These are a few of my favorite things // 07

+ reading books with Lydia
+ being busy
+ late night ice cream
+ funny conversations with James {4}
+ solving problems
+ deep cleaning
+ strawberry acacia refreshers from starbucks
+ warm weather with blue skies!!
+ thousands of daisies on our property
+ sunsets
+ the Psalms
+ dancing
+ old movies (Cary Grant, Gregory Peck and Audry Hepburn.)
+ P.G. Wodehouse
+ playing old piano pieces
+ picking up my flute again (and remembering why I stopped playing. Hyperventilating isn't very fun. :)

these are a few of my favorite things// 06

+ quiet

+ getting things done

+ having awesome little brothers who are more than willing than to remove the flock? herd? pod? of lady bugs that have decided to infest my bedroom.

+ Happy daffodils  (they're my favorite flower. ;)

+ good conversations with good friends

+ it's almost spring, which means we might start seeing the sun! (!!!!!)

+ electricity and hot water. (our power was out last night, which always make me thankful for lamps and showers. ;)

+ coffee dates

+ Happy books, like "Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good," by Jan Karon and "My Life in France" by Julia Child.

+ "The Lord's loving kindness indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I have hope in Him." Lamentations 3:22-24

+ Ice cream!

+ Cuddling with Lydia when she's still sleepy and teaching her to give hugs.

+ "Greater is He living in me than he who is in the world." (Paraphrase of 1 John 4:4)

+ "Never miss a good chance to shut up." Will Rogers

+ Roots Run Deep by Jadon Lavik 

+ baby bunnies. (so far my sister has had a couple doe's have babies in the past few weeks, and they are pretty darn cute.)

+ watching master and commander with my little brother a couple days ago. (It's cool that he's old enough to really hang out with, but also, he's turning 18 this year!??)

+ the wind outside. (so it knocked the electricity out for a while, but I love it anyway. Makes me think of Goldendale.)

+ having fun with my sister while shopping. (she's a good one to take with you when you're not supposed to buy any more clothes. ;)

+ working on some piano pieces again. it's been far too long, but it's cool that my fingers and mind still remember how to take sheets of music and make music happen.

these are a few of my favorite things // 05

 

+ seeing people I miss
+ emails that make me happy ;)
+ misty days
+ verses that stand out and convict during devotions
+ listening to Christmas music
+ free birthday drinks from Starbucks
+ rainfall on the roof as I drift off to sleep
+  buying several of my favorite movies with gift cards. ;) (North and South,  Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and The Young Victoria.
+ Frisians  (They're so beautiful. Someday I think I would like a black or gray gelding.)
+  new books to read, and rereading old favorites
+ possibly getting to see my bestie this tomorrow! (!!!!!)
+ Coffee
+  Christmas Caroling with people from Church
+ making faces at the littles in the row in front of us in church and seeing their faces light up with smiles
+ mama bought me two huge boxes of my favorite tea for my birthday. She's awesome.
+ reading, in comfy pajama's!  after a very long, very overly-social day. :)
+ London Fog's (I've been drinking them a lot lately and they're soo good!)
+ Driving in the rain (It's oddly satisfying sometimes. :)
+ New coffee mugs (An adorable christmasy owl one from my little brother, and a huge, fun one from my oldest brother.)
+ It's almost Christmas. ;)

these are a few of my favorite things // 04

 

a shot from the hike we did Saturday

+ warm fires crackling in the evenings

+ being able to see the stars

+ phone conversations that leave me very happy :)

+ buying adorable boots

+ tea (haney and sons paris tea is probably my favoritest tea ever, introduced to me by my Grandmother.)

+ watching the world change from summer to fall

+ The Story of My Life by Helen Keller (Anne Sullivan was an inspiring, amazing, self-sacrificing woman, btw!)

+ the book of Psalms

+ journaling my thoughts and prayers (it makes such a difference in my life when I can take the time to sort out my thoughts in writing!)

+ unexpected blessings  from the Lord

+ this quote that I found the other day that made me smile

+ praying (it blows my mind that I can talk directly to the Star-Breathing Creator of the Universe and Savior of the Entire World, and know without a shadow of a doubt that He hears and answers me every single prayer and every single day. It's pretty awesome!!)

