hi, hello!
wow, sorry friends, i've really been getting behind on these posts this month.  i guess that's what happens when i take a big hiatus like i did this summer- it becomes a sort of retraining myself to blog again.  also, last night was a late one for me.
anyway, nonetheless, i want to pause and write my gratitude for yesterday because it was a good day.
yesterday, i feel thankful...
...for a brilliant and show-stopping sunrise on my way to work.  oh, it was so wonderful.  
...for a productive-feeling session with one particular nugget at work.  we are working on things like taking his shoes on and off and putting his coat on and off and zipping and unzipping, and i'm excited for the ways things we work on here will help him be independent in his life.
...well for snow and also not for snow (you get it), but since this is a gratitude post, i'll say i'm thankful for how pretty and cozy it is at this particular time of year.  i'm also very very thankful for safety, for myself and the ones i love who were driving in it.
...for paige sleeping over because of the snow.  driving back to hudson in rush hour snow wasn't a good idea for her to do, so i'm thankful she was able to stay over.  didn't catch her for long, but it was really nice to see her this morning.
...for delicious, and i mean delicious dinner from naf naf grill, enjoyed to the very last bite by myself while i caught up on my Bible reading plan.
...for the character and heart of God revealed to me as i flipped through things i had highlighted in psalms and isaiah.  His mercy towards us really is astounding.
...for authentic talks with our high school girls at youth group.  i'm so so proud of them.  for showing up, for being engaged, for sharing real stuff.. for how my church doesn't shy away from real and hard things high schoolers are going through, but gives them tools for how to navigate what the world says love and acceptance look like while being Jesus-followers.
...for the idea of having the older women and men youth group leaders speak blessings over students of the opposite sex.  really cool and important in our world i think.
...for one glorious hour with francis flood while he was passing through to pick someone up from the airport.  met him quick after church.  i love that man so much and i almost jumped for joy at the sight of him.  it is so good to be with him, even for an hour.  whatta highlight.

catch ya tonight for my gratitude from today!  what gifts are you noticing around you?  look around today, friend.
all we have needed, Thy hand has provided.

what are you thankful for today?
all we have needed, Thy hand has provided.

hey, pal-ios!  happy happy thanksgiving!  wow, what a nice break it was for me.  four whole days to enjoy all the things i love most in life: family, FOOD, fran my love, naps, and a bunch of free chill time!  hope you got to enjoy your favorite things, and i hope food and family were high on your lists (:
hey i've been a bit absent from here due to the things i just listed but i'm gonna combine a list of gratitudes from the long weekend.  thanks for bearing with me, you kind friends who check in!
so here goes!  first things that come to my head..

i'm thankful for...
... a cozy warm home that my mom & dad work so hard on.  it's so nice to have such a cozy place to be & rest.
...sidney being home!!!  hallelu!  i love my sister and was really good to be with her so much.
...a little time away for coffee with alyssa.  we got coffee on the morning of thanksgiving last year and i liked it a lot.  not sure if it'll be a tradition every year, but two years strong so far!
...so much time with francis.  i was spoiled and now today i'm like where are you, fran??  come back!
...food.  good food.  plentiful food.  snacks and dinners and leftovers and thanksgiving and desserts.  isn't food nice? (:
...picking on dave.  haha.  i looove picking on him.  lil nug.
...time with extended family i don't get to see often.  for how chill they are.  i really like chill people. (:
...healthy grandparents!
...seeing two movies this week/end!  i think movies are really fun.  i saw fantastic beasts: crimes of grindelwald with sidney and the green book with fran and both were really good!  i'd recommend either of those if you're lookin!
...good deals!  i'm just as annoyed with the consumerism of this time of year as the next person, but... i was able to save so much money on christmas gift shopping on friday so, guess ya caught me.. i'm thankful for them dealz!
...christmas tree day!  ya gotta love christmas tree day!  i'm thankful francis was able to come, too.
...christmas decorations and christmas music!  i love this time of year.  probably because i love being cozy and christmas adds a lot of coziness.  there are lots of reasons to love christmas.
...emily and james housworth.  buddies i hadn't seen in a while.  they're such wonderful people.
...a nap with fran in the sun after church.
...a year with francis flood, my love, my dear man.  for special celebrations and thoughtful gifts.  my sweet love.
...a sweet time with fran yesterday sharing tears.  it was really really special.  i'll always remember our first anniversay.
...stillwater.  i really like stillwater.
...my parents' generosity.  how they take care of us.

