327/366

I think that by the time we were leaving, we all figured that we wouldn't get the visas today, but we wanted to pretend like maybe we would, because we knew that we could get tacos.

I am thankful for
tacos that are just a bridge crossing away,
sitting still on the porch,
prayer,
my friend who is a natural and very gracious hostess,
2/3rds of the flock in the nest,
forgiveness and grace.

326/366

These kids, some using a computer and the mouse for the first time, learning to think logically, experiencing success. Boys helping one another, explaining what they have learned. Art classes painting. Bible lessons taught. Fútbol played. For a short time, it all seemed exactly like we all have hoped and prayed it would go someday. 

And then, just a few minutes later, back to the reality of inattention, and squabbles, and picking fights, and "I'm sorry- you will have to leave but you are welcome to come back tomorrow." 

One step at a time, grace on grace, love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

I am thankful for
invites from friends,
text that makes me laugh out loud,
girls who giggle when I get their names right,
the smile when it finally works,
love that endures all things.

325/366

Never skip a reason to have a party! This day we opened the gates because it is Revolution Day in Mexico. Turn up the music, pull out the Lotería Cards and bottle cap markers, fire up the grill for hot dogs, make sure that there are balloons to pop and other games to play and lots of sweets. And a sack race. Yes! The sack race!

All that, for the opportunity to sit next to our neighbors and hear some of their stories, and love on kids, and laugh together over losing lotería, and say, "Yes, we are here with you."

I am thankful for
prayer first thing,
time with little people in the nursery,
my wandering friend returns,
neighborhood parties,
our little girls,
fist bumps from boys,
phone calls and voices from afar,
Sunday evening on the couch with my girls.

324/366

Some games are soft touches and easy lay-ups. Others are nothing falls through the hoop and everything in your body hurts. No matter, character proves itself through faithful steadiness in both.

I'm thankful for
but he is unchangeable,
sunny afternoons,
teens who play hard,
faithful coaches,
laughing at lunch,
the car-full I love so much.

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Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
    for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
    for to you I lift up my soul.
Psalm 143:8 (ESV)

I am thankful for
the stillness of dawn,
this crazy back and forth life,
doctor friends who go above and beyond,
the opportunity to celebrate,
the smell of bleached tablecloths and the therapeutic repetition of ironing,
the ease of serving together,
always always His steadfast love.

322/366

At the end of the report, all I could really think of was how grateful I am that we have such a place to serve.

I'm thankful for
community,
the afternoon sun,
good news for my girl and
friends to share it with,
a cup of tea and easy-be-still at the end of the day.

321/366

…apparently we believe

in the words

and through them

but we long beyond them

for what is unseen

what remains out of reach

what is kept covered

with colors and sizes

we hunger

for what is undoubted yet dubious.

—W.S. Merwin, from “Rainment”

I am thankful for

cool mornings, the hover and still of fog, little boys who babble away, the familiar voice of my longest friend, the promise of eternity, gathering together.

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These people, my English as a Second Language students- they help to make my life so very rich.
One became a US citizen this summer, just in time to proudly vote in her first United States Presidential election. One visits her mom and family across the border every weekend to make sure that they go to church. One has brought several other friends and family members to class this semester. One is mom to three busy and very adorable kids. One is a pastor's wife in a bilingual congregation. One was badly hurt in a work accident during the summertime and is yet enduring healing and physical therapy. They work hard and they continue to persevere and I'm proud to know each one of them.

I'm thankful for
the generosity of others,
His love isn't conditional and his grace is never temporary,
a sincere "how are you today" when he didn't have to at all,
examples of friendship in perhaps unexpected places,
gathering together and giving thanks.
(um, and still again, apple pie...)

319/366

Everything seemed just a hand's reach out of grasp for that littlest guy last night. His brother rolled him up to the door in the stroller, and had to leave once to go home to change his diaper. When it was time for art, we taped paper on the easel for him, too. He scribbled his self-portrait with lines in three colors. We kept a tight grip on his chubby hands around the staircase, and he never really strayed from eye-shot of his brother.

(and checkers?! who knew that rules differ across borders and even across families of the same culture...?!)

I'm thankful for-
He who does marvelous things without number,
eager third-grade learners,
blue skies peeking through the clouds,
our team,
these neighborhood kids,
home at the end of the day.