+ getting to spend time with the girls from my church. I have a pretty fabulous church family!!! :)

+ falling asleep listening to the sound of heavy rainfall

+ candles and christmas lights in my bedroom. (the bedrooms in this house have the worst lighting ever, but I put a strand of christmas lights up and it's so pretty and improves the lighting drastically!)

+ "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you." Psalm56:3

+ canning apple sauce and seeing the jars add up on the shelf.

+lots of strong, strong coffee (honestly, I've been so tired lately. I don't think I could function at all without coffee.) 

+ today is officially the beginning of fall!

these are a few of my favorite things // 3

this child is absolutely one of my favorites!! ;)

1. feeling complete peace
2. bright red heels (somehow wearing red shoes makes everything 50% more exciting)
3. adorable little brothers
4. tart lemonade
5. amazing devo's in the morning
6. blackberry pie
7. baby goats that eat pears out of your hands and then lick the juice off your fingers
8. getting to spend time with both my big brothers at once
9. it's almost September, which means sweaters, hot drinks and beautiful leaves!
10. Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest)
11. cleaning all the junk off my desk so that I can actually use it again.
12. psalms 34
13. conquering fears!
14. watermelon and cantaloupe from my Grandpa's garden
15. quiet
16. fresh canned peaches lined up on the shelf.
17. long conversations
18. books that make you really think
19. christmas is in exactly 121 days, but we can "officially" start listening to Christmas music in only 66 days.
20. feeling comfortable around people
21. smiles and giggles from Lydia
22. vanilla ice cream
23. lighting candles (totally improves my mood!)
24.  Earl Grey Tea
25. burts bees lip balm
26. audrey hepburn (she's just so adorable!)
27. psalms 94:19
28. phantom of the opera (I just read the book, and it was wonderful!)
29. reading late into the night
30. looking forward to seeing good friends this weekend! (and climbing Mt. St. Helens on Tuesday!!)

source This drawing has been really striking my fancy lately. I think it's all kinds of adorable!!

What have been some of your favorite things lately.

these are a few of my favorite things // 2

+ sleeping in ('nuff said? :D )
+ journaling
+ writing prompts
+ early morning walks
+ friends that make time to just chat
+ lists ;)
+ dancing until my feet hurt and I can hardly breath
+ gorgeous soundtracks
+ spending time with my brother and sister-in-law
+ hiking trips with friends
+ this song by my favorite instrumental group
+ vitamin d drops. (yes, they're my solution to not spending much time outside. lol)
+ black + white mochas
+  nice barista's. (seriously, there is such a difference between sweet baristas and people who hate their job and thus hate you...) 
+ beautiful sunsets
+ watching Larkrise to Candleford again (made it past the first season this time. :)
+ warm, but not to warm, days
+ anticipating things
+ pepsi. (just sayin')
+  when brothers buy you caramel lattes!! :)
+ wearing my favorite dress
+ when it finally cools down at night
+ being busy
+ sunsets
+ planning a zoo trip with my bestie to see the elephants (!!!!)

these are a few of my favorite things // 1

+ doing morning devo's with the window open and the birds chirping and singing
+ hot, hot, coffee as soon as I wake up
+ this post by an amazing girl I grew up with that feels like she wrote down exactly what I was thinking.
+ 90 Days though the Bible (it's been amazing, and I feel like i've been discovering new concepts and things in all the familiar accounts.)
+ Rereading The Mitford Series (So adorable and sweet and chock full of God and truths in every page.)
+ A flying visit back home to see my bestie and her family last weekend. 
+ new friends over the internet
+ hilarious quotes by little brothers
+ getting to spend time with my oldest brother
+ driving on the highway with all my windows down and my hair tangling
+ my puppy who is always overjoyed to see and interact with me
+ finding $16 unexpectedly, in the back pocket of a skirt I hardly ever wear, this morning
+ Lydia's infrequent giggles
+ watching people interact
+ running into one of my best friends completely randomly
+ stupid pixar movies that make me laugh and rewatching the last season of one of my favorite tv shows in anticipation of another season coming out soon!!
+ enough flowers blooming in the yard to make bouquets
+ anticipating a coffee date with a friend
+ the vitamin string quartet (weirdest name ever, but I love their covers!)
+ being able to smile again without pain (!!! the blisters are finally gone, and I'm thrilled. ;)

This list was inspired by Dani, at A Vapor in the Wind