because He told me to: June 2021

24 June 2021

yaya's succesful shoulder surgery!
easy rainy saturday morning...getting unexpected closets and pockets of space cleaned out. always more to take to valley rescue.
papa has a surgery date. bring on the new knee!
eli's continued responsibility and trustworthiness and ability to get himself where he needs to go
coming home to this scene

susu's sugar cookies!
fresh cut flowers
a room full of moms sharing hearts and lives and stories
lauren's facilitating abilities (and faithfulness to always bring random things for me! :))
"i had never heard of a hard adoption story until after i started sharing mine." - ella
how vulnerability and authenticity breed more vulnerability and authenticity
nick's excellence in planning/executing events
sweet three year olds riding in the back of the truck (captured one of them in the rear view mirror)

the pain eventually stops, the colds go away, sick isn't my normal.
sweet webmunity gathering
jessica's testimony of tim saving a little girl's life (and how the holy spirit had prepared him for it)
seeing the kids the gavins love so much thriving
can my friends come over?" - eli (YES. 10000 times YES. can't think of any reason why the answer would ever be no....thankful for his friends...thankful that they want to be here...thankful that i can go to sleep even if they are still awake)
breakfast picnic at the park with a delightful breakfast partner

the every so often breakfast with janet
amazing temperatures in june
pleasant walk on rails to trails in jeans (in june)
good news from t-train's parents. yay for parents working their case plans!!!
it was just branches at 5:57am on biggers road tuesday morning
Rock of Ages - what a beautiful hymn
and one more incredible song: talking to jesus
"it's not an interruption. you couldn't have picked a better time." - lyric from talking to jesus

fresh baked chocolate chip cookies on the beach
the husband who made and brought previously mentioned cookies to us
pizza on the beach
"help me to stop counting the minutes, to relinquish control. Inspire me to live and breathe with greater ease, as an eternal being loved by You." - lectio 365 prayer
pink and purple sunset swimming
caroline's skim boarding abilities (in true caroline fashion, she really can do most anything she sets her mind to)
"invite the holy spirit to take up more space in your life." - ashley anderson, church of the city
caroline's excitment at getting "go dawgs" level brushing status with dr. serff
the favor of the Lord in the form of post-it notes and pens (and the refreshing friend who was His delivery vessel)

fun day at callaway. yay for season passes and friends who have them, too!
everyday isn't like today. today wasn't all that terrible...just A DAY.
sweet texas postcard from shea
kind animal-loving cottage guests
having plans that make the week after the beach not so hard
ollie ollie
peaceful sleepers
easy transition for t-train
community and conversations at CCC
getting to hug jeanie's neck..and the way emma and jeremiah picked their game of tag right back up

reminders about contentment
jonathan and katie made it
starbucks with my emma (and yaya and amy, too...they just weren't in the backseat for the selfie)

caroline's back from camp (and just how happy that made zoe!)
walk to/around the village
my friend molly...and how she knows that i'm interested in things like contronyms

cups of ice with a little bit of coke (and all the folks who brought them to me on the beach)
laughter. always a gift.
good stuff in lectio 365

getting to be a part of the DFCS video call (the timing of it...the reminder that some parts of the system are working incredibly well)
two weeks at the beach (i'm very thankful....it's worth repeating)
blue fingernails

a family that i truly enjoy and that i delight to spend time with
"rejoicing in God's security today" (for the record, i don't feel like anyone is plotting to destroy me :) - i just love the picture of his strong right hand holding me securely!)