I love the sound of uncontrollable giggles when I blow raspberries on Callahan’s feet after bathtime. And the way he sticks his feet in the air for me to do it again.

I love sitting outside on a cool Fourth of July weekend night with friends gathered around talking.

I love getting lost in a good book. Audio, ebook, physical copy. I love them all.

I love when my peonies finally bloom and I get to share them with my people.

I love taking photos of my normal/everyday/boring life to keep me grounded and present.

I love when my dogs greet me after a particularly long day.

I love calling my mom.

I love library books and my consistent over-ambition when I’m in the stacks. I love contemplating which one comes first as we drive home.

I love baby shark, but only for the way that encourages my son to use his hands to chomp for each family member in the backseat of the car.

I love curating series and collections and finding trends amongst things that matter.

I love going for walks. I love naps. I love driving with the windows down.

I love the feeling of crisp and clean sheets on wash day.

I love organizing and planning and feeling in control.

I love the thrill of a plane touching down in a new destination, ready for adventure.

I love inside jokes with my brother about lunchmeat and moscata. And I love how the “inside” has expanded to include our spouses.

I love the way that people react to kids. People my grandparents age lighting up when Callahan waves at them, remembering their own “good ole days”. The way that he dries the tears of a neighbor. The way that we all watch a video of him giggling on repeat.

I love the smell of coffee and how it always reminds me of airports, the only place I consistently smelled it as a kid.

I love dreaming and planning and talking with Kevin about the craziness of life…way past bedtime.

I love the people who make you feel known and understood.

I love the comfort of well worn clothes that are just the perfect fit.

I love a fluffy journal full of life, and goodness, and hard stuff. And of course lots of pictures.

I love gatherings of likeminded people. Open conversations. Growth.

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Prompt inspired by Create Anyway by Ashlee Gadd. One of my favorite five star reads from 2023.