A Bali-bound Prayer

Holy God,

Thank you for your provision and grace this week.

For the way you calm the overwhelmed

and still amongst the busy.

Thank you for time away from work

and for the adventure that awaits.

I pray, Lord, that you'd protect us as we travel

and that you'd use this opportunity

to grow us, to rejuvenate us, to excite us,

to open our hearts more deeply

and ultimately to shape us more 

into the image and character of your Son.

In Jesus' name.

Amen

A Dozen Little Letters

Dear Lyssie, 

It's been fun having a new roommate this week.

I'm going to miss you when you go back home.

Dear Suitcase,

Can't you just pack yourself?

Dear Finicky Tummy,

Be on your best behavior for the next couple weeks, okay?

I'd really prefer if you weren't too picky,

if you didn't get upset easily,

and really if you'd just mind your own business a little bit.

Kay, thanks.

Dear Summer,

It'll be hard to see you go

especially since you just kinda showed up.

We're kinda going out with a bang

but then I'm oh so excited for your sweet friend Fall to follow.

Here's to sweatpants, warm cups of tea, flannels

and dreaming of places where the leaves change.

Dear Little House on Holly Tree,

We don't seem to spend much time within your walls, at least as of late,

but you've been the perfect first little home for us.

Thank you.

Dear Asia,

Stretch us. Grow us. Open our eyes.

Dear Mr. McLeod,

I think it's a good thing that I still think of your dad

whenever I say Mr. McLeod.

Doesn't that mean you're not that old yet? ;)

PS: Prayin' you shake that cold.

Dear Bread & Wine,

I've been such a good little girl

just letting you sit on my shelf for several weeks

while I await our long flights and international layovers.

I've been saving you for such times as these

and I can't wait to dig in.

Good things are worth waiting for

And I have no doubts you'll be any different.

Dear GVC,

Thanks for being home.

Dear Jay,

I had such a sweet time with you yesterday

celebrating the birthday that keeps on giving.

Thank you for being honest, for dreaming big

and for being such an encouragement in my life.

I love you.

Dear Morning Commute,

You've been unusually glorious the past couple days.

Two days in a row

I hit every single green light on Scripps Poway.

You'd think I won the lotto.

Dear God,

Thank you for being the giver of good gifts

the healer of broken people

and the provider for a world in need.

You continue to do immeasurably more.

And it wows me every time.

Oh Monday, mercy me.

Sweet girls I haven't seen in a while

The freshness you feel when you wear a new top

No Friday morning meetings

An effective retrospective

The sound of the announcer as we walked past Petco

The way the sun set opposite the San Diego skyline

Special talents

New songs. Old sound.

Helpful parents

Swimming in white sauce

Afternoon naps x2

DVR

Being cooled by the pool and warmed by the sun at the same time

Low maintenance curly hair

Birthday celebrations

Eating tasty food around a table of good friends

How small the world can be

The Schanakers living in San Diego

Sweet babies and spunky toddlers

Community

Home-cooked Sunday lunches

Did I mention afternoon naps?

That feeling that lets you know you're growing for sure

Budgeting 

Shrimp and Crab Fondue a block away

The reason we broke our "No Friends on Sunday" rule

Running into friends at the grocery store

Nerf guns and slingshots

When staying up past your bedtime is worth it

The anticipation of vacation

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for those precious two days between workweeks

for the way they energize us, recharge us,

and fill our hearts with such joy and gratitude.

And thank you for work to go back to.

Pennies.

Text to order

Thoughtful gifts

Storytime

Being on the same page

Working from the couch

When Jeremiah stops at the grocery store on his way home

Home-cooked meals

Generous friends

Baked treats

Honesty and vulnerability

Reaching financial goals little by little

Dear God, thank you. Love, Jessi

Wednesday's Wittle Wetters

Dear This Morning, 

I'm snuggled up in our big comfy chair under the window.

The windows are open, letting in the coolness of morning.

