1. Extravagant gardens.

My parents have always worked in the yard. It pleases me so much to be sitting at home and looking out the window at my little ol’ mom pushing a shovel into the ground. She gets peace from working the dirt and turning it into something beautiful with the help of the Lord and His sunshine and rain. Plants can grow on their own; God makes that happen. But the way people cultivate that through planning and organization of color, proves that He created us to do so much more than just watch.

2. Catching people singing in the car.

It brings me so much joy to know that people are experiencing joy through (potentially bad) obnoxiously loud singing. One of the most incredible things we can do as a human being is make sounds and speak words. If I see someone looking silly and letting their inhibitions go in the car, it reminds me of how much joy I get when I do that. And so I do it.

3. Ice Cream.

I could absolutely, not even try to leave this one out; because I would be lying if I said it wasn’t an intricate part of my life. Having a hard day? Come home, throw on some comfy clothes and get out the ice cream. No bowl needed. Having a great day? Put it in a pretty bowl and get a cute spoon and wear a dress while eating it. Having a mediocre day? It still tastes incredible and it will make it a better day. Cold goodness. More sweet relief.

4. Waking up after an evening nap and thinking it’s morning.

Everyone has done it. You plan to take a little thirty minute snooze and end up waking up a few hours later after the sun has gone down. You look over at the clock and yep, you are late. You run around trying to brush teeth and find clothes to throw on and finally you look over to see your roommate watching her favorite nightly sitcom, staring at you with a peculiar eyebrow raise, mid-bite of popcorn. Wait a sec. It’s dark outside and she’s not at work either. Sweet relief and hysterical laughing follows. It’s beautiful.

5. Wild vine covering the side of a home.

It makes the home look and feel lived in. Like it is being protected heavily by Creation and the earth that it sits on top of. I’ve heard it isn’t too healthy for the brick, but I just can’t believe that for a second! It turns something so ordinary into a mysterious place and gives way for the imagination to work about who has dwelled there over the course of the home’s existence. Makes me feel like a kid in a storybook. Like Narnia.

Riah has always been a free spirit, but until she found Jesus a few years ago after running into Him in a Boston subway station, she says she didn’t truly know what freedom felt like. Now, she purposefully pays attention to all details in Creation so that she can daily witness the Lord’s work and walk in that. She is currently on her first month of the World Race where she has already witnessed His beauty in what most would deem hopeless places. To find out more about Riah, visit her blog!