"I came back and ten dollars was missing. And I'd only raised fifteen so it made me look even worse."

Dream Day-- a day when you intentionally make all of the very best things happen, with all of the best people, while eating the best things and wearing the best things

Smoon and I had one full day together (she arrived late Friday night) and we were out to have one of our best dream days yet. Mission accomplished.

1) Sleeping in
2) Fav Starbucks drinks picked up via the Starbucks app
3) Crashing the Myer's house to hang out with Mallory, Morgan and Johnna-- house tour, a stop in the tepee, folding a load of laundry, new marble maze for Smoon and laughing till we cried

4) Lunch at Taco & Burrito Place

At the start of the month Smoon sent me a text asking if we could go to this taco place she found in a Buzzfeed article...

Somehow when I looked it up and saved the location in my phone I found Taco & Burrito Place off of Keystone and 40th. It had great Yelp reviews and we didn't realize the mix-up until we had already ordered our food.

Lucky for us, it was one of the greatest lunches we've ever had. The owners recommended the steak and chorizo tacos and we went for the chips, salsa and guacamole too. The food was phenomenal-- you better believe we'll be back soon. I can't wait to take friends here.

5) Public Library-- seriously, one of the most underrated places. I returned The Sun Is Also A Star and put holds on five more YA books that I can't wait to read.

6) The Escape Room with Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, Annie, Anna and Ava. A few of us had done Escape rooms before but didn't actually escape. We had high hopes for this team-- AND WE GOT OUT WITH 15 MINUTES AND 1 CLUE TO SPARE! Dream team.

7) Coffee and chatting in The Well with our Camp T girls

8) Sar and Smoon photo shoot of our classic poses

9) Rachel Phillips came over to play! Rach and Smoon became best friends on our trip to Ethiopia last Spring and it was good to reunite and hear about Rach's start at Taylor University.

10) The US Magnetic Puzzle Game-- when you come over to visit you get timed when you put together this map of the US. There's a leader board but we can't tell you the winning time until you've competed. God Bless America and Maggie Drake's mom (who made me the puzzle).

11) Hide And Go Seek-- When Rachel and Ellyn showed up Smooney hid from both of them and made them find her. Next time you see me, ask to see the video of Ellyn searching for Smoon-- it's golden.

12) WYLD LIFE CLUB AT THE BARN!!!

We danced, we sang, we were mesmerized by Kibble's suit and his dance moves...

There was blind folded musical chairs, everything from the Macarena to the Cupid Shuffle and everything in between...

New and old friends showed up and I got to hang with gals like Brookie and her besties the twins Bethany and Louise...

I gave the Club Talk tonight about friendship and how I think God is calling us to be selfless, intentional and to show up for our people...

KCraig, Smoon and Ellyn continue to be three of the very best friends I've ever known.

13) Showing up at Lucy's birthday party with Smoon, Ellyn and Mallory to see the loudest gang of 7th grade girls-- there was more dancing, Pie Face, laughing and "21 slap lag"-- it was our kind of party

14) Driveway party with Brad and Johnna when we dropped off Mallory at home-- this family is just the best

Today was the greatest. If I had to pick a day of my life to live over and over again, this would be an excellent choice.

Honorable Mention Blog Title:
"I've been to a wedding before... I got married."

"I'm always alarmed by how close Missouri is. I went there once-- I could never eat Pringles again after that trip."

After exclaiming, "I LOVE Junior High. It's the best!" multiple times this morning my co-teacher disappeared. She came back about 10 minutes later with this sign to tape to my classroom door. God bless the 13-year-olds. 

During SOAR at the end of the day Addy came up to my desk, "Miss Wright, my mom dropped off something at the office for me, can I go get it?" She reappeared a few minutes later with a case of Diet Coke and a puppy card. "My mom and I are doing random acts of kindness and I picked you Miss Wright!" I love Junior High. It's the best.

I flew through The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon in the last two days. With everything that's happening in America and the world right now with refugees and immigrants, this book couldn't be more timely. The acknowledgements at the end of the novel begin, "Immigrating to a new country is an act of hope, bravery, and, sometimes, desperation. I'd like to say a big thank-you to all the people who've made long journeys to distant shores for whatever reason. May you find what you're looking for. Always know that the country of your destination is better for having you in it." The most controversial topics are seen with humanity only when we can connect them with real people and their stories. Now more than ever, this book is so important to read.

"DON'T RUN IN THE ROAD!"

Life's way too short to be boring. This morning my day calendar said, 

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." -Howard Thurman 

Being with my people, investing in kids' lives, showing up-- that's what makes me come alive. 

At Friendship Bracelet Club I split the girls up into teams 7, 12, 21 and 52. We made up some games involving beach balls and then ran outside to take a picture around the school sign. The Clubhouse is the greatest. 

Before they headed off to watch Mr. Royal, I got to meet Maggie, Mads, Gidget and Fudge for a family dinner at Chik-Fil-A. They had me laughing the whole time. I'm so happy that these four are good friends. And the Chicken Tortilla Soup-- 10/10 would recommend.