318/366

I didn't expect the sprinkles when I walked out the door to worship, and the fresh coolness of the day somehow surprised and refreshed me. I feel sadness for those who don't know the simple contentedness that comes each week in anticipating Sunday worship. He indeed allows us to be filled with all the fullness of God. 

I am thankful for
cool, fresh mornings,
prayers of the saints,
well-prepared teachers and iron sharpening iron,
prayer and praise,
a surprise lunch out,
dear friends around the table,
apple pie on the counter,
girls on the couch,
a lesson ready,
his hand in mine to end the day.

317/366

It was a day filled with cooking and Spanish and that always unique bridging of culture.

I'm thankful for
this place,
these people,
this time,
finishing the last page and ready to turn back and start again,
sitting around the table at the end of the day.

316/366

Most the veterans in attendance at the ceremony were older- with caps from Vietnam and Korea, even World War II. Even though he served 20 years in the US Navy Submarine Force, I rarely think of my husband as a veteran. And yet, a career in the military isn't just a job. It defined our life for a good many years. Sometimes it seems a bit ironic that our military serves to preserve liberty of others, and yet, it often seemed it was our family that suffered restrictions in those years. Daughters that wouldn't go to the stranger we kept calling "Daddy." Separations. Vacations on hold. How many words could we send in a message? Forty? Even today, 10 years removed, it would be easy to sit down next to another submariner and be transported back to those years.

I'm thankful for
those who sacrifice for our freedom,
encouragement to take an afternoon run,
the rich scent of pie baking,
the church leaders who truly enjoy one another,
a retreat back to my book at the end of the day.

315/366

The grey hang heavy today, in the clouds, over my mood. Some days feel like slogging through- and that was today, through my run, through my  morning, through my afternoon. But my chef-in-training came home Iron Chef champion (Secret Ingredient- dates and mushrooms!) and that happiness proved contagious.

I am thankful for
He who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,
cooler weather even with grey,
rejoicing with those who rejoice,
my haircut lady Lucy,
my girl who wins with Apple Cranberry Date Mushroom Pie (?!?!),
dinner around the table,
laundry folded,
open windows.

314/366

On the morning after the election, I woke up and sat at my desk, like every other morning. I turned to the reading of the day, and read, 
I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted,    
and will execute justice for the needy.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;    
the upright shall dwell in your presence.
I believe those words true. I pray that my heart will reflect His. And on this morning, I ponder over and again that idea of dwell, 
to abide and to remain. 

I'm thankful for
my husband and my everyday morning latte,
dancing boys who fall asleep in a moment,
the sweet greeting of recognition at the door of Sam's,
girls who laugh with me,
checks on the to-do list,
the deepdeep ruby reds of cranberries popping,
ordinary grace,
love of every love the best.

313/366

The day started with rain on my face, a much welcome change to the so far unseasonably warm November. The open windows usher in fresh air, and I put the tea kettle on.

I'm thankful for
finally, fall?,
Our God will fight for us.
my pastors, who each pop their head in to greet me,
potato soup on the stove,
afternoon tea at the table, all real, all heart,
our ESL staff, the most faithful of faithful,
my English students who work so very earnestly,
a little hand to walk me out the door.

312/366

Tonight was self-portraits in art class, programming robots on the computer and our Creator God.
And it was good.

I'm thankful for
the eager to please 3rd grade learners,
the smiles of neighborhood kids,
watercolors,
serving alongside these people.

311/366

The answer, the next step, is very important: As there are no little people in God’s sight, so there are no little places. To be wholly committed to God in the place where God wants him—this is the creature glorified. 
- Francis Schaeffer, "No Little People, No Little Places"

Our Sunday routine has become home, shower, laundry, lunch. Today it also included scanning job applications. We could hear the rain as it started to fall, and immediately I wondered how long will the rain last? Will there be rain tonight? Where will she sleep?

Every week I wrestle over what is help. My friend, one who empathizes and knows just how those doubts go, wrote me this week. "I struggle with that always," I read. "Does it help?  Are we making a difference?  But when the Lord brings it our way, it is probably safer to do that which doesn't make sense to us."

No little people, no little places.

