12.31.20

What. A. Year. 

When I look back at this unique year, what I want to remember first & foremost is God's faithfulness. 

I am even more grateful than usual to have these photos to remind me of His good gifts.

These are just 365 Evidences of God's goodness all over my life! 

So on this last night of 2020, I will look back with thanksgiving

while looking ahead with HOPE for tomorrow.

 

12.30.20

"Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning" 

Ecclesiastes 11:7

Even sweeter than this glorious sunshine though

is the time I got to spend walking and talking with my friend again! 

Thank you, Rachel for covering so many miles and topics with me this year,

and for consistently pointing me to the Light of the World! 

 

12.29.20

Grateful to be included in this sistertime stroll...

and also for restored health for one and protected health for the other!

 

12.28.20

On the third day of Christmas....I spent time doing something I truly love...

so I ordered our cards before Thanksgiving...

thought quarantine would mean I would write them long before Christmas Day...

turns out I will continue to enjoy the process and mail them sometime before the end of 2021! 

12.27.20

Yay! Now this feels like Christmas break!

 

12.26.20

It was a two gift counting kind of day...outside and inside...

Thanks, Emma for letting me use your cool new "lensball" to take some photos in the lingering snow. 

and

Thank you, Instruments Ballet Company and Instruments Ballet Academy for making a way to bring 

"Courage, Dear Heart" into our homes this holiday season. 

"But courage child we are all between the paws of the one true Aslan" ~ C.S. Lewis

 

12.25.20

𐫰 All is Calm...All is Bright 𐫰

Silent Night, Holy Night

Son of God, oh, love's pure light

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord at Thy birth...

❅🎄❅ Merry Christmas!!! ❅🎄❅

12.24.20

Happy Christmas Eve

And I remain grateful for technology and the ability to celebrate with family across state lines!! 

A game of "Would you Rather Be A....?", "shared" cookies, cozy blankets, and opening gifts "together" 

Different can still be good!

 

12.23.20

We're on our way back...but another one's down...

Merry Covid Christmas from our home!

12.22.20

Very grateful for my best Uber driver...great care...and another round of good medication!

Feeling hopeful...even if not physically well yet...

 

12.21.20

Star of Wonder...Star of Night

What a beautiful night sky to see the "Christmas Star"!

First time for the "great conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn in 400 

(or 800-depending on which article you read) years! 

Either way...a sight to behold!!

From one of my favorite authors: 

"Like the stars, we can be a light to each other and seem a lot closer than we are.

And maybe that is what is written into the stars, the skies, in the darkest night of the year, in one of the darkest years in living memory. 

In the year 2020, we can clearly see that there's always a way to be light in the dark. 

All the stars all 'declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands' (Psalm 19:1) and like those first shepherds, thousands of years ago, we look up to the glory of the Christmas star and hear again this Christmas what the heavens still herald: 

Be awed by God, and on earth, reach out with love to all men. Amen"

~ by Ann Voskamp

 

12.20.20

Today's Best Good Gift was the Core Four all around the round table for lunch...

but I was too happy and weepy to take a photo of that occasion (Moms 😉)

So coming in second place, was this joyful, Instagram "Live" Christmas "concert" in place of the 

canceled livetream event by one of my favorite artists. 

Thanks, Ben Rector for spreading some Christmas cheer! 🎅

 

12.19.20

Fresh Air and Vitamin D were good for the body and soul today

First time venturing outside in over a week...

and a 20 minute walk felt like I conquered a major fitness goal!

 

12.18.20

Have loved reading this for many Advents now...

Lord, thank you for these moments to quiet my heart so this season can truly be about You...

 

12.17.20

We were JOY Bombed today!! 

Thank you, sweet friends for spreading Christmas cheer and bringing a big smile to my face!!

 

12.16.20

Quarantine Community Group~ just what the doctor ordered!

 

12.15.20

Finally found this movie I've been trying to remember...

and it was the just right day for staying cozy in bed to watch it!

 

12.14.20

A perfect afternoon treat~ 

thank you, Balch family!

 

12.13.20

One of the three thoughtful deliveries brought to us today...

