Hi old friend!

Hey guys! 

I can't believe it has been over 5 years since my blogging days abruptly ended (whoops). 

A lot has changed and not much has changed all at the same time. 

Life is funny like that.

We have all gotten bigger. 

Especially these guys.

As much as I miss the little years and am always trying to slow down time, having big kids is awesome.

These middle years have been such a joy.

I thought I'd jump back in by sharing 10 totally random things I have been loving lately.

1. The sweet smell of honeysuckle. 

These grow like a weed around our neighborhood and the smell is thick in the air when I go for a walk around our block. It literally stops me in my tracks and I breathe in as many breathes as I can. 

2. Emergency distance learning (EDL) has been a learning curve to say the least.

Things have not been all sugar and spice. 

There have been a lot of really hard days trying to figure out this new way of learning and learning how to learn with 6 people in a shared space. 

Am I the only one whose home felt instantly smaller once quarantine kicked in?

There have also been so many sweet moments because of EDL. 

I love the slower pace of our day and the freedom (and time!) to add in so many other shared learning opportunities. 

When we heard the schools were closing I ran to the library (which thankfully was still open) and checked out a bunch of read aloud books. 

Caddie Woodlawn was the first one we started and it been the perfect book for our family in this season.

It's the story of a big family that lives in the countryside and is full of adventure and moments that will make you laugh one minute and then want to cry the next. 

We have one chapter left and I'm sad for it to end. 

Any suggestions on what we should read next?

3. I didn't grow up singing hymns and I didn't know what I was missing.

Last year I stumbled upon Happy Hymnody and it has been such a blessing!

Hymns are full of such rich and sweet theology. 

We have had so much fun learning a new hymn and the background behind it each month. 

4. This pretzel recipe.

We have baked a lot of things during quarantine and this is by far my favorite.

It's like having Wetzel's pretzel bites at home.  

Heat up some Tostitos queso to dip them in and thank me later.

My pants are happy we ran out of rapid rise yeast because we may have been making them every day.

5. I'm not a big online shopper but there is one online shop I love.

All of my favorite clothes are from Carly Jean Los Angeles.

They have cute, affordable, good quality clothes that make me look way more put together than I really am. 

They also introduced me to my favorite hat ever!

6. It's loquat season!

mmmmm

Thank you to all of our friends who have let us raid their trees.

Have you ever tried a loquat?

7. The Puritans knew how to pray.

I've got a lot to learn and they have been great teachers. 

I'm so thankful for the compilation of Puritan prayers in the "Valley of Vision" and "Piercing Heaven" that so often put eloquent words to the thoughts of my heart.

8. My baby lost his baby front teeth and looks like a big kid now.

I'm not crying, you're crying.

9. We are living in a dark time. 

I've been so encouraged by David Platt's "Pray the Word" podcast this year.

A few days ago he prayed for people who are contemplating suicide.

Maybe someone who is reading this has been there before or is there right now. 

If that's you please listen to this! 

Corrie ten Boom said, “There is no pit so deep, that God's love is not deeper still."

Friends, there is hope in Christ. 

If you need a friend to listen to or someone to pray for you please send me an email.  

10. The Torchlighters series is possibly my favorite thing on Netflix. 

There are pretty low quality films but I am pretty sure I shed a tear every time I watch one. 

They are true stories of God's grace and mercy as he uses faithful Christians to accomplish his good works.

 Check them out!