In gratitude:

The way the sunrise dapples the shadows of the trees.

In gratitude:

The way these have volunteered themselves by the fence-last year’s “weeds” becoming this year’s blooms.

“When we encourage new parents to 'treasure these moments because they don't last forever' we need to remember to also reassure them that they will survive these moments because they don't last forever.

Parenting is hard, and the struggles can sometimes feel like they overshadow the joys. Knowing that struggling is normal and will pass helps us get through the hard times so we can truly treasure the good ones.” - L.R. Knost

The moss here seems to stay, perfectly contented to remain. This spot though isn’t fair weather friendly-it endures shade in winter and blazing in summer. Yet, whether in downpour or drought, the moss remains content. I’ve been watching this spot close to five years now. Faithfully looking for growth. The moss remains unchanged-it endures, but it doesn’t grow. It’s stagnant fixed.

Well, hello there! This morning, in the cut flower garden…🐢

Far too many times…I’ve forgotten I’m a constant work in progress. I conveniently see the flaws in things like towels shoved in cabinets by mancubs instead of towels folded and neatly stacked. These moments require a shift in perspective, looking at intent and impact, what am I noticing.

I wanted to catch a firefly. Not because I wanted to capture it, pull it from its friends or family. It was a jealous wish, my attempt to capture one for a Pinterest worthy photo. For two nights, I’d watch in the post heat storm humidity for lights to start, one flash at a time. As much as I tried, I fell flat. No firefly, but still time outside with mancub 2, running like childhood would never end.

May we always remember to gather and give thanks.

I adore there are some parts of creation that just make me laugh; like, the way a Pekin duck waddles with glee, perfectly content amongst its own, but equally as chuffed around humans. How they seem to see the good in every moment, quacking and waddling through their environment.

In gratitude: The sun may be setting for the day, but this moment. The peace of watching brothers, separated only by seventeen months, forging conversation and cementing deeper bonds. I feel like an witness to glory highlighted with setting sun rays.

Today, may you offer grace upon grace. Today, you are shepherding hearts to bridges.

𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧,

If I ever get the chance to speak to you face to face, to really have the conversation that keeps my heart pulsing through, make me tell you about the depths of shame I’ve wallered in, just enough…

Never stop noticing where the light comes in.

A Morning Prayer…

I think one of the greatest acts of grace for ourselves is pausing to consider our striving, the things we work toward or even away from. Its real roots, its core motivations. Are the strivings God given or are they rooted from lack of contentment? I sat with that a bit, then looked at my calendar and it provided clarity.

Are you teaching your children to see what you tell them they see or are you teaching them to look, to really truly read the room observe look?

In gratitude: Thank God for Dirty Dishes (a poem by Mary Stuber) 

In the fret of days, it’s helpful to remember that life-even the hardest of days-has had a result that looks better than I imagined.

More picture memories from nine years ago today. It was the day that I laughed at a sudsy dishwasher, suds oozing from a dishwasher that a well-intentioned child helped to load. It was also the day I decided that I needed to learn how to let joy ooze. I wanted joy to ooze. It’s been a slow process, this learning to see joy, feel joy, share joy.