Back to School

Last week I had to tell my 9-year-old girl her best friend from school wasn’t coming back this year. This summer, they’ve written some letters, gone to camp and VBS together, and looked forward to the new school year as fourth-graders together. And then sometimes life changes unexpectedly, and it hurts.

Cate processes life much like I do so I knew this was going to be a conversation we’d have to have more than once. I knew the news would well up in her heart at random moments. So I pulled her aside while we were on vacation and everyone else was occupied. We talked and cried and sat in silence.

Later that day, cousins were swimming in the pool at the beach house we were calling home for a week. With tears dried for the moment, Cate asked, “Is it really okay to do something happy when I’m sad?”

Y’all. It’s a question I asked when my father-in-law died unexpectedly more than six years ago. It’s a question I wrestled with while processing what God was doing in my heart and life after we returned from Guatemala last summer. It’s a question that rises up when I read headlines.

And it’s a question Jennifer Dukes Lee had me thinking about earlier this summer as I read “The Happiness Dare.” There in Hilton Head, where sand was in places it didn’t belong and my girl’s heart was aching, I got to share what God has taught me.

Yes, it’s okay to do something happy even when we’re sad. {Tweet that.}

“Pay attention. Savor the life God has given to you. Thank God for the good when life is beautiful. And fight hard to find the happy when life is brutal.”

–Jennifer Dukes Lee in “The Happiness Dare”

This truth that happiness and sadness can co-exist is something I learned, thanks to “Inside Out,” “The Happiness Dare” and plenty of real-life experiences. Do you remember the movie “Inside Out”? It’s such a sweet story of Joy and Sadness realizing they’re best together.

On a slightly lighter note of two extremes coexisting, I’m never really ready for summer to end, but I’m craving routine. We’ve had a wild summer that involved moving, going on three trips, and squeezing in afternoons at the pool.

I will miss summer, but I appreciate the way God created seasons. {Tweet that.}

My fourth-grade girl who devours books has the same teacher as last year, which we are glad about. She has mixed emotions about getting up early and diving back into a routine, especially without her best friend.

My boy is starting first grade and he’s the one who entertains and makes friends easily. I’m never really sure what all he’s learned because he doesn’t like to recite on demand his newfound knowledge. His teacher has worked at the school for awhile and I’m glad one of my kids gets to have her.

I’m thinking about my own schedule that will involve volunteering at our local crisis pregnancy center one morning a week, hopefully settling into our still-new-to-us house, and, you know, chasing baby girl who turns 1 in less than two months and is pretty much into everything.

Summer has been full of adventure and life lessons. There’s been good books and slow mornings. Thanks for hanging with me here, where it’s been quieter. The longer days have gone quickly and we didn’t do everything I had hoped to do. But we enjoyed our break from routine yet are excited for the new routine to begin today.
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I'm on "The Happiness Dare" launch team, so I got an advanced PDF copy of the book to read. But the way the message has seeped into my everyday life is real. I do recommend this book if you're needing some encouragement to find the happy. You can read my review here. 
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An InLinkz Link-up

The Blessing of the Bus

Unlike my own childhood that involved riding a bus to public school, my kids attend a small, classical, Christian school. Since August 2012, I’ve been shuttling kids – and the ones in our various carpools – to and from school. It’s 12 miles from my house to school plus a few extra miles for carpool duties, so round trip ends up taking me about 45 minutes.

Last year and this year, the carpool has also involved preschool pickups on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. So that’s a morning drop off, mid-day pickup, and afternoon pickup. I’m grateful I’ve been able to share all the back-and-forth with my sister-in-law, Angela, whose kids also attend New Covenant Christian Academy.

I consider transporting my kids to a school that is ideal for our family to be part of my momma responsibilities. I haven’t complained about the commute – and all the round trips – because I want Ben and Cate to be educated in a way that incorporates God into all the subjects as the foundation of all truth and knowledge.

Even so, when I heard the rumblings of a bus service getting started, I rejoiced. Another sweet surprise was hearing the bus service would officially start at the beginning of March.

I’ve talked {here} my in-laws being in vehicle businesses. Well, specifically, my mother-in-law is in the bus business. She contracts with the federal government to transport children on multiple military bases to their schools. And my brother-in-law, Charles, who is married to Angela, happens to work for her.

They wanted this bus service to be a labor of love to our small school community. I knew the bus service would be a good thing, but I had no idea how much it would bless me.

One recent morning, I realized I had started laundry, swept the kitchen floor, and unloaded and loaded the dishwasher before 8 a.m. In other words, I had finished most the chores I intended to accomplish that day before I would have been back from dropping off the kids at school.

The bus service gives me 45 more minutes in the morning and almost that in the afternoons. Now with the carpool that existed before the bus service, I didn’t do every afternoon pick up, but I did drive four of the five weekday mornings.

And, of course, my kids love riding the bus with some of their school friends.

An entrepreneur to the core, Greg has often told me, “Your time is worth something.” And by “your” he sometimes means his and sometimes he’s referring to mine. Either way – the philosophy of time being valuable is true.

And value doesn’t always mean money.

Sometimes value comes as the opportunity to have more time. {Tweet that.}

That’s been the blessing of the bus.

And the cherry on the top? Some mornings, Greg takes our kids – or kid, if it’s Tuesday or Thursday, when preschool isn’t in session – to the bus. That means some days recently I haven’t had to leave my house at a certain time. What a blessing!

How have you been blessed by someone else lately? Have you found extra time in your days?
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I'm linking this post with Jessica Turner's Fringe Friday because the blessing of the bus has created more fringe hours in my day. Some times that means more time to work around the house, but other days that means meeting a friend for breakfast or doing something else to care for my soul. {Read more about #FringeHours here or get "The Fringe Hours: Making Time for You."}

I'm also linking with (in)courage's #FringeHours post. 

Want more insights? "Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family" is available on Amazon. Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, peek into my life on Instagram, follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin', or subscribe to receive "Insights in Your Inbox."

What's in a Name? The Story of Ben

Five years ago today, Ben’s adoption was finalized. The hearing was a informal formality, but, of course, we had a party afterward because I wanted to mark the moment on our journey. I wanted to remember God’s faithfulness. 