I am thankful for 
morning greetings and surprise gifts,
challenged at every turn,
to the praise of Your mercy and grace,
catch up phone calls,
Sunday night rituals, 
and chocolate pie.

310/366

The sun shone unseasonably warm for a November day, but who can predict 10th anniversary celebration weather? The teachers and students and families came out to eat and to fellowship. How can you go wrong with the MexiDog and bounce houses? I generally feel pretty comfortable is Spanish, at least to make my point known (though I did turn over in my head the possibilities of the conditional tense of querer all afternoon...). But being with the deaf kids knocks any sense of confidence to communicate well right out from under me. Sure, it's easy to question "one hot dog or two?" with the flash of a couple of fingers, but it's so much more difficult to ask, "how have you been? How are the sewing projects? You look so pretty today!"

I'm thankful for
friends who share generously with my family,
safe travels back and forth,
10 years of service to the Reynosa deaf community,
we know He hears us.
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309/366

The Baby Gender Reveal Party- "who even thought of that...," I was thinking? When did that catch on?

Now, I'm sold.
Because honestly, what is better than rejoicing with those who rejoice. Celebrating a new little girl coming into our world, that's a pretty sweet thing.

I am thankful for
the early morning run,
lime squeezed over caldo,
be before us and behind us, to our left and to our right, 
intercession for the persecuted church,
an unplanned date with my guy,
my peeps,
an evening at home.

308/366

“If every person in this room made it a rule that wherever you are, whenever you can, you will try to act a little kinder than is necessary - the world really would be a better place. And if you do this, if you act just a little kinder than is necessary, someone else, somewhere, someday, may recognize in you, in every single one of you, the face of God.” 
― R.J. Palacio, Wonder

I am thankful for early morning friend meet-ups,
you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else,
the women who sharpen me,
dinner in the crock pot,
my girl who bakes,
tunes to sing to on the radio,
unexpected drink stop,
plans coming together,
and a peaceful meal,
and a very good ending.

307/366

thankful- 
We walked in and the first thing we discovered was the aquarium full of toys this busy guy deposited while his mom took a quick bathroom stop. It's his new favorite pastime- so far he's a bit unrepentant but I think he'll learn pretty quick. After all, he is quick! and busy! we rolled the ball down the slide and tossed the ball up the slide and we read books (well, the same book again and again) and stacked blocks and shook the shaker and climbed up and climbed down... all in about an hour. It was good medicine, to get down to toddler level, and remember the joy of ordinary delights.

I am thankful for my friend- the best Spanish teacher and the mom who always encourages my sometimes crusty heart, for busy little boys, for sitting next to friends to learn together, for looks that say without speaking, for a short nap in the sun, for calls from far away, for voices in unison Holy, Holy, Holy, merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!, for corporate prayer, for the thrill of game 7. 

306/366

(for November I'm participating in the November gratitude challenge with the hello there, friend community- an image and a bit of text each day. not much different than every day, right?) 

thankful: 
I remember the first time I read Be still and know that I am God, a brand new believer maybe reading the Psalms for the first time. My friend gave me a book with the old poetry in modern language. 
"Relax, stop fretting, and remember that I am still your God; I still hold the reins on this world of yours."

Even today inhale deeply when I think be still- those moments of peace that arrive in surprise places. On Tuesdays it shows itself in a half hour increment of routine, making coffee for the evening and sitting on an old couch in quiet, waiting for everyone to arrive. 

I am thankful for everyday habits of peace, for a coffee visit and a ride in the passenger seat with dear ones (um, & for coffee...), for a quiet couch, for my faithful ESL staff, for my students, for friends that cause me to smile, for my family at the end of the day.

305/366

"Halloween is not too haunted for true saints. This is no night for God’s “holy ones” to run and hide, but rise up and revel in the power of our sovereign Christ. This is not the devil’s day, but ours. No concessions, no treaties, no retreat. No call to fear, but an invitation to feast."
- "Christians, This is Our Night," by David Mathis, Desiring God website

We have been planning to begin an afterschool outreach at the community center in our Reynosa neighborhood for many months. The past couple of years of activities- of Vacation Bible School and art camps and woodworking and special events and serving at the ballfields- have been the foundation of relationship building. It is time. 

