I absolutely loved this post from Sarah Bessey: In which this is saving my life right now. And apparently, a lot of other people did too (like my friend Allison), which sparked Sarah to create a syncroblog where other bloggers can share their own answers to the question, "What is saving your life right now?"

So I'm supposed to tell you quickly, without overthinking it, just spilling it out...

This trip to New Jersey, where I am for the whole month of August, is absolutely saving my life right now. It's been a hard day - a hard year - emotionally. As strange as it can be to return "home" for an extended period of time after becoming an adult, there are those wonderful moments when you can become a child again. Tonight, my mom reminded me of something an old friend said that she never forgot - "When you cry, I cry." She's the kind of mom who does that, not just for her children, but for everyone.

Heart friends who share burdens with me and rejoice with me and send a little text message to say "I love you" save me when the whole world seems like it's going out. Which is often for an INFJ like myself.

My sweet little girl whose smile and passion and compassionate heart bring so much joy to my every day. Her newest exclamation, "Look at THIS!" makes me giggle every time - as she points to a kitty crossing her path, or a butterfly fluttering around the pool, or a squirrel in the back yard.

I don't know how much longer she will be nursing, as she's a big two-year-old now, but I'm happy to continue providing that for her a little longer. She came from my body, and the special bond and quietness we share during this time is so fleeting...

A husband who understands me and encourages my dreams and creativity. The other day in the Marimekko store in NYC, I was swooning over all the beautiful fabrics. I was thinking, "Wow, those are beautiful but too expensive, so let's go," but he said, "Could you make something fun with just 1/2 yard?" I left with two 1/2 yards of different fabrics that happened to be on sale as well as the personal email address of the sales girl who helped me, another creative soul who loves to sew and secretly cut me a little more than she was supposed to of the dandelion fabric so I'd have enough to make pillowcases.

Salty caramel gelato inside a crunchy waffle cone on a warm summer day - not just because it's delicious but because I chose not to think of the sugar content and just enjoy every last sweet, melty bite. I swear, something is magical about gelato from Eataly - I cannot stop thinking about it.

Trees with hearts in them. Especially because those same trees were trimmed today, and the heart shape is no longer there. But in my memory, it is.
Cooler weather. Leaving 107 degrees, I almost wept when the first 80* breeze swept across my face, closed my eyes, soaked it in.
Joyrides in my mom's Jeep with the top off and wind blowing my tangled hair, driving past frolic-worthy fields so beautiful you have to veer the car over to the shoulder to snap a photo.

But, I think what's saving my life the most right now is this simple truth, which I've written about time and time and time again:

I am not alone, not alone, never alone.

Thank you, Jesus. My introverted self can get so deep into my head, into my thoughts, and sometimes I feel like I'm drowning. But those compassionate hands of my God, and the skin-and-bones people here on earth whom God uses as His hands, reach down and literally pull me out. Time and time again, I'm thankful for grace and second chances and that His mercies are new every morning.

What is saving your life right now? Please, join in.