Sunday Snapshots: Memorable Moments from the Week

 

I wanted to try something new on the blog this year, so I decided to make Sundays a snapshot day, looking back over some of the most memorable moments (in words and pictures) from the previous week. I’m not sure what this will end up looking like, and I have no real expectations for it in any direction. It may change over time, but all new things must begin somewhere…so we will begin here today!

Ryan and I do our best to fiercely protect our Sabbath, and when we can be home after church on a Sunday, my soul is overjoyed. Watching Ryan and Lexi relax next to me brings great contentment. It’s a simple little moment, but I never get tired of seeing it – or documenting it. May I never lose the wonder of a warm and inviting home with a husband who loves me so very well and a dog who loves as hard as she possibly can. How many people around the world ache for a simple blessing like this?

I finished teaching the fall/winter semester of a Bible study for a group at our church. We started meeting together last January and went through Angie Smith’s book Seamless, and then at the end of 2024, we studied John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way. I loved and learned much from this study, but what did I love and learned from even more? The young ladies in this group. They’re a solid 15-20 years younger than I am, but they are also solid in their hunger for the Word and for fellowship with each other. They made a place for me, prayed for me, extended friendship to me, and taught me more than they will ever know. I look forward to more study time with them!

My brother-in-law’s mom passed away just before Christmas, and her funeral took place on New Year’s Eve. Ryan and I attended, taking my parents along with us. Funerals and the varying emotions that accompany them are difficult and sometimes clumsy, but Jeff did a beautiful job honoring his mother’s life, and I enjoyed learning new things about her. (I’ve known her since I was seven, but I learned a lot I didn’t know!) And while funerals are never a preferred reason for getting together, it was good to see Jeff. I don’t think I’ve seen him for a little over a year.

New Year’s Eve also brought the conclusion of my year-long capsule wardrobe experiment. When Ryan took that final picture, I felt a mix of relief and satisfaction. Relief…because I can finally have a pajama day if I want one, since I don’t have to take a picture, and satisfaction…because it was a significant undertaking, and I am proud of myself for sticking with it for one full year. It wasn’t just a project for me; it was a learning experience, and I did learn more than I ever dreamed I would.

Though I didn’t think of this intentionally, the idea of doing something new on the first day of a new year is a beautiful practice, isn’t it? Ryan and I tried making tortillas for the first time on New Year’s Day, using our freshly milled wheat. It took us a while to figure out our rhythm with it, and it wasn’t seamless, but we had fun, and just as with everything else we’ve made using the milled wheat, the taste-factor was so much better than processed/store-bought. There is also much to be said about the process of kneading and waiting for dough to rest…but that will have to keep for its own post someday.

Celebrating our 145^th monthiversary was a highlight of our week. I love Ryan and appreciate all the little ways he shows love – from warming up my car to telling me he’s proud of me to bringing home a little treat for us to share after dinner. I don’t need big fancy things. Just the little displays of love! (Also, I don’t know what I did differently to my hair that day, but I liked it.)

I find much joy in creating healthy meals for our little family, and we enjoyed many delicious recipes this week. On the coldest day (so far…) the recipe was an autumn kale and chicken salad. It felt strange to make an autumn salad when snow blew angrily outside the window, but I found it somehow made the day feel just a little bit warmer. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true!

As I took down Christmas décor and replaced it with winter (and regular) decorations about a week ago, I made lists of things to watch for as I thrift in the near future. One of those items? A little ambient lamp for our bedroom. We have lamps on our bedside tables, but the globes are clear and the lights – even at the dimmest – are bright. I hoped to find something small to place on a corner table for a soft light when the room is dark. And as Ryan and I made our way through a consignment shop yesterday, we found just the very thing – for six dollars. I think it was made for this corner, and I’m thrilled to mark the first thing off my watch list!

Another favorite moment from this week? Watching Ryan’s Grandma tell him stories about people in pictures as they looked through memories in a photo album. So sweet. Ryan has so many fond memories of growing up with this Grandma being actively involved in his life, and I enjoy watching them talk and laugh together.

                There were many more moments I tucked away in my heart and journal this week, but these are some of my favorites that I wanted to share with you today!