We wrestled over which days and what times and who is available when, the details of making it all work. We chose a start day. And then we realized, that without specific intent, we chose October 31 to begin. Halloween. 

Our neighborhood is a historically dark place. In the evening it can be physically dark- there are few streetlights, and little lights shines through windows that are behind gates and walls and set back from the street. But more importantly, it is a spriitualy dark place. We are aware of evil practices of abuse and injustice and worship and shrines to gods of darkness not farther than even I can throw a stone from our front gate. But we are the Christ-followers who believe Jesus when we said, "I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness." (John 12:46)

We opened our doors and the children came. We pounded nails into boards and created stars and arrows to pierce the darkness. The kids bobbed for apples and ate sweets and kicked the ball around and in a most ordinary way, light shines in the darkness. In the weeks to come, we will be there to help with homework and offer computers for assignments and teach and disciple and listen and love. We will extend an invitation to feast.

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Dios era omnipotente y ya reina 
(Aleluya, aleluya, aleluya, aleluya) 

- Handel's Messiah (Spanish)

Thank you Grace Reformation Chorus for a wonderful evening of music and fellowship.
Our God reigns!

303/366

How can I say thanks enough, this gratitude for the blessing of community?
for corporate communion and prayer.
for the ones who are available when you are not.
for abiding trust.
for rejoicing and mourning together.
for cheering.
for sharing meals and sharing music and sharing books and sharing...
for iron that sharpens iron.
for deep from the gut laughing.
for everyday, mundane, extraordinary, ya-can't-make-this-stuff-up, life.

302/366

I don't have a designated space where I work. I'm a desk nomad, wandering from space to space, inching in here or there until the rightful tenant returns. I do have some favored spaces, though; places where the seat is whole and some bare desk shows through the piles. But, this desk isn't one of them. I often wonder, if I push something to the side too quickly will it self-destruct?

Who would have figured that a missionary role could be to create a better light bulb?
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301/366

"Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise.”
- Michael Jordan

300/366

The day that I joined the 21st century and checked out a library book electronically (and then lost two hours in a blink of the eye, completely absorbed in my new read... yikes!).

299/366

You have been treated generously, so live generously.

“Don’t think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don’t need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment...

Matthew 10:8-10 (The Message)

Tuesday nights with these people is all joy.

298/366

The learning curve is huge.
I didn't know that there is a United Nations Day, but that sure explains the parade of flags and kids in non-native garb.
5th and 6th graders in class together? Not such a good idea, especially when a couple of boys are bent on disruption.
Do you take the candy offered by the cute little guy at recess or decline?

All of that, and then four girls come over and sit next to me on the sidewalk during break and start to share little bits about themselves.

I'll keep climbing.

297/366

• Often I listen to my wandering friend talk and I think, I am not patient enough. I am not smart enough. I am not enough.

  I am reminded again, He is enough.

  
  

  End of day and I'm still turning over the hymn from worship-

  Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love.

  Leading onward, leading homeward, to Thy glorious rest above.
  - "O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus"

296/366

(794-1185 BC)
Believe it or not, shaved ice as we know it today, dates back several centuries ago to the Heian Period of Japan. Ice was collected from the mountains in the winter time and stored in a special room. This may sound odd but ice itself was considered rare during this time, so shaved ice was really a luxury reserved for royalty.

Later, thousands of Japanese immigrants came to the Hawaiian islands to work on the sugar plantations, bringing with them the first iterations of shaved ice. Using Japanese swords, they would shave large blocks of ice and then flavor the shaved ice with local fruit juices.
- "A Taste of Shaved Ice History"

Thanks Kona Ice for your generosity and for a little taste trip back to the Islands...

294/366

How then we spend our days is how we spend our lives.
- Annie Dillard

reading,
praying,
running,
studying,
driving,
spending time together,
cooking,
eating,
texting,
laughing,
(and if you are furry,
napping,
napping,
napping)

293/366

gratitude-
the guy buying coffee ahead of me who is retiring in 4 days,
whip cream on top,
our Spanish teacher,
and her little guy who shares his video with me,
prayers of the saints,
SHE PASSED!,
everyday crazy,
shared smiles,
laughing out loud,
"even so, it is well with my soul"