...all these gifts and more.  our dear Father has lavished us with good gifts.  soo many things!  He takes care of us.  i'm gonna say it again, He takes care of us.
He's so good.
​all we have needed, Thy hand has provided.

happy thanksgiving, friends!  thank you for bein here.

hey, friends!

here's what i'm thankful for today...
​...for my dad.
...for work.  havin a job is a good thing.
...for this little buddy at work with a cute little voice.  we're teaching him more & more words and it's soo cute to hear him try to talk.  we're so proud of him!
...for leftovers in the fridge set aside to take for lunch by dad.
...for talkin to francis on the phone.  i love talking to him!  i look forward to it every day.
...for sidney comin home.  picking her up in just a bit from the u!  can't wait to have her around for the weekend.
...for the dumb idea of seeing a movie with her late on a work night.  ha.  tomorrow i know i'll be tired, and it's worth it.

that's all for now!  short & sweet today, but i'm okay with it. (:

all we've needed, Thy hand has provided.
our dear LORD is so good.  how can i not thank Him at least.

here i am! (:
and here's what i'm thankful for.  on a bit of an ordinary kind of monday, the best kind of day to find gratitude.
i'm thankful..
...for dad still making me breakfast even though he's sick!  (guys, i promise i don't make him).
...for my emotions.  a thing to be thankful for.
...for not being crabby this morning, despite feeling slightly sad walking into work without kelsey and kaylee (their last days were last week).  it' weird without them.  sad, too.
...for prep time to work on some stuff.
...for the way administrative and organization-type work makes me feel productive and i also like it!
...for a nice end and timely end to the day.  i really like when my last hour of the day ends smoothly like that with pick-ups and cleaning up and writing progress notes.
...for a clean car!  yay!  
...for leftovers in the fridge.  anyone else really like leftovers?
...for doin little chores and finishing up things i haven't gotten to.  feels good and i know it'll be helpful for the rest of the week!
...for a phone call soon with my love ((:
...for an infinite amount of grace from my dear, good Father.  He's more than i deserve.  always loving me.  never stops.  always faithful to me.

catch ya tomorrow!
all we have needed, Thy hand has provided.

hello.  in the name of my sanity, i'm going to combine my lists of gratitude from friday, saturday, and sunday into one big one here (:  and there's lots to be thankful for this weekend!

...for a really kind and all-around great coworker, kaylee.. hard to see her go.  her last day was on friday and going to work today (monday) was a bummer without her there.  she added a lot to our environment.
...for safe driving all around on friday evening!  snow was forecasted, which probably doesn't really affect people like it does me.  i get so bothered by making long trips when it's snowing and roads have the potential to become icy.  i am thankful for a safe trip.
...for francis (duh).  and before i make this entire post about him and everything i'm so thankful for in him, i'll just say it in this point.  he is wonderful.  so serving.  so kind.  always looking out for me and taking care of me and i love holding his hand and being by him and i can't, CAN'T, wait to become his family.  he's so so good and i'll never stop thanking God for the good gift of him and how he loves me.  
...for francis' brother, joe.  for solid car time with him in tow.
...for the city of eden, wisconsin.  little buddy's becoming familiar to me and i like that.
...for the cozy bed awaiting me at francis' parents' house.  that puppy has a heated blanket and for someone like me, who is never NOT cold, it's heaven.
...for the flood house and how loving and kind francis' whole family is towards me.
...for a saturday mornin to sleep in, take slowly, and get breakfast with fran and his sisters.
...for booking our HONEYMOON!  a big ol check off the to-do list and i'm SO EXCITED.
...for francis' mom and sister angel.  i really like bein with those two.  plus, i think angel is really starting to be more comfortable around me (not that she wasn't), but i have myself convinced that she likes me, too.  she's a lot of joy.
...for a visit with francis' grandparents.  i'm grateful i got to tag along.
...for a big flood family thanksgiving with good food.
...for the song francis played on guitar in front of everyone about me. ((: guys, i'm smitten, okay?!
...for waking up to beautiful orangey sun.
...for church and such passionately spoken words about fighting temptation in our lives and a pastor who seems to be quick to humility and admitting his own faults.
...for the song "great are you, Lord."  i've always really loved it.  stirs my heart! 
...for a quick grocery trip with fran, his dad, and joe.  nothin special about it, but i liked it.
...for francis' niece, ivy june.  SUCH a beautiful baby.  those big blue eyes!  guh.  doubles her size every time i see her!  (which is cool, i saw her the day after she was born back in march!)
...for bob flood's chili!
...for the flood kitchen table.  it's just comfortable and i like it.
...for makin myself laugh when i switched my lacroix with francis' water (he hates lacroix).  he didn't fall for it, but it got me laughin pretty good.  i'm kind of a dork.
...for how thanksgiving and holidays bring people back home across the country.
...for a bet with francis and joe about exactly what time we would get back to la crosse.  and a high-five as the winner's prize! (guess who wooooon?!)
...for some sweet car time with my love.

