The blog turns one

I wrote and posted my first entry in this place exactly a year ago. And what a year it's been! If you're reading this, thank you. I started the blog as a way to keep our families up to date with our life from afar, but it's become a really good outlet for me. And I've been honored to hear how my words can be encouraging to those who read them. I can't take any credit for this—any encouragement you found from my words is due to the work of the Holy Spirit (which is way cooler, anyway).

To celebrate, I made these brownies, which we ate warm à la mode (with Jeni's vanilla bean ice cream! Best Target find ever). To be completely honest, the brownies served a two-fold purpose. Nicholas and I had a tiff because a key part of a conversation got lost due to a "dead spot" in cell service. It was a classic case of he-said, she-said, except he did say it, and I never heard it. We laughed about it, and worked things out, but "forgiveness brownies" don't hurt ;)

Over the last few days, I've been glancing back and re-reading some of my posts from the last year. I posted a few of my favorites below (loosely grouped by category).

Daily Life

• Midwinter Midweek
• Living well in the busyness
• This week's epiphanies
• Life right now & acknowledging my need
• Surprised

Looking Back

• Our first year
• Twenty-four
• For my husband
• Up north & a wedding

Heart Lessons

• The idolatry of comfort
• Befriending faithfulness
• Choosing to praise
• Gratefulness for the past, present, future
• Common mercies
• When life feels settled
• Sharing your life
• Hard work

Simple Living

• Slow living & sighing after God
• Waste, gratitude, & planning my "Yes"
• Our take on minimalism

Thank you for reading! I have to say, I love you guys and what this space has become :)