March 7

'Twas a good start to the 2020 little league season for the Wight boys, who both went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in runs (four for Isaac, one for Brady) for their teams. Brady was the first pitcher of the AA Cardinals' season and struck out three, and Isaac --who hadn't pitched in two seasons-- ate 1/3 of an inning for the Majors White Sox and earned a strikeout of his own. Brady's team earned a 6-4 win, while Isaac's wound up on the short end of a 9-12 final, though theirs was an exhibition game so it won't count as part of their record. And the last bit? Isaac was given the game ball for his offensive and defensive efforts.

It was a cold, intermittently rainy, nasty kind of day, but I loved being out there watching them play. I loved seeing Brady pump his fist after posting his third strikeout in the first inning and I loved watching Isaac grin at nothing in particular as he played second base (his favorite position). I loved hearing them cheer for their teammates and I loved listening to them call out the game situation. They just love baseball. And though I've always followed the sport myself --suffering Orioles fan am I-- watching them enjoy it and seeing how they've improved as the years have passed by make me love it even more than before.

So yep, this evening I'm grateful for baseball. I'm thankful that we live in a town with good coaches who are willing to volunteer their time to teach and I'm grateful for access to such a beautiful set of fields.

March 6

It's been quite a week, so I'm settling into my spot on the couch this evening with a box of See's Candy Adam brought home for me and a glass of wine.

Yep, it's certainly been an unexpectedly stressful week, but it's also been a really, really good one, so I feel a significant sense of gratitude heading into the weekend. And I am, as was the case all week long, very, very, very thankful.

March 5

If all goes as planned, this will be our home as of the beginning of April. (Surprise!)

I know, I know: back story. After we sold our townhouse last month, Adam and I started to casually peruse listings in the area. I was comfortable with the idea of taking my time because I had a very long, very specific list of wants and figured it would take a while to find something that would fit the bill.

But then we walked into this place (which is, for the record, about 10 minutes from our current house) on Sunday and it just felt like our home. It has a pool and a stunning view of the hills from the back yard and a very private master bedroom with an amazing bathtub and a huge kitchen with a huge island and a built-in desk and a fifth bedroom that's already painted in Logan-blue. And it has a side of the house for the boys and a separate side for Abby and a bathroom that's just for her and a laundry room that's actually near the bedrooms. It's a place where I can imagine hosting friends and watching our kids and their friends hanging out in the pool or the family room. I could just see us there, and in fact, I even told Adam as we were admiring the view that I was afraid to go upstairs and see that it was perfect (and it was indeed perfect) because I knew I'd want it.

So anyway, we made an offer on Tuesday morning, the seller accepted it Tuesday evening, and we're now in escrow. And although I'd be lying if I said I didn't find the suddenness of this development a bit stressful, I am amazed by God's provision, because as it turns out, the seller sold the house to someone else almost a year ago but the deal fell through, and I just happened to see the listing right after she put it back on the market last week. The timing was, in a word, perfect.

Given that ours is the second amazing home-related story of the week, I'm reminded that God is always, always faithful and that I should always trust that things will work out. And I'm also reminded that He wants to give us good gifts and that though we sometimes have to look hard to see Him at work, sometimes we don't have to look hard at all because the gift is just Right. There. And I am so, so thankful.

March 4

I changed up my hair yesterday. I've tried (and tried) but can't get a decent selfie, so this last-ditch effort will have to do the trick.

My reasoning was twofold. In a practical sense, I was in the middle of a rather ugly grow-out from a layered cut, and I just wanted it all evened up and the same length. (Which it now is.) But I also wanted to prove to myself that one, that kind of superficial change won't kill me, and two, I'm still me -- even with this really unfamiliar medium-to-short hair.

Given how much "change" has been a theme for me over the past year or so and how much I did NOT like some of said change, it was refreshing --maybe even empowering-- to choose to make a small one of my own. Given that I can be such a pushover and, honestly, such a chicken when it comes to anything different that tries to impede upon my treasured sameness, I'm grateful for the newfound sense of boldness that I'm gradually starting to find within myself. And I'm doubly grateful that though my circumstances are constantly evolving over time, God is the ultimate anchor in the storm.

March 3

There were many good things about today, but I'm going to zero in on a small moment that went straight to my heart.

Since Brady's baseball practice ended just as Isaac's began, I was a minute late getting to the field to pick him up. When I arrived, I was surprised to find just Brady and one of his teammates still there, sitting alone on the bleachers. I called out to Brady from the sidewalk, and he headed in my direction, but I noticed that he kept looking over his shoulder. When he got close enough for me to hear him, he asked if we could please go wait with his teammate until his mom showed up. I said of course we could, so we walked back over to the bleachers and Brady invited said-teammate to play catch.

Fortunately, the mom arrived just a few minutes later, but I was so struck by the sweetness of Brady's gesture that the moment lingered in my mind as the evening wore on. No one else stayed back to be with this kid, but he didn't feel right about leaving him alone. I think that shows really good character. And I feel blessed that despite my many flaws, my littlest little chose to do the right thing when he didn't have to do it.

March 2

Isaac had a huge smile on his face when he got into the car after school today. I asked him what was behind the grin, and he said he couldn't tell me because it was his friend's secret. I said okay and didn't press for details, but seeing him so clearly amused --and seeing Brady so happy to see his big bro-- made me happy.

They may bicker incessantly at times, but I so adore these young ones of mine. I hope they're enjoying their childhood as much as I'm enjoying watching them grow up into good (increasingly bigger little) guys.

March 1

I love boxed chocolates. (And I really love them when they're on post-Valentine's Day super-sale but I digress.)

There's just something fun about not knowing exactly what I'm going to get when I take a bite. (And yeah, I know some of them come with diagrams that spell out what's where but there's no entertainment in that so I pretend they don't exist.) Chocolate? Strawberry cream? Coconut? I mean, I can kind of guess sometimes based on the shape (because duh, of course the square ones are either caramel or toffee) but the uncertainty is entertaining.

I suppose that's a rather Forrest Gump'ian thing to say, but it's true. And it goes deeper, too, because I sometimes wonder what life would be like if we approached every unknown with a modicum of expectant anticipation and enthusiasm. What if every time we pick up a new chocolate and muse over what we'll find inside, we expect to find something delicious rather than something disgusting (like marzipan. Sorry, marzipan lovers, it's disgusting)? And what if, on the occasions that we do find ourselves with a mouthful of marzipan, we opt to relish the delicious dark chocolate instead of focusing on the less-than-great filling? I bet it would change life for the better.