The Shafferland Shuffle

Good morning, friends! I failed to mention on the blog yesterday that it was April 25th...the perfect date! You remember...

Hope it was a perfect date for you! Meanwhile, here's a look at our days from this past week.

* Last Sunday was just a beautiful day of rest. We did not look our best at jammie church, but we did attend jammie church! I did a little jamming with David Phelps on that Sunday classic known as Nessun Dorma. (David was not at our church. I just needed to sing with him.) Even Braeya joined us for church, which she sorely needs. After church, we enjoyed a day of rest and joy!

* Ryan already missed having a project, so he started a new one (or two) on Monday. :) Remember that master closet we JUST reorganized? We decided to paint it. So everything had to come back out of the closet, and he had to remove all the bolts and hooks for shelves we eliminated, and mud and sand the holes so we could get ready to paint. While he waited for the paint to dry, he started on the NEXT project. I had decided a while ago that I wanted to do a board and batten look in our entryway, so I pitched the idea for him and he got busy cutting and applying the boards for me. He made my vision come to life! While he did all that, I worked - and we did go for a run, because it was a nice evening!

* Tuesday brought more mudding/sanding/painting - and nail filling on the board and batten project. Basically all the tedious work that really doesn't leave you with any sense of satisfaction when it's done. I had staff meeting that day and did some writing and other work, too! We had a beautiful sunset that night, which I thoroughly enjoyed catching through the trees!

* The church had asked me to record a little announcement/promo, and they said I could record it at home and send it in if I wanted, so I had to dust off the podcasting equipment on Wednesday to see if I still remembered how to use it! Ryan did painting in earnest in the closet that day, and it looked so nice. I even helped out a little bit with trim work! I think this week marks the LEAST I've ever helped with projects!

* Ryan went grocery shopping on Thursday and reported that the frozen foods still look as dismal as they did before this pandemic started. Seriously, aside from broccoli, we haven't been able to get frozen veggies for a month and a half. He did find some toilet paper for my friend Amber, though, and she stopped by on her way home from work to get it. We stayed on opposite sides of the door and talked for a while. (Anne of Green Gables talks about Katie, Anne's "window friend," and I told Ryan I feel like I now understand what a "window friend" looks like.) Also on Thursday, I finished trimming and patching the paint in the closet, so that night we were able to reload it! Our house has a path again!

* Friday was Ryan's birthday! I'll give you the full scoop on that this week, but here's a peek. He did have to work that day, but when he came home that night, we had the most fun little quarantine party! Giordano's pizza and razzleberry pie, a one-car parade (courtesy of my parents), the NFL draft (I didn't arrange that), and an online escape room! He said it was a wonderful day that he loved SO much.

* Yesterday was a lazy picture-taking day for me. Thankfully Ryan came through and saved the day! He worked, and I stayed home working on blog stuff ALL DAY LONG. (Hence the lack of photos.) Ryan and his work team got free lunch from Chipotle (oh man, I miss that place!) and when he got home, we went for a walk before the rain came. I took this very random picture of my shoes as proof. It was a good day, even if I don't have a lot to show for it!

The Saturday Six

One.

I was hopping around Pinterest this week and stumbled upon a website for a cakery out in Seattle, called "Hot Cakes." As I perused the site, I read this really sweet and inspiring story about how the owner is trying to be creative during this pandemic time by serving hospital workers with cookie treats and simultaneously helping keep her employees on the payroll. As a lover of cookies and a wife of a hospital worker, I think this is is just a wonderful effort!

Two.

I've been archiving old blog posts, you know, and I came across this absolute gem from my commuting days. I have NOT forgotten this day - in all its living color glory - but it's such a great story. And since some of you may not have been around the blog back when this happened, I'd sure hate for you to miss it!!

Three.

I may not have kids, but I still love a good field trip! (Especially to places I may never get to visit in real life.) So I may be sharing this link as much for myself as for any of you...but I found this link on Callie's blog this week - a list of virtual field trips for the young and young-at-heart!

