ask for help

Day 11 – 52 Good Things

I know how hard it is to stay grounded in a chaotic world. For over six years, I’ve written about my search for beautiful things in a world that aches and groans. Hundreds of readers have trusted my posts to whisper into their hurts, search for the good, and find simple things to delight in when things aren’t going as perfectly as they could.

We live in the challenging dichotomy of good and bad. Of catastrophe and regrowth. Of pain and beauty.

Babies are born, flowers bloom, and magic exists in a bowl of pasta. People die, jobs are lost, families are estranged.

In my writing, I honor the mystery that God allows both the dark and the light to exist.

This week, we got news Dylan lost his job. We know we are privileged and we have back ups. Not everyone does. We know we have family. Not everyone does.

There are hundreds of worthy causes to donate to right now and asking for help is hard. If you have read my blog over the years, gotten encouragement from my words, or want to support a friend, please consider throwing a few dollars in the new tip jar available on here.

Stay safe. Stay searching for the good. We’re going to get through this by looking for beautiful things.

And now on to continue the list:

68.  This video – even when she smells the lilies (submitted by Christine C.)

 

69. This artist who is designing hugs you can send in the mail

70. People who offer to grow you plants

71. Prayers

72. Sleeping until 8

73. Positive attitudes

74. Teriyaki marinade

75.  Seeing a hawk in my backyard

76. This blog post on purpose during a pandemic by Zach Mercurio

As a reminder, send me a note with the good in your world at 52beautifulthings at gmail dot com or a DM on Instagram. Keep em’ comin.

Day 7 – 52 Good Things

How did today go for you?

I had a small panic in my gut when deciding if we should venture out to Home Depot for a project. Both me and my husband froze. We know we aren’t hiding from zombies and we want to be wise. I texted a friend and wonderfully, they had what we needed. We traded cookies for paint rollers, got to send elbow bumps their way, and spent some time in the front yard after dropping goodies off on porches and waving see ya’ soon.

They keep saying the worst is yet to come and I hate to dwell on that thought.

Maybe it’s true. I’m hoping people are staying inside, loving their people, and using FaceTime or What’sApp (free on all phones) to stay connected. As we head into week two, know I’m thinking of the magnitude of all of this and the beautiful moments we can still find and create.

Like (40) bubbles in Sourdough starters and (41) live cooking classes via FaceTime with my mom.

Here are a few more good things. I can’t wait to see what good you’ve got happening in your homes, on your screens, and in your connections. Even STILL.

As a reminder, send me a note with the good in your world at 52beautifulthings at gmail dot com or a DM on Instagram. Keep em’ comin.

42) Watching a church service online while texting a friend watching the same service.

43) People maintaining social distancing- and not complaining about it.

44) Prayer chains

45) Recommendation from a friend to listen to music by Sherri Youngward. (check her out on Spotify or her website. You’ll be glad you did.)

(42 – 45) submitted by Suzanne M.

46) Baking bread from scratch

47) Planning the garden and starting seeds

48) Playing with the dog in the yard

49) Testing new recipes (with adjustments for the ingredients you’re missing 😆)

* 45-49 submitted by Tegan P.

Who will round out our first list of 52 Good Things?