January 31

Abby looked out the kitchen window during dinner and remarked that the sky was pretty. Since I'd finished eating, I grabbed my phone and ran up the hill to the deck. 

A few moments later, everyone else followed. From a purely technical standpoint, I didn't get a great picture of the sunset (since you can only kinda sorta see it), but I got this one. And I rather like it because it features four of my very favorite people in this world, all hoofing it up the stairs at high speed, just to see something temporary but decidedly majestic and beautiful.

Lots of loveliness in this image, I think. And definitely lots of blessings.

January 30

I almost didn't go to Target today. But then I did, and I was glad that I did because I found these new-to-me automotive lovelies.

Logan's anniversary is coming up in a few weeks. (Already nine years, which is almost impossible to believe but real's real.) I haven't spent a lot of timing mulling it, but the moments that I have dedicated to remembering have been as they usually are -- challenging.

So it was a blessing to find some of his old friends there on the pegs. It was a pleasant reminder of what was, what it, and what will again be.

January 29

We've taken a gradual approach to furnishing and decorating our house. Very gradual. There was the china cabinet we added to the dining room alcove a few months ago. And today, we put down a rug in the family room and pulled the two couches forward. There's part of a coffee table in the garage (because Wayfair) and a recliner is en route, too.

So anyhow here's the rug. And Isaac and Brady wrestling on the rug. (I think they were testing it out and then because they're 10 and 12-year old boys, wrestling followed.)

This is my reality. And although it's a bit odd at times, overall it's a good reality. So I am thankful for it and all of its glorious weirdness.

January 28

As I stood in the dimly lit doorway of my room this evening, Brady thundered up the partial flight of stairs from the first floor and insisted on giving me a hug. Since Isaac was still downstairs eating his 32nd snack of the day (seriously, that boy eats all day long), I summoned them to the family room and asked for a group hug. 

And luckily for me, they complied without argument or incident.

They're loud and they play too many video games and they bicker far (far) too often, but I adore these boys. They have awesome hearts and they're funny and they make me laugh (and roll my eyes sometimes).

And I am eternally thankful for awesome things.

(PS -- I'm not that short. I was crouched over a bit. He's still about the same size as me.)

January 27

I prayed for an opportunity to make something for someone using my new hobby, and I was happy (and a bit surprised) when a chance popped up just 24 hours later.

A friend of a friend's daughter is battling an illness, and my friend expressed interest in sending little gifts her way. So I offered to make a little lap blanket in her favorite color, which I learned to be yellow.

So here it is. The first part of the blanket. It's going to someone else, of course, but making it is truly a blessing to me.

January 26

I was checking the pantry this afternoon to see if we had tacos (we did) when I saw this.

At first glance, it's just a box of plain old Stove Top Stuffing, right? It was a staple at my house when I was growing up but we hardly ever eat it now, so it made me smile when I saw it. And then I looked a little closer and noticed the teeny, tiny identical box of stuffing strategically placed nearby.

And I snorted aloud. (Really. An actual snort.)

I knew exactly where the wee box came from --Santa gave the kiddos those mini brands surprise balls in their stockings-- so I marched upstairs and held it out to Abby, who was standing at her bathroom sink. She looked quite amused as I confirmed that it was indeed her tiny box, and told her that the situation had been well played.

I love it when my kids are random like that. The bursts of levity make otherwise dull, repetitive days decidedly more blessed.

January 25

I was puttered around today running a mishmash of errands, some for us and some related to re-leasing our rental house. This was my view for a segment of the journey.

I love clouds like this and I love how the sun illuminates their edges and gives them such amazing definition. 

I've always mentally referred to them as "heavenly." And anything that brings Heaven to the forefront of my mind is definitely a blessing. Even regular old clouds.