what are you thankful for?
hope thanksgiving brings you guys home to the ones you love!

​all we have needed, Thy hand has provided.

hey, friends!
i've got a list of gratitude for ya today, november 15th.  here goes!
i'm thankful...
...for my mornin routine.  for getting ready for the day a little earlier than usual so i had a bit more time to be at the counter with dad.
...for the sun shinin again!
...for the truth about God's intention behind sex in the meaning of marriage by tim keller.  the man's just spittin truth like crazy all throughout that book and i'm grateful for all of his wisdom, even if it is counter-cultural. (& guys, i'm almost done with the book so you'll get to stop hearin about it soon ;))
...for prep time!!  such a prized break in the day to get stuff done.
...for coworkers i really enjoy.  said it before, but i don't care.  the point of these lil listies is to acknowledge every gratitude, every day.
...for the little moment of eye contact i had with a little buddy today.  it was so cute!  it was like he noticed i exist for the first time (even though i see him every day haha) and he gave me a long look and then a smirky smile back at me.  gah!  i loved it. 
...for the fun and excitement i feel when looking up honeymoon hotels & airbnbs.  my favorite part of planning so far!
...for how my coworkers and i just had to laugh at the end of the day at how squirrely and amped up the kids were.  haha, we thought we were going to lose our minds!
...for weekend plans with the floods!  i really like being around them, and definitely like bein around francis.  i'm thankful for such a gift.
...for God's infinite grace and love for me.  feelin extra undeserving right now, when i think back about my day... the way i sort of rushed through my Bible reading this morning to check it off my list, the way i sort of got annoyed and snappy with my mom, the way i sort of didn't pray for anyone today really, how much i thought about myself.  man.  i'm really imperfect, guys.  i hope these lists never fool ya, i've got issues and i forget about gratitude as much as the next person.  i'm extra grateful for God loving me, even in all of my unlovely-ness.  extra extra grateful.
...for life.  breath in my lungs and a beating heart.  if that weren't enough, there are somehow also people who love me a lot, and a God who loves me the most.  wow.  wow wow wow.  

all we have needed, Thy hand truly has provided.
great is Thy faithfulness.

catch ya soon!  (potentially not til sunday cuz i'll be in ole wisco, but we'll see :))
​love you guys!

