- Sweet friends, and girls who entertain themselves well- This cutie intentionally spending time with the other one. - MORE snow!- Unlike Yukon, Cross and Ruby prefer the rug in front of the fireplace over the snow. - A quiet snow day with Corbin home and kids at...

- That when I remember to ask Him (and even when I don\'t), God provides in the most uncanny, specific, tiny detailed ways. That He cares about my specific needs, that it\'s not His best for me to feel overwhelmed, without His help.- That it\'s worth it to pay a few...

- Bubble baths at Daboo\'s- Happy 15th to you, Bran. So grateful we get to be your parents. All the time. - Branson\'s 15th birthday dinner ~ loved celebrating with special friends and family.All four grandparents ~ indescribable giftNickMo, Mitchell, Bran and Coach...

- Hud\'s 7th grade basketball season. Other than missing a few weeks because of a snowboarding injury, he played great and loved the season. Fantastic teammates and families to sit in the bleachers with. - Essie working with me at the McLean concession stand. She...

- A new start. The new year, and with it, new patterns and a new beginning.- Nikki sharing this quote ~ lovely thought to starting a new year. - Corbin feeling better after bronchitis and ear infections. Medicine is amazing!- Me on the road to recovery... we\'ve all...

- Total GIFT of having Shawn and Heidi in our home for a few days. What bright lights for God\'s kingdom. They\'ve been serving with CRU for 12 years now in San Diego, and getting some time with them was a complete joy for our family. In their short time with us, both...

- A few days in Austin with Corbin - thanks to amazing grandparents keeping kids - what a gift to not worry a bit, knowing they\'re having more fun than if we were there. - Time with heart friends in Austin: visting with Carlos and Kelly in their home; Kirsten,...

- These friends (and some others not pictured) on our back porch for dinner. Lovely evening, lovely friendships. So grateful for these foundational friends. Also thankful for the privilege of extending hospitality.- Our Christmas in Cowtown tradition ~ missing half a...

 - Watching Hudda play football. Great boys, great team. Great fun for us in the stands. #22- How Basden entertains herself during games  - Essie on the soccer field. Still figuring it out, but she\'s lost the mega bow.  This in response to her biggest brother on the...

- Our neighborhood and neighbors. And that our front lawn often looks like this. - \"Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament,...

- That love ~ truly ~ covers a multitude of sin.- Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful...

- That we don’t own an xbox.- Basden\'s sensitivity to Corbin\'s stress / disappointment with work.- Thicker skin for me.- SKYLAR!! About to be \"3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Skylar.\" - A resolve to be united with those who sometimes prove frustrating or difficult.- Our...

- Boys trying out Bran\'s their new toy. Delayed gratification ~ Bran has been waiting for this fishing kayak since he turned 13. Now we just need some rain for the lake!Training Ruby to be a fisher-pup. She looks a little freaked-out to me.- Our backyard full of...

- Hud\'s big grin (the braces are new ~ his round 2 began a couple of weeks ago). Snapped by Kevin, our middle school pastor after lunch at Chipotle. - Coffee on the back porch looking out over a rainy summer Sunday morning- That Essie still gets in Basden\'s bed to...

- Summer baseball... especially fun when the games end in our favor. Gearing up for District play next week for both teams. Bran getting to play 3rd base ~ a treat- Coach\'s effort towards clear communication, and what a difference that makes.- Cute boys. Especially...

- Summer has ARRIVED- Not making four lunches every night before bed- No homework- Sleeping late ~ at least we\'ll get to next week after kids camp!- Being home more, and our kids with each other off and on during the day. As grateful as I am for school, I love the...

- Time with Paige and her new family. We wouldn\'t have guessed 22 years ago (!) sitting around in our Kanakuk (Kanakomo) cabin that we\'d be getting our families together all these years later for a Memorial Day breakfast. Or maybe we would have. - An afternoon with...

- Walking downstairs on a Sunday morning to find her like this- A cold, rainy April Sunday. As in, rained all day. Everything cancelled except one indoor practice, and the coach was kind enough to taxi Hud back and forth. Other than church in the morning, we didn\'t...

- Men of my life- Getting to host YL adult committee dinner and meeting ~ grateful for lovely weather, lovely people. Sweet Basden helping me peel and slice 24 apples for apple crisp for dessert ~ Pioneer Woman\'s recipe phenomenal- Crazy blessed by Bridgett\'s...

- A very happy 14th to Bran...- Essie\'s non-stop love for playing school. Usually by herself, as she\'s got the entire sun room organized as her classroom. She is, of course, \"teacher\" to Daboo and Basden here.  - Making the most of a rainy day. Love that they...

- That our pastor teaches this - firmly - from the pulpit.- Taking (making) the time to write. And how it feeds my soul. - Praying each week alongside school moms. - The pool house - clean and cozy - such a gift.- Her new habit. How do kids intuitively know how to do...

- Catching Corbin playing pool games with his girls. - And on another day. My dad used to do this with us.  - That he does a good job of this. And that I never have to. I didn\'t believe it on the front end, that the boys (including Corbin, of course) could / would...

- Celebrating 17 yearsAug 11, 1995- A screenshot of Hud\'s post on Instagram ~ sweet boy (feel free to roll eyes at this one... but I\'m not missing a chance to memorialize this!)- A full pool after a football meeting - makes my heart happy - Football season- Dropping...

- Essie turns 7. Love this spunky girl.  Celebrating with Daboo and CappyFavorite flowers from Daddy- Watching Bran and Corbin read my post about Yukon. They both needed Kleenex. - Swimming in the rain with the Schaefers- SWEET Daboo taking the boys fishing at the...