Four.

Well this was fun!!! The Hallelujah Chorus on a whole mess of handbells - played by just four people. This may be the kind of workout I could embrace...

Five.

Have you guys heard of diamond painting? I never had until this week. This post explains it in greater detail, but it's sort of a paint-by-number-meets-cross-stitch adventure. I admit it looks fascinating, but I don't know if I would have the patience!

Six.

Here is the reading plan for the month of May if you're following along with the Gospel reading plan I used last year!

Happy Birthday, Husband!

Today is a Shafferland national holiday! It is Ryan's birthday, and I am so thrilled to celebrate another year with him!

Today we are both doing our best to NOT think about last year's birthday...

Ahhh, yes. Turning forty was delightful and sunny and all vacation-y. And then you know. Pandemics and masks and quarantined celebrations. But OH my goodness, how very grateful I am that on this day we can celebrate together. I have read of couples who had to be apart on birthdays because one was hospitalized and the other couldn't even visit. That breaks every little part of my soul. I am so grateful for Ryan's health and the chance to be with him on this day.

And I'm grateful for the past year we've enjoyed together. Everything is the same: Ryan makes each day a grand adventure. And yet everything is different: we have enjoyed so many new and unexpected adventures over the year. Here are a few of the highlights of how he used this year to serve the Lord and bring joy to those around him!

He is always willing to help people with projects they can't do on their own - and he did that multiple times in the last year. He doesn't always observe safety measures I'd prefer, but he does a great job! I have to work at not being too protective of his time - so he is free to serve - but I love that his heart wants to do this, always.

He has pitched in and served (sometimes literally) at most of the events I spoke at/worked with this past year. We're obviously not in a season where I'm able to travel and speak currently, but I'm grateful for all the times he went with me when I could! Having him there to pray for me as I work and just to be a comforting presence for me goes a long way in helping me do my very best job. 

He has worked so hard to make our yard look beautiful! Indeed, I believe the outside of the house looks the best it ever has since we moved in!

He has continuously worked so hard to serve at church - in every capacity - and here are just a few glimpses of that!

He made me laugh all year long...

He took me on all kinds of grand (and brand new) adventures - like the air show we went to last fall! (And he carried the lawn chairs!)

He made the best date for every adventure we went on, all year long.

He did a LOT of heavy lifting. :)

He encouraged me to be brave - because my chicken heart took over a lot. :)

He celebrated all the versaries with me. Months, engagements, and years!

He voluntarily washed windows. (I have to give credit where credit is due, and no I do not take this for granted!)

He sent me selfies when I was gone at a conference and hardly able to stand how much I missed him!

He not only tagged along when I had took pictures for people, but he grabbed a camera and helped take the pictures!

Did I mention he helped me be brave?

He is always a great teammate, and this past year he helped so much with small group things - both our own group and helping run the program at church. (This first picture was from when we met up with our group to wrap Christmas gifts for the Rescue Mission and the second one was when we completed a study last fall.)

He's been a great friend and encourager to SO many people!

He surprised me with amazing dates that made me feel so loved and special.

He has embraced my Pinterest-induced vision for our house and has done amazing things to make it look even better in the past year. (Who are we kidding? Past two MONTHS! Thanks, quarantine!)

He has relaxed with me and made time at home a true joy.

He's the best breakfast-maker.

With all the changes that have come about in the last couple of months, he's rolled with every punch. His work has changed multiple times, and he has embraced each change without complaining - or fear.

He has provided for us as the official store-runner for the house.

And he's made a safe place for my heart in a scary time.

Yes, this year's actual birthday may look quite different from years gone by, but Ryan's unwavering determination, faith, perseverance, and love haven't changed. I appreciate how he has chosen to spend his year of being 40 - and how he chooses to spend EVERY year of his life. I'm grateful he chose me!

I love you, Ryan! I hope today is wonderful!

Your Bekah