Day 2 of our quarantine and I am overwhelmed by the Lord's kindness through His people

 

12.12.20

Blessed beyond measure (and a little bit tearful) at the provision drop-off by these two today!

 

12.11.20

Grateful for the kindness and excellent care from our doctor and her staff

 

12.10.20

My first good gift of the day was my good friend who shared hot tea at her home...

My second good gift was being able to sleep all day when I started feeling badly...

and my third good gift was waking up to a whole handful of Happy Holiday Mail!!! 

 

12.09.20

An early morning moon alert from Maryland prompted me to discover this treasure out our front window

Thank you, Lord for making sure I didn't miss it!

 

12.08.20

For the first time since March, we were able to visit INSIDE her home!!!

Thank you, excellent caregivers of Dominion for making this possible! 

 

12.07.20

Hooray for a fun and festive evening in Our Town! 🎅🎄🤶

 

12.06.20

Always love my mornings with our TGKids! 

 

12.05.20

What fun to be creative today!

 

12.04.20

Bringing back an old favorite for this Friday night

 

12.03.20

Thanks to my sweet Mom for sharing a whole carload of her festive greenery with me!

 

12.02.20

'Tis the Season for happy surprises in the mail

Thank you, Gadds for this sweet memory of our time together with special friends!

 

12.01.20

Happy December!! 

Loved waking up to family texts sharing our photos of the snow 

 

11.30.20

Giving Thanks for:

The FIRST Snowfall of the season!! ❅

 

11.29.20

Giving Thanks for:

Treasured memories 

 

11.28.20

Giving Thanks for:

Getting to spend several hours with this dear friend helping Our Town Shop Small

 

 

11.27.20

Giving Thanks for:

Fresh Christmas Trees | Twinkling Lights | The Magic of the Holly House

 

11.26.20

Giving Thanks for: 

My Family

Spread across the country...

but together in these cute little boxes for a bit... 

thanks to creative and smart computer people at Zoom

Happy Thanksgiving Celebrating 2020 Style!!

 

11.25.20

Giving Thanks for: 

* Scott, my ever patient computer genius

* the patient employees at AIM Center 

(who reformatted computer programs to get their printer to communicate with this PDF) 

*the families who will take these home with them on Sunday

 

11.24.20

Giving Thanks for:

A happy surprise mail day! 

Thanks, Sis for all your help this week and for this very thoughtful gift! 💖

 

11.23.20

Giving Thanks for:

An evening with my girl!

And this sweet, encouraging, personally delivered (with a smile 😄 ) message from a friend!

Thanks for the update, dear Esther!! ♡

 

11.22.20

Giving Thanks for:

Time on the Eureka Trail today

A little bit of exercise and a lotta bit of cheering for my friends as they ran their 30DB 5K.

A certain someone's support from her whole family really impressed and encouraged me!

 

11.21.20

Giving Thanks for:

Being given good work to do and time to do it today.

And this blue sky to peek at when I needed a break :) 

 

11.20.20

Giving Thanks for:

A super afternoon on the farm with these fun friends (and their Mom!)

and it was a double good gift kind of day....

Twice the Congratulations for our nephews!! 

Thankful to be able to celebrate with family!! 

 

11.19.20

Giving Thanks for:

a new to us addition to our office space

The real gift was the sweet hospitality and fellowship visiting with the McGraws at pick up though!

11.18.20

Giving Thanks for:

Our Community Group plus some special visitors 

What a sweet time of fellowship with these fun friends around the fire tonight!

It may have been freezing, but our hearts were warm with joy and laughter!! 

(Right, Paige? 😉 )

 

11.17.20

Giving Thanks for:

Showing up for a doctor's appointment 24 hours early.

We had time for a fun and successful trip to the store...her first one in who knows how long!

 

11.16.20

Giving Thanks for:

My friend and coach, Dana who has spurred us on in exercise and nutrition these past few months!

11.15.20

Giving Thanks for:

Our Smart, Loyal, Talented, Kind, Beautiful, Thoughtful, Funny Firstborn

Ever grateful for this generous gift from God 24 years ago!!

Happy, Happy Birthday, Dear Emma!! 

 

11.14.20

Giving Thanks for:

LIVE THEATRE!!

 and fun friends who make a night of going to see talented friends perform!