Miscellany Monday

one | I've been sick for 2+ days & have never been more thankful for a) a husband who likes soup & b) an apartment located right across the street from Panera.

two | My favorite season is upon us!  Grayson is embracing his newly-discovered love of shopping (my words...not his) & shopped almost two whole days by himself.  And I've done some here & there.  Wrapping is my favorite part!  Seeley's too.

three | Found this list of advent readings on Pinterest & just bought Behold the Lamb of God to start reading tonight.  I love advent.  I feel like most of the time when we're in a season of waiting, we don't know what the final outcome is.  But with advent, we do.  We know that the days of hopeful anticipation reach an apex in the birth of a Savior baby.  Waiting periods in life are usually scary, frustrating, anxious, & sometimes sorrowful.  But even during those, we still ultimately know what we're waiting on: Jesus.  Reminds me of a favorite C.S. Lewis quote: If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.

four | Thanksgiving day we went to a park to take some pictures for our Christmas cards.  Just a peek at one of my favorites.  [And Grayson just found us a really nice tripod on a huge sale!]

five | Grayson's company had a 10th Anniversary party a few weeks ago (I like just about any excuse to dress up, especially if it means I get to wear my wedding shoes again).  The photographer just posted pictures from the party & I love these!

six | Apartment is decorated & we're getting our tree soon!

seven | One perk of having only two of us to eat Thanksgiving food: I haven't cooked since then.  Leftovers for days!

Linking up with lowercase letters today!

July: 31 Things to Be Thankful For

one. a safe cross-country road trip 

two. a cat who loves long naps & being in the car

three. a husband who isn't too concerned with "making good time" & will go out of the way for adventures 

four. being able to look out my window & see mountains

five. living 30 minutes from the ocean

six. unique flavors of ice cream & such a cute setting at The Penny Ice Creamery

seven. a family to help us get ready to move

eight. a family that we'll miss

nine. mid-70s weather in JULY

ten. good books

eleven. a husband who likes to drive so I get to read those good books

twelve. good Mexican food

thirteen. sunsets over the ocean

fourteen. new places to explore (maybe San Fran this weekend?)

fifteen. a free place to stay until our apartment is ready (tomorrow!!!)

sixteen. Google maps

seventeen. a good camera

eighteen. She Reads Truth devotionals

nineteen. in a state with very few Chick-fil-A's, one is close to us

twenty. leftovers & the ability to eat cheap

twenty-one. being able to live off of one salary for a little while

twenty-two. family & friends who are encouraging in the job hunt

twenty-three. knowledge that God provides friends in every season

twenty-four. sleeping with the windows open at night

twenty-five. friends to discuss books with (as if the characters are real people)

twenty-six. early evening fog coming over the mountains

twenty-seven. a sparkly newly-cleaned ring

twenty-eight. coconut coffee creamer

twenty-nine. sweet cards

thirty. a cat that can be tricked into wearing a glittery, jingle-bell collar

thirty-one. finding a cute, safe apartment to live in