292/366

But in the flood of life between the breakfast table and the pillow, we can forget what it means to be blessed. Is blessing wealth, success, and acclaim? It sure seems like it. We are inclined to spend our days striving for the sparkly, sumptuous blessings of the world. But the world has an upside down way of looking at life, and sometimes we have to squint, turn on our heads, and let our hair brush the ground to see it for what it is.
- from SheReadsTruth, "Announcing: The Beatitudes" 

291/366

Right now, a walk through the bodega at I-55 feels a little bit like visiting Santa's workshop- Christmas tree stands, wooden gingerbread houses and ornaments all at various stages of work in progress; our vocational ministry students and workers busy working hard. Christmas is coming! (hard as it is to believe when the daily temp at the US/MX border is still in the high 90's!)
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Snippets while playing Would You Rather?...

Would you rather be the tag on the back of the car seat or the driver?
The tag.
No, that's wrong. Would you like to choose again?
and
Would you rather have no nose or no ears?
No ears.
Why?
Because if I had no nose, I couldn't pick it. 

Lovelovelove.
Aren't four-year-olds the best?!

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So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. 
Romans 12:1 (The Message)

A good day to remember the benefits and blessings of the Rule of Life, of discipline, of abiding in and living for Him who rules all things.

287/366

26 years ago, we stood together in front of family and friends and our Lord, dressed in puffy sleeves and sharp Navy dress whites, and said, "I will." We had a hint of the story that might yet be before us, but not a clue of how chapters would be added and the plot would change along the way.
We don't have spectacular plans to celebrate this year. Last week my mom suggested, "you celebrate marriage every day."
Um. Well. Yes, we should. But, the truth is- we don't.
The truth is, that of all the people in the world, I have no doubt, we love one another the most. And truth is, that at times, we probably treat one another the most poorly.
I'm tremendously sorry for that and I know that he is too.
Again, can we mention that grace that humbles us, and surprises us, and propels us forward, again and again?
Tonight we will sneak out and share a meal together and remember to love one another well. (He does still take my breath away.)
I'm thankful that we continue to say "I will."

285/366

I think about Tuesdays and sigh with contentment.
How thankful I am that the most full day of my week is mostly full of my favorites.
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284/366

The morning flag ceremony came midday, under bright sun, and the third graders were extra wiggly. But the fifth grade knows how to parade the flag. The "YA!" on the corner turns couldn't have been shouted with more gusto.

283/366

Back when I was in college, a good friend used my car to get her driver's license. We went out a few times before the exam for her to practice. It was always an adventure- she was a crazy driver. Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer was at the top of the charts back then and always seemed to be on the radio when we were out. What an appropriate soundtrack that turned out to be! I didn't know that she had never driven before. She 'fessed up after she passed the test and had license in hand.

Lately on Sunday afternoons, I've been taking my wandering friend out, so she can practice driving in preparation for the driver's license test. Sometimes I have to smile, thinking about how unlikely, really, how crazy, it all seems. We practice parallel parking and she gets out to check the distance from the tire to the curb. We try again. I try not to distract her with talking while we drive. My friend, she can really talk, and then, she can lose track of what's around her. But she always remembers, almost spontaneously and often unexpectedly, to pray before we start out. 29 years and counting, I am yet living on a prayer.

282/366

What a lovely day-
quiet early, a psalm to focus my heart, the wind while I run,
unhurried coffee with my man,
a trip to the store, new pair of shorts, a good cup of tea,
preparations for next week made,
a call that all is well,
celebrating with friends, really good food, laughing around the table, the hullabaloo of happy kids...

(and then I remembered what I forgot. Grocery shopping for the week ahead. Alas.)

281/366

Running into Norma at the bodega workshop brings a guaranteed smile. I always look for her when I enter the property. One of the hardest working people I know, Norma works in the Isaiah 55 vocational ministry. She can do almost anything. Earlier in the week, she was assembling Christmas tree stands. On my way to sewing class on Friday, I stopped to take her picture while she was working on gingerbread houses. Norma is deaf but has little problem getting her point across, even though I hardly know sign language. I missed one of the guys in the first shot of this picture. She made it clear I needed to take it again and include all three at the table. Again, I walk away so thankful for where the Lord has us.