In celebration of remembering this day, I thought it would be fun to share something from Ben’s preschool last week that I absolutely loved. While studying the letter N and talking about the importance of Jesus’ name, the teacher asked us parents to write a letter to our child, explaining why we chose the name we did and what it means for the child. 

Y’all, this is my kind of assignment ... 
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That's Ben at a week old with my grandpa. They share a middle name. November 2009.

Dear Ben –

When we found out we were adopting a baby boy, Daddy and I figured we’d choose a family name for you like we did your sister. But then we couldn’t agree on which version of William (Daddy’s granddad, Gran-Gran’s dad) we’d want to use. Daddy wanted Bill and I wanted Will. So we went to the Bible instead and found the perfect name for our baby – Benjamin.

Not long after you were born, I happened upon Deuteronomy 33:12, which says: “About Benjamin, he (Moses) said: ‘Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.’”

I loved how I heard God speaking to me about you through those words from long ago. I was reminded God creates us and knows us long before we’re born. God has a plan for you, sweet boy. I have no doubt you belong in our family and we’re better off because you’re with us.

And Daddy often reminds you and me “Benjamin” means “son of my right hand.”

Your middle name – Lucas – is also Poppy’s middle name. As my grandpa and Grandmom’s dad, he is a man I’d love for you to take after. He’s wise and believes in prayer. I’ll never forget when I was frustrated one day and he reminded me that “This too shall pass,” but while we’re in the middle of whatever we’re going through we should pray.

Your name is part of who you are, Benjamin Lucas. And there’s no one else like you.

I love you –
Momma
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You can read more about Ben's adoption story in my ebook "Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family," which is on sale for just 99 cents at Amazon. Yes, January can be a cold, dreary month, but it has changed me. So I'm celebrating!

And I'm linking up with the Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood Gathering. 

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8 Things I Learned in September

I sound like a broken record here, but, seriously, where is this year going? How is September already over? Goodness.

But, hello, fall. Please stay a while. A long while. Like so long winter doesn't even happen. And, shh, nobody tell me how meterologists are predicted a no-good, terrible winter. I thought last year was bad ...

Moving on, September was lovely, even if it sped by so fast I could barely keep up. We spent many evenings and late mornings at the soccer field. We enjoyed the lovely weather. We lived our life in many small moments meshed together. We learned and loved and laughed. And, yes, we witnessed that lovely sunset while on Kentucky Lake.

In no particular order, here are some things I learned in my everyday life this month:

1. I can have household products delivered to my door step. I loved that when I ordered diapers from Diapers.com or Amazon. Now, thanks to ePantry, hand soap, laundry detergent, sponges, and trash bags will show up a few days after I place an order ... and at good prices. I received my first shipment this month and I believe I'm in love with this service.

2. I love life in my 30s, but sometimes I feel old ... and old-fashioned! For instance, I invited a college girl I've gotten to know through Bible study over for a home-cooked meal and realized I'm twice her age. She hasn't turned 18 yet, so she's only a decade older than my second-grader. Y'all my own college days don't seem that long ago.

More proof by the questions I ask myself: What's with all these movies that are rated PG-13 being promoted to kids? Like "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." Why do restaurants have TVs everywhere? Gathering to watch a sporting event is one thing, but I otherwise prefer no television while we're trying to eat dinner together.

3. My personality makes me like Snow White. We're both ESFJ. Find out here which Disney princess shares your personality. I'm OK with my assessment, but, really, Snow White likes animals much more than I do.

4. I could be the only person who doesn't care anything about pumpkin candles, desserts, coffee, or, well ... anything. Yes, I'm a summer girl, but I do love the transition to fall. Just bring on the apples, specifically Honeycrisp, and candy corn. You can keep your pumpkin spiced latte. Or whatever other hot beverage you're drinking.

Funny story: A delicious-smelling apple pie candle showed up in the mail for me from Amazon. I didn't know who sent it until my friend Jen texted me. She loves pumpkin spice candles but chose an apple one for me. God's in the details, I tell you. Apples over pumpkin any day, especially fall days, y'all.

{After I posted this on Facebook, I learned I'm not actually alone, but there are so many pumpkin fans out there.}

5. I don't like homework. I don't remember disliking homework when I was a kid, when it was required of me, personally. But, seriously, I could do without homework now that I'm a mom. My girl is a good student, but she's done with school when she gets home. That time between school and dinner is already a rocky time. That's not just true at my house, right?! So to add homework seems cruel. We're in year three of homework and I'm still not a fan. I'm guess if I didn't like it in kindergarten and first-grade and I'm still not liking it in second-grade, then hope is pretty much lost for me for her remaining decade of school, right? Plus I'll have those 13 years of school for my son, who, I'm guessing, will be even less into homework than his sister. {She's cute though.}

6. Little People toys are for little kids, which apparently I don't have anymore. That's according to my 4-year-old son. So we donated most of the Little People to his preschool. Yes, I'm curious if he's going to play with them there, unlike he did here.

7. The Blacklist is addicting. Hello, James Spader. Goodness gracious, he's good in that show. Greg and I just started watching it last week, but we're well into the first season. I know, I'm not sure what took me so long either.

8. Scrapbooking is still a hobby of mine, even if it doesn't happen often. Like riding a bike, I didn't forget how to document life with actual printed photos, Sharpies, cute paper, and page protectors. I managed to spend much of one weekday at my craft table. We didn't have anywhere to be and Ben was playing alone so well. I was out of my usual adhesive, so I broke out the Rubber Cement. I loved it so much I bought more next time I was at the store.
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I'm linking up this monthly post with Emily Freeman at Chatting at the Sky.  Here are previous month's recaps from 2013: June. July. August. September. October. November. And from 2014: January. February. March. April. May. June. July. August.

I'm also linking up with the weekly Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood Gathering.

Want more stories? Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, peek into my life on Instagram, follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin', or subscribe to receive "Insights in Your Inbox." This post contains affiliate links for products & services I love. 

Words for your weekend

Happy Friday, friends! Even with the short week, I'm glad it's already the weekend, again. It's going to be a busy but fun one for us, and, yes, we'll spend some of it at the soccer field. We're also going to have Greg's office party at the lake and have a fund-raiser for my kids' school. {If you're local, we'd love for you to join us for the Birthday & Benefit Concert for New Covenant Christian Academy. Who doesn't love the idea of classic rock for classical education?}

Meanwhile, I wanted to share with you some blog posts and book quotes that have encouraged me lately. Enjoy them as you head into your weekend!


