Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12

71. learning to use scissors for the first time (oh, the excitement of a two-year-old!)

72. after-school art projects with kinder girl

73. cousins, all girls, building a gingerbread house together

74. sitting on his lap and capturing the moment at arm's length
75. jumping contests with neighbor friends

76. childhood revisited, three decades later (hey, it looked fun...what can i say?)

77. a fine, feathered friend and neighbor
78. year-round reminder of summer sunshine and warm days ahead...very warm
79. getting back outside after two weeks of dreary rain, clouds and cold temps

80. family fun, neighbor fun...living close together

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:20

without excuse, i continue counting a thousand gifts...

61. waiting for a turn

62. worn door leading to warm embrace
63. family recipes
64. long road trips offering time for being still and lots of talking, laughing, singing and, sometimes, contented silence

65. new additions = very happy girls
66. my precious grandmother, nanny, dwelling with Jesus for decades...found on facebook
(on the left)
67. snow flurries in central texas & teachers abandoning plans for such a rare winter treat

68. a crafting two-year-old

69. shifted plans, amazed vessel, awesome God

70. laughing in bed with hubby

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

51. stealing away with old friends, if only for an hour, during our separate road trips

52. crossing state lines

53. tall trees & country roads
54. leaves, leaves, leaves...
...as big as your face

55. an earthen palette

56. grandmothers
57. his home away from home

58. flowers & fabric

59. her home away from home

60. a time for being carefree

oh, to walk humbly with my God. thank You, Lord, for Your gracious presence during our holiday with family. i saw You in the hospitality of hostesses. i heard You in the wisdom of aging family matriarchs. hold my heart close to Yours and show me Your way.

therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe
Hebrews 12:28

41. mom visits

42. girls excitedly preparing to see Gram

43. dancing shadows

44. patches of fall apparent

45. textured blue

46. new buds just when i was giving up on that sucker...and a snail!

47. yellow-greens

48. noon-day sun

49. "fat cat mat" birthday series by kinder girl for her daddy

50. timely messages on gratitude, the lost virtue

thank you, Father, for health and home, family and friends, love and life, mercy and miracles, grace and gifts of Your provision.

Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1: 16-17

31. a month of birthdays

32. little fingers mastering shoe tying

33. cool tricks, eager kiddo

34. looking up... (oh, how i forget to)
35. ...and seeing shades of blue and milky white

36. looking out... (oh, how i forget to)

37. ...and seeing pink sunrise ... hubby first to notice, this mama grabs camera and runs outdoors

38. creative outlets

39. heavy tote brimming with library books

40. self portraits

... with gratitude in my heart to God ...

21. park days

22. friendships in family

23. peaceful doctor visits and healthy teeth

24. soft fur and lazy ways

25. sewing projects that turn out okay and possibly please a little one
26. three people in constant motion coming together, full of energy, happy day

27. hubby's return from cali

28. healing up

29. unexpected neighbor knocks and invites from aunts

30. emptying laundry baskets

truly, deeply

i love this man.

i mean, i really. love. this. man.

so many years later he can still toss a look that sends electricity through my scalp, fingertips, and toes, weaken my knees, send my heart into a flurry.

he's my anchor.

truly i am blessed to be loved and to love deeply like this.

thank you, Father, for allowing me these days filled with glimpses of Your love in the man beside me.