The best kind of morning

Memorial Day

One of my very favorite traditions, with some of my very favorite people.

These three darlings

Playing disc golf from the roof. As one does.

Always climbing, always attracting light.

I'm not sure she ever stops dancing. Or smiling.

She's so happy

 

May service project

Because the service project this month involved an elementary school, and it is the last week of school in our area,
I had a chance to do the May service project earlier than usual. And it was the absolute sweetest experience. 

I ended up with exactly $700 to buy groceries for the families of a Title I school in my county. And the work that
the family service lead did, as well as the vice principal for the school, just blew me away. They had it completely
organized, knowing which families were coming, and it made it possible for me to buy each of the​ needed items
in numbers that could easily be divided by who we had coming. I was able to go early with all of the food and add 
it to some other unexpected donations they were given. And then those of us that had made sure the food was laid
out and ready to go, stuck around to help out the families who came after school, to gather their groceries. 

It was honestly the most beautiful, most humbling experience for me. When I finished and walked out to my car, I just sat
in it for several minutes, so touched by how many tremendous people there are in the world. And so overcome with the
goodness of those families and how hard they work every single day and how much just a bit of extra help meant to them. 

I could never have imagined that this ​p​rompting that God planted in my heart, at the beginning
of the year, would change me so deeply. I’m so thankful for Him and how He knew just what I needed.
And grateful for a world filled with so much goodness and light, it takes my breath away on a regular basis. 

Thank you to those who contributed. I wish each of you could have been there
to see how your money made a difference. And to be changed by it. 

And that last photo. My sweet friend’s sister​, and the vice principal of the school, left that gorgeous plant and a note that made me ​t​eary, on my porch a few days ago. ​F​ar too much kindness. I’ll never step into my backyard without remembering her kind words, the amazing families that I met just a few days ago and how ​d​eeply God loves His children​.

This Benjamin

This boy has had quite the week. Three AP tests, a spring piano recital (where he played
Claire de Lune beautifully), finishing and presenting his final class assignments, taking his final
exams, several evenings at his job and ending it all with his last rec soccer game this afternoon.

He’s just so good, this Ben Allen. I can’t put into words how well he does what he needs
to on his own every day, is happy nearly all the time, is so ridiculously kind to his mom,
loves the Savior and always puts Him first and makes us all laugh constantly with
his one-liners. I’m so honored to be his mom and watch in awe at who he chooses to be.

Now on to some incredibly exciting summer plans and a whole lot of bonus time to play disc golf.

He deserves it, this boy. Oh he’s tremendous.

Fifth grade 50s day

Fifties Day in the fifth grade for our darling Grace today. She was just so excited and
I was so happy for her. I just adore this little love and her joy and excitement for life.

Note: Grace and her cutest friend performed in front of the fifth grade and honestly,
I can't get over how well they did or how Grace knew to choreograph their dance with 50s
moves. The first time I saw it was on stage and none of us helped her for even a second, so to say
I was blown away by the darlingness and authenticity of the dance would be an understatement.

She's amazing this Grace Allen. I'm so grateful she's ours.

This boy and the game of soccer

Oh he's amazing this Nate Allen. So grateful for this game he loves
and his athletic, incredible self. He's just so tremendous.

Grateful

A perfect morning, with perfect weather, feeling so profoundly grateful for a perfect God.

Forever grateful

No one makes me laugh harder, cry more often (almost always for good reasons), feel deeper, love
stronger or be more grateful for the promise of a heaven where we will all be together forever someday.

I’m so thankful for a God that gave me the most beautiful gift (times seven) and
the sweetest of husbands—who never stops encouraging and loving me through it.

I’m humbled every single day by the privilege.

Three darling chicklets and one incredible teacher

Another year of piano with this absolutely incredible teacher and favorite human of 

ours. These three are just so amazing and good. I’m so grateful they keep practicing
and showing up. They are becoming absolutely tremendous pianists.

Happy day!

This sweetest boy is finally castless and braceless, as of a few days ago. It’s felt like a long
ten weeks (at least for this mom), but he never once complained or acted annoyed,
just smiled his way through it all—he’s so amazing to me. Gah, I love him so much.

Grace's second spring dance recital

This darling dancer was in her second and final spring recital on Saturday. And just when I cannot
get over how incredible she is at multiple forms of dance, she goes and does an absolutely
amazing job at two additional styles. Oh this girl loves dancing to the deepest part of her heart.
We are so thankful for her wonderful dance company for making sure all her dance dreams come true.

Summer job joy

This coolest of humans is back where her heart, mind and body are at home...and we will

miss her for much of the summer. But man, nothing makes me more at peace than seeing
my children truly happy. So a river rafting guide for the next several months it is—
with some climbing, hiking, being with her favorite people and loving Jesus mixed in.

Oh I love this girl.