"When matters of faith require action" by Kelli Stuart :: "I’ve long had a weary opinion of the Osteens. I do not believe in the idea of the prosperity gospel in any way, shape or form. I do not think that God is at all concerned with my happiness ... . There is zero evidence in scripture to support such claims, and so I’ve always taken Joel Osteen quotes with a grain of salt. They are feel good fluff – kind of like cotton candy. Fun to eat, but will rot you from the inside out if you consider it nutritious. ... God wants my yes. He wants my obedience. He wants me to give and love and pour myself out for others, not because it makes me feel good or look good or seem "good." He wants me to pour myself out as a praise offering to Him – so that He gets the glory. I don’t want the glory – I really do not, because it would be a cotton candy faith that dissolves the second I’m faced with any sort of challenge."

"Mel's Amazing Black Bean Salsa" by Kristin Smith :: Really, I've made this recipe several times now, including twice just this week. It's delicious. And easy. Both Kristin Smith and recipe creator Mel Schroeder are good ones to follow along on this big 'ole Internet.

"Today I'm Starting a New Book: Present Over Perfect" by Shauna Niequist :: Well, this is exciting. A favorite author writes on a topic I'm always needing to learn more about. "Present over perfect, indeed. This is life, this is family, this is the great beautiful brave spectacular adventure that is plain old everyday life, and it promises to remind you over and over that perfect is a myth, and that perfect breaks our backs and breaks our hearts. Real life is in the homework, in the shattered glass, in the apologies and kisses and walks to the bus stop. And that’s what this book is about. ... I’m aching to move from exhaustion to passion, from comparison to connection. I want to forgive myself for all the things I’m not, all the things I’ve been trying so hard to be. And I want to hold out my hand and invite the people I love into that same compassion, for ourselves, for one another. I want to be free to love wildly, to be silly, to fail and try again because bravery is worth infinitely more than staying safe on the sidelines, afraid to look foolish. I’m discovering, inch by inch, a new way of spiritual living–less striving, more receiving. More love, less hustle."

"First Friday Book Faves" at Circles of Faith :: If you're looking for some book recommendations, Circles of Faith writers (me included!) shared what we're reading. Come join the conversation!

From "Memory Maker" by Carlos Whittaker :: "And that, my friends, is what Moment Making is all about — using time to create a story worth reading. Not everyone is going to write a book about their lives and sell it on bookshelves. But we all write a story through our lives that will be read by those around us. And through that, we have an opportunity to have an impact by touching just one other person. And that, by extension, will change the world."

From "Breaking Free" by Beth Moore :: "A wide gulf lies between thanking God for our wonderful victories and pointing people to God as the One and only Sovereign victorious."


Have you read anything good the past couple of weeks? What's on your weekend agenda?
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A Fresh Start :: On Brokenness & Restoration

Sitting on the front porch, the spring-like breeze made me forget today was our last day before school starts tomorrow. The kids played in the front yard while I finished editing a friend’s book. A couple guys worked on building us a deck in the back yard. The kids read/browsed books of their own while I soaked in the silence.

We met Greg for lunch at the Thai restaurant of the kids’ choosing to celebrate summer’s end. Honestly, I haven’t felt like celebrating. Summer went too fast. It’s not that there was more I wanted to do, but I want more of what we’ve done. I want more adventures and more afternoons at the pool.

But today has been good for my weary soul.

This summer has been full of fun times – with friends, at amusement parks, on the road, in our front yard, in our pajamas, on the calendar, and in spontaneous moments.

And this summer also has been a time of processing old wounds.

Watching a dear friend walk through a family situation that reminds of my own history that left the deepest scars has brought me to a place I wasn’t expecting. I’d walk through the hard days with this friend over and over again, but I wasn’t emotionally prepared for where her journey would take me. I wasn’t ready for the scabs in my heart to be ripped off. I thought the scars were fading, but I realized this summer they still need to heal.

So today as the spring breeze blew through my last summer day, I typed out some words I’ve held inside for decades. A relationship that plagued me when I was 8 is still haunting me at 35 years old. Through my husband’s encouragement, my friends’ support, and God’s grace, I’ve realized I need to forgive. The anger I’ve held onto for so long has overflowed into my life as a wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. The bitterness has robbed me of the joy and peace God wants me to know.

I get the sense there’s freedom on the other side.

Yes, the kids will go back to school tomorrow. But our adventures don’t end here. Hopefully I’ll get to the point of forgiveness sooner rather than later. Because that’s just the beginning of whatever God has for me next.

“I don’t want to get so stressed about bedtime this year,” I told Greg at lunch while my kids listened. They all knew what I meant because they’ve regularly witnessed by nagging, rushing of putting the kids away because I’m often tired by daylight’s end. Really, I’m weary from the inside out.

Bedtime sounds minor, but it’s in the ordinary moments I’m realizing God is continuing a work he started long ago. And it’s here in the process of getting to the other side of forgiveness that I’ve learned only through brokenness does God have a chance to restore.

“Become broken and poured out for hopeless people. Become a living offering, denying yourself for the salvation and restoration of humanity. …

Doesn’t this concept of being broken for others ring true? It’s a spiritual dynamic that bears out physically. Why is it so exhausting to uphold someone’s heavy, inconvenient burden? Why are we spent from shouldering someone’s grief or being an armor bearer? Why is it that lifting someone out of his or her rubble leaves us breathless? Because we are the body of Christ, broken and poured out, just as He was. 

Mercy has a cost: someone must be broken for someone else to be fed. The sermon changed your life? That messenger was poured out so you could hear it. The friends who stood in the gap during your crisis? They embraced some sacrifice of brokenness for your healing.” 

{Jen Hatmaker in “Interrupted: When Jesus Wrecks Your Comfortable Christianity”}

It doesn’t feel like summer anymore – both with this relief in humidity and the school calendar looming. But I want to hold onto a summer mentality that recognizes one more book, an extra song, or an adventure that stretches beyond 7:30 p.m. is okay. More importantly, I want to remember what God’s taught me this summer: Our brokenness can feed each other and give God a chance to make us new.

