on the train

gratitude

S'mores and family ~ Sloane
family stories ~ Relyn
my family party & a day at Lead Mine ~ Jeffrey

from a recent photoshoot

with the redbud

gratitude

Daddy ~ Sloane
Jeffrey, Jeffrey, Jeffrey ~ Relyn
my family, particularly my in-laws ~ Jeffrey

from a recent photoshoot

precious hand

gratitude

science MAP is over and my eyebrow is healing ~ Sloane
running errands and talking with Sloane tonight ~ Relyn
MLLMAS ~ Jeffrey

from a recent photoshoot

make a wish

gratitude

youth ~ Sloane
audiobooks, particularly Thirteenth Tale ~ Relyn
I was able to lift weights. ~ Jeffrey

from a recent photoshoot

just the guys

gratitude

a great band concert ~ Sloane
that Sloane wasn't hurt worse & her band concert ~ Relyn
my doctor & the Promote or Die session at MASL ~ Jeffrey

from a recent photoshoot

Donna's boys

gratitude

I got to run in the track meet. ~ Sloane
I won $100 and had great conversations with new colleagues! ~ Relyn
great breakout sessions ~ Jeffrey

from a recent photoshoot

hanging around

gratitude

Ibu & Bapak ~ Sloane
the chance to attend MASL ~ Relyn
Relyn is at MASL with me ~ Jeffrey

from a recent photoshoot

by the grass

gratitude

hearing Papa preach ~ Sloane
hearing Dale preach again ~ Relyn
hearing Dad preach again ~ Jeffrey

from a recent photoshoot

beautiful profile

gratitude

foot washing ~ Sloane
the great pride I felt as I watched Sloane wash her grandparent's feet ~ Relyn
Lord's supper service ~ Jeffrey

from a recent photoshoot

beautiful Eli

gratitude

good friends ~ Sloane
Sloane's track experience ~ Relyn
a chance to rest ~ Jeffrey

from a recent photoshoot

big miracle

gratitude

youth ~ Sloane
recent photoshoots ~ Relyn
quiet time to read James Madison ~ Jeffrey

from a recent photoshoot

bread line

gratitude

Daddy ~ Sloane
a new job! ~ Relyn
Republic track meet with Sloane ~ Jeffrey

art installation at Crystal Bridges

the favorite

gratitude

small group ~ Sloane
good news ~ Relyn
having fun picking up trash with the kids ~ Jeffrey

Shaffer vow renewal

Ha Ha Tonka roofline

gratitude

a good and injury free track meet ~ Sloane
Sloane did so well in track ~ Relyn
Sloane ran with perseverance ~ Jeffrey

Ha Ha Tonka state park

seventeen years

gratitude

Missouri Conservation Department &getting to hang out with Alex ~ Sloane
a quiet day with Jeffrey ~ Relyn
wildflowers ~ Jeffrey

Shaffer vow renewal

the rings

gratitude

getting to do the service project at Glendale HS ~ Sloane
time with Morgan ~ Relyn
getting grocery shopping done ~ Jeffrey

Shaffer vow renewal

@ the meet

gratitude

a good track meet ~ Sloane
watching Sloane do long jump, and for how brave she is ~ Relyn
MLLMAS, Sloane's hugs, and Relyn's kisses ~ Jeffrey

This is the first time Sloane ever did long jump - including practice. 

Ha Ha Tonka

gratitude

getting to be home ~ Sloane
a good movie night with Sloane ~ Relyn
quesadillas ~ Jeffrey

setting of a vow renewal Relyn recently photographed

Depression Bread Line by George Segal

gratitude

swim team ~ Sloane
time with Krista while Sloane swims ~ Relyn
Mr. Casey ~ Jeffrey

at Crystal Bridges

Alec Jackson

gratitude

my homework was done quickly ~ Sloane
three hours to talk with friends today ~ Relyn
Scott Walker helping me with the read-a-thon ~ Jeffrey

I love taking senior pictures, especially of former students. 

more spring blooms

gratitude

Numb3rs ~ Sloane
a beautiful vow renewal photo session ~ Relyn
getting the taxes done ~ Jeffrey

These blooms were only about a 1/4 when I took these pictures. 

Spring in Missouri

gratitude

Priceless ~ Sloane
a great date day with Jeffrey ~ Relyn
a great date day with Relyn ~ Jeffrey

just blooming

tiny, tiny flowers

gratitude

going to Priceless tomorrow ~ Sloane
the servants who put together the Priceless event for every Nixa eighth grader ~ Relyn
a pleasant evening at home with Relyn and Slaone ~ Jeffrey

playing with the macro lens

Easter table

gratitude

no homework ~ Sloane
I passed the test! ~ Relyn
doing book talks ~ Jeffrey

Ibu's Easter table...

Spring glories

gratitude

the pleasure Jeffrey takes in hiking* the way Sloane gets up before sunrise on Saturdays to hike with her Daddy * patient friends * delicious food * successful shopping trips * buying new Easter outfits * my Mom's Easter table * the surprising Easter cake Mom made this year * jeans Monday mornings * learning to use my macro lens (see above) * public libraries * painted furniture * getting at home projects finished * audio books * laughing with my students * GoNoodle * singing along to my Disney Tunes Pandora station * binge watching Netflix * having all the ironing done * stocking up on half off Easter candy * Cadbury Eggs * dogwoods, redbuds, and other flowering trees, the solace of the outdoors * thoughtful gifts from family * old cameras and other treasures * photographing former students * plans for new adventures * my new watch, which I got for Christmas and utterly love * inches of silver bangles jangling on my wrist * writing every morning * a morning Bible study habit

It has been an entirely crazy, hectic, not-very-much-fun kind of a month.  Of course, that's the time above all others to count your blessings, but sometimes, life just takes over and runs you ragged.  The list above is my list of a month's worth of blessings.  Jeffrey and Sloane will be back soon with their own daily gratitudes. ~ Relyn 4.9.16