Hey, friends! I hope this post finds you well and safe! I’ve been keeping our world and all of you in my prayers. ❤

Really starting in March, the world went insane (as I talked about in my last post). It’s crazy. I can’t believe that this will be in history books someday. Even in the midst of this crazy, though, there have been moments of joy. Laughter, games, and conversation with family. Books, movies, and warm tea. Little birds chirping cheerfully away…I am so thankful for the moments of beauty and happiness that God provides for us even in the midst of the crazy.

So here are some of the things that have made me smile these past two months:

Worship Songs

Here are a few of my favorites from the past few months:

• “Only a Holy God” by CityAlight (This song solidly praises the majesty and power of our perfect and holy God. This is one of my favorite worship songs ever.)

• “Shepherd” by CityAlight (I talked about this song in one of my recent posts. It’s so relevant for everything going on right now, talking about (or, rather, singing about) how faith is so important. I love this song so much.)

• “King of Glory” by Passion (An upbeat, fun song praising God’s glory and supremacy)

Lots of Marvel Movies

My family and I watched a total of eight MCU movies in February and March:

• Thor: Ragnarok (Absolutely hilarious. “Get Help” is unforgettable. XD)

• Black Panther (This one was amazing. Definitely one of my top favorite Marvel films.)
• Avengers: Infinity War (No spoilers here for those who haven’t seen it, but…THIS MOVIE IS HEARTBREAKING, AND I AM ESPECIALLY NOT OVER THOSE FIRST TEN MINUTES.)
• Ant-Man and the Wasp (Hilarious. I liked this one WAY better than the first Ant-Man and overall liked it way more than I thought I might.)
• Captain Marvel (We all actually really enjoyed this film. A few people I know had said that it wasn’t very good, but it was actually very enjoyable. It’s definitely not my absolute favorite of all the MCU movies, but it is worth watching. 🙂 )
• Avengers: Endgame (E.P.I.C. ADKJEGSKGJS I CAN’T EVEN SAY HOW INCREDIBLY AWESOME THIS MOVIE IS, YOU GUYS. I will fangirl over it forever. I’ll probably have to write a whole post about the MCU at some point. :D)
• Spider-Man: Homecoming (Pretty good overall)
• Iron Man (We skipped a few parts that were…very inappropriate, but overall this was a really good one.)

A Wrinkle In Time (2018)

A lot of people seem to think this movie is trash, but I personally really liked it. I wasn’t a fan of the few Eastern-tinged comments (e.g. “You need to become one with the universe” and “The universe lives inside you.”). However, Meg and Calvin and Charles Wallace were perfect, the visual effects were stunning, and there were some beautiful messages about love and family and how light is stronger than darkness.

Ember’s End

This was the bittersweet ending to the Green Ember series, and my family and I enjoyed it together as a read-aloud. After years of anticipation, S.D. Smith wrapped up his series beautifully. The ending had me smiling and left me thinking about it for many days afterward.

The Drowned Vault

I devoured this book in about three days and loved it just as much as the first book in the Ashtown Burials series. I cannot WAIT to get my hands on the third book!!

Soundtracks

I always knew that I loved movie soundtracks, but I fell in love with them even more the past couple months. They’re so helpful for concentration while studying for a test and are just all-around awesome to listen to any time! My favorite soundtrack has definitely been the one from Thor, but I also love the ones from Thor: The Dark World, The Avengers, and Avengers: Endgame. Composers of movie soundtracks have my utmost respect, guys.

Another favorite soundtrack of mine has been Melodies for the Mended Wood, composed by Joel Clarkson for the Green Ember series. They are beautiful songs, and I highly recommend listening to them even if you haven’t read the books (although I also highly recommend the books 😉 ).

Rain

I just love rain so much. After months and months of snow, I start to miss simple rain, and I was so happy to see it falling on a few days in March. We also had the first thunderstorm of the year, and it made me smile to hear the rain and thunder. The sky always becomes so beautiful during a thunderstorm, how it looks almost like a watercolor painting with shades of blue, turquoise, and grey. In my mind, rain is often an announcement of spring, and it’s such a refreshing sight once I’m tired of snow. 🙂

Ephesians

This is one of my favorite books in the entire Bible. I’ve heard and memorized many of the verses in Ephesians my whole life, but their message never gets old. Ephesians is so full of rich truths, and it tells us exactly who we are as children of God. Redeemed. Chosen. Set free. The book also talks about some of the fruit that Christians bear in their walk with Jesus, and I always am encouraged when I read about it. I love Ephesians so much.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and on earth.”

-Ephesians 1:3-10

Colossians

This is another one of my absolute favorite books of the Bible. Full of wonderful truth, full of praise for God’s glory…it’s just amazing.

“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

-Colossians 1:13-20

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So these are a few of the things that I’ve been thankful for these past few months. I hope that you all have been able to find some joy amidst the crazy and that God blesses you with peace.

Also, happy Easter, everyone! We’re rejoicing this weekend that Jesus endured the cross and that the tomb is empty. He is risen. Thank you, Lord Jesus.

‘And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.'”

-Mark 16:6

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What has made you smile recently? Any book/song/movie recommendations for me? What’s your favorite Marvel film? And who else isn’t over Endgame?? How can I pray for you? Let me know in the comments!