Celebrating my dad's birthday.

July 31, 2022

Day 2,113

     We celebrated my dad's birthday today. It was a wonderful celebration. We had delicious food, the best cake and ice cream, and a sweet time telling my dad why we loved him. I think that is our best birthday tradition; words of love spoken to the person we are celebrating. 

     I'm thankful for my dad. He's an amazing person, and I'm so thankful we are close. I'm thankful for the gifts he has given me over the years. There is a big jar of honey he bought for me sitting on my counter right now. Every time I see it, I think of him. There is a little jar of Burt's Bee's lip balm in my make-up drawer that he gave me probably 25 years ago. I can't use it, but I'll never throw it away. There is a beautiful tattoo that resides on his arm for River; it's one of the greatest gifts he's ever given me. I feel safe knowing that he carries her with him every day. 

     I'm thankful for lots of puppies running around today. 

     I'm thankful for cake and ice cream and for the way it makes little hands and mouths messy and chocolatey. 

     I'm thankful for my mom who is constantly blessing us with whatever she can bless us with. Today, it was upgrades on vitamins I ordered, and some extras that I didn't even order. She has been buying vitamins for Tobin for months, and I'm so thankful for it. It is truly a blessing to be loved by someone who is kind, generous, and thoughtful. 

     I'm thankful for so much laughter. 

     I'm thankful for texts from Matt. I can tell when he's really missing me. He sends me multiple texts that tell me so. I'll be thankful that when he comes home tomorrow, he'll have four days off in a row. I'm thankful that he's mine and I'm his. It is good to be loved so fiercely. 

     I'm thankful for Adelyn and Tobin. They make every day worth it. I am so glad that I get to love them, take care of them, watch them grow, and call them mine. It is such an incredible blessing to have children, and I'm thankful I get to be their mama. 

     I'm thankful for the best family. 

     

     

Family Saturday.

July 30, 2022

Day 2,112

Thankful for: 

A good day with family. 

We visited Matt's grandpa today. 

We went out to an early dinner at Sweet Water with Steph and Mario. 

We went to Sweet Frog after dinner. 

We went to Steph and Mario's house for a bit. 

We came home and relaxed and watched Dr. Quinn. 

Matt wanted to cuddle in bed with me last night. I'm thankful he wants to be near me. 

My name is safe with him.

July 29, 2022

Day 2,111

Thankful for: 

A cloudy day with lots of rain showers. 

Lots of good quality time with my babies today. 

We got to visit a friend and her daughter and have dinner at their house. The kids loved playing together. 

We got to stop by Trader Joe's on the way home. 

We came home, showered, and watched two good episodes of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. It's such a great show with positive life lessons. I'm so happy my kids love it as much as I do. We are loving watching it together. 

Dessert. 

Tea.

 

I sat in my bed today and drank a cup of tea and read for a bit. It was so nice to do that in the middle of the day. 

Matt wrote me a message the other day on our weekly menu white board. It said, "CHRISTEN, LOCK YOUR CAR!" I had forgotten to lock my car the night before. I thought two things when I saw it: 

1. He wrote my name. He never really calls me Christen. It's very rare. 

2. My name is safe with him. (I don't know why I thought that. What does it mean for a person's name to be safe with someone? I'm not quite sure, but I know it means he loves me and I love him.)

Higbee snuggles. 

Exciting birthdays coming up. 

We have plans to visit Matt's grandpa tomorrow. 

Time to lay in bed and read. 

Kindred spirit.

July 28, 2022

Day 2,110

Thankful for: 

A lazy day. 

A delicious dinner at Patty's. Pot roast, carrots, salad, fresh bread. I love Patty's cooking. Her food is warm and soul filling. And it's the same thing to know her and love her. To know her is to feel warmth and home and a kindred spirit. 

Time to hang out with Patty and Armando. 

Lots of dogs that love me. 

The noises and sounds of Rusty, the guinea pig. 

An absolutely amazing sky tonight. Nasty clouds, a greenish sky, a brilliant blue sky behind storm clouds, the most brilliant rainbow I've ever seen, a double rainbow. It was truly a sight to behold. 

Coming home and watching two episodes of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as a family and having bowls of ice cream. 

Fun plans scheduled for tomorrow. 

Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it. I'm going to wake up early, exercise, clean my home, spend time reading the Bible, pray, eat healthy, and be productive. I'm going to try hard not to look at my phone at all unless there are text messages or someone calls me. 

Time to sleep all night. 

Hot tea. 

A good book to read right after I'm done writing this: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. 

Lake Day.

July 27, 2022

Day 2,109

Thankful for: 

A day at the lake with family. It was short, but any time with family is time spent well. 

Lunch at my grandmother's house. 

Patty and I were able to help our grandma with her new tv. 

Dogs. 

Cousins having fun. 

Deer. Bucks, does, and fawns. 

Exciting birthdays coming up soon. 

Still more summer left. I'm trying to focus on that fact rather than the feeling that it's going way, way too quickly. 

Time with the girls: Odette, Phia, and Adelyn. 

An easy dinner of leftover soup and toast. I love to cook, but I also love easy meal nights. 

Prairie Girls.

July 26, 2022

Day 2,108

Thankful for: 

Rain. 

The first time swimming in the rain for the kids. It was a very short trip to the pool, but a memorable one. 

Adelyn and Sophia acting like girls living in the 1800's. They wanted us to play with them. I haven't heard that phrase in a long time. 

Big kid sleepover. Sophia and Casey came over to stay the night.

Watching a funny show with Matt and laughing hard. 

Plans to go to the lake tomorrow and visit my grandma. 

A delicious dinner of chicken fajitas. 

Fresh strawberries in the fridge. I love a container of fresh strawberries. All red and perfectly ripe and waiting to be eaten. 

A fresh pineapple. 

More time left in summer. 

My home. I love the feeling of being home in my home. 

Reading in bed with a big cup of tea. 

Matt asked me to tickle his back last night while he went to sleep. 

Higbee was very playful yesterday. He wanted us to play fetch with his chicken leg for a long time. 

Family Pool Party!

July 25, 2022

Day 2,107

     Thankful for a family pool party today! Thankful for good conversation and laughter. Thankful for a lovely lunch and dessert by the pool. Thankful for sweet cousins having a fun time playing together. Thankful for Aidan's first day swimming. Thankful for the gift of time with the people I love.