hey!  well let's get right to it.  here's a lil listie for ya.  things i'm thankful for today, thursday...
...for the sun shinin this morning!  boy, is it nice when the sun shines.
...for kelsey and her 2 1/2 years at laz.  today was her last day.  we're gonna miss her and what she added to our work environment.  thankful to celebrate her with treats today!  thankful to have coworkers who are friends, too.
...for snacks at work.  although i'm glad to not always have snacks at work cuz i like snacks a little too much, they sure do make a difference in the day! 
...for a less expensive flight booked for our honeymoon!!!!!  yayayay!  i'm so so excited.  it was fun to talk about today with fran. 
...for this cute curly-haired kiddo and all the silly things he says and sings about.  his eye contact with me today was fun.
...for stuffing from the box.  there are lots of fancy ways to make stuffing, but man, the $1.25 box stuff does it for me! ;)
...for calls from fran.  i love talking to him!!  i love my dear man.
...for a powerful night in church youth group.  i'm so proud of the girls in our group for showing up, engaging, and even sharing some real and vulnerable stuff.  just so so proud of them.  thankful to be in their lives & that they let me.  also, we had our church thanksgiving feast, and those girls can cook!
...for what God, beautiful beautiful God, does in human lives.  i said it before and i'll say it til i can't.. He changes lives, picks us up and makes us new- better, fuller, gooder (should be a word), more alive and more at peace.  we're not the same when Jesus does His work in us and it's a big deal.  a really big deal.  worth bein vulnerable and allowing Him to restore us.  mm.  my favorite thing to talk about.
...for target after 9 pm on a weekday.  somethin about it is really nice & relaxing.
...for sweet sweet sleep, which i'm about to do!

may the God of all peace meet you where you're at tonight.
all we have needed, Thy hands have provided.

goodnight!

hey.  it's me.  and here's another list!  ya ready for it?
i'm thankful, today...
...for what i read in proverbs today about a really admirable way to live (from the classic proverbs 31).  thankful for the picture it paints of beautiful living and something for me to strive for.
...for fran's encouragement.  just really feel lifted and valued by him.  today it was extra appreciated.  he is very good to me with his words and i'm so thankful for that.
...for my lunch break.  needed it real bad today.  today, to be honest, was a hard one for me to feel very thankful.  i was crabby and quick to say "no fair" in my head for losing prep time and after the third round of taking all the kids to the bathroom (kiddos who have lots of needs and don't listen & run away), i was about ready to lose it.    
...for delicious spaghetti with squash noodles packed for me for lunch.  dad even wrote a sticky note on the tupperware for me to make sure i took it.  he's real good at taking care of me.
...for my mom's integrity.  she works a hard job with people who aren't nice, but she is really really good.  she's kind and patient and gives people grace and i'm thankful someone of such quality is my mom.
...also for my dad's intentionality.  just today he went out of his way to meet up with a few people for lunch & coffee just to be nice and show them that he cares about them & asks questions.  i'm thankful to have such a thoughtful dad.
...for no plans tonight.  so so helpful for me to have chill nights at home on the weekdays.
...for tea.  for comfy sweats.  for not being cold inside.
...for the chance to do better about being positive and growing in Christlikeness tomorrow.  new mercies every mornin, boy am i thankful for that.

catch ya tomorrow!
all we have needed, Thy hand has provided.

hello again!
it's 9:30 and i'm just hoppin into bed feelin pretty tired (i know that probably sounds so early to a lot of you, but it was a full day and it gets dark soo early now..), but i'm committed to this pausing to write down what i'm thankful for, so here's a quick list!
i'm thankful today...
...for breakfast from dad.  man, i'm spoiled.
...for the money both francis' & my parents are contributing to the wedding.  i recognize lots of people don't have that kind of support and i really am so thankful for it.  planning sure would look differently without their help.
...for a caterer!  a helpful decision to have done.
...for a reassuring game plan moving forward at work.  i was really, REALLY, getting nervous there for a bit, but it's helpful to know there's a plan moving forward and i might not totally die.
...for friends like afton, who make me work out ha, and feed me dinner, and talk to me.  i love that girl.  so glad to call her my dear friend!
...for mom & dad's fireplace.  it is so cold out!
...for heat in the car, for a body that functions well and without pain and allows me to move (that's a big deal i forget a lot about!), for coffee, for God's word.
...for all i'm learning from (drumroll, please.. here it comes!).. the meaning of marriage :) talkin about gender roles today and it was real good.  can't recommend that book enough!
...for my love, my fran.

all we have needed, Thy hand has provided.
great is Thy faithfulness, LORD, unto us.

sweet dreams!
catch ya tomorrow, friends!