August Gifts + Instagrams

"To be a creature is to be a receiver. 'What do you have that you did not receive?' (1 Cor. 4:7). The great privilege of man is to receive everything that God gives in all the ways that he gives it, and then to know it and enjoy it and delight in it and sing about it, and to know him in it and to enjoy him in it and to sing about him in it." 

--Joe Rigney, The Things of Earth

Somehow the entire month of August slipped by without my getting a gratitude post up, so here's a big roundup. Thanking God for all that He has given and I have gladly received in the last month, including...

7472. the distant rumble of summer thunder
7473. the "kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk" of blueberries hitting the bottom of a pail

7474. eating our fill right off the bushes

7475. purple passionflowers

7476. grace to slow down, stop yelling, see myself as no different from my boys
7477. beautiful promises in the Old Testament prophets
7478. learning the habit of adoration from Sara Hagerty
7479. flyswatters
7480. getting to hear the detailed story of how He miraculously, repeatedly saved a dear friend's sick little boy
7481. inter-library loans
7482. end-of-summer lunch date with Daddy

7483. fountains at Bicentennial Mall for splashing and playing

7484. how good it feels to wash off sunscreen and sweat at the end of the day
7485. oatmeal pancakes with warm peach topping
7486. seventeen years of our church growing and thriving
7487. our pastors' faithful preaching and shepherding
7488. Jude's Sunday school drawings of what God created: water, sea creatures, the moon, an astronaut, and hot lava

7489. abundant basil, plenty to share
7490. our church's beautiful process of selecting elders and deacons
7491. a nature scavenger hunt with the boys
7492. Jude looking through the binoculars backwards

7493. Elijah's enthusiasm about school
7494. my own fond memories of second grade with a beloved teacher
7495. amaaaaaaazing blueberry cheesecake flapjacks

7496. hearing the boys recite selections from Revelation 19 and 21 about the coming of the eternal kingdom
7497. morning walks to preschool, Jude's chatter
7498. snail mail surprise: card + awesome set of brush pens from a friend

7499. Elijah's friendship with boys whose mom is a dear friend to me
7500. the incredible, free(!) indoor playground at Cornerstone Church
7501. peach milkshake from Chick-Fil-A
7502. being near to all who call on Him
7503. His personal, specific salvation: not just "He will save people from sin" but "He will save HIS people from THEIR sins"

7504. feeling heard, respected, and valued by my husband
7505. the safe arrivals of two friends' new babies
7506. the sounds of locusts buzzing in the trees
7507. Steve's unflappable patience when I am inexplicably grouchy
7508. Jude's excitement about preschool and popularity with the kids there

7509. Steve's creativity in coming up with a Lego Ironman vs. Hulk cake

7510. a free oil change
7511. inviting me to ASK Him
7512. my cousin and a friend's son both preserved through bicycle accidents
7513. naked ladies blooming along the side border of our yard

7514. a visit from Grammy and Pops
7515. sitting in the sun chatting with my mom
7516. their babysitting so Steve and I could have a date

7517. free big band dance at Centennial Park
7518. fabulous burgers at Burger Republic
7519. laughing and foxtrotting with my handsome husband
7520. a friend asking if I was OK, and really wanting the truth
7521. Dad bringing his ice cream maker and laboring over a batch of mint chocolate chip

7522. how amazing that ice cream tastes

7522. the recipe, written down in his handwriting

7523. 23-pound and 27-pound watermelons from the farmers' market
7524. surrendering and drinking the cup I deserve
7525. Amber Haines's exquisite memoir

7526. technology: reading a picture book about boats to Jude, seeing an aircraft carrier, and within seconds, pulling up a video on my phone where we could see planes landing on a ship. What is this world we live in?!?
7527. restraining His freedom in order to set me free
7528. boys making ninja masks out of shirts thanks to Lego magazine instructions
7529. sweet time in prayer on a quiet afternoon
7530. the fact that He is sovereign and can be trusted

7531. eyes to see and confess my sin
7532. humility to receive criticism and take it to Him
7533. getting to hold my dear friend’s adorable grandbaby
7534. being able to share with friends how I’m seeing evidence of His grace at work in me
7535. gorgeous calligraphy in my Instagram feed

7536. reminders that my days with Jude at home are precious and fleeting

7537. eyes to love him and say “I see you!” with enthusiasm

7538. the glorious promises of Romans 8
7539. girls' night, with friends being transparent and vulnerable
7540. the beauty of Jesus in their gracious bearing up under trials
7541. a new EP from Nichole Nordeman after ten years!

