Truth on the Tenth: Volume 14

February's current, past and future top 10's (in no specific order)

Currently:

1. I have several tabs open containing the words and slides I will teach from on Wednesday. I always want to say too much and now the hard part: tangibly loving those sweet learners enough to condense it all into something digestible.

2. The gloomy Austin sky made it feel good and right to make soup and paninis tonight. The roasted tomatoes are just now starting to blister and release a scent that sparks happiness in me because this is one of the minimal amount of meals I make where every single family member is delighted around the table. A modern day suburban miracle.

3. Slowly unpacking from a weekend away traveling with local friends, reconnecting with old friends and meeting new friends in Portland.

4. Eating HU cashew butter chocolate because I am pretty sure it makes me a better writer and person.

5. The left side of my back is causing some issues and I cannot tell you the energy I have saved in worry and wondering now that I have a place to go and a doctor to visit who consistently treats in a way that leads me towards health again. This is a grace that sometimes makes me cry leaving his office.

6. The remainders of a grocery store run sit on the counter silently nagging me for a home in the pantry. I got into my car today and thought, it would be cool to grow and harvest these things myself, but I cannot believe God has given us the access and the means to buy and consume such a wonderful variety of food.

7. My mind keeps wandering towards having a middle schooler. Tonight is the first night I’ll step foot in that building. Much like turning a year older, Ryen being in middle school seems right. But wow, also. We are here.

8. I got to talk to my younger brother on the phone and hearing his voice reminds me of how much I love the adult version of him and also, he is still very funny.

9. Ry’s beloved third grade teacher comes to our house on Mondays to help tutor the girls in math. They have grown so much under her care that we (probably) don’t necessarily need her anymore, but we have gotten too used to it now. I usually send her home with whatever we’re eating and sometimes she stays to eat it with us. She is doing a thing I could NEVER do without tears being shed. Math, yes, and also dealing so kindly with post-school gals who are a little over learning and a bit tired.

10. I am asking God to help me do more in His Spirit. What would it look like to do kid’s bedtime in the Spirit? Hang up backpacks in the Spirit? Listen to Austin’s day at work in the Spirit? Prepare to teach in the Spirit? Make toast in the Spirit? Turns out it’s way better than in my flesh.

Over the Last Month:

1. We got to celebrate my sister, Katie, and brother-in-law, Ruben, on (truly) the most beautiful Saturday Austin, TX February has ever seen. I kept thinking of the local brides who hit the climate jackpot that day. We prayed out loud for the baby, for the two of them as parents and ate our weight in breakfast tacos and donuts. Katie and I used to pray together over the phone every Saturday morning for a year or so when she newly lived in Austin and I was in Santa Barbara. We have seen the faithful hand of God answer so many of those prayers since and somehow it felt exactly right to celebrate this blessing on a Saturday morning.

2. I started seminary! Whoop.

3. I landed in California to go to the new student banquet and made a beeline for the ocean. As I strolled, feet sinking lazily into damp sand I thought, of course you would take me to the school where we could do this together more often, God. I am (and you are) always intimately known by God. But moments like this remind my forgetful heart of that earth-shattering reality

   

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4. Both Remi and Rhodes have now officially scored baskets in their basketball games and love it as much as their first practices.

5. ATX got (a wee bit of) snow and the kids had a snow day! It is still comical as a Chicago girl to see the amount of cold precipitation that shuts down an entire city. It’s cute, really. But cozy days at home in January are the right call. Always.

   

6. We got to see my parents and Austin’s parents in back-to-back weekends. What a gift grandparents are. Their presence allows for hair to be french braided (this will never be me), trains to be taken out and played with, pancakes consumed on a weekday before school, furniture built, Valentine’s Day presents left, and the enjoyment of four wise, loving humans filling our home with warmth and happy sacrifice.

   

7. Ryen played in her first beach volleyball tournament this year.

8. I remain stunned at how many overlaps there are in teaching Galatians, a seminary class of spiritual formation and our church’s walk through holy habits. I told my friend this used to happen a lot when I was new to faith in God. But after closer consideration, I think this happens all the time. I just looked for His fingerprints then. How fun to have eyes to see them again.

9. Austin took me out for my birthday and we drowned ourselves in pita and hummus. Could it be that sanctification happens by default when we eat like Jesus may have eaten?

10. I have re-listened to several encouraging voice memos. This continues to be the number one way to communicate.

In the days/weeks/months ahead (this is all Lord willing, of course)

1. Katie will have a baby and I will get to be close-by auntie. Eeeeeeeeeee.

2. I will continue to try to move my body even though the activities that take up the majority of my day (driving, seminary, teacher prep) all require a lot of sitting. How do you desk people do this well?

3. Remi will have a singing concert at school and a mini family-only recital for piano. Her music filling our home has settled and excited me lately.

4. Austin will catch up to me in age. He loves this three month period when he’s married to an older woman.

5. We will go to church and hug people we love every Sunday. Just recently I heard about a neighbor who had a health scare and it seemed no one even knew. What a grace it is to have a community of people you know will notice if you’re not there, have seen weekly updates of how your kids are growing, have laughed with you in the lobby and cried with you in the counseling room. If you haven’t been to church in a while or ever- maybe this is the year you try or try again?

6. I will undoubtedly have dreams of going to bed when Austin does. As I write this, he got into bed and I said, do you know it’s 8:31? You know what he said? Oh man, one minute late. Who is this machine-man I am married to? But these dreams will not be realized. Because I come alive when the house shuts down. This is new and I am both a huge fan (at night) and not a huge fan (in the morning.)

7. Some daddy-daughter date nights.

8. Summer camps that (finally) allow Rhodes to join with the girls. There have been many moments in this 5-almost-6 stage where we (or others) have commented on how he isn’t a little boy anymore. He’s just kind of a boy. His legs stretch so far in his bed and it’s getting harder to carry him up the stairs, but he is growing in compassion with every inch of his frame and it is pretty remarkable to watch.

9. Last of the season Friday night fires outside.

10. A whole lot of who knows? God does. And He’s good. Rest in that.

Until March,

xoxo

K