Gerbers & All-Stars.

You know what, it's been a great week or so.
Yeah, it has.
And, as always... you know where I'm giving the credit. The little... yeah. Those things that change you and inspire you without knocking your socks off in the most obvious of ways.

Here's a few.

I no longer have 3 night classes a week. Great, right?! Yeah, it's great. So, for the first time in a long time I can be in a girls' Bible study! I felt really content getting to sit around a table with 9 other wonderful women (suggesting I'm also wonderful with how I phrased that), talking about the Word, and writing in one of my collection of most favored notebooks. Also, eating chocolate almonds. Mmm.

Then, the next day, I woke up. Yep, the little things...
Okay, actually I woke up to check my email... and discovered a snow day! 3 classes became Zero. I read a novel at 8 in the morning. We went for brunch with great friends. And then I beat them all in Settlers. Lovely.

Then, the next day, best ever.
Not because I got braces, which I did.
But because my husband dropped me off at the orthodontist... which was nice, but not the nicest part...
He dropped me off, then he bought me flowers!
He said he thought I should have flowers since I was having braces :). I adore these flowers. And all of you little-things-appreciators know why without me having to explain.

Then, the next day I took my Grade 8 basketball team to a 2-day tournament in Duncan. I better just list the little things that made the trip such a quality time...


- These girls know how to ask questions - they show genuine interest without even realizing that's what they're doing!

- Watching the most consecutive offensive rebounds in a row... without a single basket being scored :)... and nearly having a heart attack every time.

- My team cheers for each other so loud without me ever having told them to do it. Any other coaches out there know how unusual this is.

- Putting in one of my players and having her eyes light up as she says, "really, you want me?!" I'm sure we could all take a lesson from that.

- Awesome parent chaperones who kept me caffeined, laughing, and encouraged. And who, as a group of 3, cheered louder than any bus load of other parents in the gym. 

- Having one of our players who has never really played before suddenly get it and start hitting shots and making great plays and stealing the ball and hitting the floor and... This precious girl sometimes isolates herself from her peers, but it was something else to watch her blossom in this and to see the team just draw her in in their own way and love on her... and then to see her beam when she got an all-star award (which she didn't take off for the rest of the day) :). To be honest, what I loved almost more was how the 11 other girls exploded in cheers, without hesitation, when she got her award. To me, this makes my team beautiful.


May your week be full of conversations around a table;
Moments of unexpected rest;
Thoughtful surprises received or given;
And precious people in whatever form they come.