Things I Learned in August

Here we are again at the end of another month, and I have just a few interesting random tidbits to share about what I've learned...

1. A pangram is a phrase that includes every letter of the alphabet.
Last month I came across a fun community of calligraphers on Instagram who were doing an ABCs challenge. After they finished the alphabet, they extended the challenge with a few bonus prompts, and one was pangrams. The most famous one is probably "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog," but Sharisse of @piecescalligraphy called for more and got all kinds of fun ones:

• Grumpy wizards make toxic brew for the evil Queen and Jack.
• Six jelly doughnuts for breakfast very quickly zap my willpower. 
• My girl wove six dozen plaid jackets before she quit.
• Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.  

photo: @piecescalligraphy

Incidentally, the extended ABCs challenge morphed into a whole new Instagram account, with a new challenge posted every Sunday. I have enjoyed having my IG feed filled with lovely lettering from so many talented people!

2. Related: Brush markers are not magical tools that make you instantly able to produce the kind of lettering you admire. 
I discovered Tombow in August (which was how I got on a rabbit trail that led to all the calligraphers in the first place) and though I didn't win their giveaway, I received a generous gift in the mail from a friend: a set of brush markers! To my dismay, I immediately learned that brush markers do not make you magically able to write beautifully. I gained a whole new respect + admiration for the talented people who create beautiful calligraphy so skillfully. As I practiced, it was a good time to remember The Nester's slogan "it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful," and also to apply a quote from Goethe that I'd just read in Italian Journey: 

 "I can see clearly what is good and what is even better, but as soon as I try to get it down, it somehow slips through my fingers... However, feeble as his efforts may be, the amateur should not despair. ...One must not compare oneself with the artist, but proceed in one's own manner. Nature has provided for all her children: even the least of them is not hindered in his existence by the existence of the greatest. 'A little man is still a man.' Let us leave it at that."

3. "Hispanic" and "Latino" are not interchangeable terms.
A friend who has a son adopted from South America shared this enlightening comic that set me straight. It turns out that "Latino" refers to geography and "Hispanic" refers to language. You can be both; you can also be one but not the other. I had no idea!


How about you: What did you learn in August? Head over to Chatting at the Sky for more sharing of fascinating facts. 

Things I Learned in June and July

I learned all kinds of interesting things this summer--today I'm linking up with Chatting at the Sky to share my random tidbits :)

1. Pink lemons actually exist. 
I always assumed that "pink lemonade" was colored either by berries (berry lemonade has been a love of mine ever since the late 1990s...Snapple broke my heart when they discontinued the flavor) or by good old Red 40. But it turns out, lemons come in pink varieties! As usual, it was Smitten Kitchen who opened my eyes to this surprising delight.

2. Alcoholics Anonymous isn't evidence-based treatment.
Until I read this eye-opening article in The Atlantic, I took for granted the common teaching about addiction: the only way to be free is to quit cold-turkey and never, ever have a sip of alcohol again. As it turns out, more than a few mental health experts are questioning the prevailing wisdom. Studies don't really support the dogmatic assertions of AA, and many care providers have found other methods to be more effective for helping alcoholics turn their lives around. 

3. An "array" can refer to an orderly arrangement in rows and columns. 
It isn't often that my husband schools me on vocabulary words :) This one came up at dinner one night when discussing the boys' latest memory verse. We've spent the summer learning Revelation 19:11-16 and 21:1-6, and have worked out a system that seems helpful for our family: I practice the memory work with the boys at breakfast, and then at dinner, they tell Daddy what they worked on, and he helps them understand what it means. One night we were discussing Revelation 19:14: "And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses." I had assumed it was referring to the armies' being "dressed" in fine linen, with "arrayed" used as a synonym for "dressed." But Steve saw the word "arrayed" near the word "armies" and immediately thought of the term "array" as "an arrangement in rows and columns." In context, I think it's probably the former definition, but I learned something new, since I had no idea the word "array" indicated such a specific arrangement.