And just when I thought I was going to lay low the rest of the night I got a text from Smelko, "I'm at the Well. Bring my favorite sweater. There's a live band and free friendship. Seems like everything you're about. Also Katie Evans and Allie and Bailey are here!!!!"  I was in. Dreams come true-- I got to be part of #bailscoffeeshopadventure. What a time to be alive.

"Come to Uncle Bill's in Fishers rn if you're free. We're petting puppies. Bring my sweater."

Mail is the coolest.

1. I found a note with a friendship bracelet attached after a passing period this morning. That Brynn Urban is the coolest-- notes on desks are basically snail mail. I love surprises. 

2. My favorite part of the letter I mailed off to CO for Liz today was all of the Space Team commands on the back of the envelope. I haven't played in far too long.

3. I got a letter in the mail from my friend Ellen. She was my camper a couple summers ago and has become one of my most consistent pen-pals. She gets Happy Mail packages too so I love when I get one of the cards from her.

4. It's easy to just observe people's lives from afar via social media. But today I was inspired to send a letter to my friend Gretchen. We went to Hope together years ago and I still think the world of her even though we haven't stayed in touch besides liking each other's instagram pictures. Sending a letter felt more personal than just sending her a long text. Plus I got to throw a bracelet in the envelope!

Highs of the Day:
1. Making pizza from scratch with pepperoni and sun-dried tomatoes
2. Seeing the new movie Silence about missionaries in Japan and drinking a bucket of Diet Coke
3. Being part of conversations that matter
4. Ben Rector radio on Pandora
5. Ordering a shirt from the Gap because I like Smelko's so much and find out Ally Reid has it too!!!

"Thank you for always putting others before yourself-- unless it's time to get fruit at breakfast."

It's dumping day-- all the quotes, screenshots and pictures that have been patiently waiting are making it to the blog today. 

I was at an elementary school and had to do a double take at these yard signs on the front walk. I'm obsessed-- let's talk about self-awareness, working ahead and being efficient. These are fantastic and practical. 

Highs of the Day:
1. KCraig came to meet me with lunch and then entertained 6th period
2. Picking up "The Sun Is Also A Star" from the library because I've been waiting for it
3. Cheering on a 4th grade basketball game
4. Chipotle Party with free chips and quac
5. Planning a big adventure for later this semester
6. Racing to put together the US magnetic state map that Maggie Drake's mom made me

After walking around my classroom I came back to my desk to find this picture of pigs sitting there.

For a second I was confused and then realized who must have given it to me.
I said the girls name and asked, "Did you give me these pigs?"
She turned around, "Yeah... They're not mine though. I got them from National Geographic."
God bless Junior High.

Anna Morgan has discovered something awesome-- French Press Mornings. The artist makes all sorts of beautiful things, but there are verses that work perfectly as prints or lock screens on your phone. These are two of my favorites.

Last week I finished up the book Essentialism by Greg McKeown. It's a good one my friends. Here are some of the things I'm still thinking about...

Play doesn't just help us to explore what is essential. It is essential in and of itself.

If it isn't a clear yes, then it's a clear no. 

Smoon just posted this blurb from Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist that I love too...

"There's something I'm sure, about going back to the places you used to go to find the self you used to be. Maybe my long-ago essential self is more readily apparent here on these docks and benches and flaking chairs because so much of my life was spent here. Maybe that's why life at the lake continues to move me so deeply, because it draws me back to my past, who I've always been, underneath the recent shell I've been wearing-- achievement, efficiency, productivity."

This past weekend I was moved and inspired by Women's Marches happening across the country. I saw one up close while I was downtown but I saw dozens more through articles, pictures and posts.

So many men and women that I respect (people that I know personally and people I admire from afar) stood up. Most of them were not even doing it for themselves, but to say that the dignity of every single person is valuable and worth protecting.

"Revolution isn't just a part of our history, it's happening now." 

"The thing about privilege is that it blinds us if we let it... Change will never be made unless those of us who are in positions of privilege stand up and fight alongside those who aren't."

"And I didn't feel well but I still wanted to go so my mom made me wear a diaper under my sweatpants."

Monday Funday with the gal pals. Our HS Party People couldn't join us today, they were so missed, but we still had the best start to the day. I love hearing about what's going on these girls' lives. We're starting a new book, You Belong, which is a project from so many of my favorite Christian women/authors/singers/speakers. I've started reading it in the last few weeks and think it's a winner.

Molly came back to school for part of the day today and popped in to say hello with her book carrier Ellie. These friendship bracelets started a Thank You comment party on Instagram-- love does.

After taking a break last week we were back at the Barn tonight with the YL crew.  Being together in this space is always just the best. We wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

In the midst of so many options of how we can spending our time, I feel pretty darn confident about being right here. "Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it's about how to get the right things done. It doesn't mean just doing less for the sake of doing less either. It is about making the wisest possible investment of your time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential." -Greg McKeowan