the gift of lighting

I came home yesterday around 6:15pm and was so surprised to see how high the Sun still was. As I walked into the house, I got to the most wonderful treat in the lighting through my curtains. I adore soft, afternoon lighting, and with the silhouette of the tree, I felt like it was a little present from Jesus for my romantic heart :)

Gems from last week

This is how often I was home this week...

I've started using my guest room as a painting room and place to spend time with God.  It was also my dad's birthday this week, so it was fun to craft him a small present.

One of my TA's made this - his Mini-Wheat Man - with disregarded staples. Ahhh what high-schoolers do when they're bored... 

I am not proud to say that I showed my students the honey badger Youtube video. I thought they would find it amusing, but I forgot how crass it was and how much high schoolers latch on to things. 

 This shirt appeared shortly after.

Neighborhood changes

My parents helped do a little landscaping when they were here, and it's been so nice enjoying the new plants around! One of them is this tiny cactus my mother insisted on buying. Surprisingly, it bloomed this past week! Look how CUTE it is :)

 

Did the colors catch your eye?  Especially the background one?  Yeeeeeppppp, that's my neighbor's freshly painted house.  The same color as yours right?  It's that subtle, Mexican pink. 

You guys will never get confused which house is mine again. 

But I utterly love it! I'm hoping this means my house will get to be some color like this:

Everyday life

Here are a few snippets from life this past week...and I got a new grey dress, which made it fun being a girl today :)

Erin, Julie, and adorable Everest

a teacher's favorite thing to find on her desk

 One of my former students at work with a gorgeous sunset

 the sunset from Summit before my star party

my parents are visiting! it's been very fun, and they've been EXTREMELY helpful fixing up thing that I never have the energy to do