Sunday Family Dinners.

June 7, 2020
Day 1,338

Thankful for:

Sunday family dinners.

Sunday family dinner at my brother's house.

burgers and hot dogs.

watermelon.

lavender shortbread cookies.

time with family.

time to hold the sweetest baby: Oliver.

time to talk with my brother.

Lavender Farm, Moo Thru.

June 6, 2020
Day 1,337

     Today was wonderful.

1. I took the kids to a lavender farm: Lavender and Lace. We had a lovely time. We were the only ones there. We smelled lavender, searched for dragons, and bought some lovely items in the lavender shop: local honey and culinary lavender. Adelyn bought a lavender stress ball with her own money. She brought her wallet.

2. When we left the farm, we went to Moo Thru. It was delightful on such a hot day. I got sweet cream in a cup, Adelyn got vanilla on a cone, and Tobin got mint chocolate chip on a cone. It was messy and sticky, but good.

3. Then we came home and relaxed and had lunch; eggs. Addy likes hers fried. Tobin likes egg white omlettes. I had a western style omlet with salsa and a bit of cheddar cheese.

4. Then we walked Higbee. We saw the mother deer and her fawn nursing in the woods today.

5. We cleaned the house.

6. We danced.

7. We watched swing dancing videos. Addy and Tobin got all dressed up and danced a lot.

8. We had tacos for dinner. 

9. The kids said it was the best day ever. 

10. I agree. Any day spent with them is the best day ever. 

Thankful. Oh so very thankful for two beautiful people named Adelyn and Tobin. 

This was a good day.

June 5, 2020

Day 1,336

     This was a good day. 

1. I spent the morning with some other teachers driving around to visit the 5th grade graduating class this year. It was so good to see them, to talk with them, to encourage them, to pray for them, and to watch them smile when they opened the door. 

2. I went grocery shopping with my sister. I'm glad she was there. It was very crowded and hot. I've been wearing a mask to go to the store since this whole coronavirus started, but today...it felt like it was smothering me. I was on the verge of a panic episode. Just being near Patty helps me. She has a way of caring for people that makes them feel heard, validated, and cared for, but she doesn't make a big deal of it. She says things to comfort me like, "It's just because it's hot and crowded. Let's get you some water." And then when I make a big deal about drinking water with electrolytes in it, (I literally said, "I don't trust it.") she gets another bottle of water for us. 

There is never a day that goes by that I am not thankful for my sister. I wouldn't want to do life without her. 

3. I came home and we all relaxed all day long. Matt and I watched The Office on the couch while the kids played video games. It was a hot, humid, miserable afternoon so we stayed in. And it was so good to have a day like today. 

4. I'm looking forward to tomororw. I am going to take the kids on an adventure. I'm not sure where we're going or what we're doing, but I think that makes it more fun and exciting. Adventuring is one of my favorite things to do with my babies. And we're in need of adventure, water, and new things to see. 

5. Matt and I looked at pictures from our wildlife camera. I love looking at the life that happens in the forest when we're not looking. I will never tire of living in the woods. It's a grand life here among the trees and the animals. 

Very thankful for this good day. 

Words that hold weight and have value.

June 4, 2020
Day 1,335

"I am a new creature.

When I find myself risking to trust this way of seeing, the power of the lie begins to vanish and that increasing confidence in who I really am becomes the bedrock that will break my shame and addiction so I get to live free for the rest of my life." 

Heard those words in a movie I watched today. I've been thinking on them all day. 

Thankful for rescue missions. 

Thankful for words that hold weight and have value. 

Thankful for a new day just around the corner. 

Where the ocean meets the land.

June 3, 2020
Day 1,334

Thankful for:

days spent with my sister.

trying to play Uno with my sister and then having 5 little kids join us and ruin the game, but it's okay.

curry chicken, rice, chickpeas, naan, and cucumber, tomato, red onion, black olive, curly leaf parsley, and feta salad.

drizzles of olive oil; it's so golden and beautiful.

these words:

"There's not a prayer I've prayed You haven't heard
Not a tear I've shed that You didn't feel
You're the God who comes to raise the dead
I know You'll raise me up again
I know You'll raise me up again
Who can praise You from the grave
To see the life You gave
Just to see the life You gave
Just to see the life You gave
And every fear in me You've put to rest
It's the song I bring of Your faithfulness
And every tear has led my feet to stand
Where the ocean meets the land
Where the ocean meets the land."

Hard days made better by warm smiles and big hugs.

June 2, 2020
Day 1,333

Thankful for:

hard days made better by warm smiles and big hugs.

words.

books.

the blank page.

the feeling that something big is on the horizon.

A day called June 1st.

June 1, 2020
Day 1,332

Thankful for:

new beginnings.

a day called June 1st.

my friend, Jason; today's his birthday.

the knowledge that I can make tomorrow better than today.

small, humble lists of things to be thankful for when everything feels out of control.