God's Blessings in July 2017

God's Blessings in July 2017

1. Studying God's word with friends who like to think

2. Poundcake with caramel icing for birthday breakfast with my girl

3. Beautiful party details

4. Jane feeling well enough to have the family over

5. Beauty and the Beast and French snacks theme night

6. Family that loves no matter what, even if lines need to be drawn in the sand

7. Meeting up with my middle and high school dance teacher after 30 years

8. Fondue day with the girls of our family

 

9. Driving and singing showtunes harmony with my girls

10. Friends and family who remember my birthday

celebrating summer birthdays with my girls

11. Binge-watching Call the Midwife before my library loan runs out

12. Starting a new project at the house

13. A pink and green floral bandana on a freshly-washed Della from the groomer

14. Happy Birthday serenade on the violin

15. Mom showing up with a Birthday Blackberry Cobbler when Cracker Barrel was all out

 16. Watching Gilmore Girls while walking on the treadmill with my girls (and my boys when they run out of electronics time)

17. Fresh cut flowers

18. Text streams with a new friend

19. Seeing our kids laugh and get along...even for a meeting

20. Sleeping in our own comfy bed

21. AC and fans

22. Family devotion with kids attentive and participating

23. An introverted son having a good time and not begging for electronics

24. Retreat time with my man

25. A cute coffee mug from a cute gift shop

26.  Nice hand-lettering

27.  Good tweezers

28. A breakfast trail ride

29. Seeing the stars away from the lights

30. Early morning quiet time lakeside under great trees with birdsong

31. A Family photo without too many complaints

Marmot humor and the quirky things that make a  family

Nutella fix

Washington, D.C. mission trip

Tri-DAC theatre and orchestra

Mimi  bringing goodies

The kindness of my pilates class in welcoming me back post-surgery

God's Blessings in June 2017

God's Blessings in June 2017

Consider what great things the Lord has done for you.
1 Samuel 12:24

1. Reading Scripture alongside my teen kids- watching a younger son enjoy Bible Project videos

2. Cutting pictures out of a Victoria magazine; old-school beautiful inspiration

3. Friends who pray

4. An appointment opening up for Jane at MDA

5. A daughter going on an international mission trip

6. A prayerful send-off on a mission trip and a medical trip

7. Being able to communicate with my daughter in Nicaragua

8. CaringBridge connecting family and friends

9. Make way for new baby goslings

10. Middle School Girls learning about Jesus at a "My Favorite Things" party

11. Celebrating early Father's Day with all our family supporting Jane

12. VBS- even if my youngest kids think they're too cool for school

13. Youth workers who enjoy one-on-one time with our kids

14. Being able to donate clothes for someone else to use

15. A new facility for women and children- a husband who works to advocate for others

16. Saturday morning brunch with my man...stopping to get a lemon cookie

17. Having my van freshly vacuumed out (no more mystery dog hair)

18. Cheese tray

19. Blue Apron cooking kit arriving with instructions and ingredients for dinner

Natalia's chocolate crepes

20. Cool mountain temperatures with no humidity

21. Gorgeous Alps outside my balcony window

Mom making me a vintage-style green beret

22. Making progress in PT- walking 7.25 miles

23. Medieval art

24. Incredible architecture

25. Crusty bread with black currant jam

26. Being missed

27. Fluffy duvet and multiple pillows-
              not being allergic to down

28. A daughter happy as a clam to be surrounded by theatre kids... "I wish I could do this every day!"

29. A new pallet of grass installed (not infected with nematodes)

30. Girls working together party planning

boys entertaining themselves by spitting on one another ???

wisdom teeth removed

learning to make biscuits

N's beginner's permit

Salad pizza versus plain pizza...the wonders of marriage

kids playing games together when we kill the wi-fi

working to replace that lost phone

God's Blessings in May 2017

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and don't forget a single blessing!
Psalm 103:2

1. Binge-watching two seasons of Poldark while recovering from knee surgery and being inspired by period film kisses

Being hopeful that this crazy season of busyness at work will someday come to an end

working to get all those volunteer hours for school in before the end of the  semester

Blooms springing to life always make me smile

race day with fellow international friends

2.Watching a movie as a family that reminds us to look for the beautiful in pain and suffering

3.Watching a catchy musical with the girls and finding our toes tapping two days later

4.Talking with other moms and realizing that our children face the same challenges

5.Visiting with other mamas as our children practice ensemble pieces

6.A leather-bound journal and a good pen

7.Reading a page-turner in an actual book (and not a digital copy of one)

8.Poundcake with lemon curd after twenty-one days abstaining from sugar

Using these advent countdown numbers from the Target clearance bin to encourage my progress

The cookies saved for me mysteriously were not saved for me. Whereforartthoucookiemonster?  The taped-together hidden in the freezer dish was not a deterrent for the munchy.

9. Making a photo book and reviewing the sweet, grace-filled moments of the past year

10. Hot buttered toast with blackberry jam

11. Being able to have complete confidence in my husband; finding a liter of blueberry juice in the fridge that he picked up to surprise me.

12. My children making origami swans, one after another

13. My husband pulling the car around to the curb of the never-ending parking garage in 
Charlotte- thoughtfulness

14. Listening to beautiful music being playing on the piano in our home

15. Lunch and dinner alone with my man

16. Offering some comfort to my teenaged child

17. Being able to pass on something helpful that God has shown me in my journey with Him

18. A child CAUGHT in a poor decision before the consequences were greater

19. Gravity

20. Young dancers performing at a nursing home for the residents

21. A mom taking time to send an email complimenting our son and our family.

22. Leadership opportunities for our kids

23. Husband and son apologizing for hurting my feelings

24. Young musicians giving a nice concert

25. Breakfast with my mentor

26. Poodle skirts and getting ready for a themed event with friends

27. Going to the movies - just girls

28. Guys beach trip

29. Kids working out together with Coach Freddie

30. Gathering together at the lake as a family

31. Help washing the floors

end of the school year festivities

Family tree similarities

lovely little llama (okay, alpaca)

Tappity tappers

goodbye elementary school