Best of my days. {28}

 Do you keep a thankful journal? I've mentioned it at least a dozen times on this blog, but I do. Most every day I take time to list a few things I'm thankful for. It's a practice I've had on and off for years now. I actually use it in therapy with my clients, too. Adults and kids. I've found that the most angry or depressed people can start to crack their rough circumstances just through the practice of gratefulness. One of my favorite clients {I know, you're not supposed to have favorites. Sue me.} had been dealt such a tough hand in life that for a couple months all she could write in her journal every day was "I'm glad today is over." A little melodramatic, but it was her reality. Slowly, she was able to start listing things like having her favorite KoolAid or having enough quarters to do one load of laundry or a hug from me at the end of our session. Your life probably looks a lot different than her's, but I would venture to bet you could benefit from practicing gratefulness. Start your own list today? I promise you'll notice some neat things happen to your attitude!

321. hugging a grieving friend
322. really cold and fruity smoothies each morning
323. rain showers
324. dinner dates with Justin
325. a growing garden
326. helping kids reach their goals at work
327. transitioning out of one season and into a new one
328. Parenthood
329. string cheese
330. a brand new air conditioner for our bonus room

Best of my days. {27}

 It's been some time since I sat down to document the little thankfuls in my life {on this blog, it still happens pretty consistently in real life!}. But with a heavy heart this week, it feels right to start it up again. No matter the situation or season, there is always something to be thankful for. Obvious or not, God is good in everything.
  This week, I can't help but love the fact that the sun stays up longer and the nights are warmer. My garden is starting to sprout {minus the starter plants I cheated with that were already growing!} and I can't wait to have snow peas in a few weeks. Our lilac bush is blooming this week, and it's hard to walk outside and not smile when hit with it's perfume-y scent. I don't hate that I caved and made another batch of no-bake cookies to have on hand this week. And tonight is cooking club, which is exactly what my heart needs right now- friends to laugh, cry, pray, and eat with. Amen?


What are you thankful for this week? Even if it's just making it through the day, there is always something to be thankful for!

311. summer nights
312. walks around the neighborhood
313. newly planted flowers
314. no bake cookies
315. brunch, supper, and ice cream dates with Justin all in one day
316. letters in the mail
317. hugs from Justin
318. Chelsea's sweet gift for baby boy
319. phone calls from Lori
320. Weimaraner cuddles

Wrapping things up.

   Can you believe that Christmas is only 2 days away? Crazy town. New Year's and 2014 will be here just as fast. Last year, I joined a few others and spent some time reflecting and taking stock of 2012. I loved doing that kind of stuff, looking back and seeing a big picture. Especially because, when you're caught up in it, its hard to really appreciate it all. I think there is just something really important about taking time to intentionally and quite literally count your blessings
  So, of course I'm doing it again this year and I'm teaming up with one of my absolute favorites, Julie! And we'd love for you to join us. Here's my post and the link up from last year- it was really great reading everyone's thoughts and recaps on 2012. My post will go up on January 1st, but you can link up at late as January 6th. I'd love to hear about all the ways you were blessed by 2013!

And be sure to grab the button to share!

<center> <a href="http://jkrush.blogspot.com/search/label/Taking%20Stock%202013" target="_blank"><img alt="Tomorrow With a Smile" src="http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii521/krush_717/TakingStock2_zpscbbb9780.jpg"/></a></center>

Best of my days. {26}

 

 

  {in effort to choose joy, I keep an online and offline journal of things I am thankful for}

TGIF!!!! This week has been a really long one at work and I am So. Glad. Its. Over. Also, I'm just super excited for this weekend. Justin's brother is in town and we're meeting up with his aunt and uncle and parents tomorrow to watch his cousin's football game at MSU. On Sunday, we have our monthly family dinner with my side= lots of niece and nephew cuddles. Basically, all family all weekend. What's not to love about that??

301. last Farmers' Market of the season
302. my adorable and cuddly pups
303. family!
304. adventure planning with J
305. Hart of Dixie season premiere. Wade. What else is there to say??
306. Fastest run in long time
307. sending packages. the post office. new stamps. Everything about mail, really.
308. eating supper together every night
309. new mums!
310. hope of things to come 

The Whole series:

Day 1. #31days of Choosing Joy

Day 2. Let's chat. 

