Cirkles Check-In #Summer20

This has been a crazy season, but the sovereign Lord has been ever so present. I referenced in last week's blog how it seemed that things were getting lighter and darker at the same time. That seems very applicable for our season. We've had many disappointments and are feeling the weight of the turmoil our nation is walking through. However, at the same time, we are seeing the Lord visit our family, grant new strength and stamina, and honestly, just give us lots of fun with family and friends that we normally don't have. His ways are mysterious, but His heart always so clear. His heart is our compass these days, as we naviagate all this new. Summer "Officially" begins on the calendar this week, June 20th, so this week's blog is our seasonal check-in to share what we are learning and loving.

Ryan

Things I'm Learning:

• Humility leads to learning. You can't do one without the other.

• To take ownership and take difficult painful things head on.

• The value of slowwwwwwwwww growth and slowwwwwwwwww days.

• Just how wonderful my wife is.

• Through every season the only real peace and joy comes from who Jesus is.

Things I'm Loving

• My wife

• Playing with Oliver in all his "new" : Chasing, playing, laughing, running, etc.

• FaceTime with family

• Seeing mass repentance in The Church and the Country

• Crosswords (Abby here... this new love of crosswords has hit hard. Ryan does 1-2hours every night of crosswords. It’s quite adorable.)

• Salted Cold Foam Cold Brews from Starbucks

• Sour Gummy Worms. But NOT Trolli. (They changed blue raspberry to blue GRAPE.)

Things I'm Watching/Listening/Reading

• Bear Grylls: Man vs. Wild

• Psych 2 : Lassie Comes Home (I will be in July)

• Be The Bridge posts and resources

• Bigger Pockets Podcast

Things I'm Anticipating

• Cuddles with Baby Girl!

• Vacation with my wife

• Museums and zoos with Ollie

• Playing some golf

• 30th year of Texas Bible Institute

• Summertime fun with friends

Abby Things I'm Learning

• My pace of growing is usually connected to my pace of praying. If I feel sluggish spiritually, it's usually because my prayer life has stalled. Prayer walks have been intentionally special for my friendship with the Lord and Oliver.

• God my Father provides all I need. (I recently switched from full-time to part-time in employment to focus on motherhood in a new way. I've been amazed how the Lord has already provided finances, encouragement, and value to me in ways that have been needed. I will admit, even though I knew this is a promotion and the right choice, I've had to face some personal ambition head on as I walk past my degree each day and find myself creating more lego towers than professional content I know I’m capable of. How kind of the Lord to give us seasons and fresh vision for each new chapter.)

• I actually can tan! Who knew?! (Spending so much time with my outdoor obsessed Oliver has left quite the tan line.)

Things I'm Loving

• Watermelon

• Weekly stroller-walks with my dear friend Marissa and her sweet 4 month old Joshua

• Playing hide-and-go seek with Oliver

• Cuddling with Ryan as he does his crossword books in bed (Ha! We're such old souls)

• Oxo Tot Suction Plate for Oliver

Things I'm Watching/Listening/Reading

• THE CHOSEN. People... it's just so good. I can't recommend it enough. You can watch on YouTube or the app. It gives such a beautiful depiction of real life/personality of Jesus and the disciples.

• Rest On Us- Harvest | TRIBL Music

• Julie's Library (Julie Andrews reads children's books. It's delightful.)

• Be The Bridge by Latasha Morrison*Re-reading.

• The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies *Ordered, to be read this season

Things I'm Anticipating

• Gathering as a FULL church family again

• 30th (Early) Birthday trip/Babymoon with Ryan

• Celebrating Ryan's Birthday (July 26th!)

• Summer splashing and exploring with Oliver

• All of the decorating, cleaning, and nesting

• Cuddles with baby girl

Oliver

• 17 Months Old

• Sleeps like a teenager (Seriously. He sleeps 7pm-9am.)

• Devours peaches and blueberries

• Current obsession is airplanes ... all things airplanes.... all the time :)

• Very excited about "sis-sis". He's already such a kind big brother.

Baby Girl

We are under 12 weeks from holding our sweet sunshine girl and can't wait. For all the ladies interested... The nursery is coming together lovely. I'm doing a "Vintage Floral" theme with blush being the main color. Three main focal points as of now:

• This print that I'm using as the theme/color scheme.

• These curtains that are PRECIOUS (Grandma for the win! Thanks Mom!)

• A lovely "Senior Saint" from our church gave me a vintage book called "Flowers of The Holy Land". I'm taking about 9 of those pictures and turning them into a collage wall.

I'm only putting this here because I've genuinely been asked for it. (Which is so kind!) Yes, we have a registry on BabyList linked here:) We'd love an update from you, friends and family! Leave us a comment, email, or send us a text! What are you learning and loving this season? How can we celebrate or mourn with with? Can we pray and believe with you about anything? Let's make this summer count. I think we can all agree, more than ever, that seasons are but a blink. Let's not miss the view. Happy Summer! Abby ***Don't forget... The Cirkles are cheering you on!