Perhaps a fresh start with the new school year won’t be so bad after all.
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I'm sharing this post with link-ups at Jen Ferguson's Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood Gathering, Holley Gerth's Coffee for Your Heart, Beth Stiff's Three Word Wednesday, and Jennifer Dukes Lee's #TellHisStory. 

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Soaking in what's left of summer

We’ve been soaking in summer before school starts again. Several of my friends sent their kids back to school this week. I’m thankful we’ve got until Wednesday. Six more days.

I might be ready by then.

I might not.

But it doesn’t matter if I’m ready. School starts Wednesday.

I’m pretty sure my kids will be ready ...

Seasons are like that. They come when they come, even if we’re not ready. They overlap sometimes too. It’s probably not going to cool off just because my kids are going back to school soon. We’ll probably still get to swim on the weekends for the rest of the month.

I left my calendar blank this week so we could fill it as we wanted. So far the kids and I swam with friends two different days, spent another day at a nearby water park, and eaten dinner out with friends. Greg and I watched movies and TV – “The Big Wedding” the other day; “Covert Affairs” on Tuesday night; “Tiger Eyes” on Wednesday night only because I loved the book as a teenager; “Stuck in Love” last night – after the kids crashed in their beds.

{Don’t worry. I bought the kids’ school supplies a couple weeks ago in an effort to take care of business so I could avoid worrying about school until I absolutely had to. Good plan, huh?}

I told Greg I would resume cooking and cleaning eventually. He was satisfied when I made some chocolate chip banana bread out of our too-old bananas.

I may go to the grocery today, which would be a good step toward resuming that cooking chore I’ve neglected. The kids and I may organize and clean a little more. Or perhaps we’ll drop off that pile of stuff I’ve purged.

Of course, we are still in our pajamas and it’s almost lunch time.

The one thing I know for sure about the rest of this week, the weekend, and a couple days next week: We’re still soaking in summer.

When do your kids go back to school? Are you ready? How are you soaking in the remaining tidbits of summer?
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Hello, sweet, sweet summer ...

These strawberries we picked with our hands taste like summer, even more so than the ones we bought at Walmart and Kroger the past few weeks. These strawberries have become a May tradition for my kids and me – along with friends – at The Berry Farm. So, yes, I taste community in them too.

We picked them Wednesday afternoon, taking advantage of the 85-degree sunshine that coincided with my daughter’s early dismissal school day. Courtney and I talked as we moved slowly through the rows of strawberries sprouting out of raised beds beneath plastic tarps. The kids moved faster, up and down dirt rows, then up a mound of dirt, then across the driveway to pet the dogs. It’s the fourth year my kids and I have gone with friends to pick these berries. I do think they get sweeter each time.

{See posts from 2011. 2012. 2012, again. 2013.}

Summer seems to be like that too. This favorite season of ours goes fast but we gobble it up as we go along. We swim and lunch and relax and read and vacation and catch up and slow down and make plans and play and work. And, you know, these summers are sweeter now that my girl is finished with first grade and we get a break in our routine that is built around the school calendar.

We’ll be consuming more summer foods like pasta salad, broccoli salad, and grilled burgers and kabobs when we hang out with my family at the lake this weekend. There’s likely to be swimming and boating and fishing too. And not just this weekend, but throughout the summer.

The strawberries are gone. We ate them with all three meals the past couple of days and I used the remaining few quarts to make a new-to-me strawberry cream cheese cobbler. I texted Greg a picture of the end result and suggested he come home for lunch so we could eat it together.

My girl and I kind of limped into summer.

The end-of-the-year projects and responsibilities were wearing on me, but I pressed through because I do believe we should finish what we start and do our best. I took store-bought cookies and a vegetable tray to the year-end program last night instead of the homemade appetizer and dessert I had considered making. These moments are good lessons in letting go for me and opportunities to talk to my girl about how we’re preapproved.

And speaking of my girl, this spring has been hard on her respiratory system and sinuses. She’s been to the pediatrician four times since April 2. I was jotting down yesterday’s visit in her baby book when I noticed she’d these four pediatrician visits on the sick side of the waiting room are equal to the number of times she went in for sickness all of 2012 and 2013 combined. Crazy, huh?

Yesterday’s visit was prompted by a 102.1 fever the night before her year-end program. Because sinus infections aren't really contagious and her fever had been gone since around 10 a.m., we went on to the program. I would have had a broken-hearted girl had the doctor encouraged us to stay home. We went. She said her lines and sang songs. We socialized and reminisced with school friends.

The school year came to an unexpected halt when she woke up this morning with a 103.2 fever. There was a time not so long ago in my life I would have been so frustrated that my girl had to miss the last two days of her first-grade year. And, yes, I'm frustrated today, but it's for her and not that I've failed as a mom in some way over which I actually have no control.

So, hello, Summer. We’re limping into to the break, but we’re so glad to be here – where sweet food and even sweeter community abound and hopefully sinus infections are fewer.

What do you love about summer?
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Here's a review of my friend Cathy Baker's book "A to Z Summer Fun: Ideas to Inspire Family Fun" if you need such inspiration. 

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Ten Things I Learned in March

1. Being sick as a mom may mean enduring more than laying on the couch.

I woke up with a stomach bug when we were in Nashville, Tenn., the second weekend of the month. Puking in hotel and mall bathrooms is no fun. I know, the mall. I was only at the mall because that's where Rainforest Cafe is and my son had been talking about going there for AN ENTIRE YEAR. Seriously, since last time we went. So I couldn't back out on him ... or our table of 18. Really. One table of seven kids 10 to 2 years old and another table of 10 adults and a baby.

No worries, the tables were right next to each other and other adults paid attention to my two kids while I laid my head on the table between gulps of Sprite Zero and water. My brother-in-law told me wanting to drink anything was progress. Maybe he was right because I didn't throw up any more that day, of course, I didn't eat anything either.

We then avoided the Lego, Disney, Build-a-Bear and Bass Pro Shop stores so I could return home to my couch, where a sick momma truly belongs. Thank God for my husband and my friend Holly who was visiting from Texas who picked up my parenting slack.

2. An entire week of snow days is welcomed, but then that next Monday morning that comes right after the time change is hard. 

On March 10, I had to wake my 4-year-old Ben up for preschool for the first time ever, I think. Of course, that was also the first day in March school had been in session, thanks to two weekends and a snow week.