- Lots to be grateful for from July. The first and foremost, is that we still have another month of summer!- My patriotic son.Marc and Bran. I found these pics on my phone a day later. - 4th of July at the Shopes - such a fun tradition. I admire Rachel as the hostess...

- Hitting a point of \"boredom\" this summer ~ means I haven\'t over-scheduled kids- Taking one day at a time. Summer is passing quickly, and it makes my heart ache a little. I so long for this relaxed schedule with margin- Silly boys- Hud\'s team not winning District...

- This summer especially, I\'m aware of our kids getting older, as they are entertaining themselves with creative outlets (which I do have to push, but not very hard): a treasure box of extra materials like empty oatmeal canisters, cardboard paper towel rolls, etc -...

- Basden competing in UIL storytellin - Corbin always making the celebration special - Little Laura Ingalls Wilder This dress - a treasure - made for Daboo by my Grandma Esther - May projects ~ never-ending ~ this one on responsibilities at home- Basden\'s \"Squake\"...

- Dangly earrings and a locket from a Charming Charlie\'s shopping trip with Mama- What she chose to put in the locket  - Watching Hudson as a Baylor Bear this springYou know something\'s wrong if he\'s not cheering / chattering  - Basden\'s first run at softball - Go...

- Adults across our city breathing new life and energy into the Fort Worth Young Life Committee- Elvia, Elvia, Elvia!! And my clean house!- Jessica\'s 40th birthday - and getting to celebrate right there with her Surprise!- Esther\'s note on my nightstand, waiting my...

- God-timed conversations on Monday mornings- Jesus Calling. No matter how popular that little devotional book gets, it remains right-on and incredibly encouraging. Thankful for Sarah Young\'s listening in writing those devos.- Davis family.  What they are to so many,...

- Crystal\'s birthday! 7+ years as a James, and our three precious little James cousins growing up in Bozeman- “Thank you that I can give myself up to be led by You... that I can go forth praising and at rest, letting You manage me and my day... that I can joyfully...

- Luke’s 33rd birthday TODAY. Love, love my little brother. So proud of the man he has become, of his amazing wife and three boys. God made Luke brilliant, but still very teachable. Missing him (them!) especially today across the miles (Tulsa is a lucky town to have...

- Family movie watching the \"Christmas Carol\" with a giant trash bag full of popcorn (thank you, Thursday Boys!)- Basden knowing so many lines to the movie by heart- Daboo\'s 40th birthday gift to me ~ winterizing our front flower bed    - Esther\'s 40th birthday...

- What\'s been playing pretty constantly in my mind (and on my ipod) the past few weeks - April Geesbreght\'s \"My Hope is in you Lord - ALL the day long\"I meet with You and my soul sings outAs your word throws doubt far awayI sing to You and my heart cries\"Holy!...

I acknowledge that with my assortment of inadequacies, I fulfill my high calling as a witness for Christ not by trying to be what I\'m not but by realizing who I am in Christ, then depending on You to let my true inner self shine forth.  - A Treasury of PraiseHeavenly...

Pass me not, O gentle SaviorHear my humble cryWhile on others Thou art smiling,Do not pass me by.Let me at a throne of mercyFind a sweet reliefKneeling there in deep contritionHelp my unbeliefSavior, Savior,hear my humble cryWhile on others Thou art callingDo not pass...

- Katie in our home ~ such a gem!- Watching tv piled up on all the couch cushions- Again, the ways I find her.  - And sometimes I find this one kinda crazy, too.  - An attempt to kiss and make up... - Isn\'t this every child\'s favorite swim activity? Thankful for a...

- Oh my goodness, she\'s getting big. 1st grade - Basden\'s first day of third grade over. She was more nervous than Bran (and it showed) - Hud as a 5th grader. Big man on campus- Bran\'s first day of middle school, and his first \"real school football\" practice...

- Summertime ~ so thankful for a pool!!- Bran\'s good attitude about bathing the dogs  - Watching Hudson play District ball, my heart swells because I\'m so touched by his focus and intensity    - Hud\'s teammates and their families this summer ~ loved, loved the...

- Finally!!  - 1st day of summer - no alarm clocks and a bean bag tournament- 2nd day of summer in our neighbor\'s yard - still no morning alarm clocks- Moses Stone Gonzalez. He of course has no idea (yet) the gift of the family he was brought into. Thankful for the...

- Artapalooza - inspired fun... bringing it homeMore duct tape walletsHome-made bubble wands of straws and yarn  Even Branson wants in on the fun! - Essie\'s Peacemaker play. Sweet of Lori to make the time to come and watch, and there\'s some humorous irony with Cappy...

 - Good (in season) strawberries- Weekly visits in the surgeon\'s waiting room - always someone with much worse injuries than me. Perspective.- Hot tomato basil soup- Running into Laura periodically at Einstein\'s - what a gem - Branson as Eric Liddell. AND- the last...

- A few hours with the Brogdons - always too short, but managed to fit in a walk with Jess, Wii tournaments, ping pong, swimming, a big Mother\'s day breakfast, and even a baseball game!  - Hud\'s field day - even with crazy allergies. I admire his competitive spirit,...

- That he lets her win- Wondering how I\'m going to speak truth into the heart of my child, and God does it without me- Preferring books over TV - Water- My girls\' love for me, and how they show it- Brantley Korbin!!! Precious boy! Luke & Julie\'s newest in...

- A weekend with these DEAR friends, the Brogdons. Oh my gosh - a shot in the arm of deep friendships College friendships that have not just sustained the years, but grown over the years - Tall, elegant, lovely Dar, and a couple of precious hours with her over...

- Such great people running our elementary school. Just really kind people.- My husband\'s email response to me... always giving me grace- Offering gratitude when I don\'t feel like it (this week specifically - when things don\'t go the way I want them to for one of...