639-643.

639. welp, i completely fell off my high horse healthy band wagon. of course i would fail. but thank you Jesus for second chances and the ability to make better choices. still eating cookie dough..but with less butter..:)

640. this morning i did not go to church [due to depression and laziness] BUT, i did have a peaecful morning with just my youngest daughter. we took a bath together and scrubbed our outsides, and i think i really needed that, to clear off the grease. we listened to josh garells and i slathered a turmeric honey mask on my face and it never felt so good. 

641. the patience of my husband. i am failing in all sorts of ways as the home maker of the house and i am not doing my job [at all] and my husband remains patient and willing to understand and wait on me. he serves quietly, probes gently, and continues to wait and encourage. 

642. norah sings sings sings all the time and i love it. I am so thankful for her little voice singing on the toilet, singing to soothe her baby sister, singing in the morning before she gets out of bed, singing from the back seat...she is such a gift.

643. i guess its my birthday this tuesday so i am thankful to make it to another year. i AM thankful. 

632.-638

632. I started a phone fast today and i think i love it. I have decided that i am not allowed to have my phone anywhere near me and it can only be settled in one place. Remember when phones used to be on a dock, plugged into the wall? that's the idea i am going for. I am only allowed to check it once, but otherwise, it is only to be used for ingoing and outgoing PHONE calls. that's it. I am so thankful that i have the desire to cut the hold it has on me, let alone do something about it. All praise to Him. And you know what? Starting last night and into today, it's been awesome. I have opened the physical Word of God already more than i normally would have being distracted by that blasted phone.  I have re established a tiny humble reconciliation to my heavenly Father, and He has been so present already. I am floored. I am so excited to see what He does this month and anticipate great things outside of that tiny glowing screen that is making me go blind.

633. I used up the last bit of apple cider that came in a beautiful large glass jug and lid and i am recycling it into my new water jug! Presentation has always been a soft spot for me, and seeing that glistening jug with crystal clear ice cold agua makes me want to reach for it and throw back glug after glug. My goal is one jug a day. Thankful for the chance to revisit the ability to be proactive about my health.

634. speaking of health, i am so thankful to be practicing the fruit of self control in my food habits. November is the month of beginnings, i guess! :) i started small, like my wise friend Tamm suggested and i am cutting out soda at home. i did surprise myself and ordered water when i was at qdoba yesterday, but i like it that i chose to start somewhere. Thank you Jesus for helping me. I also am going to do my best to increase my fruit and veggie intake and make better choices all around.

635. the sermon Rod shared yesterday. wow. What a powerful reminder to again, head to the lowest ground, be the lowliest in spirit, be poor in heart, and be completely in need of Jesus. I love sermons like this. I love them. I always want to learn, to be teachable, be moldeable, and be humbled in every way so that it might make Christ shine all the more brilliantly.

636. thankful to see fruit in my daughter Norah. fruit of gentleness, kindness, and even thoughtfulness and a willingness to serve. Her older brother needed a chair, but did not feel like going all the way upstairs to get the chair. he said he was too lazy. Norah said in her tiny chipmunk voice, "Ben, i'll go get it for you!" And then, she said, "here, take my chair. i will go upstairs and get the chair and i'll use that one." my heart was a puddle.

637. the nail polish color Wooden Shoe Like to Know. i found it! and i'm wearing it. Love the fall color.

638.  grilled onions

621-631.

621. amidst the chaos and dark season that hovers around us and next to us, inside our tiny unit, there is His perfect peace and shalom. He guards us and we are thankful. 622. the carbon steel wok I found at world market for 15 bucks. 623. scriptures that speak of Hope and helping. dwelling on these and so thankful our Father is not silent in this area. 624. my son took his little sister up to her room, assisted her in getting her "nigh night" that was up high, took her up stairs, tucked her in and sang her a song before her nap all of his own accord. My heart swells at my son's thoughtfulness and tenderness. 625. meetings with leadership only reveal an unexpected respect for my husband and his character. His opinion matters to men and women we hold in esteem and we are so thankful and humbled that they would return the honor. 626. The thought/talk/dream/counsel conserning England only fuels and awakens, no doors closed clearly yet. yay..627. just the simple delight of getting to know my son's teacher, where there might have been intimidation and uncertainty at first, now there is a warmth and commadori whinch brings me relief. 628. business is heavy and full. it is abundant and plentiful. thankful thankful thankful. We would not have been able to say the same 5 years ago. 629. naan bread. 630. Asian soup spoons 631.  false eye lashes. a little bit of flair for 2 bucks😉

617-620

617 meeting baby m, who looks just like her sister, and who sleeps. only sleeps, all the time, who came over 2 weeks late, and now is treasured.

618 a little time and conversation with baby m's mom. wisdom and joy and focus and humor. and all my respect.

619 westside neighborhood. breezy nights, cool, but still warm. color drifting to the ground in front of me as i make my way.

620 to the cemetery to run, walk, to come home satisfied with tiredness.

611-616

611 a few unexpected hours this afternoon 612 this friend, sister, her steadfast promise because she trusts His promises 613 more stories of God's grace, more pictures of His sacrificial love for His Bride 614 little e's wit, questions, cause for rolling laughter each time 615 jennie, her listening ear and wise words for 10+ years 616 this phone, still working, though barely, but still working

605-610

605 laughter and conversation 606 em's fuzzy-collared coat, lent so freely 607 westside walks, God accompanied, encouragement spoken 608 that bluest blue sky of a crisp michigan autumn 609 those rainbow-painted leaves, just weeks from littering the ground, my eyes drawn back to them over and again 610 the unknown, which works unashamedly to develop that trust between child and Father

595-604

595 gas under $3 596 piercing sun in my eyes 597 that sun, vitamin d, natural mood elevator 598 precious morning with one of the 6, enlightenment + joy 599 new faithfulness learned while reading through the nt with the youth group 600 transformational nature of God's words on paper 601 dance beats from the 90's lol 602 leader retreat 2014 603 kayaks on sun-spotted lake 604 autumn leaf tones