4. Alfredo is the Italian equivalent of buttered toast or saltine crackers.
Alfredo sauce won't be found on a menu in Italy, except at restaurants that cater to naive tourists.
According to this article I stumbled across, you won't find "fettuccine alfredo" on a menu in Italy any more than you'd find "saltine crackers and ginger ale" or "buttered toast" on a menu in the U.S. Because that's essentially what pasta alfredo is to the Italians: an incredibly basic food that your mother might make when you have an upset stomach, but not something you'd ever order in a restaurant. The Italian version, called "pasta al burro" (pasta with butter) or "pasta in bianco" (white pasta), is plain pasta with some butter and Parmesan to dress it up just a little. It has since been Americanized, with copious amounts of heavy cream, but it is not an authentic Italian dish. Neither, for that matter, is spaghetti and meatballs (Italians eat both, but not in the same course, much less mixed together in the same dish).

5. Duolingo is a fun, addictive (and free!) app for learning a new language. 
Speaking of Italy...! I admit this method of language-learning is way outside my ordered, linear-thinking box (I keep wanting a list of verb conjugations, or wanting to ask WHY you use this word and not the other), but I suspect in some ways it's more effective. At any rate, I'm having fun trying to learn enough Italian to get by! And it's not even one of those "free" apps that tries at every turn to get you to purchase extras. Just fun and game-like. I've actually thought about getting Elijah started with Spanish, since it's supposedly so much easier for kids to learn new languages. FYI, there's also a web-based version, so you don't have to have a smartphone to try it out.

6. A horrifying number of Africans were enslaved and brought to the Americas during the 16th-19th centuries, though most did not end up in the United States.
During the slave trade from the 1500s-1800s, more than 10 million Africans were brought to the Western Hemisphere, but fewer than 4 percent came to North America. Most went to the Caribbean and Brazil. This animated map provides a stunning picture of the way Africa was plundered.

7. Growing peaches is a fascinating combination of science and art. 
We've been buying big half-bushel boxes from The Peach Truck every summer for the last few years. I also follow their gorgeous Instagram account (and the story of how they got started is charming). Earlier this summer they shared an interview with the owner of Pearson Farm, where the peaches come from, and it was full of interesting information about how the fruit is grown. The farm is in Fort Valley, Georgia, where about 95% of Georgia peaches are produced. They prune the trees "to look like a hand, palm up, holding a softball." And after the trees blossom and begin producing 2500-3000 peaches each, pruners return in April to thin the fruit to about 500 peaches per tree. For the record, their results speak for themselves. We eat our weight in Pearson peaches during the few weeks they are available!

8. The peregrine falcon is the world's fastest animal. 
It's not the cheetah, as you might expect. Peregrine falcons are far faster, achieving dive speeds over 200MPH. Though, to be fair, they're going that fast in a freefall, not by flapping their wings or sprinting. But then again, as Steve pointed out, if you can freefall that quickly and yet be in control and not kill yourself, it's still pretty impressive. The boys and I learned about peregrine falcons and several other birds at this year's animal show at the library.

9. Rit color remover can save a ruined white sweater. 
A couple of months ago, my white cardigan somehow ended up with large, bright green ink spots on it. I tried all the usual remedies (hairspray, straight rubbing alcohol, OxiClean) all to no avail--the ink faded to a light blue, but the sweater was still ruined. I was about to try bleach as a last resort, or if that failed, just dye the sweater black. But then I found Rit color remover at JoAnn. And (for less than $2!) it worked! My beloved sweater was rescued and looks good as new.


What have you learned this summer?

Is Messy More Real?

When a friend of mine visited last week, I welcomed her into my cluttered house, its floors badly in need of vacuuming, by saying, "I'm not even going to apologize for the mess--this is just what it looks like at my house. I'm keeping it real."

That was the truth, and it's good as far as it goes: Let's be honest about our messes, instead of putting on a front. But while my desire is to be authentic and encourage others not to fake it, I sometimes forget that this mindset can also carry a frustrating subliminal message. If "messy is authentic," then "you're only real and authentic if you're a mess." And is THAT the truth?

I don’t want my friend to clean frantically before I come over; I want her to remember that I’m interested in seeing her, not her house! But so often, it doesn’t stop there. My healthy perspective morphs swiftly:

“I want your house to be messy because it will make me feel better about my own messy house.”
“If your house is clean, I feel threatened, inferior.”
“If your house is clean, I’m afraid you will judge me.”
“If your house is clean, I will preemptively judge you for being fake and trying too hard.”

How do we break out of this gross whirlwind of comparison and competition? I'm asking and attempting to answer such questions today over at Ungrind. Click over to read my thoughts on "Chasing a Standard We Can Meet."

