Favorite Things

68. Abby Hutson and her creativity and her professional-grade belly art that still makes me laugh.

67. All of the laughter at the Easter egg decorating party with the neighborhood ladies.

66. A husband who is willing to tie my shoes and shop for our groceries.
65. Cool air that flows from the vents at our home on super hot days, reducing the effects of the little oven that I carry on my front.
64. Fresh green grass and bare feet.
63. Daffodils, violets, peonies, pansies and petunias...all of which are gracing the flowerbeds around our home.
62. The discipline of learning (slowly, painstakingly) to give thanks even in the discomfort of pregnancy's last month.
61. The anticipation of being a mom, of holding a new life, the fruit of love.
60. Little girl outfits and tiny cute pink socks and special baby showers.
59. Ice cold water and lemonade. (I literally think I drink at least a gallon each day.)
58. My sister Rebecca's visit during Spring Break and our fun trips to Botanica, the zoo, the shopping mall and Cow Town.
57. 33 days left until little Eliana's due date (May 6).

Favorite Things

56. People who do hard things. People who choose the hard path of discipline in the moment, so that in the future there will be peace.
55. The garden in our backyard that is dormant right now. I keep dreaming of what we will soon be planting in it, come spring. Thoughts of planting and watering and harvesting are fulfilling.
54. Community. Wherever I find it. In my neighborhood. In my workplace. In my church.
53. Rain falling on Lake Texoma in Texas as I waited for Adam to finish the Cross Timbers 50 Mile Race
52. Learning how to breathe through contractions in labor at birthing class. (It's a favorite thing now, because I dearly hope it helps, but I am sure that contractions themselves won't make it on my list of favorite things!)
51. A beautiful pink bouquet of Valentine's Day flowers from my husband that I discovered a day too early in their hiding place!

Favorite Things

50. An older neighbor who scraped my windshield and watched me leave for work every day from the sidewalk to make sure that I was safe while Adam was gone in Bangladesh.

49. Open sky country.

48. A kind teacher to instruct our birthing classes.

47. Making bierocks for the first time and loving them.

46. An incredibly beautiful and mild winter that seems to be nature's apology for a hideously hot summer.

45. A Superbowl party at the City House with friends and neighbors.

44. Hearing stories of the Bengali church on fire with passion to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

43. Having my husband back after missing him for 10 days while he was in Bangladesh.

42. A maternity swimsuit (thanks to my in-laws) that let me enjoy an awesome swim today.

41. Being an aunt!

Favorite Things

40. Unpredictable Kansas weather, which recently went from warm to bitter cold and drove me to the comfort of cozy chairs, big blankets and hot mint tea.

39. Down comforters.

38. A beautiful warm January day and a walk along the Arkansas River with my mother-in-law.

37. Trendy coffee houses.

36. The feeling of accomplishment after a long to-do-list is finally completed.

35. Cream of Wheat with brown sugar.

34. My husband arranging for the trunk latch on my car to be fixed after years of not working.

33. New blinds for the kitchen windows that give the room a lift.

Favorite Things

32. A brother-in-law who is really handy and helpful.

31. Remembering that life is not a sum total of my possessions ( a remembrance that comes after some of your possessions are stolen.)

30. An awesome book my mom found for me for Christmas, Loving the Little Years.

29. Celebrating the new year with lots of junior highers at Friends Student Conference.

28. Opening Christmas presents for Eliana.

27. Feeling (on the outside) Eliana kick for the first time on Christmas Day.

26. A name for our daughter, Eliana Beth.

25. Sheep grazing in the sunset.

24. Bentley Farm, every part of it, but especially the high hill overlooking the Catskills.

23. Walking through New York City and taking in all the Christmas storefronts, lights and ice-skating.

22. Resting with family, and enjoying Christmas past-times, puzzles, carols, family games, food, laughter, excitement and good-will.

Favorite Things

14. Homemade guacamole and Sunday potlucks with Fiesta soup.

13. Listening to Adam talk to Little Baby Girl. ("I like you already, little girl. Do you think you'll like me? I miss you. Are you okay in there? I know I will like you because I really like your mom.")

12. Feeling Little Baby Girl jump up and down (for the sheer joy of being alive?) on the inside.

11. Time to ponder incarnation.

10. A Behold the Lamb of God concert done by young and talented Wichita musical artists.

9. Neighborhood holiday parties, also in the City House, meeting new friends from our block, young and old.

8. Playing Pictionary with 24 people in our City House and enjoying well-known friends, young and old.

Favorite Things

7. Skype conversations with family in New York.

6. Good-morning wake-up hugs and kisses from Adam.

5. Blue skies, and lots of it, in America's heartland.

4. Sonograms that allow me to peep into our baby's world.

3. Students who hand their work in on time.

2. A husband who doesn't mind eating egg sandwiches with me for dinner.

1. The first dusting of snow on our front step.