Oh, and, hey, did I mention that Monday reached 65 degrees and the kids got to play outside after school? Yes. And all the mommas rejoiced.

3. A friend who gives my daughter the gift of words blesses me. 

Speaking of Holly visiting from Texas, she brought my girl some books from her childhood. Those were in addition to the ones she mailed the week before she came. And then she taught her how to play Words with Friends. What sweet gifts of encouraging a love of words, which Holly and I share and are happy to pass along to Cate.

4. I really like to read non-fiction, but fiction is a good way to let my mind relax.

I recently finished "Love Idol" by Jennifer Dukes Lee. It's a book that allowed me to see some truths God has been trying to teach me in recent years in a new way. It's truly been a life-changing journey and that book has been a valuable resource. I finished the book several days ago and I'm still thinking about it. Meanwhile, I started reading Harlan Coben's new book, "Missing You." Nothing like a little suspense to balance all the internal processing.

I also recommend another book I read this month: "Surprised by Motherhood" by Lisa-Jo Baker. It officially releases on April 1. You can read my review here.

5. Dads have good parenting stories too.

In a momma-dominated blogging world, it was refreshing to have dads guest post on my blog earlier this month. In an continuing effort to embrace imperfection, I've loved digesting "No More Perfect Kids" by Jill Savage and Dr. Kathy Koch. In conjunction with their book release week, I had some dads come share their own stories of realizing their kids aren't perfect and never will be. {Oh, yes, consider that another book recommendation for you!}

6. Those postseason college basketball tournaments that aren't the NCAA Tournament can be fun if my favorite team is playing. 

Murray State is in the semi-final round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. Yeah, the CIT. I've made fun of all these acronymed tournaments that aren't the NCAA too. But, hey, my Racers are still playing. And the games have been the kind that make the arena loud. That's March Madness ... at least on some level.

7. "House of Cards" is a good show. 

Who knew Netflix original productions would hook me like that? Kevin Spacey is so good as Frank Underwood. I like the behind-the-scenes drama of journalism and politics colliding and I enjoy the suspense of the story unfolding. Speaking of drama, "The Good Wife" has been rocking this season and "Scandal" is nuts in a way that keeps me watching.

8. Winning a local trivia night fund-raiser is fun.

Along with our two best other couple friends, we came in first out of 14 teams. The TV Theme Songs category really helped us. We brought home enormous Hershey's bars, trophies and gift certificates. {See picture at the top of the post!}

9. My kids have never been into a movie like they are Frozen.

The music. The characters. The story. They love it all. Yes, they, my 4-year-old boy is into almost as much as his 6-year-old sister. We had March 18 on the countdown app on my phone and they literally waited by the door for the UPS man to deliver the package from Amazon. He showed up about 4:30 p.m. that afternoon and they started watching it at 4:31 with much rejoicing. They watched it three other times that week and haven't stopped talking or singing about it.

I don't usually care about animated movies, but I like "Frozen" as much as any animated movie I've ever seen. That's not hyperbole; that's the truth. It's right up there with "The Lion King" for me.

10. When I find songs I like, I listen to them over and over. 

My most played songs this month are Ellie Holcomb's new album "As Sure As the Sun," NeedtoBreathe's "The Heart," and MercyMe's "You Are I Am."

Tell me about your March. What have you seen and heard and read and experienced?
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I'm loving documenting life with these monthly along with Emily Freeman. Here are previous month's recaps from 2013: June. July. August. September. October. November. And 2014: January. February.

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Snow Week

Cate and I have learned to Rainbow Loom. Ben has built various things about of Legos. We've wrestled and played games of Uno. We've sledded and eaten snow cream. They've watched TV shows and I've worked on my book. Appointments have been rescheduled. Greg even worked from home one day.

We've ordered pizza, eaten the best cinnamon toast ever, and cooked tortellini corn chowder, corn bread and chocolate chip cookies. Jaclyn and I {and four of our five kids in five years} met for lunch on Tuesday and we both knew soon after pulling out of our driveways we shouldn't really even be out on the roads. Greg and I played Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries {appropriate choice, huh?} with Jaclyn that night, knowing we could walk home if our van got stuck in the few blocks between our houses. Jaclyn and I met again today with Sarah joining us at the local restaurant with a ball pit so the kids {that's eight kids 7 and younger among us} could burn some energy. We weren't the only ones in town who ventured out today. The main roads were much better.

Today is Snow Day #4 this week. And another one is coming tomorrow.

Really, I'd normally be thinking Bring on spring! Let's have these days off school in May, not the first week of March. But it's come at a good time.

Cate's been weary from school and homework. Admittedly, the seven-hour school day is still long for her. I was gone over the weekend, which is rare for me, so I've been glad to have the time at home with the kids.

Yes, it's completely possible I will regret these snow days come May 19, when we we're starting a new week of school we weren't supposed to have, packing lunches, doing homework and setting alarms. And, yes, "we" is how we roll with school around here. It's totally a family affair.

But these snow days are exactly what I didn't know we needed. Snow days are kind of like spontaneous vacation. Had this been a scheduled break, I'd probably have planned a bunch of fun activities and errands. My calendar looks conquered only because I got to mark off a bunch of stuff that got canceled or rescheduled. Seems kind of appropriate since I'm laying down my idol named Productivity for Lent.

Have you had snow days this week? If so, how did you spend them?
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Here are a couple recent posts that may help you through snow days, although surely spring is coming soon ... right? Make memories now. Joy comes at Family Game Nights.

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'Round here something radiates

We had a two-hour delay this morning for school. Y'all. Every Monday should start with a two-hour delay. I know, I know. If it happened weekly, it wouldn't be such a treat. I certainly enjoyed it this morning.

I have this bad habit of staying up too late on Sunday nights. Usually because I don't want the weekend to end. It's funny, before I was a stay-at-home mom, I didn't understand how the weekends were different from the week days. But they're different. On weekends, the routine is gone and Greg is home. Now, I like routine, but I equally temporary breaks in routine. I also have a different mentality on the weekends. I don't do many chores. I don't cook much. And sometimes I can linger in my pajamas longer.

