May 23

Isaac and Brady went rafting with the Youth Group today, which meant that Adam, Abby, and I were left to our own devices.

After I cleaned up the kitchen and lingered a while over my coffee and a game on my phone, Abby and I set out on a stroll around the 'hood (while Adam napped).

It was a lovely blue-sky day out, but what struck me most as we walked was the amazing variety of flowers we saw. There were reds and purples and yellows and oranges; roses and irises and petunias and poppies; wild in the field and carefully cultivated in front lawns.

And every single one of them added a vibrancy to the world that no human-created thing could ever manage to add.

So for the loveliness of God's creation (including the loveliest flower of them all in the lower righthand pic), I am grateful.

May 22

I had a second straight pleasant morning with my one and only gal.

As our coffee hour came to a close, I asked what she wanted to do, secretly hoping that she'd reply with something along the lines of "take a walk." And fortunately for me, that's just what she said. And when I suggested the Sports Park, she said that's exactly where she'd been thinking of going.

So that's what we did: I drove over to the other side of town and we hoofed it around the roughly two-mile looping, chatting and enjoying being under clear blue sky along the way.

Time spent with my girl is a blessing, so I am grateful for our walk.

May 21

I had a nice morning with Abby. We went to the Mother Ship and then on to the mall to walk around. On the way back to the house, we took a (second) drink stop at Wendy's before visiting Safeway for some cereal and yogurt.

After lunch, we tuned in to a terrible movie on Lifetime. And then she went outside and spent some time floating on a lounge chair in the pool. 

It was hot outside (think low 90s) so it was a great day to be in (or in her case, on) the water. And as I watched her (and later in the day, the boys) bob along the surface, I felt a great sense of gratitude for the pool. I'm not a swimmer, but I know the kiddos enjoy it. So I am grateful for that blessing.

May 20

I rolled into the driveway this evening as the sun approached the distant horizon.

So I parked the car, got out, and took a long look at the dazzling orange light as it gradually dropped in the sky and eventually disappeared, leaving behind more muted, quieter shades of amber and bluish gray.

Abby asked about my impressions of Heaven this afternoon as we motored from one destination to the next, and I didn't have much of a reply. She correctly noted that many of my musings on the topic revolve around seeing Logan again, and she's right. I do think of hugging Logan and of being reunited with my grandma and grandpa and other loved ones who have gone before me. 

But, she wondered aloud, do I ever just think about being with God? And Jesus? And just existing in a perpetual state of gratitude amid their overwhelming glory? And honestly, the question irked me because I had to say not really. My thoughts do indeed mostly center on people I've known in this life, whose presence I miss, and I sort of resented being called out for my short-sightedness. But she's right that I should look forward to being with my Savior. 

So this evening, when I saw the radiance of the sunset, it reminded me of the radiance of God. And it reminded me to be mindful and grateful for his all encompassing mercy and love. And I felt a sense of gratitude for my girl, whose irritating question spurred significant and definitively worthwhile reflection.

May 19

I had a lovely time coffeeing with these two lovelies this morning.

It was just the usual Mother Ship run, but it's always good to stop, acknowledge, and appreciate the everyday blessings that fill my life with dimension and color.

So today I'm grateful for Abby and Terry, and for how they both add richness and fun to my days.

And I'm also grateful that Abby brought that giant jug of water inside after I dared her to. I didn't expect her to do it, and watching her take sips from such a massive container made me chuckle more than once.

May 18

Abby's checking items off the adulting to-do list. First, she applied to credentialing programs and enrolled at St. Mary's. Then she graduated from college. Yesterday she bought a Costco membership online. And then today, we went by the warehouse so she could get her membership card.

And then after that, when we decided we did need a cart after all, she went outside to get one and re-entered using her brand new card. This is from the moment of her first-ever Costco Entry Beep.

And that was after she went to my Bible study with me and provided valuable insights, courtesy of a class she took this past semester, that greatly informed and enhanced our conversation.

All very adult-y things. And I am grateful for her increasing maturity.

May 17

Today marked opening day of our family's last Babe Ruth Big Season.

As a 15, Brady was given the role of starting pitcher for the Royals, and later moved out to right field. 

He didn't have a great day on the mound. We were playing a very talented team that includes a number of guys he knows quite well from playing with them since they were 13s, and they hit him pretty hard. On the bright side, he did make it through four innings. And he also made two solid defensive plays in right field on a day when heavy winds made the ball dart around in the sky. So those were good things.

But even better, he didn't seem discouraged or overly frustrated after the game. When I asked him to reflect on what happened, he said that the ball felt slick and he just couldn't get a grip on the seams, so it was hard to throw anything off-speed. And his off-speed pitches are his best. So tonight, I'm grateful for his positive attitude amid challenges.