The Circle of Goodness

      Yesterday I had parent teacher conferences. So, I typed up the kids' report cards, pulled a couple chairs up to my desk and settled in for a day of chatting with parents. And it was a wonderful day. I work at a small school so I only had 8 conferences and I knew most of the parents.
       Afterwards as I was thinking back over the day and things parents had said, I realized that parent teacher conferences are as much for me as they are for the parents. I shared with parents their child's grades and how they were doing in my classroom and they shared back words of encouragement for me.
       When a parent brought me a cup of tea because she thought of me while she was picking up her own Caribou on the way to the conference, I felt loved.
       When a parent came in a told me that they appreciate me and that I truly am having an impact on their kid, it reminded me of what an important job I have.
      When a parent came in for their conference and afterwards asks me how I was doing and if there is anything in my life I would like prayer for, not school stuff just my life stuff, I felt blessed and cared about.
       So it's a circle. I shared and they shared right back. And that is how life should be, a circle of goodness. Happy Friday. 
     

"If you are a leader, you should never forget that everyone needs encouragement. And everyone who receives it - young or old, successful or less-than-successful, unknown or famous - is changed by it."

~John C. Maxwell

The Year a House Became Home

      Last Saturday we hit one year of being in our home. We had a lovely day spent with friends. The sun was shining and it was Fall perfection.
      It is kind of crazy that it's already been a year. It's been a good 365 days. We have loved having a space of our own. I love having company and may of those 365 days have been filled with friends and family spending time in our sunny kitchen.  We've done some remodeling, grown a garden, and Luke's worked on numerous vehicles in his giant garage. We are so blessed.

"Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do....But how much love we put into that action."
~Mother Teresa

   

Frienship: Let's Vote.... I Say Yes!

    The other day I came home to a lovely sight. A plethora of notes and greeting were scrawled across the driveway in chalk. My sweet friend Emily had been over with her kiddos while I was at work and worked their magic to bring a smile to my face the moment I pulled in. It was a nice surprise. I have great friends!

      Actually the past month has been full of great friends. My dear friends Polly and Peggy, and their brother Bobby(one of Luke's oldest friends) came up for a visit. It was so fun to see them.

 Luke and Bobby, Then and Now.

      Then this past weekend, my friend Larisa from college came up for the weekend. It was fun reminiscing and just spending time together. My first year at BSU we lived across the hall from each other. We had quite the adventures!

Friendship is a good and beautiful thing. I for one am in favor of it!

"One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood." 

~Lucius Annaeus Seneca

And a touch of Fall.

Happy Thursday!

Autumn

Fall...
     The days are getting cooler and the colors are vibrant. I just keep thinking how beautiful it is. The vibrant gold of the birch and popple leaves as they play against their creamy, grey bark.
Coziness...
    The cooler days means that the wood stove has been fired up and the wonderful smell of wood smoke lingers around our home. We have a pile of logs waiting to be cut and stacked and it is just makes me feel good inside.
Goodness...
  The Lovely Keren Ruth came out tonight and we cleaned up the garden. It has been a good first run.
Memories...
       The past few days I have been feeling cozy and nostalgic. It was around this time of the year 5 years ago when my love and I first started falling in love. It was this time last year that we bought our first home. Really, this time of year has always pulled out good feelings in my heart.
Restfulness...
       I am curled up on the couch, there is lovely music playing, there is peace.
Remember...
      The One who painted the colors of fall, the One who fills our hearts with His peace and rest, the One who blesses us with beautiful memories, the One who designed in us the ability to delight in a beautiful fall day, He loves you and He wants to fill your heart with the peace and coziness and beauty of all that He is.
Happy Fall!

“Autumn...the year's last, loveliest smile." ~William Cullen Bryant