So Greg got home from playing basketball with his friends late last night. It was after 10 p.m., and yes that defines late around here. We prefer to go to bed at the same time, so even though I was tired and drained from of my own inner, emotional thoughts, I stayed up. And then we decided watching "The Good Wife" was a good idea. Yes, that meant bedtime was going to be after 11 p.m. But snuggling on the cough with my husband was how I wanted to end the weekend.

Well, turns out "The Good Wife" wasn't on last night. So we watched "Bones," courtesy Netflix. Good thing it was an excellent episode, or I probably would have been asleep on the couch.

Speaking of late nights, on Friday night, UK played Baylor. It wasn't schedule to tip until 9 p.m. Do I need to address I'm a late-night weenie these days? Well, in effort to hang out with my husband, I committed to watch it. And then the women's game before it went into FOUR OVERTIMES, so the game we wanted to watch didn't tip until after 10 p.m. At halftime I suggested we move the basketball-watching party to our bedroom, where there is a much smaller TV. I feel asleep before the second half started.

And speaking of Friday, the kids were out of school that day. We had some freezing rain. And then it snowed some. No, I don't have any pictures because it wasn't exactly a pretty winter wonderland. But it did keep us inside the house ALL DAY. I loved it.

The kids and I finished some Christmas ornaments. We stayed in our pajamas all day. Like we went to bed that night in the same pajamas we woke up wearing. The kids watched some movies and played mostly nicely together. I scrapbooked and blogged.

And now I want to create more scrapbook pages with every five minutes of free time I have.

I could have gone for another snow day today. But come May 16, I'll be glad we had minimal snow days.

My boys and their Racer stripes ... 

We did get out of the house to watch Murray State play basketball on Saturday afternoon. Then Sarah and Jaclyn's families came over for pizza and Settlers of Catan.

Our combined eight children who are 7 and younger were happy to see each other. And at one point in the night, they were all sleeping soundly while we finished a second game of Settlers. Sunday included our usual church and lunch and then our small group came over Sunday night for more pizza and our usual weekly meeting.

That's nothing like our weekend was planned to look like. We had a jam-packed Saturday. Now most of those plans have been shifted a week, when there are, thankfully, supposed to be warmer temperatures. But I do recommend a low-key weekend spent mostly in soft pants, as my girl calls them, especially so close to Christmas. Perhaps slowing down really is part of advent. 

Two more recommendations for you before I close this rambling update:

1. My blogging friend Whitney Cornelison has a new ebook about her family's journey through infertility. AND her book, "Infertility: A Silent Struggle and the God Who Hears," includes a small piece of my family's story from infertility to adoption. I've gotten to know Whitney the past few months and I'm so glad she's poured her heart into this book. It's one I wish I had in my hands before God led us to adoption in 2006.

Whitney is doing some giveaways this week as part of her book release. The ebook is just $3.99 and you can buy it here.

2. Hershey's Kisses with caramel. Enough said.

So, here's to a new week. One that should involve less freezing rain and no more pizza dinners!

Now, tell me, what have you been up to? Bonus points if you can identify the song that is now running through my head because of the post's title.
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Joining Jen Ferguson and others for this week's Soli Deo Gloria party. 

And then I joined Crystal Stine for her weekly Behind the Scenes. This isn't exactly behind the scenes of any photos, like usual, but it's a glimpse behind the scenes of my lack of photos. 

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Nine Things I Learned in August

I keep meaning to do a St. Louis post. We had such a fun weekend. But here I am a week later, still just mentioning our family's weekend getaway. {I did share one of my favorite stories from the weekend. And, you know, my boy is still sleeping with that baseball.} Thing is, the trip embodied so much of this month, and really this summer.

In no particular order, things I learned {or maybe remembered} in August ...

1. Sometimes you have to step back, stop focusing on individual details, and consider the whole picture. I literally had to do this to get my kids in the picture with the entire arch. I've also had to do this with all sorts of other scenarios this month, including our adoption process that is stagnant and frustrated, raising a boy who is always moving and making noise, and realizing I'm not in control of what actually happens.

2. Even on the hard days, there is laughter and beauty. I've never been pregnant, but I feel like just getting this adoption process off the ground is creating in me pregnancy-like emotions that cluttered my head. And make me cry. {I'm not assuming to know what it's like to be pregnant, just to be emotionally sensitive.} Last night we had plans on the calendar for weeks with friends. I honestly wanted to stay home. But, you know, going was good for my soul. Plus my kids are good entertainment for the soul, even when my heart is heavy.

3. Boys will be boys. And sometimes they split open their legs on a rock and have to get stitches. Well, really, at least one boy I love dearly did that. Stitches are out. Leg is healing. And my boy is still going strong.

4. The anticipation of changes gets to me more than the actual transition. Kids are in school. All is well, despite my crazy momma emotions.

5. Friends sustain me. I'm a people person. And even when life is exhausting, I need my people to help me through.

6. God's timing is perfect. Whether it's a text from a friend or a family trip to St. Louis that has been on the calendar for months, God knows what we need and when we need it. I do need to remember this applies to bigger situations, like adoption. Y'all, he does hear our prayers and he's working even when we can't see the movement.

7. I like to make music playlists for seasons in my life. Right now, there is the adoption journey playlist being perfected. It got started this time with these songs.

8. My daughter really will learn to tie her shoes. This morning for the first time, baby!

9. My boy will pick up frogs, try to catch a mouse, but screams if he sees a spider, even a daddy long legs. Thankfully, said mouse was caught in a glue trap that my cleaning lady at the lake house disposed of the next day. But, really, Ben wanted to catch it himself. With his bare hands. Too bad his strategy of beating the side of the refrigerator with a broom while yelling, "Hey, mouse!" didn't prove successful.
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Continuing this listy series that helps me remember, I'm again linking up with Emily Freeman at Chatting at the Sky like I did with the things I learned in June and July. 

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{Out of the Blue} God is at work here

My emotions the past couple weeks surprised me. I can certainly be emotional, that's for sure. But sending my kids to school isn't the kind of thing to usually make me teary-eyed.

My best friend who has lived with me through so many seasons of life seemed surprised by emotional edginess and wasn't sure it was related to the new school year. And then texting conversations with another dear friend helped me process what was really going on in my heart.

God is preparing me. 

For something.

Perhaps for someone. 

Most of you probably know, we hope to adopt a third baby. We aren't sure when or how this will happen, but I think I was mourning the end of this particular summer because I am sensing our family dynamic is going to change. Anticipation makes me extra emotional. Add in all the variables that go with adoption, and it's the perfect storm for the end of summer to seem like an exceptionally big season change.