Day 3. Nouwen's words. 

Day 4. A choice. 

Day 5. A picture. 

Day 6. A quote. 

Day 7. In marriage.

Day 8. Fake it.  

Day 9. A song. 

Day 10. Zucchini bread. 

Day 11. Best of my days. 

Best of my days. {25}

 
   It's friday night {morning, really} and I feel alright...the party's here one the westside {the northside, really}...
  
   I love me some Montell Jordan, guys. Also, Fridays. I love Fridays. And photobooth, which I'm realizing that I don't use enough these days.

291. morning walks with the pups
292. family time
293. wine and good friends
294. a healing dog toe!
295. really quality time in the Word
296. giftcards
297. successful first days at work
298. a husband who cleans up after wine night
299. feeling content
300. dark chocolate covered almonds

Best of my days. {24}

   It's been one of those weeks. One of those months, really. My days are so busy and weekends have been {and will keep being...} packed to the brim. Which really is wonderful. I just know my limits, and I know I'm burning out. I love people so so much. But for every hour of being social, I need at least 3 alone to recoup. Are you like that? I'm never sure if I'm an introvert or extrovert, but its seems like the older I get, the more I lean towards the former. Either way, here's to a really fun weekend of wine night and MSU football with family. And hopefully having a Sunday with some quiet and not as much time with people. Ha! That sounds so terrible. Here's to the weekend!

281. tube socks

282. a husband who cleans the garage

283. cooking club!

284. mums on my tables

285. a functioning bonus room

286. the end of training at work

287. sleeping in until 7:30a

288. craft night

289. enchiladas

290. late birthday gifts 

Best of my days. {23}

   Hellooooo, Friday!!! I haven't been this ready for a weekend in a long time. I think I will really love my new job, but sitting for 8 hours straight listening to someone talk at me {also known as training} is seriously starting to drag. Hooray for being at my school today! And tomorrow being Saturday! And fun house projects this weekend! And a nice big glass of wine somewhere in there!

271. hitting all the green lights on the way home from work
272. rain
273. a new picture with the hubs that I love
274. babysitting my bff overnight
275. new notecards
276. packages in the mail (!!!)
277. hillsong in the mornings
278. suppers with Justin
279. SYTYCD finale (and my favs winning!)
280. old school burnt cds

Best of my days. {22}

{follow me on instagram: @krush_717}

   One of the first things I said to Justin this morning, before I was even out of bed, was how glad I am that it's Friday. Holy heck, this has been a long week. Why is the week after vacation always So. Long.??? I'm glad that, besides my niece's birthday party, we're laying low this weekend. As in, barely leave the house, low. Laundry, cleaning, sleeping, eating. That may be all we do these next two days. And it sounds like an absolute dream! What are you up to this weekend? 

251. a whole week of rest
252. fresh garden veggies, despite not being watered for a week!
253. fall-like weather
254. tan lines
255. books in the mail
256. finding others to wait with
257. a vacation souvenir 
258. chats with our new neighbor
259. a clean kitchen all week
260. J making dinner

4.

  This week, J and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary. Gosh, that's crazy to think about. It feels like 4 months and 40 years all at the same time, you know? In all the best ways. I love the simple life we're building. If you would have asked us on our wedding day four years ago, I'm certain we couldn't have predicted where life would take us. 
  So, here's to year 5 and even more joys and challenges than we couldn't dream up if we tried. There is absolutely no one else I'd rather go through life with than you, Justin! 

ps. our 3 year anniversary
pps. our 2 year anniversary
ppps. our engagement story here and here

251. finding ways to love Justin
252. having a love to celebrate
253. extra time with Justin this week
254. surprises
255. a whole evening together
256. sharing our my favorite pizza
257. walks around the neighborhood
258. vacation excitement
259. 4 years ago I married my best friend
260. dunkin donuts 

Best of my days. {21}

“Gratitude is more than just feeling good,” says Nathan DeWall... “It’s an equal-opportunity emotion. Anyone can experience it and benefit from it, even the most crotchety uncle at the Thanksgiving dinner table.” {NY Times}

What are you thankful for today??

