thankfulness.

• when going to the playground doesn't really make sense but it's definitely right and best
• the inflatable slip n slide takes waffle friday to a whole new level

• rain.
• a dad dancing with his daughter to frozen songs

• seeing caroline's face and getting to talk to her
• benjie's help on the side of the road sunday afternoon

• catching up on my correspondence :) 
• so much provision in one picture...mainly buddies and snacks.

• camp empower (it should probably have its own thankful list)
• human hungry hungry hippos (maybe we should call it hungry hungry humans)
• every camper, every buddy, every leader, every day.  100% perfect attendance
• the folks southeast restoration sent to help
• the way mark practices and lives all of the grounding/regulating techniques
• incredible leaders. truly. dream team. 
• watching kids & buddies do brave and hard things
• orbeez from the get go
• so many people praying!
• breakfast brought on time every morning
• getting to meet and interact with bristol
• the camper bags had plenty in them! 
• christal, jen & lisa's help with reset, clean up and pack up
• everything fit into the pilot to take the supplies back to pine mountain

• all the swelling went away (again)
• taking notes from a good sunday sermon
• fun things: 

• mike & mallory leading worship
• gifts from LLcoolJ (speaking that love language!)
• how some people can just make things better and lovelier - even snacks.

 

He is always giving gifts.

• preemptive reminders from the Lord (reminded me of the privilege of something before i could get aggravated about it)
• when caroline gets mail from her school friends
• funny little things that suit me:

• helping word things
• getting to hand out doughnuts and connect with people (especially when the connection leads to a prayer request)
• good stuff from the pour over 

• nick. date night. our marriage. 
• butter chicken and brownies (not at the same time) and cleaning the kitchen afterwards
• special request from a special friend for a special scripture bracelet for a special lady in ensenada (and the special emma girl who made it)

• getting to trust the Lord and rest in Him in regards to all things Camp Empower
• packing like a mercy shipper (love it)
• sweet girls in matching swimsuits

• getting to hold hearts and emotions and thoughts and feelings
• benadryl
• fun notepad and cards from VRM.  good way to spend .99

provision and abundance.

• getting to walk around with melissa and see the space at wynnbrook again - finally feeling excited (rather than nervous!) about camp empower
• God's provision in the form of amazon packages! (amazed by how a few texts can result in ALL of the remaining supplies we need for camp empower being purchased!!!)

• all the swelling finally went away
• good reminder:

• delightful date night (that ended with teenagers welcoming us home and genuinely interested in what our date night was like!)
• glimpses into caroline's time at crier creek! (and getting to talk to her wednesday night!)

• "let your kindness, Lord, shine brightly on us." - psalm 4:6
• another good reminder: 

• sweet time at the kao's (and the freedom to come home a little early)
• nick made me buffalo chicken dip

• very very delicious cappucino blast from the ever thoughtful molly
• sweet girls in a really old tree on the last night at SSI

• calvary's missions team/leader/systems - it's really excellent. 
• logan sent pictures of them making it onto the flex cam at the braves' game!

• time to get all the things done (why am i surprised?  i don't know. but i am often surprised...and grateful.)
• tasty chocolate croissants

so many gifts. SSI gifts. part 2.

• sunset & lightning at epworth  
• easy to talk to people
• kindness of mr. jesse to mow between the house and the pool 

• bubbles on the beach
• postcards + stamps + mailbox
• connecting with jim & shelley in very important places

• bike ride to sweet mama's (and back)
• powder in my shoes
• good stuff: 

• best low country boil i can remember
• lane driving up playing "home sweet home"
• another beautiful sunset at epworth

• easy walks to the playground and the village
• "i can go mad or i can go glad  - either way, i'm going." - jennifer scott
• most delicious doughnuts (multiple times!!)

• sister time on the sea doo
• all's well that ends well (sea doo adventure)
• pretty pretty sunset through the live oaks

• best whistle blowing i think i've ever heard
• milkshakes from frosty's
• pretty flowers (and the friends who brought them!)

• sea doo ride up the river with nick
• leftovers on the porch
• practicing the secret of happiness

• walks on the beach.
• porch time.
• meals around the table.

so many gifts. SSI gifts.

• plenty of help with the kitties at everbe
• sweet morning at the evangel playground (iced coffee included!)
• baby birds in the bike helmet 

• UJ's cinnamon rolls
• i really like my family. 
• beautiful sunrise and a friend to "share" it with 

• the incredible fathers in my life (especially the one God gave me...and the one i'm married to!)
• vanilla wafers from the banana pudding
• a glimpse of eli at the first week of impact camps

• evening walks and bike rides and porch sits
• ice + cherry coke + yeti
• 2 sweet sisters + icecream + portrait mode

• ski-doo ing
• lunch on the beach...breakfast on the beach...snacks on the beach
• this porch.

• folks taking their post dinner rest time seriously.
• just how much zoe loves the ocean 
• early morning bike rides and round-a-bouting

• "just a little talk with jesus" under the tent with papa
• the eye swelling went away ("your face looks better.")
• first glimpse of the bridge

• dolce dough box on the counter
• date night SSI version
• "give me a glad and generous heart to receive Your Word." - lectio 365

oh the gifts.

• 2 more sleeps until SSI
• "i couldn't find a book that speaks to me." (she meant the wonder books...i thought she was going really deep on me.) 
• a day when kids are outside 97% of the time! in the pool...in the pond...helping clean cars...

• Camp Empower DREAM TEAM. seriously.  
• summer reading program!  so easy!  so fun! so free! (you don't even have to give book titles anymore)
• beth's artwork continues to show up and be helpful in so many way 

• caroline is off on her colorado adventure
• time and space to get all the things done this week (amazingly peacefully)
• the way jupiter was sleeping

• picnics by the pond
• boots lost in the pond are replaceable (and in fact have already been replaced. yay goodwill)
• zoe's care of jo's turtle (he ate...he rested...he did school work...)

• the new kids' section at goodwill - so nice and bright and organized!  good use of that space (way better than bars that fail)
• hour of SUPER productive errand running (and treat getting)
• just how much she loves holding babies!!

• the way logan and eli responded when i asked them about which one is the better bowler
• continued friendship with remarkable people
• good stuff: 

• wedding vowels (and consonants)
• opinions of people do not rule or reign. other's thoughts do not define me...or the people i love. 
• the best dr. pepper i've had in a while. 

tiny but mighty

• pause app - day 13, morning 
• eli's service and help 
• beauty on mountainbrook

• sweet little girl eating mac n cheese, fruit and double fisting it with cookies in the middle of her infusion
• chocolate chess pies, tasty pizza, good conversation around the table at Chappel Falls.
• these 4 cool cookie loving kids

• chicken salad chick 2 days in a row!
• pool service is already helping!
• the time eli and zoe have gotten together this week

• treat tuesday (CFA milkshake), wednesday (starbucks caramel ribbon crunch frappucino) and thursday (new pens)!
• laughter. it is such a gift. 
• living that convertible life

• kind, timely, encouraging words about jeeah's hope
• hearing/seeing wonderful things the Lord is doing at Souled Out! 
• easy yes's - continued generosity towards jeeah's hope from a variety of sources.