Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. I went to the big Safeway in Georgetown last weekend and ran into one of my middle school players and her girlfriend while I was there. It was really nice to see them and to touch base.

2. My team’s season started this week, and half the team was unable to make the game. A friend had offered to sub in when I needed an extra player, and while I hadn’t expected to accept on week one, it felt great to see him after a couple of months.

3. Sunday offered conversational snow — the sort that you remark upon, but which requires no work from you. I tucked myself into boots and the hot pink cape my mother made me and took myself out for a walk. As I paused on the bridge to take a picture of the snow drifting down into the creek below (the snow did not show up in the shot, so it looks just like every other day), I noticed the girl behind me paused as well. I glanced her way and she said, “I’m sorry. I had to take your photo. You were the only color in the entire landscape. Do you mind?” And I didn’t, because I was.

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Volunteering started back up this week after our holiday break. We’ve switched up groups of kids, so it’s exciting to think about sharing volleyball with a new class.

2. I got to play pickup at the elementary school by my apartment, which offered a fun time and a short commute home afterwards.

3. I was trying to make crackers out of sourdough starter discard this week, and while the outcome isn’t really a cracker, it is crisp-like and still quite tasty.

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

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. As of the start of the week, the sun is now setting after 5 p.m. here (and the sun is up before 7:30 for those of you who care about that part).

2. Rudi makes borscht and we exchange the last of our gifts on Russian Christmas.

3. We got 60s and sunny one afternoon this week, so I took chai and a couple books to the park.

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

Happy 2026! Here are three beautiful things from the last week of 2025:

1. Sarah, Rudi, and I agreed that the movie we picked for New Year’s Eve, Marty Supreme, hadn’t worked for any of us. (I left at about the halfway point when I realized I’d rather be listening to my audiobook in the theater lobby than continue watching.) While it’d be easy to see that as a downer, I like to think that means that the New Year starts on an up swing. (And any year that begins with friends is a positive one, let’s be clear.)

2. The cats were delighted to have me back after a week in Connecticut. It’s the longest I’ve left them before, and Jordan’s final catsitting report suggested that they were starting to feel my absence. They both curled up with me and were happy that I chose to stick close to home most of the next day.

3. My Christmas cookie list contains a baker’s dozen types. I got two made while up in Connecticut, which is a good start.

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

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Rudi, my parents, and I had a very nice Christmas. Presents were given, food was consumed, long distance greetings were exchanged, wrapping paper shootout was held (Rudi won, but he was the closest to the bags), and music was sung along with. We wound down watching a movie in front of the fire.

2. John reached out on Saturday to suggest dinner out with Rudi and Jasen, and our pal Ellie ended up joining, as well. It was really nice to gather together one last Saturday before the end of the year.

3. Jordan, Jasen, and I watched the NCAA Division 1 volleyball finals together on Sunday. Texas A & M put together a Cinderella story clinic, beating a number 2 and three number 1 seeds (including undefeated Nebraska!) on their way to their first championship in program history. Their blockers were on point after they got past their jitters in the first set. And it was great to watch with friends who love volleyball as much as I do.

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

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. At Thanksgiving, Rudi and I gave some thought to what Christmassy things we might want to do this year, given that one of our traditions was no longer appealing (an event at the Kennedy Center). I scrolled through recommendations and came upon the Baltimore German Christmas Market, which seemed just up Rudi’s and my alley. Yesterday our schedules and the weather finally cooperated and we were able to spend the afternoon and evening in Baltimore getting some Christmas shopping done and eating tasty treats and soaking in festive Inner Harbor ambiance.

2. I needed to do some shopping on the other side of town and asked Sarah if she might be free for a drink. She was — and also came along on the rest of my shopping expedition, which made it a thousand times better than it would have been otherwise.

3. I proposed to our volleyball team that we have a first ever holiday party this year and several folks asked for a gift exchange to accompany it. I found several great gifts, which were stolen several times in our white elephant swap, and came home with a very artistic ocarina, which I could immediately identify because of Karen.

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