241. feeling lots of love and prayers yesterday

242. a Gigi's cupcake surprise

243. constant fresh flowers in the house

244. lots of cuddles

245. a long weekend

246. finding a new trail

247. cooking from my garden

248. morning runs

249. tan lines

250. vitamin d

Best of my days. {20}

   I'm not exaggerating at all when I say that Lauren is one of the best people I know. It was really just happenstance that we ended up as roommates my senior year, but also one of the best things ever. 5 years, two weddings, three pups, one miscarriage, one church plant, countless starbucks/panera dates, and a handful of moves later- and I'm still so very thankful to call her a best friend. Lauren, you deserve to be celebrated today. If I was in Denver, I'd give you the biggest hug. And probably cry. One of us always ends up crying (in the best way). Love you, girl. Hope your birthday is fabulous!

ps. Jersey was chosen as Dog of Day! Read more here. 

231. it's Friday!
232. dogs that chase rabbits
233. stay-at-home date night
234. tan lines
235. day at the pool
236. yard sale finds
237. our backyard
238. finding a dogsitter
239. rainy days
240. a new month

Best of my days. {19}

 I'm seriously jonesing for vacation. Good thing we're going to the lake with friends next month. I'll just have to wait until Thanksgiving to get back to Florida...

ps. Christmas in Florida

pps. Thanksgiving in Florida

221. goodies in the mail

222. a house full to the brim

223. Murphy not peeing in the house

224. a supportive husband

225. drinks and talks with Kathleen

226. lots of sunny days

227. being full of dreams

228. talking about social justice with friends

229. nephew time

230. curtains finally hung

Best of my days. {18}

  We had our first cooking club this week {a la Bread & Wine}, and it was wonderful. Humor me and pretend the pictures are equally as wonderful, mmk? We all brought a dish and then made risotto together at Katelyn's house. Guys, risotto is no joke. There's a lot of stirring and sinkholes and broth-adding involved. But, when you have white wine and lots of laughter and 5 ladies...you can't really go wrong. 

  If you read my real-life thankful journal, you would notice a legit theme over the past 6 months. Relationships, intentionality, really good friends. Between book club and cooking club {I love clubs!} and small group and a visit to Denver and grad school girls and wonderful, lifelong friends- I've just been really blessed with great relationships lately. 

  As cheesy as it is, my friends lately have felt like Aaron and Hur in Exodus 17:12. You know, when Moses' can barely hold his hands up any longer and they literally hold them up for him? They were his strength and encouragement. In a way less dramatic sense, that's how my friendships have been lately. In no crazy or notable ways, just through laughter and texts and prayer and every day things. I'm so thankful for that.

211. friends

212. growing garden

213. 2 days off!

214. a new candle

215. no more cable bill!

216. homemade pie

217. breakfast dates & challenging conversation

218. meeting exercise goals

219. gifts for others

220. curtains finally hung!!!

Best of my days. {17}.

  Hey hey its Friday! I've been kind of dragging this week, so I'm extra excited for our date night tonight, a 5k tomorrow, and and lazy Sunday. 
  It seemed really fitting to include this video below in my post about thankfulness this week. It was made by our office intern and Little Brother, Damon. {Its also on our agency facebook page} He made it for his mentors and its pretty sweet. Maybe it will encourage you to become a mentor? Or just tell someone you're thankful for them today. Either way, happy weekend-ing!!



201. rainy saturday
202. productive sunday
203. deep-cleaned bedroom
204. grown up pups!
205. picking up an old favorite devotional
206. gaining mileage
207. cool, evening walks through the park
208. planning a date night
209. adult summer reading program at the library
210. homemade pizza

Best of my days. {16}

   This week has left me exhausted, even though it was a short one. Why do the shortest ones sometimes feel the longest?? Either way, its the end of the week and month {busiest time at work}. I had my grad school girls over last night for a cookout {thanks, husband!} and wine and Pacers-watching. I say it all the time, but damn, I've got great friends. A glass of wine {or steamy tea} and some friends around a table makes anything better. Even a long week. 
  Cheers to the weekend!


191. Saturday shopping
192. Amish cheese at the farmer's market
193. a movie date
194. wine with work friends {outside of work}
195. a really, really long weekend
196. summer cookouts
197. having community
198. walks that turn into runs
199. waking up to a clean house
200. gardening

Best of my days. {15}

  Friday! I have a theory that the excitement and hoopla surrounding Friday's started way back with TGIF. I mean, who didn't love Friday's in the 90's? 