Multitude Monday, Take 352

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”

—G. K. Chesterton 

Thanking God this week for...

7436. a morning of rich conversation with a friend, much-needed fellowship
7437. being awake to beauty on the drive across rural Kentucky

7438. s'mores snack mix
7439. Elijah's missing watch finally found
7440. the way talking with Steve sharpens my thinking

7441. a gift card from friends = free dinner out
7442. Pad Thai at Pei Wei, shared with Steve, eaten with chopsticks
7443. a big box from The Peach Truck

7444. a friend's courage to be honest about her PPD struggles and ask for help
7445. leisurely mornings of reading and snuggling with the boys

7446. early morning prayer with a friend
7447. her asking me hard questions
7448. her encouragement, affirming how God has gifted me
7449. a friend here to borrow cloth diapers and chat about parenting
7450. much-needed new light fixtures in the dining room and kitchen

7451. a friend's humility and sensitivity
7452. a hopeless stain coming out of my white cardigan
7453. fresh sliced peaches in oatmeal, on pancakes, in leftover pie crust, eaten deliciously plain

7454. prayer with women from church
7455. Sara Hagerty's memoir resonating deeply and prompting me to rethink how I view God and life
7456. her lovely, praise-filled Instagram feed
7457. breaking through my massive unexplained funk
7458. a playlist of worship music to reorient my heart

7459. grace to desire to serve my family and bless them with food they love
7460. first tomato pie of the year
7461. Steve's tenacious love when I am unlovable
7462. free Dairy Queen treats from the library's summer reading program

7463. a friend's baby's crazy mohawk
7464. snuggles with a sweet two-year-old girl in the nursery
7465. promising to hold the wicked accountable for their plunder, bloodshed, injustice
7466. promising to flood the earth with the knowledge of His glory
7467. the terrible beauty of Selma

7468. weeping with His people
7469. fallen crepe myrtle blooms

7470. a giant pile of packages on the porch
7471. patiently condescending to hear His servants' complaints

Tomato Pie: The Holy Grail of Summer Recipes

Every summer I rekindle my obsession with this crazy thing called tomato pie. Tomato WHAT? you might be saying. I had never heard of it until a few years ago either, and it took me two years after printing the recipe to finally give it a whirl. But Oh. My. YUM. You are about to make the most glorious culinary discovery. I am so excited for you.

 

It is with great anticipation that I wait for tomatoes to show up at the farmers' market, that I wait for them to get good and ripe. Part of me dreads the work it will take and the mess it will make, because I'm not gonna lie, this pie is a bit of a diva. It's not for the beginner cook or the faint of heart. If you make your crust from scratch, you will be in the kitchen for hours. HOURS, at the end of which it may look something like this:

But then you will sit down to this:

 ...and you will know what summer tastes like, and you will not regret a single dirty bowl.

First things first: Don't even think about attempting this with underripe tomatoes. And don't even mention this pie in the same breath as grocery store "tomatoes." You need them good and ripe. Add in some bacon (because duh, BACON), sweet Vidalia onions, and cheese--lots of cheese. You're drooling already, aren't you? Here we go:

Double Crust Tomato Pie
(adapted from Home-Ec 101)

Ingredients: 

1 recipe double pie crust (come on, if I can do it, anyone can--see below)

3 lbs very ripe tomatoes

1 onion, sliced thinly

1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (I use half cheddar, half mozzarella or Monterey Jack)

3-6 slices bacon (more or less depending on how thick it is)

3 TBSP mayonnaise (supposedly you can also use cream cheese, but don't use light mayo)

dried basil

salt/pepper

Directions:

1. Cook bacon. FYI, if you didn't already know this, you want to do that bacon in the oven, not on the stovetop where you have to flip it and get spattered with hot grease. And you want to cook it on this pan. Best bacon you have tasted in your life, forever and ever, amen. 400 degrees, 20-25 minutes. (If you want to cook all the bacon, and snack on the extra while you cook, I won't tell anyone you only needed three slices for the pie.) Turn the oven to 425* to preheat for the pie.

2. Get those onions started. You don't *have* to pre-cook them; you could just slice them super, super thin (the original recipe makes me laugh: "No, thinner. No, thinner still, we want the Calista Flockhart onions.") --but sometimes they still turn out slightly crunchy. I like to cook them, because why not, the whole recipe is a pain and makes a ton of dishes anyway, what's one more--and because caramelized onions. These take quite a while, and you have to keep an eye on them--you don't want them to burn. (It would make sense to start them first, but if you wait until the bacon is done, you can caramelize them in bacon grease instead of plain old butter. Just saying.)

