Daily Mercies

After being so heavy in the last post, I wanted to also share evidence of the small mercies granted to our family every day.  These are the moments that sustain us, that lift our spirits and bring joy to our days.

 Jonah and I decorated a pumpkin to be called "Brownie" after the food he was really craving that day.

There's a wedding musician that brings flowers to RIC from weddings he performs at.  This week, he not only brought flowers but hats!

More hats and sunglasses with attached sideburns!

Tuesday/Thursday are Julia's favorite days at school because her "boyfriend" Joshie is there too.

We try and not play favorites, but Anna-Banana may be Jonah's favorite.  This could have to do with his love of food and her role in facilitating that.

Can you tell it's almost Halloween?

To enjoy a nice fall day, we went to a park and sat in the grass.  The pure joy that Jonah got from feeling the grass, pulling it up and smelling it, and throwing it around brought tears to my eyes.  There is immeasurable beauty in the mundane.

When your friends have a therapy dog that comes to visit while you're home, life couldn't be better.

Julia, of course, had to have a pink cake for her birthday.

You want a water gun fight?  You got a water gun fight!  Again, simple pleasures and the heart of joy.

I don't think we'd every actually come downtown for the marathon, but since they ran right past Ronald McDonald house, how could we resist.  It was cool!  We also got to cheer on our friends, Ryan & Mandy Kelley, who ran a killer marathon!

Julia's birthday buddies, Joshie & Samantha, helped keep an annual tradition alive of our 3 family birthday party.  Only the best of friends would trek to the city with their families on a Sunday evening to enjoy the wonders of an RIC birthday party.  Again, it is the beauty of everyday things that take our breath away.  The cupcakes from Sprinkles helped too.
 

In everything, we couldn't ask or dream of better friends or a more supportive community.  We're almost 12 weeks into this journey and everyone still keeps showing up in big and small ways.  We know we don't deserve such steadfast and faithful support, but we're not going to question it, we're just going to be grateful, so very grateful.