detours.

Today I’m thankful that we don’t always get where we think we’re going in life.

Helps keep me mindful that I’m not in control after all.

ps. http://tinyurl.com/3yqw825 

This is the color that is about to go on the walls in my kitchen.

Kinda nice that paint can be straightforward even when life isn’t. :)

221.

memories of summer.

thankful.

ps. 221 days until we get to do it all again & then some.

catfish & bikinis.

So today I found myself standing in the middle of an AutoZone half an hour from home praying on the inside, asking on the outside for someone to come help me jump start my car {a GMC, that’ll be important in a second} across the street. 

The sales clerk was very helpful in offering the use of a handy jumper cable gadget thing but said he didn’t have anyone available to actually assist me.

The only other customer in the store?

Angel Joe.

‘I can help you. I work in the service department at the GMC dealership here.’

Don’t you just love it when God answers your prayers right in front of your face?
Turns out Joe wasn’t sure if he was going to stop in AutoZone this afternoon but he did. 

& I know exactly why.

Also turns out that Joe just moved to Salida from Texas two months ago.

I told him I grew up in Fort Worth & how much I miss Texas BBQ.

He told me he misses ‘catfish & bikinis.’

Hilarious.

Thank you Lord for a new battery in my car, Angel Joe, Texas BBQ, catfish & bikinis.

That could quite possibly be the funniest prayer I have ever prayed.

Ps. I’ll be baking cookies to drop off at the GMC service department very soon.

Snickerdoodles are my favorite, how about you?

sweet tea & remembrance.

Hot air balloons always remind me of my dear Uncle Charlie who loved them.

Uncle Charile was a sweet, sweet man of God & we said a tearful & yet jubilant filled goodbye to him this past May.

I am grateful for the difference he made in my life. 

He left an amazing legacy of faith, service, love, humility & kindness.

& as my oldest daughter so poignantly said, I miss his ‘earthly life.’

ps. Uncle Charlie made the BEST sweet tea, I miss that too.

& a special pps. On this day of remembrance I am beyond thankful for the men & women & their families who have served or are serving our country.

10.

1.Dr. Pepper

2. Snail mail from family & friends {especially my mom & my friend Jenna, they both have lovely handwriting}

3. My cruiser bike which I often refer to as my ‘happy place’

4. Carolina basketball - go heels!

5. Chips & salsa

6. Memories of flying with my Pop

7. Hymns

8. Quiet

9. Target

10. Aspen trees

10 things I’m thankful for on the 10^th.

ps.I'm thankful it was difficult to limit the list to 10 things.

Life is beyond good!

made for this.

In the spring of 1987 I was in the 8th grade & Blake, a cute, older boy who lived down the street, invited me to something called ‘YoungerLife.’

I had no idea what he was talking about & because I had not quite learned the equation of cute boy + invitation = say yes, I did not accept his invite.

But thanks to good friends I did end up going & I truly believe this is one of the major events that shaped the course of my life {& no, it’s not because of the cute boy, I actually don’t recall seeing Blake again}.

YoungerLife was simply an introduction to YoungLife.

YoungLife is an outreach ministry to middle school, high school & college age kids & I have spent the past 23 years involved with this amazing organization in some way.

In high school I was a YoungLife club kid & went to weekly gatherings as well as Campaigners which is a Bible study {not a time to campaign for local political issues which is what I initially thought it was!}.

YoungLife helped me realize that this God thing is an everyday thing, a personal relationship not just something to be found at church on Sunday mornings.

I spent one of the ‘best weeks of my life’ as a high school camper at Frontier Ranch, one of YoungLife’s camps in Colorado {a mere 7 miles from my home now}.

During the week I rode horses, rappelled down a cliff, square danced, learned more about this amazing God that loves me no matter what & got bit by the camping ministry bug.

In college I was a volunteer leader & helped put on the very same types of gatherings that I attended in high school.

During the summer months I volunteered at Frontier Ranch.

After college I took a summer internship at YoungLife’s family camp, Trail West.

I thought I would be at Trail West just for the summer but I’m still there & that was 15 years ago.

I even met my husband through Young Life, guess I finally figured out that equation!

So tonight as I head to our local area’s annual fundraising banquet I am thankful for the ministry of Young Life.

I’m thankful for all the Blakes, Mallorys, Jaces, Leslies, Randys, Petes & countless others that are reaching out to kids in mighty ways, earning the right to be heard that they might have the opportunity to share of the hope found in life with Jesus.

I'm thankful that YoungLife has played such an amazing role in my own story.

ps. Don’t forget about the sparklestudio giveaway!

Visit Jamies Precious Peas to enter!

the world of a story.

Today I am thankful for books.

The sound of my older daughter reading to her younger sister & the giggles that ensue is surely one of the choruses of heaven.

This older daughter of mine is a self-professed bookworm & one day last week she told me 'I got lost in the world of a story.'

Isn't that delightful?

I hope you 'get lost' this week!

ps. Are you on Goodreads?

Let's be friends! You can find me under 'Clare Butler.'

I love to know what people are reading!