Fridays are for Favorites #44

Wow — Friday is here again! With my new school schedule, the weeks seem to fly by — but I’m not complaining! This weekend is full of fun activities for us, hopefully one of which will be apple picking! Last fall was such a transition period for us since it was close to our big move, so I’m looking forward to soaking in our second North Carolina autumn even more this year. What are your weekend plans?

Below you will find some things in life and in links that made my everyday extraordinary this week – I would love to hear about yours in the comments!

Life Lately

Date Night Dessert. Y’all. Our main meal was amazing and then they brought us this for dessert. Gluten free!! Winston friends, Five Points is a must try! (Also, Rachael G. is the server you want — she was great!)

(PS They don’t know me, or this blog, or that I’m saying anything about their restaurant… :))

Morning Sunlight. I’ve made no secret about how much I love how our yard backs up to a ravine with trees tall enough to seemingly touch the sky. In the morning, the sun streams through and wakes me up when I come back from walking the dog — ah. So peaceful.

Reminders that the World isn’t that Big. We had a “blind date” (haha) with another couple this past weekend thanks to my in-laws. Both of us came to North Carolina from Texas, but didn’t meet before last weekend. We enjoyed a great meal, enjoyable conversation, and left with promises to schedule a Baylor watch party soon!

Tieks. Some of you recognize that box, some maybe not. I may do a more detailed post if I decide I’m keeping them, but Tieks are a raved about ballet flat that are supposed to change your feet’s life (haha — I kid, kind of…just do a google search and see what I mean about “raved about”). I’m breaking mine in…and deciding if they are really worth the price (which is very ridiculous, but I have looked for flats for over a year with no success, and fall is here. So, I saved up, and here they are. We shall see…) Anyone have Tieks experience they want to share?

Couch to 5K App. We decided in order to make exercise a priority, we needed a goal. So we found a 5k and 10k in North Carolina in November, and we are going to do our best to train for them! This app (so far) has made my workouts almost too easy! It beeps/vibrates when its time to switch from walking to running, keeps track of your time, and tells you how long you’ve been going and how far you still have. (I’m sharing this partly for the accountability! So check on me ok? 🙂 )

Dallas the Dog Picture of the Week

Oh Dallas. We made a record of two vet visits for our almost nine month old puppy child this week, one of which was because he woke us up multiple times during the night with gastrointestinal distress….fun times over here this week, I tell ya! But as you can see, he’s back to smiling (bottom picture), and “helping” us (aka getting in the way) do dishes. (He’s also 67 pounds now!! What??! And still growing…uh oh!)

Links Lately

“What feels worshipful? Where can we follow Jesus best? Are we learning something new? How can we serve? How are we being transformed more into the image of Christ? As Jesus worked on my heart, I switched from critic to worshipper.” Such a relatable post by fellow hope*writer Lindsey Cornett for Debby Hudson’s blog – In Search of the Perfect Church 

“I think of our eleven-years-in journey and the daily glances and the tongue-in-cheek comments and the making the bed and the raising of these babies of ours and the exhaustion and the wine on the back porch and the work, oh the work it takes.  I think of our everyday ordinary love and I think of how much we’ve changed in eleven years as our feet find steady ground after each earthquake that has shook our world and how with each wobbly step towards each other we whisper I choose you still.” A beautiful post by hope*writer Sarah Sandifer on When Staying Married Feels Impossible  

“Come. Watch. Learn. Listen. Step. Step. Smile. Rest. Savor. Step. Savor. Step. The lilting rhythm draws me in, coaxes me forward. It doesn’t yell orders or scream threats. It offers, it doesn’t take. It grants joy rather than induces panic. It is a mantra, not a regime.” Join Greer this month over at Ordinary Epiphanies as she invites us to Put Aside Your Regime {An Invitation to Autumn Mantras that won’t deplete}

“From my mother’s womb
You have chosen me
Love has called my name
I’ve been born again
Into your family
Your blood flows through my veins
I’m no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God..”  Can’t stop listening to these inspiring words that make up the song No Longer Slaves by Bethel Music

Yummy Link of the Week: As the fall breeze starts to rustle the changing leaves, there’s nothing that sounds better to me than a warm cozy feeling dinner — that’s why this Turkey Chili Taco Soup on Skinnytaste caught my eye this week – a simple ingredient list and simple steps make it even more appealing!

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What’s making your everyday extraordinary this week? Have a wonderful weekend!

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Linking up with Heather — check out more Friday Favorites here!