Code Ninja- Mike Rober- STEM- oh my!

Abe absolutely loves robotics and STEM! The other day, ECS posted a picture on Instagram that made me so happy because it perfectly captured him in his element—coding and running robots, which is totally his jam. He has recently started Code Ninja which he looooves. 

This past year, he got a subscription box from Mark Rober, and he’s been obsessed with it! It’s been such a fun and engaging way for him to explore hands-on STEM projects. If you’re interested in trying it out, we have a discount code!! 

https://crunchlabs.refr.cc/friends/u/ashleyfisher?s=sp&t=cp

Beauty & The Beast

Last night, my sweet stepmom took us to see Beauty and the Beast at Theatre Memphis, and it was absolutely magical. From the moment the curtain rose, I was completely swept up in the nostalgia—the beloved songs, the enchanting costumes, and the timeless story that has meant so much to me over the years. (Belle has always been top of the list for Disney princess’s for me.) 

The performances were phenomenal, bringing the tale to life in a way that felt both familiar and fresh. But more than anything, I’m just incredibly grateful for this experience and the memory we created together. It was a night filled with joy, warmth, and a little bit of childhood wonder, and I’ll cherish it always.

After last night, I went searching for a picture of Annabelle and Adelyn with Belle at Disney from 2013! It was such a funny and heartwarming reminder of how much time has passed, yet how some things—like the magic of Beauty and the Beast—remain just as special. It felt like the perfect full-circle moment, bringing back memories of when they were little and completely mesmerized by Belle, just as we all were watching the show last night.

How funny to think that back in 2013, Ainsley wasn’t even a thought—yet now, I can’t imagine our family without her! Even though she wants nothing to do with princesses, she still curled up in my lap for the last half of the play and loved every minute of it. I’m so grateful for this experience and the memories we continue to make together.

Goodness of God

Piggybacking off of yesterday’s post.  Goodness of God in this version is my new favorite!! 

These lyrics:

I love You, Lord
For Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

'Cause all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest night You are close like no other
I've known You as a Father
I've known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah

'Cause all my life You have been faithful, oh yes You have
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
With my life laid down, I surrendered now
I give You everything, oh Lord
Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
Your goodness is running after, it's running after me (oh yeah, oh yeah)
Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
With my life laid down, I surrendered now
I give You everything
Your goodness is running after, it keeps running after me

And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God
I'm gonna sing

All my life You have been faithful
(All of my life You've been faithful)
All my life You have been so, so good
(So good with every breath)
every breath that I am able
(Every breath I'm able)
I will sing (I'm gonna sing)
Of the goodness (of the goodness of God, yes I am)
I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God
Oh, I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God

I love You, Lord
For Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

'Cause all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest night You are close like no other
I've known You as a Father
I've known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah

'Cause all my life You have been faithful, oh yes You have
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
With my life laid down, I surrendered now
I give You everything, oh Lord
Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
Your goodness is running after, it's running after me (oh yeah, oh yeah)
Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
With my life laid down, I surrendered now
I give You everything
Your goodness is running after, it keeps running after me

And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God
I'm gonna sing

All my life You have been faithful
(All of my life You've been faithful)
All my life You have been so, so good
(So good with every breath)
every breath that I am able
(Every breath I'm able)
I will sing (I'm gonna sing)
Of the goodness (of the goodness of God, yes I am)
I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God
Oh, I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God

“Life on Life’s Terms”

Life has felt full lately—full of wonderful things happening in our family, but also some deeply heartbreaking ones. Being human is hard, and “facing life on life’s terms” is no easy task. But I love the reminder that even in the hard, there is always good. The deepest valleys and the greatest joys seem to walk hand in hand, and somehow, they make each other more meaningful. It’s in that tension that I’m reminded today of just how many gifts God has given me. 

I’ll leave today with this, an excerpt from the book, “The Voice of the Heart” about facing life on life’s terms. 

FACING LIFE ON LIFE'S TERMS

Gladness can occur only as we face life on life's terms. It requires us to honestly struggle and accept that life is chock-full of mystery, revelations, joy, confusion, elation, tragic losses, powerful reunions, restorations, divisions, passions, and pains. Living life on life's terms also requires us to recognize that we have very little control over it.

When the walls around our hearts are broken down, we are set free to experience and choose full living. We are needy, dependent creatures who need to surrender our hearts so that we can experience how we are made—to be in relationship with ourselves, oth-ers, and especially God. When we do this daily, we begin to experience life through the heart and we begin to experience the heart of God. We recognize that while life is often depressing, frus-trating, and frightening, it is also wonderful, magnificent, and glori-ous.

Living life on life's terms is the realization that much, if not most, of life and its joys occur around pain and loss. Living life on life's terms allows us to face the fact that we aren't in control and that our dreams may never come true, and, even if they do, we will keep moving past them once we obtain them.

By living life on life's terms, we develop much more wisdom and ability to feel the other seven feelings. These feelings are made for life's fulfillment in relationship, which brings joy.

We are sorely mistaken and misguided if we use the gift of feelings as permission to be pessimistic, hopeless, doubtful, antagonis-tic, resentful, self-pitying, or unfulfilled. But if, in all of the warp and woof of living, we dare allow our hearts to be completely involved, we will find renewed acceptance and clearer understanding of life.

In this acceptance and understanding comes joy. But again, joy comes through the willingness to feel pain as we pursue living. We risk living with the potential of pain, or we give up a fulfilling life by committing our lives to survival through self-protection.

When a father gives his daughter away in marriage, it is a painful experience. He has sadness about knowing that their relationship has changed again-she has grown up and is leaving. He fears whether she will be okay as he lets go again. His heart hurts in knowing that he can't retrace steps and correct mistakes beyond saying, "I'm sorry."

cate increased is hier sid increases his joy and almost cer-

No one reaches the highest peaks of life unless she is willing to fall to the greatest depths. No one can experience deep, heartfelt joy unless he is able and willing to grieve to the core, even having hopes disappointed by not being fulfilled. Gladness, therefore, is only for the courageous because it requires risking emotional and spiritual pain in the midst of living lives as we are made to live them-fully in relationship.

They WON!

The baby girl and her team won last night! I told her before the game that no matter the outcome, I would have loved her just the same. Winning or losing doesn’t change that. But what does make me proud is the way she showed up, gave her best, and played with heart. Watching her grow, push herself, and support her team is what truly matters. The win was just the cherry on top!

15

Wow, I just found a picture of Adam and me at 15, back at youth camp. We were just friends then—babies, really! It’s wild to think that was 25 years ago. So much life has happened since that moment—twists, turns, joys, challenges—all leading us to where we are now. It’s incredible to look back at those two kids and see just how much our lives have grown and changed.

MORE SNOW

We’ve been making snow ice cream nonstop around here, and I can’t help but think about all the sweet memories we’ve made in the snow. There’s just something about these simple moments—cold hands, big smiles, and sticky bowls of homemade ice cream—that make my heart so full. Goodness, I love these babies and these memories more than words can say!