In the midst of war, and chaos, stolen cars, sleepless nights, all that stuff, it’s really good to remember what is beautiful, and true. Most True. So here’s my favorites from summer thus far…

Butterflies. Especially the big yellow and black monarchs. I love them, love their nonchalance, love how God seems to send one my way right when I am stressing and obsessing about something. A playful reminder to lighten up.

The wind in the tall grass. It's like an ocean of swaying green hues.

How the breeze in the aspens sounds like a gentle rain shower.

My dog, Oban, playing his rock game. He loves to find a rock and push it around with his nose, then jump on it because it’s “getting away” then push it around again. It's hysterical.

Fishing with the boys. One evening we hit it just right, and the fish were rising and the boys kept catching one after another and the evening was so beautiful from a canoe on a lake.

Banana Cream Pie. My grandmother used to make a killer pie, and it's been years since I had one. For father’s day Stasi made a banana cream pie from scratch and it was scandalously good.

The Romance. I was praying a few months ago, “Jesus, I want you back.” I realized that my relationship with God has been so much defined either by getting counsel and guidance for all that I am leading, or by battling the frequent warfare. The effect of this over time is to lose the Romance with God. I found myself really missing simply being with God, loving him. Beginning to get this back is the highlight of the summer.