I’m grateful this week.
Here’s why:
this cute {and very messy} face
packing
{love it}
because tomorrow we leave for our annual vacation to the lake
{that’s our cabin in the background}
I’ve gone up there since I was eight
{which would be just a few years ago…ha ha ha…not}
I’m grateful for the importance of family that my parents instilled into us
Our vacation?
It’s about family.
And being grateful.
And rest.
{i love northern minnesota}
My neighbor, my friend, Maria, blesses me.
We chat in the yard late at night till the mosquitoes eat us alive.
We’ll pull weeds and laugh and share stories.
Her daughter, Belle, is my daughter Gracie’s best friend. Ever.
It’s good for my soul.
Before we moved here I prayed for good neighbors.
Nightly.
Little did I know that I would be blessed with more than great neighbors
I also got an amazing and dear friend.
I’m thankful for a working air conditioner
in the midst of 106 degree heat index warnings
and iced coffees
and speaking of iced coffees
I finally saw my blogher and gatorade ad
on the pioneerwoman’s blog
right below the iced coffee recipe. 🙂
{and yes, sigh, my name is spelled wrong. no one ever seems to spell rachel right.}
I’m blessed by friends to talk with
and cell phone charges for the car
and twitter on my phone
{I’ve learned to love twitter — so easy and fun you can find me @finding_joy !}
late night ice cream bowls shared with my daughters
and new profile pictures {finally} taken by my oldest daughter when the light is “just” right
{that would be me}
and, of course, silly pictures taken during that same shoot
sprinklers that work
{really, this is a blessing as 3 of mine broke today}
{really, this is a blessing as 3 of mine broke today}
and catching fireflies late at night
then waking up a sleepy Brennan to show him the firefly in the glass jar
sitting on the boat, trolling through this channel, and fishing
{yes, I love to fish and yes, I’ll put on the worms}
prayers for health for Elijah
{thank you}
{thank you}
and a truck to drive tomorrow
that all the dvds are produced and edited and finished with pictures for
the North Ballet Spring Performance
{please ignore my I spent the last ten hours working on these hair}
and really, honestly, a blog to write
It’s a blessing.
It really is.
It really is.
Any favorites from this week? Or plans for the 4th of July?
If you’d like to link your own {friday} favorite grab the button at the top of your post, write away {or choose one of your favorite posts or pictures of the week} and then enter your link. Be sure to try to comment on those around you. Comments are always a fave!
Blessings to you ~ rachel {not spelled with an ea}
17 comments
That lake retreat looks so inviting! I hope you have a wonderful time, and I pray for health for your family. Happy Friday!
Great post, Rachel! Once again, you’ve helped me see the joy in my own life 🙂
I hope you and the family have a wonderful trip. We are headed to my family’s lakehouse in upstate NY.
YAY on your ad showing up on Pioneer Woman’s blog!! YIPPEE!!!
I am learning to love Twitter too!
I hope to link up with this next Friday! So glad to connect with you on Twitter and via the crew, too… looking forward to getting to know you better. Your blog is beautiful!
I can’t believe they spelled your name wrong… But I guess being on the Pioneer Woman’s blog covers a multitude of sins. ; )
Gorgeous new profile picture!!! I think I need a new one… Especially bc mine was taken by myself in my bathroom. How weird!!!
So many beautiful pictures and what fun is on your horizon! Excited for your trip.
Got your email – it thrilled me!
Hugs!!!
Ps. I was going to link up but I have practically zero pictures since Kelly is gone. And a list w/out pictures is you know, boring. I have to take some new ones! Can’t wait to link up next week!!!
Hope you have a wonderful vacation!! Could you bring some fire flies to Colorado please. 🙂
Rachel… how inspiring and full of true beauty.. I love the picture of you both with and without the CD 🙂
I’ll be adding my Friday Favorites soon… but I am hoping for a delightful weekend of family and church…
Have a wonderful weekend.
Tara
Ahh, I’m so jealous of your vacation! 😉 I hope you all have a wonderful, peaceful, restful time.
I, too, am so thankful for deep, great friendships for me and my kids.
Congratulations on getting the ballet shoot done!
What a bummer they spelled your name wrong, but exciting none-the-less!
Happy 4th! Have a fantastic weekend!
Grace and peace.
Beautiful post – I love your first shot.
Hooray for vacations, and friendships, and cute little boys! Hope you have a great and restful time with your family and your heart is renewed. Love the profile pic by the way 😉
BEAUTIFUL profile pic, Rachel! Hope you have a wonderful vacation with your sweet family (glad to see the entire state of Minnesota hasn’t shut down 🙂
I hope and pray you have a fantastic vacation with your sweet family!!
I was born in Ontario and my dad had a very big sail boat, every summer we went sailing through the great lakes. So much fun! We even went through northern parts of Minnesota. I remember it being so beautiful.
I followed you on Twitter, if you are interested I am @CPREzra823
Have a great drive!!
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Your list is just lovely! Have a fantastic time on your vacation! We just got back from one and it was so refreshing. Enjoy!
I loe Friday because of this… thank you. I am so glad the ballet is almost finished. I am sure after working so hard on something – the completion is going to be sweet!
He he… I think Rachael Ray messed it up for all Rachels. Of course, that’s ae and not ea, but whatever 😉
Glad you are able to enjoy time at the lake… have fun!
The bit about the hair while making the DVDs cracked me up!
I hope you have an amazing time sweet friend. Nothing like family and people who pretty much should be family. I can’t wait to hear about it and see pictures (hi Hannah!). Cool about your ad…sorry about the name…I get that all the time 🙂 Beautiful profile pic! Safe travels.
A BEAUTIFUL post!
I LOVE vacations.
I LOVE cabins.
I LOVE lakes.
I LOVE fishing (and I put my own worms on, too).
I LOVE an Iced Mocha (not quite “iced coffee”, but close).
I LOVE Pioneer Woman.
I LOVE how your name is spelled (because that’s how I spelled my daughter Rachel’s name).
I LOVE your new profile pic. (I need to have my daughter take some new ones of mel)
Hope your time is BLESSED!!!
Laurel 🙂