January 31

Brady is taking Culinary Arts (also known as "Cooking") this semester. He's always been interested in preparing food, but the class has definitely amped up his enthusiasm.

So this evening, a few hours after dinner (which he picked at but didn't eat in its entirety) he came downstairs and announced that he was going to make protein pancakes. And he did just that: he confirmed the (very simple) recipe instructions, got out the requisite equipment, and made his pancakes. He even washed the dishes afterward (although I'm still waiting for him to come back and wipe down the now-cooled griddle). 

It's such a blessing to watch my kids engage in activities they truly enjoy. And based on the stream of jovial chitter-chatter than escaped his lips as he made his pancakes, I'd say that Brady really likes to cook.

January 30

Sometimes I do goofy things to try to amuse my children. Like sometimes, I play a game I call Pursuit with Abby, which involves me following her around the house (or the pool). She's not a huge fan but hopefully she knows I do it because I love her and I'm trying to lighten her mood.

And then this afternoon, when I looked outside and noticed that Isaac had arrived home from school, I quickly squished my face against the window and stared down at him until he noticed me and waved.

They probably think I'm weird, but that's okay. I am weird. We all are, really. And that weirdness --the things that make us unique or that help us to get through the harder days-- is a blessing.

January 29

Another Wednesday, another trip to the Mother Ship with this guy.

It annoys him that I insist on taking this photo every single week (although I chose not to use the image that proves how irritating he finds my tradition to be). But I'm conscious that these days are few; we are, in fact, down to our last semester of these weekly coffee "dates."

So for this time with my little (who isn't really little at all anymore), I continue to be grateful.

January 28

This particular song is a regular on The Message these days, and I'm glad that it is.

There's a line tucked away in its lyrics that always catches in my throat a bit, and it's particularly poignant this time of year when the anniversary of Logan's passing draws near:

"Where is God in the sickness that the prayers didn't fix?" it asks.

Because if I did anything at all while Logan was sick, it was pray. Yet... well, you all know what happened. And what didn't happen. And I've absolutely asked God thousands of questions about why he didn't get to grow up with us.

I will never understand the whys of it all on this side of Heaven, but I take comfort in the other words of this song, which read

"He is right here where He's always been, It's where He'll be til the very end. Where is God? God is with us."

Regardless of my circumstances, God is with me. And I'm grateful for that truth, even when there are no answers to the whys.

January 27

Isaac had an event at school this evening so it was just me, Adam, and Brady for dinner.

It's always a cool anomaly when we get two-on-one time with our kiddos. In this particular case, it's a preview of what's to come in a few years, but for now, it's just sweet moments with our (hilariously sassy, quick-witted) baby.

And for that time, I am thankful.

January 26

I took a brisk stroll (on my walking pad -- it's too chilly outside for my thin blood) this evening and was pretty parched by the time I finished.

So it was a refreshing blessing to plunk down in my chair with a full glass of ice water. 

It's a luxury that I know I take for granted, so tonight, I'm grateful to have easy access to clean, drinkable water.

January 25

When I arrived at my prayer shawl meeting this morning, I discovered that we'd been relegated to the tiny room adjacent to our usual spacious gathering spot thanks to the ongoing set-up of an afternoon baby shower.

It could've been a less than pleasant experience, but honestly, it was kind of perfect. We were a smaller group than usual, so the cozy space we had felt appropriate and comfortable. The folks setting up the party were polite as they bustled back and forth. The snacks were delicious. And our chit-chat flowed freely -- maybe even more freely than usual, probably because it's easier to talk more in a smaller group.

I left the outing feeling refreshed and excited about tackling my projects. It's such a blessing to spend time with others who have the ability to make my soul feel fed, and these ladies do just that.