279/366

I started running about 3 years ago. In honesty, "running" probably isn't the correct word- really, it's more like a shuffle, faster than a walk but almost anyone will lap me eventually. I always loved the idea of running, but never suffered long with the reality. But a few years ago, a friend suggested a 5K and I thought "why not?" and as such, a runner was born.

I didn't run much this summer. I got off track (ha!) after our Epic Trip North and then spent a good many days in Mexico and can't really run there, and well, you know, it's Just Plain HOT here in the summer. But in August, I started up again, with my handy 10K app as my personal trainer, with renewed determination.

Earlier this week, a friend and I laughed over a meme that read, "If you see me collapse, pause my watch." I confess, I laughed a little bit nervously. Running accentuates the very worst of my OCD qualitites. When I run, I clip on my little shuffle for music. I strap on the watch that tells me how far and how slow fast I move. I make sure to pocket my phone for the 10K app and to count my steps and to make a call if I collapse. Finding one of those devices uncharged..., that could be a deal breaker.

When I go out in the morning to run, I first walk to the corner of my street. I tuck in my ear buds. I wait for my watch to find a signal. I fire up the app. Then I do a crazy series of taps and clicks, trying to get the music, the watch, the app started all in sync. I have a mental debate with myself- do I time the "walk" portion of the 10K app, because that will change my average speed...? What about when I have to stop for crawling traffic to cross the street at the school zone...? At the end of the run, I find it impossible to stop in the middle of a song, or at an odd increment of mileage or an odd amount of time. I make an extra loop around my cul-de-sac and wonder if the neighbors see me out the window and think, really? I fully realize how inconsequential and how irrational it all is. I am a 48 year old shuffler! This doesn't matter! And yet...

And yet, despite all that craziness, despite hobbling up the stairs after arriving home because I don't trust my left knee, despite melting to the floor of my room to just lie under the fan and breathe... I love running. I love that I CAN run. I love being out. I love when my most loved songs come on my already favorite playlist. I love the random dogs that follow me and seem to love running too. (I don't love the pit bull that scared the bejeebers out of me this morning, but thankfully, that's rare...) I love the world awakening at dawn. I love noticing the change in seasons and the glory of the sunrise.

'Cause I will run and not grow weary 'til I'm face to face sings one of my favorite running tunes.
I'm gonna run.

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In September I started teaching English in the elementary school located in the Mexican neighborhood where we serve. I'm in the school once a week for a morning, rotating through three classes of 3rd through 6th graders. As would be expected, they look at me with mix of amusement and curiosity, this odd gringa lady who comes in speaking English. Slowly very slowly, we repeat basic vocabulary over and again. I see them laugh, and know that they are laughing at themselves and they are laughing at me. That's ok. I'm teaching as a volunteer; my primary motivation is to know these kids, to build relationships, to be familiar in the neighborhood where we serve. I want to show them Jesus over and again, on repeat just as much as those simple English words.

This week during the morning break time, what would be called recess back in the day, I sat outside the classroom, sitting on the sidewalk in the morning sun, reading my book. A sweet young girl accompanied by two friends, dressed in the white shirt-white skirt-black shoes-uniform of the day, from my first class comes over and holds out a can of apple juice, and says to me in Spanish, "This is for you." "No thank you," I tell her, "I am fine. I have my water." "No," she answers, "It's from him." She nods her head towards the little boy standing down the sidewalk. "OH!" I said, beginning to understand. "Well, thank you." She turns and says to the boy, "GRACIAS, ALEJANDRO!" I too look over, hold up the can, grin at him, and repeat, "Gracias, Alejandro!" He looks up, flicks his head in a non-verbal "de nada" and runs across the cement. The girls giggle and turn and leave me to my morning juice break.

I am still smiling.
Maybe this is progress.

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You keep him in perfect peace
    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV)

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Good morning.
Good morning sleeping house.
Good morning 68 degrees.
Good morning green squawking parrots on the wire.
Good morning October.

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A squabble in the car on the way to work.
Text messages about the rest of the day plans.
Making arrangements across national borders.
Knowing you will get home too late.
Some days are wanting to be here and wanting to be there all at the same time.

273/366

Who decides it is National Coffee Day? Isn't every day coffee day?
A first thing in the morning trip through get to work and school traffic and we arrive to the waiting room just on time. The vending machine gives two choices.
Always choose sparkling.