I believe God is working. I know from our two past adoption experiences that there are so many details orchestrated by the Creator of it all before we even hear of a birthmom. I don't know exactly how, when or even if we'll add a third child to our family, but I believe God is preparing me for a new season that has nothing to do with school calendars.

But, speaking of school, those crazy emotions subsided. My heart was so calm yesterday morning when my husband I drove them to their first day of school. I love that they are in the same place this year and am so thankful for the particular place it is. I had a great morning without them that included grocery shopping and exercising with a friend.

School uniforms for the win, people. Yes, it surprises me I'm on board with this. But, goodness, it's easy and look how cute they are! And contrary to what it seems, yellow isn't the only acceptable color. They can wear white, cream, light blue and navy too.

Another first-day-of-school surprise was the weather! 61 degrees on opening day, really. It's unheard of here in Kentucky, where humidity typically lingers well into August. I can't even remember our last 90-degree day. Cate even muttered the words: "I need a jacket." Then, in typical 6-year-old drama, she snuggled up with her brother to gain some warmth before posing more sweetly for the camera.

Yesterday afternoon was packed with adoption possibility, thanks to an unexpected conversation with the director of the agency we've recently applied to use. Our home study is updated, officially as of Tuesday evening. Despite all the unknown, I feel peace that God has our family in his hands and will show us what he's been working on when the time is right.

My same dear friend who was surprised my tears last week texted me this verse last night: O Lord my God, you have done so many miracles for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. {Psalm 40:5}

Isn't that the truth? This life here with these two kids I sent off to school yesterday, surrounded by friends who share truth and help process emotions and encourage me to exercise again, serving and knowing a God who makes all these details work together for the good is nothing short of miraculous.
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I'm linking up with Kristen Strong's Out of the Blue series. 

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'Tis the back-to-school season

My kids played with some friends in a creek last week, soaking in a cooler yet somehow still muggy August morning. It wasn't warm enough to swim, so they found other water for entertainment.

I was walking slower behind them as they took off for the creek and looked up to notice a patch of red on a big tree full of green leaves.

It looked like someone spray painted it. Apparently splotchy, early leaf changes are normal for whatever kind of tree that is, but it seemed like that tree was for me. Like God knew I needed a reminder that seasons are good for our souls. 

And, truly, they seem to come fast, but, really, they are gradual. With seasons come opportunities to become more of who we're created to be.
_______
My daughter will walk into first grade tomorrow and my son will take his seat {hopefully!} just down the hall in a preschool classroom tomorrow morning. It's not totally new. Cate will be just a room down from when she spent her kindergarten days and Ben went two mornings each week last school year to another preschool program we loved.

But here we are. Year #2 of full-time school for one of my kids and part-time for the other. Yes, that means I have a few mornings a week without kids. People mention this fact as if I'll be searching for something to do.

While I will have time to do different things when I don't have kids by my side, I have plenty of ideas of how I'll spend my Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. In fact, I have a mental list: finish the freelance assignments I have, possibly expand my freelance work, exercise regularly, develop better Bible study habits, continue managing two lake houses, and volunteer at their school. Of course, I could also catch up on laundry, clean my house, grocery shop, or clean out closets and drawers one by one.

And, really, in the big scheme of motherhood, and life, nine hours isn't that much.
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Where we'd send our kids to school was a big deal because, like so many other things in my life, it has turned out different than I expected. But better too. Choosing a school for our kids was part of a faith-building journey I've been on for awhile now. Ah, yes, seasons there too.

This summer I've learned more about taking life one day at a time, embracing adventures that come along unexpectedly, and choosing the present. It's still a process, but I've been more at peace because I've loosened my grip on life. I'm hoping that as we fall back into a school year routine, I don't truly fall back.

Seasons are good. They are how God created this world and our lives. I know this. I believe this. But, still, this summer passed to quickly and I sense the fall will be more of the fast-paced ways. I look at the calendar and see the year ending in a blink of an eye.

But holding on isn't the answer, really, even though it's my instinct. Seeing that patch of red leaves from a distance reminded me that seasons are natural. And beautiful.

When I stood under that tree, closer to my creek-splashing and rock-climbing kids and their friends, I saw other patches of red beginning. Seasons are full of details worth noticing. Perhaps I need to stop mourning summer with my head looking down and raise my eyes up and forward and all around.

This is life. There is beauty right here that wouldn't come if seasons didn't change.

So, here's to new classrooms, new teachers, new habits, new schedules, new friends, new opportunities, and new lessons that point us to the One who really does have the whole world in His hands.
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I'm linking up with sweet Jen's Soli Deo Gloria party. And with Crystal Stine's Behind the Scenes. Who would have thought a picture of a tree with a patch of red leaves would spark so many thoughts! {Edited on 8.14.13 to also link this post with Jennifer Dukes Lee's #TellHisStory.}

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Cate Taylor Age 6

Loving summer with friends. 8.6.13.

With a new school year beginning later this week, I thought I'd capture some of what Cate is like at 6. So, as her brother made much noise in the background, she answered my questions willingly. 

Why do you like being a kid?
I get to have toys.

What's your favorite things about summer?
That I get to go swimming and have fun.

What do you hope to learn in first grade?
About outer space. {This is the first I've ever heard of this interest from her.}

What do you love most about Ben?
He's nice to me ... sometimes.

You'll be 10 in four years, what do you think you'll be like?
More like a grown up, like text people and be taller.

What's your favorite dinner meal?
Meatloaf. {Really. This has been a constant for awhile.}

Favorite movie? 
"Ramona and Beezus" {She watched it again last week after finishing the book.}

Favorite TV show?
"My Little Pony" {Thanks, Netflix!}

Favorite book?
The Berenstain Bear ones. {She admitted earlier this summer she chooses them before bed to read out loud to herself because they are long. That's a procrastination technique I have a hard time arguing with!}

Favorite song?
All of them. Slugs & Bugs. Go Fish. And the VBS ones. {That would be this. And this.}

Tell me three things about Jesus.
He's in the Bible. He loves everybody. A lot of people worship him.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
A mom. And maybe a flu-shot doctor. {It's the first time "mom" has made the list.}

What five things do you really like to do?
Color and draw. Write. Play with Legos. Play with friends. Have tea parties.
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Eight Things I Learned in July

Cousins walking through the Louisville Zoo on Sunday.

