A couple of sleepless nights, a week full of appointments and a little leaf catching on a windy fall day – that’s the quick highlights reel of this week I think.

FUNNY

The boys had a camp out last weekend.  It was cold where they camped.  (Really cold.)  Their socks got wet.  They shivered in their sleeping bags and stayed constantly dirty for three days.

They loved it.

Otto, who had won the bottle rocket contest at the pervious year’s camp out, set out with a rickety bottle rocket co-built by his brother to defend his championship title.  He came back proud of his second or third or fourth place finish – he can’t even remember.  It’s one of the things I like about him.

Pre-trip, I monitored the boys while they were packing their backpacks and instructed them in the packing of toothbrush and toothpaste.

It wasn’t until this week, many days after the completion of this camp out, that I noticed Bergen’s pack sitting by the washing machine.

I think this photo answers all of my questions – questions like, “Did you brush your teeth while you were camping?”

FASHIONABLE

You already know I love earrings.

Take a look at these little beauties from Magnolia Market.

They’re sweet and simple and they come in gold or silver.

FLAVORFUL

I have nothing to offer this week in the category of flavorful.  Sorry guys.  It’s not actually been an inspiring food week.  We’ve eaten a sausage and corn and macaroni thing the kids devour and we’ve had pancakes and sandwiches and tomato soup and egg salad and cereal and Chick-fil-a because that’s what this week has looked like.

We were thrown off our usual Sunday grocery store trip rhythm this week and so we tried a different and new to our area grocery store to avoid the long drive to Trader Joe’s.

Never again, I tell you.

I am faithful and loyal to my pal Joe.

It’s convenient to shop there.  It is speedy.  It is hassle-free.  It’s fun; the staff is always gracious and helpful.  And – now I have been reminded – it is much cheaper.  I know that’s not what everyone thinks, but for us – it is remarkably cheaper to buy our groceries at Trader Joe’s.  And yes – I buy basically all of our groceries there.  (I buy milk, eggs, beef and pork locally.  As well as some produce when it’s available at the farmer’s market seasonally.)

So maybe I was not creative this week or inspired because I was so sad at spending too much money on our grocery bill.

FAITHFUL

We are all a mess.  And we fling out words and stuff on the internet like nobody’s business as if we aren’t talking about real people to real people.

My friend shared this article and I’m glad she did.

Because I think the author is on the right track with her response and her pointing us to Jesus.  It’s always the best choice to keep pointing back to Jesus.

FEELS

Last weekend our town had an art show.  I had attended the same show the previous year and had purchased a piece of pottery that our whole family loved.  It was just a bowl – but I adore pottery and its unique features.  We call it The Fire Bowl and everyone gets pretty excited when it’s clean and available for us.

I had forgotten to get this particular potter’s name and I was hoping that she would magically attend the same event again this year.

Lucky for me – she was there!

And – she had this sweet little mug that exactly matched our favorite fire bowl.

Now we have a nearly matching set – The Fire Bowl and The Fire Mug.

I love best the ordinary and daily simple pleasures.

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