days thirteen through eighteen

day thirteen: 3 gifts BEHIND A DOOR

1. Preacher husband practicing his sermon.

2. My precious girls napping.

3. This is what is behind the door of the handicap stall in the women's bathroom at the Angus Barn.  EXCUSE ME?  Ah.maz.ing.  I was so excited I literally spent fifteen minutes in there.

day fourteen: 3 gifts SILENT

1. Adding back the dream feed...nursing Haddie in the dark of night and the quiet of her room.

2. That glorious occassion when 3 out of the last 4 days were crazy mornings being gone and driving to other cities but meant long naps for both girls (and mama!) in the afternoon.

3.  Staying up later than Brett on purpose so I could have a few minutes where it's so quiet the clock ticking sounds like it's being broadcast on a microphone.

day fifteen: 3 gifts GOLDEN

1. Gorgeous fall sun...even though it sets too early.  Meanwhile I'm going to try to get on the Today Show with a picture of our sunrise.  One of these days... #TODAYsunrise

2. Karis & Haddie's golden locks/mohawk.

3. Mom's James Avery Cross of Calvary necklace.  I grew up loving this simple reminder of truth always around her neck.

day sixteen: 3 gifts HARD EUCHARISTEO

1. Nursing Haddie.  

It's a JOY but it's also HARD. 

Lots of people love nursing--most of my friends do--and even though it's sweet and I'm beyond grateful that I get to and that I can produce milk it's still exhausting. 

2. Being a pastor's wife.  

It's a JOY but it's also HARD.  

To serve Jesus in this season by getting two beautiful girls ready to go to church 35 minutes away and missing naps and watching dvd's in the car and missing old friends while meeting new friends while bouncing a baby during the whole service and my back is aching but then hearing sweet Karis asking if she can listen to daddy preach and then actually getting to listen to daddy preach and the truth that comes out of his mouth as he points us all to Jesus and the long ride home just saying "THANK YOU" to Jesus that this is the role I get to play in the Kingdom.

3. Praying hard for friends hurting deeply. 

It's a JOY but it's also HARD.

day seventeen: 3 gifts LAUGHTER

1. These friends having breakfast at Panera and laughing so loud that people moved booths to get away from them.  I love all of them so much that I wasn't even mad that I wasn't there. :)

2. Karis making Haddie laugh.  Everyone else has to work to make Haddie laugh.  Not Karis.

3. Laughing at Brett after Karis dressed him up in her clothes and sunglasses.  6'6 man in 3T clothes and toddler size 7 Crocs and zebra print sunglasses.  He is such a good daddy.

day eighteen: 3 gifts MADE, SHARED, PASSED ON

1. MADE: Ellie Holcomb's new album.  Give money here (and get cool stuff!) to help it get released.

2. SHARED: Mom's blueberry scone recipe.

3. PASSED ON: Almost all of Karis' clothes are from someone else.   Thank you Kristin and Mauri and Angela/Gretchen for passing on your adorable girls' clothes!