So, slice up the onion and throw it in a pan with a tablespoon or two of fat on medium heat. Stir occasionally, turning the heat down and/or adding more fat if they start to turn more dark brown/black instead of golden brown. Saute for about 45 minutes or until they look something like the bottom right picture (keep in mind I am no food photographer):

 

3. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Core tomatoes and cut an X in the bottom of each one. Boil tomatoes for one minute or until skin loosens and begins to peel away. Remove tomatoes and place in cold water. 

4. Slice tomatoes, scooping away some of the seeds so they aren't quite so wet, and place them in a colander over a large bowl. Sprinkle them with salt (and pepper, if you like pepper--I don't) and allow them to sit and drain while you prepare the other ingredients. 

5. In a medium bowl, mix together the cheese, mayo, and crumbled bacon. 

6. Lay the bottom pie crust in a 9" pie plate. Cover the bottom with a layer of tomatoes, then spread half the caramelized onions over the pie (you'll have to use your fingers to separate them and spread them out). Sprinkle with dried basil (the original calls for 1/2 tsp; I don't measure and probably use more).

7. Create another layer with the remaining tomatoes, the rest of the onion, and more basil.

8. Spread cheese mixture over the top.



9. Lay the second pie crust over the top. Seal the edges and cut slits in the top. (You'll probably want to put something underneath the pie pan in the oven, in case it bubbles over.)

10. Go ahead and make a foil shield now, since you'll probably need one and it's much easier to do when the pan isn't too hot to touch. Bake for 45 minutes at 425 degrees. Check the pie after 30 minutes--if the crust is browning, cover the edges with the shield.

 

11. Let the pie set for at least 15 minutes before slicing so it won't be quite so runny.

 

Pie Crust

I don't claim to be an expert on this, and I don't even care much for pie crust, if we're being honest. But this recipe has worked better for me than the one or two others that I've tried, and I think it makes a pretty tasty crust, even if I still do give the end to my kids. The recipe comes from my friend Mandy--she and her husband were the first to invite us over for dinner when we were new at church, and she served us a fudge pie that was absolutely delicious--so much so that I asked for this crust recipe, since I enjoyed her crust more than any other I had tasted. 

I also have found that it works quite well with white whole wheat flour, if you're trying to be a little healthier and avoid white flour. 

Without further ado...

Ingredients:

2 1/2 c. flour

1 tsp salt

2 T sugar

1/2 c. shortening, chilled (I use Spectrum's non-hydrogenated shortening)

12 T (1 1/2 sticks) cold butter, cut into 1/4" pieces

6-10 T ice water

Directions:

Pie crust requires planning ahead--you have to chill the shortening and then chill the crust. So start early in the day (or even a day or two before).

Combine flour, salt and sugar in a food processor. (You can absolutely do this by hand with a pastry blender, but a food processor makes it SO much easier.) Add shortening and process until the mixture is the texture of coarse sand (about 10 seconds). Scatter the pieces of butter over the flour mixture and cut the butter into the flour until the texture is coarse crumbs, with butter pieces no larger than small peas (Mandy suggests doing this in 10 or so one-second pulses). 

Turn the mixture into a large bowl and sprinkle 6 T ice water over it. Use a rubber spatula to fold the dough until it sticks together. Add up to 4 T more water if it will not stick. You can use your hands, too, but try not to get the dough warm. 

Divide the dough into two balls and flatten each into a 4-6" disk. Wrap each in plastic and refrigerate for at least an hour (I stick them in the freezer for a while to make them really cold). 

I can't offer any tips on rolling the dough out or pinching the crust; I am terrible at that part. For tips and tricks, I'll refer you to Smitten Kitchen's pie crust tutorial.

Tomato pie. Now you know. Your family will love you forever. 

Multitude Monday, Take 351

"Gratitude is the proper response to an abundance of gifts. Gratitude is the posture of the soul that most readily increases receptivity. Gratitude demands humility, since only those who acknowledge their dependence, their need, and their delight in the goodness and kindness of another can be grateful. Give thanks always and for everything. And be specific."  

--Joe Rigney, The Things of Earth

Thanking God this week for...

