Five Finds Friday (a new look, a story that stands the test of time, a t-shirt London designed)

It looks a little different around here – right?

It might take a little getting used to but hopefully we’ll all be able to navigate it just fine.

Actually, the real hope is that it will be better.

Only time will tell.

But I’m kind of proud of myself. Because I am NOT a technologically savvy person even though I run a business that is primarily online.

The backend of websites is always a scary place to me.

But, through both desperation and just plain old desire to get this accomplished, I gave it my best go.

And so, without further chitter chatter – let’s get on to this Friday post.

Funny

True story. 

Last Friday night I drove all the way to Trader Joe’s. 
I was at the door at 7:15.
They closed at 7. 

Driving home I decided I’d try Publix. 
Within about three minutes of shopping I heard the loudspeaker voice say, “Bring your purchases to the front. We are now closing.”
Then. 
The song “Under Pressure” was played. 

I laughed. 
Loudly. 

Tried to share this ironic moment with the stranger near me. 

He gave me a pity laugh. 

But if my life was a Hallmark movie that would have been the moment we fell in love. 

Missed opportunity, stranger in the milk aisle at Publix.

Fashionable

What do we think about this?

It’s for sale in a local shop here. I think this model looks adorable.

But would I look equally adorable in this?

It looks like it says “artist” to me and although I in no way connect with being an artist, I kind of like the look that says I might.

Faithful

Call it divine timing but we started reading The Hiding Place as our read aloud at some point during the last month or so.

Because my kids keep growing up (ugh!) we read out loud together far less than we used to. Yes, that makes me sad. I’m not saying I’m a stellar reader, but reading out loud to my kids is something I find absolute delight in doing.

I refuse to give it up entirely. Like, ever.

And so every night (mostly always) I gather all the progeny, both the unwilling and the willing ones, into one room and force them to listen to a wonderful story about something. Currently we are on a turn taking system that looks like they choose one, I choose one. This was my choice, Mosely’s is up next.

I have read Corrie ten Boom’s story of her time during the Holocaust many times. I have taught it in a classroom years ago. I have actually based a few handy parenting tricks from the the pages of this book. (The train scene with Father saying he would carry the heavy luggage for Corrie until she was ready?)

This go round was especially profound, beautiful, heart wrenching. I had to stop many times to wipe my tears away. It was a first listen for Piper and Otto.

I’m sincerely thankful for women like Corrie and her sister Betsie. For the entire ten Boom family. For people who value God’s word and who live and breathe it in times that are more difficult than any I hope anyone I love ever faces.

Flavorful

Next week we were supposed to be saddling up at one of my favorite places on earth.

Lost Valley Ranch.

We’ll be home instead. Not saddling up.

(We’re not giving up hope yet for this annual pilgrimage. Lord willing (has there ever been a time that this phrase feels more relevant?) we’ll still make the journey later this summer.)

In the meantime, the ranch has been sharing some of their favorite recipes and when we heard the news that our week had been cancelled, I figured it was time to bake.

Snickerdoodles.

Not the 96 their recipe suggested. I cut this one in half. Although, because I made my cookies smaller than they typically do, I think it still might’ve made about 90 cookies, even cut in half.

Snickerdoodles are a favorite of mine from childhood and this recipe is easy and delicious and tastes like home.

Feels

I hope my kids think I am their biggest cheerleader. I want them to know that I am.

We joke a lot about underachieving in our house. Which now that I type that feels extraordinarily contrary to being their cheerleader. Paradox. That’s what we are over here. A shipwreck. You know. Walking contradictions and all that.

Anyway. I don’t think they are underachievers. I feel like I should just delete half of this post but that’s not really my style.

London recently drew a picture of all of the students in her class. It’s the cutest thing and each student has some little feature that makes them recognizable.

And then she had the art put on t-shirts for each student.

Today I noticed that Bergen was wearing his t-shirt.

And it just made me unreasonably happy to see my son wear a t-shirt that my daughter created from her own creative mind and talented hands and that is all this post was really supposed to say.

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