15 March 2024

centering prayers and caterpillar houses and all kinds of goodness

  • eventually all of the business license stuff IS going to get worked out. 
  • Centering Prayer - song by Andrew Peterson
  • we have THE BEST COMMUNITY.  so much love for Caroline on Senior Night!!! such an expression of love and support for our family
  • ALL the love and birthday boxes and chocolate cake and family get togethers and hugs and smiles from Meme through the years.  what a life well lived. 
  • candace won the auction for the pool vacuum!! 
  • USO program that allows Nick to record himself reading a book for Zoe (and that book is going to get sent to us!)
  • ideal saturday morning....sleeping in a bit, big breakfast, lots of time on the porch
  • getting to zoom into amy's class...always such an enjoyable time of talking
  • caroline officially committed to samford!! 
  • liturgies
  • mission trip money...such generosity! 
  • celebrating eli at mr. pizza!
  • friends who help make birthday presents possible
  • the guys and gals who celebrated eli so well at impact
  • zoe's caterpillar house
  • walking with friends. such a gift every single time. 
  • making smoothies
  • the gift of leftover soup for lunch outside on the porch

08 March 2024

gifts along the way this week

  • having papa and uncle lane and leah and charles in town 
  • couple of quick responses to the mission trip letters
  • fun aldi find
  • safe travels for nick 
  • hearing about how good the food is where he is
  • never a bad time for office/life supplies 
  • time to work on the IG post and email and website uninterrupted
  • daffodils for sharing
  • nick set me up for so much success in renewing all the things for the cottage.  even left me $20 cash for the background check.
  • sweet first wednesday
  • getting to see eli for a few minutes!
  • beautiful sky
  • donuts are always a good idea. 
  • scripture that zoe knows because of katie's dance class
  • seeing friends in the movie (Lifemark!) we were watching (the lady sitting at the table is victoria!)
  • pool pump situation is fixed (as far as i know)
  • pinata stamps (almost as fun as the elephants!)
  • so many encouraging truths all in one morning: 


  • beautiful weather for being outside
  • leftover steak!
  • zoe's bean soup with rosemary and mint
  • tried the subway footlong pretzel
  • when kids say/text thank yous for having them over
  • how very much zoe enjoys scruffy!
  • time on the porch
  • peach mango drink
  • yup: 

01 March 2024

all kinds of wonderful gifts.

  • when things smell fresh/clean
  • new thankful journal (starting with #12,234)
  • emma enjoyed the conference thing at auburn
  • this girl. her silliness. her hair. her dress. 
  • discovery connections.  such a gift to jeeah's hope families (and columbus!)
  • ella grace's help to get breathe set up
  • counter top icemaker...on my counter!!!!
  • fun times at the soccer game in macon!
  • God's kindness to nick in confirming/affirming what he was to share 
  • all the encouragement the Lord is sending Nick's way
  • burgers + fries + house full of high school students
  • good company at CFA (and all the points in the app thanks to papa!)
  • dinner with eli 
  • when you know you can rely/trust people to do what they said they're going to do
  • ah-mazing snickerdoodles (best ever)(and i use those words carefully)
  • baby goats + fishing + barbque
  • lego flowers
  • "all i want is all You are...."
  • early morning yoga + b'fast casserole (who is this person?!)
  • cityscape's 2 year anniversary celebration!
  • the difference 24 hours can make (thankful for the space of thursday mornings)
  • generosity from unexpected places
  • "Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you....they who have God lack nothing. God alone is enough..." - Teresa of Avila
  • friends. 
  • AB was able to come with us to both (away) soccer games this week (such fun for zoe...makes it so much more enjoyable for all of us!)
  • midtown coffee + encouragement + another JH dad's event in the works
  • those working so hard behind the scenes at cityscape...especially mr. bill, mr. arnie and matt....
  • ben vickery's wildly (in)appropriate joke at church. laughter is such a gift! 

23 February 2024

the gifts are all over the place!!!!

  • smiling at southern gospel
  • fun evening with yaya
  • meeting a jeeah's hope mom randomly on the playground at the soccer game
  • the friendship caroline and emma share
  • "want to do my bible study with me?" - emma (YES! OF COURSE! ALWAYS!! -me)