One of my favorite candles is lit

and all feels well with the world.

This is what morning's should look like.

Dear Lord, 

please remind me of this morning

should I become impatient, ungrateful or hurried today.

Dear Bill James, 

I have a severe weakness for donut holes.

Please don't bring again.

Or do. :) 

(thank you)

Dear SYTYCD, 

I love when the all-stars come back to play.

Absolutely glorious I tell you.

Dear Weekly Phone Calls with India,

I'm normally not excited about having a standing commitment every Tuesday night,

but thank you for last night.

The sense of team work and accomplishment warmed my heart.

Dear Volunteer work, 

I must admit I thought you were for high schoolers who were trying to get into college

or for DUI-ers who were getting in their hours.

There are so many people who consistently volunteer there time just because.

I'm inspired.

Dear Daddy,

Tomorrow's bring-your-daughter-to-work-day

except they renamed 'daughter' to 'child' for some PC reason.

It reminds me of all the years I spent tagging along with you

in a work environment that is now a mirror image of mine.

Thanks for letting me ride the train to work with you,

for teaching me about your 'computer stuff'

and for letting me play in the copy room filled with office supplies galore.

I still think of you when I shop for supplies in our own copy room at work.

PS: I swear I'm not crying nostalgic alligator tears as I type this.

Dear Long Haired Self,

I looked at a picture of you the other day

and didn't even recognize myself.

That's crazy to me.

I kinda miss you - kinda don't.

Dear Laughter-in-the-workplace,

You're much needed. 

And much appreciated.

Thank you, thank you. 

Keep them laughs comin.

Dear Baliwalidoodle,

10 days til we leave.

Yahoo!

Dear Mary Magdalene,

Rock our world tonight, okay?

Dear Cute Boyfriend,

I'm proud of your courage

and the way you always put family first.

Do I really get to be your wife for the rest of my life?

This is a dream come true.

Them Pennies

Spontaneous family dinner

Paint-covered fingers

Finally falling back asleep

Newness

Spending the day with my sister

An unexpected visit with a friend

A free milkshake

Good deals

The "Welcome Home" of a neighbor

Absolutely zero children at the community pool

Service dates

See's samples

Time to craft

Seeing my co-worker at church

Well-behaved littles

God is Able

Sunday afternoon joint grocery shopping

The way protein fills you right up

A courteous dad

Being in the kitchen with friends

Homemade cookies from our friend and her sweet boys

Late night conversations with my sister

Enjoying work

Opportunity

A really neat progressive prayer time

A surprise lunch with my cute boyfriend

The way girls carry on 15 minute conversations in public bathrooms

Compliments

Fried goat cheese, nuff said.

Bakeries that sell macaroons a la carte

Text messaging and Instant Messenger

A hidden walk with my co-worker

Candles

Cooking

Walking through the neighborhood on a warm summer night

Memory Lane

Laughing so hard it hurts

When my husband comes home from work

The relationship Jeremiah and my dad have

Heavenly Father,

The past few days have felt like something out of a story book

but not because anything huge has happened.

It's because you're little blessings are piling up so high

that they can't go unnoticed.

You continue to amaze me with your goodness.

Thank you.

10 Little Letters

Dear Humble Abode, 

I've missed you. There's just no place like home.

Dear Weekend, 

I can't remember the last time we had one of you with absolutely no plans. 

I'm jumping out of my seat at the possibilities. 

Dear Juggies,

I'm so thankful for the way we take time to do our own thing.

Girl-time and Guy-time are two of the reasons

our marriage can be that much richer.

Oh, and PS: thank you for indulging me

when I come up with a new silly nickname for you each week.

Being called "Juggies" on the internet is brave to the core. ;)

Dear Kaminskis,

You always make me feel at home.

Thanks for welcoming us back to Poway last night.

You mac n'cheese is like no other.

Dear Friday Friday,

Gotta get down on Friday.

