If you asked me to tell you what books have impacted me most, one I would almost certainly mention is One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voscamp. I read it when I was maybe thirteen, and, like so many of us, started my own list of one thousand things I was thankful for. Once I hit 1,000, I didn’t stop.

Somewhere along the way, lists of things I was thankful for evolved into lists of beautiful things. Obviously they’re basically the same thing, but making lists of beauty usually makes me look more closely and notice details instead of the more abstract “my house” or “my husband.” Specifically noticing beautiful things is one of those practices that I always come away from feeling more grateful and grounded.

(If you’re wondering, yes this title is a play off of Barbara Brown Taylor’s “What’s saving my life” and the classic “Beauty will save the world.” )

And so! Five most beautiful things from summer 2025!

#1 – ZINNIA’S. This is the second year we planted zinnias in our garden, and I absolutely. adore. them. Last year I only got pink ones, and this year there’s such a wide variety. They’re perfect for my table, for giving away, and for wandering out to check on at various times of the day (;)). In another life I would be a flower farmer!!

#2 – Poppy’s smileee!! We live for it. She’s been in such a funny + clever stage this summer, learning all kinds of things, and communicating more every day. And she has the best little crooked beamy grin. A little over a year ago we didn’t have any idea how much we needed her in our lives. 🥹

#3 – The sky after sunset. I learned this year that the pink haze over the mountains just after sunset is called “The Belt of Venus.” Isn’t that magical? The pink is certainly magical, and Idaho’s wide skies give us the perfect view of the changing colors and tones every summer night.

#4 – The candle colors at Poppy’s birthday party. One of my sisters in law gave me Magnolia’s candelabra a few years ago, and for Poppy’s party I filled it with the most beautiful colors of summery tapers. Look how stunning.

#5 – People that we miss. Between our two week trip to the east and a long weekend trip to California for Poppy and I, we got to hug so many of our long lost people this summer! They’re by far the best thing in our lives.

What beauty saved your little world this summer? I never want to stop noticing, and these little lists are one of the ways I always come back to when I need to remember how kind God is to give us such a beautiful world.