I'm sad July is over. It's not my favorite month, but it means the end of summer is approaching. My kids go back to school two weeks from today. I'm feeling a mixture of denial and mourning. I've always considered summer my favorite, and this one seemed to go by especially quickly. Didn't I just write Nine Things I Learned in June?!

Summer is like no other season. And it's filled with so many of my favorite things. Days that don't begin with an alarm. Swimming. The lake. Lunching at the park with friends. Grilled kabobs. Berries. Road trips. Did I mention swimming?

Now that I have a school-aged child who is getting ready to begin her second year of "real" school, summer has a different meaning. It's like a break from the routine. And, y'all, I really took a break from all things school. I didn't even participate in the summer reading program Cate's school organizes. I seriously hope she's not the only one who didn't earn points. She read. Really. Every night out loud to herself. Greg and I read "Beezus and Ramona" with her. She's read to Ben. She's read to me. She's read to Greg. She's read in the car. And she's stood over my shoulder and read whatever I was working on.

But I didn't write down a single book from the suggested reading list. Y'all, I don't even know what was on the suggested reading list.

So, with that. Eight things I learned in July, in no particular order ...

1. It's OK to say no and not participate in everything. Like your school's summer reading program, apparently. Oh, and, the one at the local library too. We had a few camps/Bible school weeks we wanted to do. They made it on the calendar. No other regular commitments did.

2. Dinner doesn't always have to be served at 5:30 p.m. One of my favorite summer afternoons/evenings went like this: Kids and I left the house to swim at the city pool at 3:30 p.m. I emailed my husband as I was walking out the door: We're going to embrace summer and swim. I have no idea what we're having for dinner. 

He responded: How about I come up there when I leave work? No hesitation from me: Yes! I'll leave your clean swim trunks out. {Because, you see, I may have slacked meal planning and preparing and executing, but, hey, I did laundry so my husband's swim trunks no longer had lake water on them. It's the little things, people.}

So we swam. Until 6 p.m. For kids that go to bed around 7:30 p.m., that's creeping into late-night dinner territory. But we came home, put on dry clothes, and loaded back up for Cracker Barrel because that's like a home-cooked meal, right?! AND THEN I really kept on with the "Let's embrace summer!" mentality and suggested Dairy Queen on the way home. We brought cones home and sat on the front porch eating them. {Well, OK, so mine wasn't actually cone. Mini Reese's Cup Blizzard for the win.}

AND THEN, more embracing summer. The kids rode bikes and scooters in the front yard and then I engaged my son in a game of chase in the front yard. It was past bedtime, which is admittedly looser in the summer, and everyone was so happy and content. I really had no idea what time it was.

3. I taught my husband Scrabble strategy too well. Really. I used to beat him. Years ago, I was on quite a streak when we sat down at the table and played the actual board game. Now, he wins. Of course, now we also sit next to each other on our iPhones, verbally nudging each other to take their next Words with Friends turn. Since the beginning of June, he's on a 22-3 streak.

{Do you wonder how I know the win streak? Oh, at the beginning of June I started a list on the phone. So, yes, if you've played Words with Friends with me since June 1, I've got our games tallied too. Oh, and, hey, if you want to play, my user name is KHT. I'm never one to turn down a game.}

4. My favorite passage of scripture contains encouragement for one of my constant struggles. OK, so, maybe, I didn't technically learn this this month, but it was brought to my attention in a new way, thanks to God-sized dreamer friend Mandy. I quote pieces of Philippians 4 regularly to friends having a hard day or myself throughout any given day. Yet, I realize I skip one crucial line about gentleness, which Mandy mentioned in our Voxer conversation.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. {Phil. 4:4-7}

{More on this later. I typed a bunch, but it was weighing down this post.}

5. God knows I learn by repetition. "Pray about Everything" is one of the songs from the "Kingdom Rocks" VBS my kids went to this summer at a friend's church. And we often have the CD playing in the minivan. This song taken from the New Living Translation of Phil. 4:6-7 is my favorite track. Of course, God.

{Hey, Mandy, the gentleness part there is a reminder to be considerate in all you do.}

6. Adding freelance writing work just as the busy lake house season was beginning may not have been the most logical strategy, but it worked for me. I'm a doer. In school, I wanted to write a paper, not prepare for a test. Anticipation for a presentation or an upcoming change was always harder on me than the actual event. I like to see results and progress. Had I spent too much time thinking about the timing of beginning freelance writing right as I would be managing two busy vacation rentals, I probably would have gotten overwhelmed and stressed before I even got started. But when it all sort of just happened, I was able to dive right in. Finding a balance between work and play was the hardest, but even that was alright, thanks to my kids making sure I figured out when we would swim.

7. The creators of The Bachelorette knew what they were doing by scheduling when most shows are taking a break. I tell myself I'm done, but I always get pulled back in. Really, though, is there a better show to have on while folding mounds of laundry? Not really. Yet if "Parenthood" or "The Good Wife" were on with new episodes this time of the year, I may have an easier time saying goodbye to "The Bachelorette."

So, yes, I'm watching this season. I was a Zak fan. Now I'm a Chris fan. I wasn't surprised Brooks broke her heard. {Am I the only one who saw that coming? Clearly Des didn't!}

8. I can make low-sugar, delicious strawberry lemonade at home. Jaclyn shared this recipe with me and you'll be thanking me that I'm sharing it with you.

2 cups Sprite Zero
1 package lemonade mix for a 16-ounce water bottle {I used Crystal Light}
8 frozen strawberries
2 packages of sweetener {I used Splenda. Packages are likes the ones at restaurants.}
6-10 ice cubes or 1 1/3 cup crushed ice
2/3 cup water

Put in blender and blend. I've been making two blenders full at a time because that fits in my plastic pitcher. And, trust me, you'll want more. 

I could probably go on, but I think I'll stop there. Goodbye, July. You were fun, but couldn't you have stayed around longer? Friends, what have you learned this month?
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I'm linking my list up with Emily at Chatting at the Sky. Come join us! And, yes, you may have noticed the permalink is "seven things ..." I totally came back and added one. 

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