thankful for...

• the exact people that God has placed in my life. the people that i get to be with on a daily basis. thanks for these specific brothers and sisters.
• all of history. every single event, relationship, wonderful thing, sorrowful thing--all of that comes through the hands of a good and strong God.
• our new baby. Nina Joy Stepanian.
• a sky that is always changing, always beautiful.
• the holy Word of God. that i can read it any time I want. i'm thankful for freedom.
• that God doesn't stop working in me.
• Ana loving Anja.
• trust.
• friendship.
• funny things like the Office.
• a warm coat.
• good food every day. and that I get to grocery shop. i like that.
  
• a healthy body--for me and people I love.
• Grandma, still standing firm.
• Dad who is wise and loving. Mama who is a dear friend that leads me to Jesus.
• that I know God's calling on my life. that he's been clear with me.
• for emotions.
• books that stretch and encourage and judge me and influence me.
• a warm and safe and inviting home.
• a church where I want to be.
• music.
• beauty.
• redemption in Jesus.
  

the great Elizabeth W. Stepanian!

happy birthday (plus two days)!!!
i couldn't ask for a better mom. really. i'm totally convinced of that. in these past years i've truly enjoyed being your daughter, your sister and your friend.
i thank God for a mother that:
respects and loves and submits to my father, trusts God,
sacrifices joyfully (like you even gave away a kidney!), raised John and i well, has cooked a LOt of meals...and keeps cookin em, is honest about faith,trusts Christ in me, likes to hear my stories and ideas, thinks i'm wonderful, soaks in the Word, goes for walks, cares for her mother and brother and sisters, goes through hard things with a whole heart, is really joyful and eager to serve, has calculated and embraced the risk of raising her children to follow God, learns new things, doesn't agree with everything, prays and prays with me, lets us play pool and eat ice cream on the beach on Christmas day, enters into sorrow, sends me sudokus, loves me lots.

mom, i sure love you. and i'm celebrating your life!
ydly

little bit o' this, little bit o' that

item one: jr high girl book club. praying that just the right girls will be a part.
feeling? sweetie pie.



item two: music video we're using for a high school English lesson. ahhh...the black-eyed peas. is this actually a prayer? and we do this in school??
feeling? "badness is what you demonstrate. where is the love?"
i must say, i do love this song.

and you gotta love the contrast.

sleepy girls :)

For our Pižama Party we had a full night of laser tag in the freezing cold,
hot chocolate and friend stories,
snackity snacks,
friendship bracelets,
The Cinderella Story and Princess Diaries. :)

How in the world is Meagan looking so chipper?

everyone should have a good chicken story

I rented a guest house from a family while I was in college. One day I was rushing to school and Tessa, the 3 year-old-daughter, came around the side of the house singing, "Turkey lurkey, turkey lurkey." She was carrying a shocked, stretched-out chicken by the feet and the neck. I almost fell over I laughed so hard.