•3 min read
A first hike
Several weeks ago, Nicholas took some time off of work, and our little family planned a few semi-local adventures. One was our day trip up to Michigan, and another was a first "real" hiking experience for Cooper at Starved Rock State Park. My SIL,...
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Life lately, September 2021
The air is crisper in the mornings, leaves on some trees just barely tinged with red and gold, a few eager leaves already fallen, begging to be crunched on the sidewalk. It's not truly fall yet, I realize, but the wonderful in-between has very much...
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An outing to the Michigan coast
Last week, Nicholas took some time off of work and our little family of three planned a few outings as a means of a (nearly) staycation. On one day, we planned a trip to a lakeside town, just shy of 1.5 hours north of us.
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Summer days, early August 2021
It's August already! I can't believe it either. This summer has felt filled to the brim with so many good things, so many summer-y things. Beach trips, visits to new places (the zoo, etc), and lots of family outings. Of course there have been truly...
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The first beach day of the season
A few weeks ago, on a hot, sunny Saturday, our family of three packed up and headed to the beach (for us, Lake Michigan sand dunes) in the morning. We parked, walked a ways to where it was less crowded, and laid out our quilt.
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What brings me to worship: Life lately, mid-May 2021
There's a lot of heaviness in the world right now.
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Picnic dinners & play
As the weather warms, we're spending even more time outside. Nicholas is mowing and trimming, I'm weeding and sorting out rocks from a garden bed, Cooper is roaming and playing in dirt. But beyond the practical outdoor tasks, we're doing a lot of...
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2020: A year in review
Now that we're well into January, I'm sitting down to write and glance back at the last year. I'm not much of a resolution-maker (not fundamentally opposed, just not for me), but I do find it's healthiest for my heart and mind to reflect and then...
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At the lake & on the deck : Summer edition
I'm typically in a rush to wish away the hot days of summer, to exchange them for cozy days, sweater season, cool mornings. I'm an optimist, and that optimism frequently couples itself with being future minded. Constantly looking forward with hope,...
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Life Lately, mid-June 2020
After an extended break from writing, it feels more natural to ease back into it with a list-based post. I've missed writing! And for the time being, as always, I feel most qualified to write about what I know about, and that's our little life....
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2019: A year in review
Every year, I find it a bit therapeutic to look back on the last year. I know my heart is bent toward nostalgia, and at times, I wonder if that is one of the reasons I find looking back easier than looking forward. That's something for me to mull...
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Baby's first snow
On Halloween, we had cold weather, and then a mixture of rain, then sleet, then snow fell. I love snow more than most, so I was thrilled. And it was so fun to show Cooper! We didn't venture far because the wind was a bit brutal, but we had the...
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A fall visit to Minnesota
Last weekend, we drove north to Minnesota to visit my family for a long weekend. It was our first long car ride with Cooper, which had its ups and downs, so to speak, but I'm so glad we were able to visit.
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Life lately and October favorites
I don't know how to write about fall and all the emotions it stirs up without sounding trite. This is our first fall since we moved back to the midwest, and it's been refreshing, on a surface level yes, but also for my soul. The leaves turning gold...
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Abundant skies
Lately, I've been listening to a lot of music circa 2000, like Switchfoot's older albums. I'm definitely prone to nostalgia (for better or worse), but in this case, it's enjoyable and harmless. And it's a bit of a challenge with myself to see just...
Read more•6 min read
Little summer victories
When we had a baby, I had the assumption that a lot of things in life would be more complicated: errands, cooking, getting dressed, sleeping, etc. That assumption is based on reality, yes. Getting out the door takes more thought, more planning, and...
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The quiet
I like to notice patterns. I notice them in the mannerisms of people I love, in my surroundings, lately, on our daily walks, and in my own life. One pattern that is undeniable in my own heart, is that when life feels full, I typically neglect some...
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Late July life
It's full-blown summer here, evidenced by the forecast. We've had some very hot days, along with more mild days (my personal favorite), like today. Each week seems to bring a bit more routine and familiarity. And by that, I mean Cooper is constantly...
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Moving into a new home
Well, hello!
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Life lately, late April 2019
It feels like spring in our new home in Northwest Indiana. It is the beginning of a lot of things for us.
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A trip to the mountains
On Friday, we got home (to our new home) from a trip to the Asheville area of North Carolina. We planned this trip back in January or February, before we had even a thought of a new job for Nicholas, and a cross-country move, and other big life...
Read more•11 min read
2018: A year in review
Every January, when many are looking forward to the next year, I like to take a few moments to look back. I dig into what the previous year meant for me personally and what it meant for me and Nicholas in the context our our family and community....
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Minnesota, in the summer
Timing is everything. Or at least that's what they say, whoever they are. But I tend to agree. I just got back from a visit home to Minnesota, an overdue trip, an impromptu trip that landed with the best possible timing, and the best soul-timing.
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Better (summer) habits + our weekending
One way or another, I've come to believe that I don't enjoy summer all that much. I think it's one tiny part that I'm Minnesotan-born, living in Texas, and multiple parts my attitude about that. I do truly enjoy all that summer is, with it's long...
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Maine, Part III: A better good
We just returned from a wonderful trip to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, Maine. I'm gradually sorting through both my photos and my thoughts from the trip, and as I do, I'm writing a few posts about our trip. This is the third and final of...
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