Thursday…randoms…it’s been a week <3

It has been a full week since I have posted and part of the reason is we have been on the go and part of the reason is that I have been processing a difficult event that happened in our community and to post seemed almost frivolous and callous. 

So it is with a deep sense of conviction that people are dealing with a lot of heartache and loss that I just add some randoms from the past few days. 

Random #1

Since John was unable to travel home for Christmas, we scheduled a long weekend to see him after the new year. 

He suggested we go to Magnolia in Waco on Saturday and then head over to College Station and watch the Longhorns play the Aggies in basketball. It was a lot of driving, but we had a great day. 

Random #2

I know a few friends who are very in the know about JoJo, Chip and the whole Waco scene. 

I am not so much informed. 

But we loved our visit. 

We had a great meal at the Magnolia Table. The menu was not overly complicated, yet offered a great selection of items and the prices were comparable to any local place we might visit for lunch.

I opted for Jo’s favorite chicken salad – on a croissant. It was good  but John’s biscuit order with a flight of butter spreads stole the show. Literally the best biscuits I have ever eaten in my life. 

Random #3

We noted that the parking is free and you can enjoy browsing without the need to purchase a thing. 

John had gifted me a nice certificate for Christmas and I used it to purchase two sets of napkins and a set of funnels. All of these were things I actually had on my list to purchase somewhere so it was fun to get them here. The napkins were considered Christmas items and so I got them on sale with an additional discount. 

I loved the home decor store because it gave me so many ideas for ways to use things we already have. The photo above was taken in one of the living room set ups. Very pretty. 

Random #4

Because of the winter storm in the midwest, our flight was canceled and so instead of boarding our flight at 6 A.M. in Austin and a quick trip home and all day Monday putting Christmas away, we rented a car at 7:30 A.M. and arrived home at 11:30 P.M. Monday night. 

We are tired. 

We are also grateful. 

Grateful for time with John, grateful for friends who hired a guy to clear our driveway and grateful for our cute little neighbor girls who built a darling snowman by the garage to welcome us home. 

Random #5

We drug our exhausted, road weary bodies up north Tuesday to pick up the grands. 

Russ and I sat on the bench at their kitchen table and watched Joel and Caroline sled down the small hill that banks their backyard. It was basically like a Little Tykes slide, but they did it over and over, laughing every time and looking over at the window to make sure we were watching. 

We fought back tears because the snow and the fun are in stark contrast to the horrific story some of our friends are facing after a terrible accident involving some young kiddos in our community. 

Like so many others, we carry a heavy burden for some families while trying to navigate the normal life we have in front of us. 

After the sledding, we worked on homework. Russ and Caroline went over her study guide while I fixed dinner for the hungry hordes. 

As I watched the two of them banter back and forth, I thanked God for the normalcy of it all. The gift of life without struggle for now…a treasure to be thankful for. 

Life is fragile. 

Hug your people. 

Be thankful for the mundane and the ordinary. It is a sacred gift.

Pray for those who are struggling. 

Love fiercely and always remember…

you are dearly loved.