Baby buddies. (30 days of thankfulness - day 9)

/

I'm thankful that Bre and I were pregnant together, had our babies within two weeks of each other, took walks together all through babyhood, and now get to see our babies-turned-vibrant-toddlers playing together.  It makes my heart happy to see the friendship between Luci Belle and Jack.  We might not always live two streets away, but that we do right now is really a gift.

Now...

And then...


~ ~ ~

During the month of November, I'm practicing "30 days of thankfulness" - will you join me?  Use your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to voice your thankfulness for something every day in November.  My hope is that this daily routine will create in me a heart of thankfulness and gratitude, no matter the day or month or situation.

Our neighborhood. (30 days of thankfulness - day 8)

/

I'm so thankful for our super artsy and diverse nook of Dallas, North Oak Cliff.  It's the home of our small business, where we've been welcomed into the community with open arms, and where we get to pour back into the community.  It's the home of the Bishop Arts District, a small strip of Main Street USA in the heart of the city, with unique restaurants, shops, and events.  We first discovered Bishop Arts in early 2006 and were amazed that it even existed in Dallas.  Today, Bishop Arts is bustling and is even becoming a little touristy!    The white twinkle lights year-round are a bonus.  Who doesn't love twinkle lights?

Most of you know my pining desire to live in Nashville again one day...but for now I'm in Dallas, and I'm learning contentment. Right now, Oak Cliff is where I am and where I want to be.

Our store looking fallish

Eno's Pizza in Bishop Arts looking quite whimsical

Enos' Portland-ish interior

Coming into Oak Cliff at sunset over the Margaret Hunt Hill bridge

Dallas skyline as seen from North Oak Cliff

~ ~ ~

During the month of November, I'm practicing "30 days of thankfulness" - will you join me?  Use your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to voice your thankfulness for something every day in November.  My hope is that this daily routine will create in me a heart of thankfulness and gratitude, no matter the day or month or situation.

Just the two of us. (30 days of thankfulness - day 7)

/

We've been recapturing the spirit of "Team Bails" lately.  Our "team" mentality was slightly misplaced for awhile in the midst of having a baby and then a very spirited toddler who keeps us on our toes and doesn't allow for much alone time.  It's so easy for it to happen, especially when you have kids and very busy schedules. But "just the two of us" is so important, the biggest priority. God joined us together as one flesh, and that is how it is for life.   Thank God.

~ ~ ~

During the month of November, I'm practicing "30 days of thankfulness" - will you join me?  Use your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to voice your thankfulness for something every day in November.  My hope is that this daily routine will create in me a heart of thankfulness and gratitude, no matter the day or month or situation.

And this crazy brood too. (30 days of thankfulness - day 6)

/

They gave me a home when I first moved to Dallas, they're the ones who first made me an aunt.  I'm so thankful for my brother Glen, sister-in-law Trish and their three wonderful kiddos who live just 30 minutes away.  We might not always live this close.  I'm thankful that we do, though, especially while our kids are still young.  And heck - while we're still young!

Love you guys!

~ ~ ~

During the month of November, I'm practicing "30 days of thankfulness" - will you join me?  Use your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to voice your thankfulness for something every day in November.  My hope is that this daily routine will create in me a heart of thankfulness and gratitude, no matter the day or month or situation.

This crazy brood. (30 days of thankfulness - day 5)

/

Thankful today for my cousins back in New Jersey, a hilarious and crazy brood that I'm blessed to call "family."

They're still without power, 7 days and counting.  And if I know them well, they're probably helping everyone around them that they can.

Not pictured: Cousin Brian who was a Barney-loving toddler when I babysat him for an entire summer during college.  Now he's studying abroad in Australia, swimming with sharks.  Time flies.

~ ~ ~

During the month of November, I'm practicing "30 days of thankfulness" - will you join me?  Use your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to voice your thankfulness for something every day in November.  My hope is that this daily routine will create in me a heart of thankfulness and gratitude, no matter the day or month or situation.

My mommy. (30 days of thankfulness - day 4)

/

My beautiful mom had another birthday on November 1st.  How very thankful I am for her life which formed mine, which has nurtured me every day since I was born.  She's the one who taught me to swerve to the shoulder on a road trip whenever I saw a beautiful photo opportunity.  She's the one who sacrificed time and money to take me around the world when I was young, so I could experience other cultures and learn to love all different kinds of people.  She's the one who created a warm home for us, one where laughter and creativity and God's love were always present.  She's one daring woman, who writes her own raps and performs them in groups of strangers without hesitation.

She's not perfect, but what mother is?  She's not perfect, but she's mine.

The other day, we were talking about some sleep struggles I've been having with my daughter, and I told her the plan we'd put in place that was finally providing us all with a lot more sleep, peacefully.  She asked, "How did you get to be such a smart mom?" And I answered, "From watching you." I hardly feel like a "smart mom" most days but it's true - I learned about mothering from her, about compassion, and about serving.  She's never criticized my practices of attachment parenting or done anything less than fully support me in everything I've chosen in life (yes, even the unfortunate pre-teen stage when I insisted on taking TV commercial acting classes - seriously?)

All of that to say, I am thankful for my mommy.  She won't be here with me forever, so today I celebrate that she still is.

~ ~ ~

During the month of November, I'm practicing "30 days of thankfulness" - will you join me?  Use your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to voice your thankfulness for something every day in November.  My hope is that this daily routine will create in me a heart of thankfulness and gratitude, no matter the day or month or situation.

Gas, food, electricity. (30 days of thankfulness - day 3)

/

Today I'm thankful for gas in my car, more than enough nutritious food, and all the electricity we need.  This morning, I actually scoffed and said out loud while turning the air down a notch, "UGH!  It's so hot in here!"  Then I was promptly ashamed of myself.  It doesn't seem fair to have such a surplus, and to be ungrateful about it, when Hurricane Sandy has left many of my friends and family and fellow New Jerseyans suffering.

My cousin Steve works for the Borough of Millburn, NJ and has been answering emergency calls practically nonstop from people whose homes have been destroyed by fallen trees.  He posted this on his Facebook page today:

On another tree vs house call...not good...gas rationing starts at noon....odd/even based on plate number...drove by WaWa [convenience store] on New Road in Parsippany.....stopped counting at 116 cars in line for gas on one side of the road....still no power/heat/hot water...but at least we are in better shape then our fellow Jerseyans down the Shore...pretty much sucks.. Keep the Faith...we will get through this...

People in line for gas in Millburn, NJ

One of the many homes cut in half by a treePeople who live on certain sections of the Jersey shore won't be able to return to their homes for months, if there is any home to return to. 

Look at these unbelievable before + after photos of the Jersey shore to clearly see the Hurricane Sandy destruction. 

Lord have mercy on those who are suffering.  On those of us who have plenty, may we be moved to action, thankfulness and generosity.  May we see everyday conveniences like food, gas, and electricity as they are - gifts not to be taken for granted.

~ ~ ~

During the month of November, I'm practicing "30 days of thankfulness" - will you join me?  Use your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to voice your thankfulness for something every day in November.  My hope is that this daily routine will create in me a heart of thankfulness and gratitude, no matter the day or month or situation.