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finding joy :: 5

starting a fire in and enjoying the warmth of wood-burning stoves

winter sunrises

visits from friends….Evelina from Argentina!

baking (it’s been a while)

lighting candles in the morning

christmas traditions

my sweet students and staff

blasting this song in the car while MOVING 

also listening to christmas music

creating music (more on this soon!)

and what the snow does to the trees (truly a winter wonderland!)

 

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peace,

E

 

 

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19

finding joy :: 4

the smell of fallen leaves

the sun at 11 o’clock am

parents visiting

being able to be alone

flowers and plants

the instant cozy vibe: snow falling + candles burning + dustin o’halloran

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learning the rhythms of our sabbath

lauryn hill and loud speakers

getting back into that ballet

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09

finding joy .3

light. morning light, afternoon light, sunset light, sunrise light, moonlight, light, light, light! I seriously can’t get enough of the different ways light looks as it crawls across a floor, sweeps in between the trees, lays across my lap, flickers on the walls, diffuses through the curtains, agh! can’t. even.

heart listening. not physically listening to your heart, but more than just people listening. Really, truly, staying in that space and getting past that fluff and good stuff but oh baby, the richness is inside. Yes, teaching myself to stay in those spaces and wait, and listen, and ask, and listen…wow, the stories that are told! So important!

staying in other people’s homes. okay, I’m not weird, it’s just so…what? so…..honest and gutsy; to invite someone into your home to eat, sleep, use your bathroom, see your stuff, spend the night….it’s so vulnerable. and I just so badly love it! it’s so connecting!

jumping across streams. but you already knew that. BUT seriously, if you ever want to feel alive (and possibly wet)…DO IT. Okay, right, there are some…guidelines:

1. make sure you can almost NOT make it. gives you more of an adrenaline rush, more of a, “wow, I almost didn’t make that jump” feeling afterwards.

2. ALWAYS jump with others. because you get to laugh SO badly if the other person falls in, or you get to join in on the laughter after YOU fall in. either way: laugh.

3. ALWAYS preface your decision to start jumping (once you’ve found an adequate stream and have checked off numbers one and two on the list) with: “Okay, we ALL have to jump otherwise you ARE the weakest link. Goodbye.”

and

4. ALWAYS take pictures to document.

continuing on….

my sweet kindergartener’s reasoning. as follows (literally, word for word): “I really want the blue swatter, because….well, I just love the color blue, in fact, my SISTER really loves the color blue, actually, you see that blue wall behind you? Well, I love that blue wall sooo much that I just want to put it in my pocket and take it with me wherever I go…there, you see, so can you give me the blue swatter?” i die, every time.

flavoring kombucha with Abby. pure joy!

our small group. man, what am I going to do without those crazies!? I love you guys and have been SO impacted and changed by your honesty, stories, community, and friendship!

remembering memories of my grandparent’s old farm in Wisconsin. it’s the weirdest thing but every time, right before I fall asleep, a new, delightful memory pops into my head about staying on my grandparent’s farm when I was a little girl and man, I just fall asleep so happy and content!

the fact that Richard now likes peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. i really can’t explain it, he just…started liking it one day. well, maybe it’s because he said this one preschooler would have one everyday for lunch and he would wonder, “could it really be that good”. well, it is. it really is that good. i am so excited for the future pbj picnics we are going to have!

Jasne. possibly the best soup I’ve ever had in my life, made by my husband. It is so good. google it. make it. so good! *update: you can’t google it, I tried and it doesn’t exist, so you will just have to ask my husband to make it for you 😉

Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint soap. I could walk around smelling that stuff all day. “Is that soap in your nose?” “Why yes, yes it is”.

DARK CHOCOLATE peanut butter cups. no explanation needed.

 

With love,

E

 

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18

Finding Joy .2

watching the sun creep across the floor while sitting sick on the couch

reading my friend’s deep and encouraging words on her blog

that birds still sing in the middle of winter (I can hear them now)

walking on the frozen lake at sunset

being able to celebrate (with my WHOLE family) my grandpa’s 91st birthday

traveling, with my siblings and husband, to the point, the tip top of of Wisconsin’s peninsula, which is Gills Rock.

stacks of books on the floor around the house

caring about my body

the noises the house makes as its warmed by the sun

starting my first seminary class!

dates (the fruit)

reading about Sabbath

this wooden table and beige blanket

meeting my dear friend’s sweet babe

free mondays and breakfasting with my sister

 

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04

finding joy

Today’s Monday favs:

1. first day back at work and seeing my sweet (sometimes crazy) estudiantes!

2. getting back into that sweet routine (finding the delight in it, and learning to be fully present in it)

3. starting new year changes (steadfastness, prayer, joy, spanish, piano)

4. better self-care (rest, creativity, books, walks, time, etc.: healthy mind, body, spirit)

5. the power of words (speaking truth, recognizing lies, speaking truth)

6. pottery time!!!! (#3 and #4)

7. laundry day (this and this=FUN! Thanks, Katie D.! )

8. the sound of pen on paper (so missed, so welcomed)

9. morning tea, midmorning joe

10. being organized

11. sun filtering in through high windows and crossing my work table

12. my job (spanish all day, children all day)

13. listening to sherlock holmes (audio book babes)

14. sneaky joy letters (sending and receiving)

15. my co-workers from spain (ONE WORD: VOSOTROS) No me digáis!!!!

 

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