It’s Friday already? My sense of time is all kinds of messed up this week as I adjust to post-vacation life. Dan and I were in Colorado last week from Thursday to Sunday (well technically, 3:00 am on Monday), and then I had the day off on Monday and worked from home quite a bit the rest of the week. I hope to recalibrate my body clock and catch up on some sleep this weekend.

I still haven’t fully processed all that I experienced during this past week. We rented a cabin with my college best friends and their husbands, and we divided our time between outdoor activities and lounging around the house, chatting, and laughing. The trip itself was a whirlwind, and I tried to soak up every moment and be fully present, noticing each emotion, flavor, texture, color, and scent. I tried to commit each moment to memory, both so I could write about them later and so I’d carry them with me until the next time I get to see my beloved friends. What I do know is that this trip exposed and healed each of us in ways we maybe didn’t expect, in ways I certainly didn’t see coming. I also know that my heart is bursting with gratitude for the trip, for these women, and for a few days of pure fun.

Expect plenty more posts about my time in Colorado once my mind has stopped spinning long enough for me to process and write about it. As you might imagine, the trip takes the cake and the top spot in my gratitude list this week. Here are some other things I’m grateful for right now.

Cultivating Gratitude

My dear college friends, and the fact that God has enabled us to stay connected to one another despite the fact that we all live in different states. These women are my people.

The surprise baby shower these friends threw me over breakfast one morning, and the seriously thoughtful gifts they spoiled me and Baby Bergman with. I cried at least four times that morning because they made me feel so treasured.

Cheese popcorn, salted popcorn, every kind of popcorn.

God’s creation: mountains that stretch for miles, piercing-blue Colorado skies, and puffy white clouds. Why is the sky so much more stunning in Colorado? For real, there has to be a scientific reason.

My bed. Because as much as I love vacation, there is nothing quite like sleeping in my own bed when I get home.

Sharing Love

Having a date night is so important for your marriage, but I’ve heard that getting out together is super challenging when you’re new parents. I can’t imagine why! I’m filing away these at-home date night ideas for this winter.

I love sending and receiving thank-you notes, but I have the hardest time writing them. I struggle to balance brevity with expressing a personal, heartfelt message, and I usually end up writing a book. I love these tips on writing thoughtful thank-you notes.

Erin’s wedding posts are always spot-on, and this one about the dos and don’ts of shopping for your wedding dress is no different. I especially agree with “buy a dress that feels right for you.”

For much of my life, I’ve struggled with wishing away the time and being too eager to get on with the next stage. I’m consciously trying to live more in each moment and treasure each life stage, and this post is helping me to stay challenged and inspired in that effort.

Gluten-free, dairy-free (un)fried ice cream. There’s nothing else to say.