Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Dogsitting means I’m up earlier than usual, so I’ve gotten to see the sun on several days when it would normally have already been hidden behind the clouds by the time I’ve risen.

2. My friend Chris and his fiancee, Julie, were playing volleyball on Saturday on the Mall, so I joined them for a couple hours, even though the ground was muddy and the grass a bit slick. Since it rained Sunday and both of my indoor games were cancelled this week, I’m really glad I made it down there.

3. Neal doesn’t drink a lot of hot beverages, which means his mug collection is small in both quantity and stature. The first couple days here, the water barely had time to cool before I was turning it on again for my next cup. Then I remembered I’d gotten a travel mug in my stocking and it holds almost three times as much liquid as his cups. Plus, it keeps my tea hot on days when I get distracted.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Two friends and I have decided to establish a weekly game night.

2. Sarah and I have lunch and then meander through the sunshine to eat ice cream outside.

3. I add more cayenne to my chocolate chip cookies than I really mean to, and am surprised that it is still noticeable after baking. I fear the slight warming that comes from eating one makes them even more addictive.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world this week?

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. I run into a friend as we’re on our way to volleyball. We walk the rest of the way together and he proposes planning to do that in the future, rather than allowing happenstance to run its course.

2. A Christmas card from my cousin doggy paddled its way across the ocean to arrive in our mailbox. (She mailed it before the holidays, but the U.K.’s postal strike has been slowing things down.)

3. An overseas friend replies to my November email asking for her mailing address without giving me her address but with an update about how life is going.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. I started a new volunteer coaching gig this week and arrived early, when a couple of little kids were playing around with a basketball. The smallest one seemed to be in kindergarten or maybe pre-K, and as I was trying to stave off a tantrum, I put my hand out for him to take, and he slipped his hand into mine long enough to calm back down.

2. We had some apple cider that was going a bit scrumpy. I cooked it down and had steaming mugs ready for when Rudi arrived in from his night of coaching and the rainy drive home.

3. Today marked a year since Rudi’s mom died. After a year, the end is starting to fade, which makes remembering easier.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Three friends and I played pickup volleyball both Sunday and Monday down on the Mall, which felt like an amazing way to start the year.

2. I took my last overdue book back to the library, so until Saturday at least, I’m no longer delinquent!

3. The weather has been unseasonably warm in D.C. this week, so I’ve made a point of spending many of the evenings outside, sitting at cafes with my book or knitting. Winter temperatures return this weekend, so I’m glad I got a chance to do this.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. After 2020, I will never take Christmas with my family for granted again. We had a low-key celebration with a tasty feast, phone calls with family who live elsewhere, and gifts in front of the fireplace.

2. Because I wrote about Christmas piano parties during the Virtual Advent Tour, I was inspired to clear off the piano bench, pull out some sheet music, and butcher my way through sight-reading some holiday tunes. I have a keyboard that’s been sitting in my closet for years and I should see if I can find the power adaptor that will allow me to use it. It’s not the same, but music is a good thing.

3. I arrived home this afternoon after more than a week away to a beautiful day, a cat who thinks my return is the best thing ever (he’s lying on my arms as I type this), and tea and peanut butter toast after stopping at the library to pick up my assorted holds.