{Back's Against the Wall-- Judah & the Lion}

{I Shall Not Want- Audrey Assad}

On remembering the little things

We live in a fast-paced world.  We can stream technology right to our phones through 4G-- I mean, 10 years ago, flip phones were the most genius things to hit the market-- and now we have 4G.  The world is amazing- but it is fast-paced.  And sometimes it's hard to keep up.  And in my efforts to get ahead and stay ahead, I often find myself filled with discontent.  And discontent always emerges when I find that I am lacking in gratitude.  So, here's to constantly remembering to get back to basics & to remembering the little things---

Lunches with friends filled with excitement for a little soon to be entering the world

Hand-delivered notes from friends found 

And oodles of banana laffy taffy because laughter is good medicine

On second chances

Saturday required listening:: Gregory Alan Isakov "Second Chances" 

On having inspirational artwork

I would like to have this needle-pointed on a pillow, tattooed on my forehead, and painted artistically on distressed wood & hung in my home. Thankful for reminders that having honor is worth working for.

"The difference between great and mediocre is follow-through. Faithfulness is of more value than talent or favor and steadfastness is the most rare of all." 

-- Misty Edwards, Worship Leader at the International House of Prayer

On rocks

I like to pick things up when I go places-- nothing weird-- just the occasional rock or shell or leaf.  Call me sentimental, call me strange-- but I love it!  It reminds me of where I've been.  And where others have been.  And it reminds me to be impressed with where I am because of where I've been-- and to grow.  And the reason that I'm sharing this with you is because the other day I was given back my favorite bag which went on some international travels with a friend a few weeks ago.  And I went to put it up, and I felt something lumpy in the pocket.  I unzipped the pocket, and to my delight, she brought me back a rock!

Thankful for holy dirt- in every way and shape we carry it with us!

That's half the battle

{All that dust, you'll find, is really gold}- Carolina Story

Thankful for Saturday

It's raining out.  And for some reason I always think better when it's raining.  Should I be putting all of this productive  rain-brainpower into my Wednesday night Fusion message?  Yep.  Instead?  I'm contemplating how tremendously blessed I am, and how glad I am to have friends who meet me in the middle and who remind me not to take myself too seriously, to sit comfortably in my own skin & to never under-sell beauty. And who always, always remind me that conversations don't have to move quickly to count, because sometimes we just have to let our surroundings speak peace for us.  

And now, to that Wednesday message...

thankful for letters

If there's one thing that I love, it's letters.  I love checking my mailbox; I love finding small, slightly-larger-than-square, colorful envelopes adorned with handwriting. It's my favorite reason to check my mailbox.  Because let's all be honest, bills, and coupons I'll never use are boring and adult, and therefore, super lame. In my brain, a letter represent more than just goodness in my mailbox.  It represents effort.  Someone who intentionally grabbed a pen, a piece of paper or a card, and sat down to tell me about their life, to share a word of wisdom or encouragement, or simply to write something, no matter how silly or stream-of-consciousness.  I love that-- and it consistently fills my heart with gratitude.  I am blessed, indeed, to have friends near and far who know my heart-- and fill my mailbox.

Changing seasons sometimes demand a little facelift

For the past year, this tiny, minuscule corner of the internet has been dedicated to my adventures in Athens as an intern with the Wesley Foundation.  And what a sweet season it was!  But just like the weather, the seasons of life tend to turn.  And mine has absolutely turned upside down!  In both good and challenging ways.  And thus, to commemorate the beginning of a new season {2 months late... but no judgement}, this little corner of my world is going to get a facelift!  And so for at least the next little while, this place will be dedicated to spoonfuls of gratitude-- and how a little can make so much of life sweet.

Don't worry- pictures will still be yours in abundance, and for the mighty few of you who faithfully follow this blog, hopefully I will be more consistent this year!  But, you know, don't hold your breath or anything :).