  Between book club, headboard planning {its happening! its really happening!}, deep cleaning, and hopefully catching up with some old friends- this weekend is looking good already. Temperatures are already pretty steamy here in Indiana, and I'm not complaining one bit. I love long, summer-ish weekends. Here's to hoping this one's just like that!

181. wine & food with friends

182. good friends

183. Justin being my DD

184. laughing

185. building community

186. lifetime movies

187. a clean house

188. a growing garden

189. noonday plans!

190. thankful text

Best of my days. {14}

 Yes. Amen. That quote is so true. 

  I have the day off with just about no plans {short of a wine tasting with friends tonight!}. I'm a little beside myself. I've only checked my work email 4 times, so that's good. Right? Maybe I'll get some cleaning done and go for a run and plant some flowers. Maybe I'll watch Call the Midwife. So much room for activities! Its kind of the perfect ending to another full, full week. A slow morning to sit with Jesus and reflect and practice hope & faith is never a bad way to start a long weekend, you know? 

  So, here's to the weekend! Here's to building a calm life rooted in gratitude. 

171. a new book

172. Justin's hard work

173. fresh flowers around the house

174. a day off

175. mornings and evenings in the backyard

176. hope

177. Liz Barron. {you made the blog! :D}

178. mom's successful surgery

179. Brooke Frasier in the car

180. feeling really, truly full 

Best of my days. {13}

  Oh heyyyyyy, May! You nearly snuck up on me, but I'm not upset at all. I love you. I really do. Warm weather, gardening, cookouts, Cinco de Mayo, a few days of overdue PTO, hiking, open windows, and guacamole. You're too good to me, May, too good.

161. fresh mowed lawn

162. Ikea treats!

163. stir fry with friends

164. celebrating J's promotion

165. early morning sunshine

166. adoptaversary celebration

167. setting new goals

168. taco night

169. girls' night

170. a clear decision

Best of my days. {12}

  Its been one of those strangely full & exhausting weeks, yet I'm feeling totally re-energized and excited today. I've been surprising myself in a lot of ways this week {um, hello late night gym rat}- and I kind of like it. Even more, God seems to be up to some things in my heart, strange things, and I don't hate it. I'm feeling less afraid to set more goals and dream new dreams. Maybe I will start an etsy shop. Maybe I will make an unlikely professional choice. Maybe I will keep running, and running and feel back to my old self. Who knows.


146. free Chickfila
147. a back rub
148. a new book
149. morning sunshine on the couch
150. asparagus
151. sprouted seedlings
152. a clean kitchen
153. a full house
154. book club
156. wine with friends
157. trusting God with new things
158. catching up with Lauren
159. late night gym runs
160. this article

Best of my days. {11}

  Spring in Indiana is just about the best thing ever. {But I say the same thing about fall and summer...} My favorite part is how all of the sudden, it is in full force {along with spring allergies- which I seem to be immune to these days. And then I just jinxed myself for saying that} It only started warming up a week ago, but the trees are blooming and the grass is a bright shade of green. Because I'm one of the cheesiest people you've ever met, you won't be surprised that every year this verse floats around my head perpetually these first few weeks of spring.

 I like to think that God made seasons because he also made us, and knew how quickly we'd grow restless of things. Just as soon as I'm tired of being cooped up and endlessly cold, the season shifts. Just as soon as I think one more sweltering day might just kill me, the season shifts. 

 It's during these first days of a new season outside that I find it especially easy to be grateful. Which is nice, since you know, winter seemed especially long and cold this year {I'm looking at you, Mr. Snowstorm in March...}. One day, I dream of having a fully grateful heart. And I think the more I practice, the closer I come. Truthfully, though, I'm just not there yet. That makes these first days and weeks of spring that much sweeter.

 Anyone else super cheesy about new seasons like me? Tell me I'm not the only one that gets so introspective and nostalgic!

127. a Goodwill gift card
128. a clean house
129. Mia & Murph
130. Chick fil a
131. a free date night
132. 4 miles
133. encouragement from Justin
134. an early morning commute
135. sharing a couch at night
136. green grass
137. a good, early morning run
138. backyard in bloom
139. a summer-like storm
140. fresh daffodils
141. breakfast with Justin
142. losing weight
143. a new Bible study {with Justin}
144. free craft supplies
145. in bed by 9pm