Heck to the yes, baby.

Dear Eat Pray Love,

I'm finally reading the last of your three sections

in anticipation of our trip to Indonesia in a couple weeks.

I don't remember why I ever became bored amongst your pages.

Dear God,

Sometimes I feel like you should be sitting "up there"

looking down at us and laughing at just how long it takes us to catch on.

Thank you for allowing me to make mistakes

and to learn and grow.

Your patience is just unfathomable to me.

Dear Cable TV and DVR,

See ya later gator.

Dear String Cheese,

where have you been all my life?

Why did I never think I liked you before??

Seriously misguided.

Dear Memory Lane,

You really do rock.

For every book or journal I take off the bookshelf I'm trying to re-organize,

I spend five or ten minutes in reminiscent bliss.

So fun.

And Memory Lane?

Thanks for always pointing me back to the One who faithfully walked you with me.

Oh so thankful

Thoughtful friends

Maxi dresses

My mother in law

Coupons for free food

Unique flavors

Friendly people

Chloe and Morris
The way music takes you back
Cookie butter
Prayer
The beautiful starlit sky
Pillow talk

Heavenly Father,
thank you for being the God we can rely upon,
the God who wants what is good for His children,
the God who calls us to courageous living
and the God who gives so graciously.

Hump Day Treats

Light traffic on a beautiful commute

A happy little surprise

Long awaited good news

Courage

A surprise visit from the mister

Getting to be married to said mister

Motivation, creativity and a new type of challenge

Being remembered

Laughter

Free drinks

The sweetest text message

A new recipe

No commercials on the 24 channel

A successful meeting

Honest communication

Holy God,

Yesterday was filled to the brim with the shiniest of pennies.

Thank you for eyes to see them and to cherish them.

May I worship the Giver instead of the gift.

God you are so good.

Thanksgiving in August

Morning snuggles

New eyes to see

Pandora on my commute

Breakthroughs

The ability to problem solve

When people receive bad news gently

Spicy food

Catherine and the way God's using her

Chatting with my mama

Sharing

Free birthday desserts

Carrying each others' burdens

A clean house

The hot tub in the back yard

Evening snuggles too

Heavenly Father,

I am so grateful for the work you've given me to do

in the office, in our community, in our home and in relationships.

May you turn the ordinary into the sacred

and accept as an offering all I am and all I do.

Mercies for Monday

CBTL along my morning commute

When things turn out better than expected

The collaboration we always make fun of

Feeling safe

Beating the Yankees

Late night dessert with my parents

Slow Saturday mornings

Iced coffee

Friends that are practically family

The warmth of the sun

Freckles

Truffle oil

Watching the birds dive face first, straight into the ocean

The rosy sunset

Clean, free public bathrooms

New times that remind us of old times

Finding the Resees peanut butter cups

Dance

Watching God work

Glimpses of motherhood

Doug's new sermon series

Friendship

A kind gesture

An $8 top

Convenience

A nap in the sunshine

Discussing dreams and ideas

Change

Marshmallow fireside

Chlorine: the summertime perfume

A change of pace and scenery

Holy God,

thank you for sending your Son as you promised.

thank you for going before us and walking along side us.

thank you for Mondays just as much as Saturdays.

and thank you for prayer.

More Like Quarters

Postponed meetings and flexible schedules

A familiar face

God's sovereignty

The support of family

New friends

A safe place to be honest with and about myself

Prayer

Holding hands to cross the street

Teamwork

Sweet tea to start the day

The fact that God's justice prevails

Challenging conversations

The thoughtfulness and helpfulness of my husband

Good friends

The way getting my hair cut makes me feel rejuvenated

The 24 channel

Safety

The one-week countdown

Rest

Holy God,

This week has been such a reminder

of our need for community, for support, and for teamwork.

Thank you for the ways that you grow your children

and for the ways that you encourage them.

It still amazes me that you always know best

and that your timing is always perfect.