- peering out my window just before Monument Pass (where i always do) to see the biggest expanse of sky between here and Denver. my soul finds such peace gazing at that slice of sky, twinkling with a hundred stars. i think i love it because i always feel so, so little in that moment.
- seeing the train’s headlight illuminate a shaft of light as it snakes along the tracks that run next to the highway. there’s something romantic about imagining yourself on a trainride at night. i always loved coming back from visiting Brandon and Callie in Portland at night…3 hours on a quite train with just the sound of the chugging engine in the background. the still of night is something that few things can compete with, in my opinion.
- all the adorable babies that come into my store…each one, so unique. each one granting me a smile and a gurgle. each one, the pride and joy of their parents. what a gift children are!
- teaching a boy how to properly fold a towel today. HA. priceless and i think his wife someday will thank me
- talking to Callie on the phone.
- celebrating, from afar, with one of my dearest college friends, Maren, on the day of her wedding to Jeremy. absolutely heartbreaking to not be there yet their union is one of such joy and honor to God that i could not be lost in the sadness. they are going to be living in Oxford for the next 6 months or so while he finishes his Masters…what a dream!
- having the morning off to sleep a little and put some order back into my life. it was sunny and beautiful this morning, too. i love sunshine.
- purchasing a gift for loved ones. Christmas has felt so different this year working in retail again…i had the Christmas bug right after Halloween and it hasn’t stopped even though i’ve put off shopping (something about staying in the mall to shop or going to another one after working in mine for 9 hours that day doesn’t sound appealing…strange, i know.), it has given me a lot of opportunity to really think about what i want to get. my list is small because we decided to forgo presents this year and exchange stockings instead; so procrastinating doesn’t count when you’re list is smaller than normal, right?! just say yes, please.
- the reminder that Christmas brings of Christ’s humility in coming to earth; to intercede out of a heart of love and obedience to His Father. what joy because of how epic His coming to earth was in the story of salvation!
- empty trees. our store is sold out of most of our Christmas items and there’s still a week left…a lady today asked if we had never decorated them…i told her that everyone has simply bought EVERYTHING. literally. this is SO GOOD, in my opinion. ever since starting this water campaign, i’ve been so much more aware of how excessive we are during the holidays. we can be that way all year but it’s profoundly pronounced during this season…so i’m sorta glad that there’s not a lot left over. it reminds me that we can make change in the lives of others just by adjusting our perspective and perhaps restraining a bit when the consumeristic pull is the strongest.
- going through the car wash at midnight. after 2 significant snow storms and commuting through them, my car was really a sight to see. it was caked with mud. sorta cool and sorta gross. i finally broke down tonight and gave it a bath i had kind of forgotten how deliciously, red Zabaks is…sorta like a McIntosh Apple. {Zabaks is the Latvian word for “boot”…this is what the three of us kids collectively named my car when i first got it…the hood is pretty long for how boxy the car is so it sorta looks like a boot. so there ya have it.}
- making it to the gas station after driving all the way from Monument Pass with my gas light on. HA.
when the NotioN strikes…
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I especially loved our talk tonight as well
can’t wait to see you soon!