Hello Monday

 

Happy Monday, friends! How was your weekend? I'm linking up with Holly and Sarah to talk about mine. 

My weekend was epic, because I'm writing from Colorado, so first off, there's that. Here are some things that have made it the very best weekend...

Waking up to these beautiful flowers from a sweet friend made me so happy on Friday morning. I got these on Thursday, but I forgot to mention them in Friday's post. Aren't they lovely?! 

I love writing Scripture! It's getting me back in the word of God consistently, and I love the art of handwriting. I have so many friends who are copying Scripture right now; they're going book by book. One friend just finished writing out the book of Matthew! I think this is amazing and I may do that on my own someday. 

It was a fun day at school, because it was Friday before fall break. We had dance parties, jam sessions in the classrooms, underground dress up days for just the staff, and we played games and colored all day. That night I had dinner with a friend and then relaxed at home before packing early the next morning. 

Here's my stuff all ready to go! My stepdad Bill picked me up and drove Trish and me to the airport. 

We had a great flight coming in and we were happy to be on the tram to get us to our sisters! Lisa picked us up and then we went to her house for the rest of the day. We had dinner over there...a shrimp boil...and the whole family was there. It was amazing. 

I met my newest great niece, Ella Blake! I love, love, LOVE getting to be here with my great nieces! This was a fun night; the image of all of us in one place almost makes me cry. All we needed was Mom, Bill, and the rest of the family in Memphis and it would have been perfect.  

I only have pics of Lisa's house, but both my sisters are incredible decorators. Their styles are completely different, but they're equally as talented and I love both their houses. Please know that I love her Halloween tree and want to do one next year. I started to do one for me this year, but I couldn't pull it together. We left and came back to Debi's house after this, which is where we're staying this time. 

I was so happy to see sweet Cowboy, but it was mutual, trust me. He got SO excited when I got out of their car and came inside! I love him so much. He's eleven now! We sat on the back porch for a couple of hours when we got to Debi's house; the weather was perfect. 

We spent Sunday at a pumpkin patch and at my niece's house. It was a fun and long day; the elevation got me when I walked up a bit hill back to the car and I had an asthma attack. After a few hours I was okay, but it took the wind out of me, quite literally. It was an amazing day and I cannot wait until today! 

Thanks for reading my blog, friends! I'll see you back here tomorrow. Love to all!

Jen 

why I love fall in Colorado

 

Happy Sunday from beautiful Colorado! I'm so grateful to be here. Please don't ever think that the fact that I am able to travel on my own is something I take for granted; I promise I don't. I am so thankful that the Lord allows me to be able to do this. I think this every single time I ever get in my car for a road trip, or when I board a plane. 

Colorado is one of my favorite places to travel because it holds so many of the people I love! Here's why I love it in the fall. 

I love going in the fall, because when it's the right time of year we visit the pumpkin patch with my favorite little people in the whole world! We'll be at one tomorrow, and I cannot wait. (This picture was taken in the dead of summer, NOT the fall.) 

I love getting to see Cowboy; he's one of my top six dogs (he's in the mix with my grand dogs), and it's fun to see him on these trips, no matter the season. I can't wait for him to bring me Moosey (his beloved stuffed moose) and to follow me around. 

The scenery like this is the best in the fall. Those Aspen trees are practically on fire at this time of year!

I love the many sister opportunities that we have, no matter the season. I can't wait to take lots of pictures with back drops like this, or even better! 

Flying in a festive time of year is always fun!

I love going at this time of year because no matter if we're at one of my family member's homes or just driving about, the scenery is literally breathtaking. I feel so fortunate to get to travel to such a beautiful place year after year! Thanks for reading today, friends. Love to all! 

things that are 10/10 in my life right now (on 10/10)

 

Happy Saturday, friends! I have to give Amy a shout-out for the idea of this post. I was having dinner with my friend on Wednesday night, and she texted me this idea. I loved it and am always in need of inspiration for the 31 days of writing for this month. I'll jump right in! 

1. Having something fun to do at night is totally working for me lately! On this night I had to change clothes to get back out when Jonah's friend asked me to come up to their hang out spot with them. I talked Marilyn into coming with me, and it was a fun way to spend an hour on a Wednesday night.

2. Teacher treat days are working for me right now! It's nice to have something even tiny like this to look forward to each month, and each month, there is something. 

3. Saturdays in which I can explore with Marilyn are working for me! We need to do this again ASAP, maybe even when we both get back in town? 

4. My fall and Halloween decor is working for me right now! I love it all so much.

5. Delicious meals are working for me right now, especially when Jonah grills the meat!

6. Having a cute and quirky mug for my morning coffee is working for me right now. I love this little guy that I purchased from Home Goods several years ago. 

7. Hanging with the girls is working for me right now! This was the most fun night. 

8. My daily Sing devotional is working for me right now. This day was my favorite recently. I love that it's low commitment! My traumatized brain needs this right now.

9. Having these books on hand to read at the start of my day is also working for me right now; they live on my kitchen table so that I can do them at night if I want to do that time instead. Mornings get away from me!

10. Last, but not least, is being outside before the sun rises praying and singing out loud to God. I loved this morning of worship before work on Wednesday of this week; it was revitalizing to get out there so early and breathe in that crisp fall air!

What's working for you right now? As a reminder, I'm out of town for the next few days, so I'll be slow to respond to comments...or I might not at all. I've scheduled some posts to publish while I'm gone so I can keep up with the writing challenge for this month. Come back tomorrow and check it out! Thanks for reading, friends. Love to all! 

Jen 

Friday Favorites! 10.9.2026.

 

Happy Friday, friends! I hope your week was good; mine went by really fast. I have some favorites from the week that I thought I'd share today! 

Their trip isn't mine to share, but getting pictures like this of Dew and Mallory on vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee this week have been my favorite! I love that Mallory has been texting me and her mom all week long. This makes my mama heart incredibly happy!

Writing Scripture is still my favorite thing to do every morning. I run out of time while I'm at home, so I end up doing this with the free morning time I have at work before I have to report to my arrival duty each day. 

Seeing this neighbor go all out in my neighborhood is my favorite! They add to it daily during the month of October, which is so funny to me. It's not long that they leave it all out before they pull it down again and start on the Christmas, which isn't nearly as much. 

Seeing this sweet bestie for dinner on Wednesday was a favorite for me! We go way back...to the year I started homeschooling Jonah and Noah in their fourth grade year. I'll never forget meeting her the first time; I sat down at her table with her as my small group leader for Bible study, and it was an instant heart connection. We've never looked back since! 

This day of my daily Sing devotional was my favorite; the hymn was Be Still, My Soul and they had Joni Erickson Tada on there as a guest speaker/singer. I love her so much! 

Y'all. Season 4 of Ted Lasso has been the best ever; I have cried in every single episode, and by this moment in the show that I watched this week, I was bawling my eyes out. I've wondered about this and why it has such an effect on me; I think it's because of how Ted responds to the people in his life. He's such a kind soul (yes, I know he's just a character in a show)! There was an episode where his assistant coach was going through something, and rather than try to talk it out with her, he just went next to her and sat down. He breathed alongside her, taking deep breaths until her breathing matched his. I have this in my own life, so I think it just resonates within me. Also, can I please find a man that's just like him? I'm kidding. Kind of. 

I'm going to wrap up this week of favorites with that one, but I'll be back all weekend, so come back and visit! Thanks for reading today, friends. Love to all!

Jen