I see them everywhere. In the grocery store. The airport. The coffee shop. At the park.
Moms like me with one hand on the stroller, and an iPhone in the other, snapping pictures of their world.

A bunch of them are over here at Life Rearranged for InstaFriday - link up and play along!

(find me on instagram at mtchristi)

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Our week looked like this...

Sunday afternoon we took a walk at one of my favorite spots along Memorial Drive in Cambridge. 

As you can see, it was a gorgeous day and the view did not disappoint. I'm going to miss this lovely city.

But it's not too hard to say goodbye when you have a one-way ticket to Texas!! 

/ Watching Olympic trials - very tense / Summer rain on the window screen

A drive through Back Bay on our way to church / Mama giving her little cub a cobra lesson / 

We once saw a bunny rabbit in this spot on our daily walk, and now he stops here every time

Peeking over the bridge, looking for ducks / Wrestle-mania in the living room / My current read

Sunshine, dogwood and storm clouds / Waiting for his daddy to come home / Pretty little weeds

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So, how will you spend this summer weekend, friends? 

We're heading up the coast to spend some time in Portland, Maine - my Father's Day gift to Tim. I'm so excited!!

See you back here on Monday - xoxo

~linking up with friday favorite things~

The Everywhere Project

I just love these luggage tags, spotted on Unruly Things. Don't they make you want to get out on the road?

See more of The Everywhere Project here. 

(And just try not to sing the song all day long....)

Picture me {im}perfectly

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Isn't that the truth? 

I've been reading The Happiness Project, and doing a lot of thinking about my attitude. 

What I have is so much more than enough: my precious family, a loving husband, a beautiful son, my health, their health, friends, financial stability, education, a career I love, freedom, the grace of God, assurance that I will live with Him in heaven. I consider those the "big ones", but there are thousands and thousands more that I take for granted every minute: clean water, electricity, having a car, being able to buy good food and however much we need, health care, clean clothes, having a telephone, being able to call and FaceTime with family whenever we want....

I get a little sick to my stomach when I look at the extravagant blessings God has given me and think that I would ever feel dissatisfied or ungrateful. But it happens. I struggle with contentment. So, I love that beautiful print up there, and I love these words from Matthew 5:5:

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are - no more, no less. 

That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."

(The Message translation)

~linking up with Hill at Capturing Motherhood~

Rooms I love

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In a few short weeks we will leave Boston and move back to Texas for good. 

We've been in temporary housing since March, and although it has been wonderful (really!), 

I can't wait to settle into a home of our own again.

I've been thinking a lot about how I want our next home to feel. Warm. Gracious. Welcoming.

I think that's why this photo speaks to me (and why I've been on a little bit of a foyer kick lately.)

Everything about it says 'welcome home'.

The weekend in photos (of Michael)

Saturday morning Tim cooked breakfast, which gave me the luxury of following Michael around with my camera while he had his morning milk. That set the tone for the whole weekend. We had such a relaxed, happy time together and I kept the camera out the whole time. So, we ended up with lots of photos. They're not all of Michael, but the best ones are so I thought I'd share them here. 

What are you up to this week, friends? Our time in Boston is quickly coming to a close, so I hope to make the most of this week and enjoy the city with my little sidekick.

Happy Monday! xoxo

~linking up with Bits of Splendor, Covered in Grace, and Embrace the Camera~

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31. hearing TIm and Michael laugh together

32. summer thunderstorms

33. walks along the river

34. peaceful days with my family

~link up at Life Rearranged to play along~

Happy Friday! As I look over this week's photos I feel extraordinarily blessed. 

Our life isn't very settled right now, but it is so full of love and excitement and new experiences - I think I prefer that to settled. Last Friday we were in Texas with my family, and this Friday we are back in Boston, a city that I love more and more every day. In between, Michael and I flew across the country, celebrated Father's Day with Tim, and spent the rest of the week on little mini-adventures to the park and the pool and the city, covering new ground, trying new foods, saying new words, laughing at things that suddenly strike him as funny. 

That last photo is my favorite for two reasons. First, because nothing says summer like swimsuits drying in the bathroom. 

And second, because it tells the story of my life right now. I have a tiny little sidekick who is always up for a new experience. Yesterday he wore those little swimtrunks and held my hand as he waded into the shallow end of the pool. When the chilly water crept up to diaper level he drew in a quick breath and turned to me with wide eyes. Then he laughed, and I laughed, and he waded in deeper. Life is just so sweet with my little companion.

Enjoy your weekend, friends! xoxo

June

That's my niece, June Scarlet with the beautiful red hair and the newborn cheeks that beg to be kissed.

And that's my little brother glowing with love and thankfulness.

(And that's me up in the corner, already counting the days until I can hug her....)

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I don't have a blog post ready to go today because I'm too excited!

My niece is going to be born today!!

So I will be spending the day in prayer for my brother and his wife, and their precious little one.

And glued to my phone waiting for news and pictures.

Be back soon - to introduce you to the newest member of the family. Eeeep! xoxo

~linking up with This Kind of Love~

{summer} Homes I love

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