)
  • good stuff:


  • the way zoe says "hi, Eli" when he walks through the room
  • my first official swim of the season
  • sweet sisters


  • "i understand the weight of my cute stickers." -acc
  • sweet little one's belly laugh
  • celebrating zoe's 2nd birthday (maybe there will be a whole blog with lots more pictures...or at least some IG posts...)


  • sally's willingness to make strawberry cupcakes
  • talking with teenagers -- and specifically "quack, quack your opinion's whack."  and "splish splash, your opinion's trash." 
  • flip flops that protect my feet from all the stickers (and a daughter who pointed it out)


  • eli's offer to go do something together
  • sleep. it's a gift.
  • best chute yet

15 May 2020

so much.

  • rebecca's teaching ability (though heart and soul gets so terribly stuck in my head)
  • sisters playing sweet music together (and laughing in the pool and making up dance routines and strengthening the foundations of their sistership day after day)


  • hearing about CCC missionaries through SGN (and those cut off jean shorts were something else)
  • hearing/seeing the word fika twice in less than 24 hours (and remembering our swedish friends that first introduced us!)


  • cinnamon roll bread!!
  • mother daughter velocity zoom call.  goodness, i love caroline. 
  • another saturday morning sleep in (wowzahs.  so nice.)
  • the delight the bowl of ice (and accessories) brings to zoe
  • a good run on mountain brook
  • so much creativity and loveliness happening at the table
  • being honored on mother's day (gifts, cards, help, texts...so many wonderful things)
  • precious reminder of our access to the King
  • celebrating 18 years of marriage with a delightful bike ride and the perfect sunset carrabba's picnic (and beautiful flowers and a fabulous gift - with thoughtful presentation to boot)(my husband is quite incredible)
  • the gift of color wonder paper and paints for zoe
  • "Who knew an ordinary tuesday night could be so much fun?" - papa
  • Papa's willingness to plant zinnias
  • getting biscuits with my dad
  • having two of my favorite people on the planet working from home
  • "don't let digital fatigue rob you from the things that matter..." (mainly Jesus...and connecting with others...community) - phil/the square
  • my total domination in jackbox (kidding...but i am thankful for the time spent with family and friends playing jackbox!)

07 May 2020

practicing my survival skills


  • the rock moving task is done
  • ling ling for dinner!
  • emma's creativity


  • scones from Amy T.
  • a pineapple for caroline from KJ
  • laying (lying?) in the front yard looking at the sky with zoe


  • kids laughing and playing in the pool
  • "gratitude is a survival skill." - Roxan McDonald
  • getting closer and closer to having barki noodles again 


  • RRLA teacher appreciation project
  • sweet little BK picnic on the river
  • nick's thoughtfulness to take us to the Alabama side so that we could be in the shade


  • Bethel's "peace" album
  • how nick has three daughters to love and invest in...three girls who will know their daddy loves them and thinks they are beautiful
  • sweet moments between these 2 


  • marco's pizza
  • when folks make hard, brave decisions
  • watching some amazing jump roping skillz


  • sweet everbe gifts
  • the newly established guest room getting put to good use
  • good thing to think about