7407. encouragement that the Spirit is at work in me in the midst of ongoing struggles
7408. Hallmark recordable storybooks--my dad's voice reading The Little Engine That Could to Jude
7409. The Valley of Vision prayer book
7410. friends inviting us to swim at the Y as guests under their membership
7411. time to relax in the water and chat while our kids splashed

7412. my boys' healthy teeth
7413. Google Earth enabling me to see my friend's new home
7414. Steve's incredible example of being gracious and assigning positive intent with impossibly ridiculous colleagues
7415. a sweet note from a beloved former professor
7416. unwanted items sold locally on VarageSale

7417. He hears and answers "at the beginning of [our] pleas for mercy" (Daniel 9:23)
7418. I can plead not because of my righteousness but because of His great mercy
7419. purple hydrangeas on my phone wallpaper, courtesy of BHG's Instagram feed
7420. a prompt check from our travel agent to cover the cost of her mistake
7421. a phone conversation to catch up with my college roommate

7422. Elijah coming to the dinner table: "Roasted broccoli! YEAH!!"
7423. boys splashing in a kiddie wading pool
7424. His promises to redeem us from our spiritual adultery
7425. His steadfast love and relentless mercy
7426. free fast food from the summer reading program at the library

7427. the sweet and obviously skilled tailor who is fitting Steve's suit for his brother's wedding
7428. family pizza and movie night
7429. His tender compassion toward His wayward children
7430. Steve and the boys washing our cars

7431. a shared pint of Sea Salt Caramel Truffle ice cream for National Ice Cream Day
7432. evening yoga to work and stretch sore muscles
7433. loads of fresh produce from the farmers' market
7434. generous, unexpected thank-you gift from church friends Steve helped
7435. amazing homemade pizza

Multitude Monday, Take 350

"So if you are awash in a sea of God's gifts, dive in and savor them. Relish all there is to relish in them as a means of expanding your mind and heart to know God more deeply. Receive God's gifts gladly, give thanks for them, and then be as generous with others as God has been with you."

--Joe Rigney, The Things of Earth

Thanking God the last few weeks for gifts like...

7355. long daylight hours
7356. air conditioning
7357. the perspective that fasting brings
7358. exposure of my heart and its disordered appetites
7359. Steve's endless patience and gentleness

7360. the boys' first experience of the symphony: Pixar in Concert

7361. the way music can evoke emotion so powerfully
7362. access to it and the means to expose our boys to it
7363. Saturday morning prayer, coffee and conversation with a dear friend
7364. our church's culture of celebrating life, throwing showers for fifth babies
7365. having to help the boys choose gratitude over whining --> good for my own attitude

7366. a family hike at Radnor Lake

7367. heavy but really good conversations with Steve
7368. blackberry picking

7369. Elijah's voracious reading
7370. gorgeous clouds at sundown

7371. a zoo visit with friends
7372. the adventure of getting caught in a downpour

7373. rain was better than sweltering heat!
7374. a friend's powerful example of loving her neighbor sacrificially
7375. clouded leopard cubs

7376. a decade of marriage to the man of my dreams
7377. a big fancy dinner at home with the boys for our anniversary
7378. first sweet corn of the summer
7379. Jude's face when he saw I'd bought some

7380. Airbnb
7381. first tomatoes of the summer
7382. a family bike ride on the greenway to see fireworks + avoid the traffic

7383. glow sticks from the dollar store

7384. Elijah's excitement about Sunday school, loving his teacher
7385. Jude singing the doxology terribly off-key

7386. an afternoon spent with a family from church
7387. crepe myrtles beginning to bloom
7388. the capacity to learn a new language
7389. His promises to tenderly shepherd us
7390. the wise and loving earthly shepherds He has provided to us at our church

7391. a friend's support and encouragement in efforts to get healthier
7392. a new blue skirt
7393. a friend's husband getting baptized
7394. zinnias from the farmers' market
7395. 18 years of walking with Him

7396. the fact that my biggest problem last week was ruined vacation plans
7397. grace to remain calm and not get angry with our travel agent
7398. evidence of the Spirit growing me: I felt more empathy than judgment for her mistake
7399. we didn't lose any money in the whole debacle
7400. grace to process my emotions in light of Truth and His steadfast love

7401. our pastors, who reflect the Good Shepherd as they care for our souls
7402. finding out I had $20 in credit from consignment sales at the bookstore
7403. blueberry cake
7404. boys eager to be Mama's helpers

7405. lunch and time to catch up with friends
7406. a High Priest who can sympathize with my weakness and extends mercy & grace