just me and the dog.

I'm flyin' solo for the next 5 days. Just me and the dog. Trying to look on the positive side that my whole entire family is somewhere warmer than I am. But this gentle sweetie has kept me company for the one full day that we've been in this little "situation" together. 

Positive side: early morning walks are a totally peaceful way to start your day. 

Positive side: I got to make cookies for just me. Before I ate dinner. :)

Positive side: cute puppy tracks.

Positive side: she just loves. the snow.  Doesn't have the most modesty, but we're working on it. ;)

On the agenda for my upcoming weekend... walking a few new trails, washing paws, snacking on carrots with Sami, snuggles, leaving the cookies in the freezer, some reading, throwing some tennis balls....you know. And I'm quite looking forward to it. :)

the snow post.

20 days have gone by in April, 20 of which I have been trying to find the motivation to get my daily stuff done - let alone keep up with all the extras. :) "so, hello, little blog." We have been suffering from excessive vitamin D deficiency here... today being the first day I can remember that the sun has come out and its above the 30*s. however.... 

you can't tell me that's not pretty.

so if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. 

april 18 in minnesota, friends. welcome. 

I wasn't the *happiest* initially about yet another wave of bad roads, ice, winter coats, boots... {insert reminder about current lack of vitamin d, and add a naturally very emotional woman}... so I tried to stay off social media for the day as to not bust a cork over all the "woe is me it's blizzarding" posts I was seeing. didn't help anyone. so when I {finally} got home, I grabbed the camera. even in my cranky state, I had to admit it was breathtaking.

i love our birches.

so if any of you family or friends find some extra sunshine laying around your house, please send it our way. all of us deranged & deficient minnesotans would appreciate it. oh, and merry christmas.

this Easter morning

this Easter morning....

I am curled up under a blanket, alone, downstairs at my in laws house. Everything is still quiet, morning is getting brighter, and I hear some birds chirping. They are reminding me that His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness.

this Easter morning...

I can smell the lily that seems to have multiplied its flowers overnight. It wants to look its best for this day apparently. 

this Easter morning...

I am still remembering the Good Friday service that we had. Challenged by Peter and how often {even without realizing it} I find myself in his story. Challenged by the "realness" of my denial - although I've never been put in a point-blank situation as Peter was, what does my complacency or fear of others opinion about me that directs my actions look like to our Lord? Denial. But this morning you are reminding me... Great is Your faithfulness. 

this Easter morning....

I know we'll be singing the two hymns that can bring me right back to that tiny church in Allison, IA - sitting next to my tone deaf Gram. Every Easter. I remember so much, the smell, what the carpet looked like, the liturgy, the pin she always wore on her blue dress suit, the smell of lilies in her house. I pulled out my hymnal last year at this time and revisited these hymns. It was hard, and brought back a swell of memories. How grateful I am to have memories like these.  Great is your faithfulness. 

this Easter morning...

I'm remembering as I look around this place what a blessing I have in my family. 4 parents who love The Lord, love each other, love Jared and I. They're all up now, laughing, talking about the "easter bunny" that dropped at least 50 reeces eggs around the house last night. and how said easter bunny scared my mother in law at 2:30am. only in this family. I'm  overwhelmed with gratitude. Oh, the joy of The Lord to bestow such good gifts on His children. 

this Easter morning...

I am rejoicing. For the work that The Lord is doing in my life, in Jared's life, for the blessing of grace that He lavishes on us every single morning. For the majesty of our God, the triumph that knowing Him brings, the victory I can claim because of what He did... this Easter morning. 

"Death is swallowed by triumphant Life!

Who got the last word, oh, Death?
Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now?

It was sin that made death so frightening and the guilt of the lawt hat gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a SINGLE VICTORIOUS STROKE OF LIFE, all three—sin, guilt, death—are GONE, the GIFT of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God!"

1 cor. 15:55-57

I see you, june.

On this eve of June 1st, we are basking in the summery-ness. We enjoyed a bike ride before dinner while discussing IRA's, Roths, and life insurance. Yes we did. We have the windows wide wide open, there is a slightly chilly breeze, but it smells like summer. We have a full pitcher of lemonade in the refrigerator (however not quite that full after our yummy dinner) and I just put on socks because of said breeze. Sigh, it's wonderful.

I will be playing some catch up with blogging, here, as I took a slightly longer than wished break due to my laziness/stubborness/inadequacy in fixing my computer. But right now, I'm off to spend some more amazing evening with this hunk.

Oh, he makes me smile. Hoping that you can find as MANY things to be thankful over tonight as I am! If this is any indication of how great June is going to be then I'll take it. Happy last day of May!

summer eats

Summer food is here! My windows are open, and although it's dinner for one tonight... (Bethel baseball made the playoffs - good - that means no hubby for me - bad) I am so enjoying this fresh and summery food.

It's a pretty basic combo, but I haven't been able to get enough of it lately. Ok, so maybe it's just the avacado I can't get enough of... but the whole thing is really top notch. Spinach + shredded chicken + sunflower seeds + little bit of feta + grape tomatoes + avacado! + Brianna's blush wine vinagarette. It's full of light summery-ness, Mmmmm. Throw in some fresh green beans, peppers, apples, and I'm set!

So there. I'm sure you all have been on pins and needles to know what I'm eating tonight, (ahem, not.) but I just had to document the freshness. Until the hubby gets home, I plan on enjoying the breeze, looking at the lush trees in the backyard, munching on my apple, and effectively choosing to ignore the piles of laundry that taunt me in our closet. Hey, I cleaned the kitchen when I got home. Take that, laundry.

Happy "summer" night!

afternoon sun.

Oh, it spills in here...

It is a fabulously bright and comfortable day outside... we are enjoying every ounce of it! Aside from working on our budget and a few loads of laundry this morning, Jared and I just got to "be" for a bit. We have made significant progress on the house - granted, we had some motivation to get going, as I will be back early this week to share - but it feels so good to be settled (mostly).

I'm off to enjoy the sun! Hope you have some as well.... happy saturday!