  • beautiful ballet magnificat
  • talking with haley at sam's 
  • kids climbing trees and listening to music
  • the girls had a fantastic time on the youth retreat (and didn't end up sick)
  • post soccer game pics
  • getting to go to non-profit things with christal
  • hearing about caroline's senior sermon
  • kids swinging 
  • big hug from eli and a perfect cup of coffee at impact
  • can't get enough of the daffodils!
  • easy peasy cottage guests/turnovers
  • talking to nick makes everything better
  • credit card reward giftcards in the mail
  • "yes. that's taken care of." 
  • beauty and details and loveliness everywhere in the Fields of Grace house
  • our God is GOOD, TRUSTWORTHY, KIND, GRACIOUS, NEAR. 
  • inside out shirt object lessons
  • this weather is so gorgeous. 
  • getting to use "oh captain my captain" gifs
  • beautiful tulips, delightful cup of coffee, incredible passion/vision/purpose/plans
  • jim & thatcher got the leaves out of the pool
  • pepper (peanut butter has officially been replaced)
  • knowing gifts are on their way :) 
  • nick is feeling better!!!
  • Anna Golden's album...especially Manasseh, Get Your Glory, Psalm 91, and these words....
  • time with aidan on thursdays during zoe's ballet class
  • all the rides for emma always work out 
  • when things smell fresh/clean 
  • the little animated memojis. oh.my.goodness. another gift from LLcoolJM.  so much laughter! 
  • how helpful everyone is at carlisle 

16 February 2024

greeting Him with gratitude...

  • "it is good to be alive in the midst of all that is going on, and i want to be reminded of that." - henri nouwen
  • "renew a right spirit within me"
  • extra snacks on the airplane (sweet stewardess hooked us up)
  • the easiest, peasiest travels...no hiccups...no hurdles...no delays....so so easy.
  • "God's chosen is beloved." - 2 Samuel 22:51
  • free snacks in the military welcome room in the OK airport (thanks for the tip, LLcoolJM)
  • one accidental missed turn took an hour off of our travel time
  • getting to see our most favorite nick...my most favorite human. 
  • "this feels like home" - zoe
  • hotel breakfast
  • always available coffee (and french vanilla creamer)
  • being together in the same place...and how God gave & protected the time
  • gas station pizza
  • the cashier's kindness (Ms. Mary, it matters)
  • thoughtful valentine's gift...sweet reminder....
  • theo of golden...what a lovely story. 
  • bathroom provision (again and again God is into the details!!)
  • snow!!!
  • time together. resting. reading. playing games. watching movies.
  • all the snacks & cherry cokes (nick knows us)
  • pretty much anytime nick was sitting down zoe was in his lap
  • airport starbucks makes the hard a bit more bearable (yay for giftcards)
  • Psalm 55:1-12 Nick is covered...covered with a shield...covered with favor....
  • valentines making station at our gate on the way home (of all the gates, this is THE ONE that had a craft table...God is so into the details...He cares about us so much)
  • super sweet valentines day...and zoe's excitement/enthusiasm about it
  • "the best portion of a good person's life is the little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love." - wordsworth
  • oh the daffodils.
  • the windshield wiper is working again ("and it was JUST that easy!" - josh)
  • ash wednesday script/teaching/liturgy from nick
  • zoe's day after valentines day outfit (that we had/made just what she was hoping for is so special to me....)
  • "i greet You with gratitude and welcome Your Spirit who gives me life." - prayer from lectio 365
  • delightful thursday
  • riding buddies!
  • lis kept me from falling in the lake.  feels so good to laugh so hard.
  • misreading ash wednesday quotes. 
  • talking to lane and to my dad.  

09 February 2024

things that make me say thanks.

  • Spirit Lead Me 
  • having eli (and friends) home
  • this sadie hawkins crowd.  thankful for emma's friends (those pictured and those not pictured!)
  • marie's kindness towards my girls...and her creative way of helping them bless nick
  • most delightful playground in pine mountain (and a beautiful day to enjoy it!)
  • silly things that make me laugh
  • "kiki is lost....i am kiki."
  • kiana picked up breakfast for our C3 group!
  • making valentine's treats with this one
  • sweet first wednesday.  conversation was especially meaningful.
  • cityalight
  • lovely and meaningful quotes
  • successful front door. new covenant members at cityscape!
  • time with emily.  so many gifts...peaceful time (for me and for zoe!), incredible walk in the woods, hot & fresh banana bread for the ride home
  • emma's curls...and the perfect curl
  • mail from nick!!
  • "this life in Christ is not about what i can do to make myself worthy of His acceptance, but about daily trusting what He has done to make me worthy of His acceptance." - the cure
  • "i listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for He speaks peace to His faithful people." psalm 85:8



02 February 2024

He is entirely filling us (though I'm still learning to yield myself entirely to him)

  • exodus 15:2 - the Lord is my song; He has given me victory.  This is our God, and we will praise Him - our father's God, and we will exalt Him
  • fantastic gathering of the jeeah's hope board & staff 
  • genesis 28;15 - i'll stay with you, i'll protect you wherever you go, and i'll bring you back to this very ground (home). i'll stick with you until i've done everything i've promised you.
  • fabulous folks who show up to paint and clean on a saturday morning (i'm putting my favorites here ;)


  • "yield yourself entirely to Him, He will entirely fill us." - andrew murray
  • talking about praying and praising...and actually praying and praising!
  • seeing old pictures....being reminded of God's faithfulness
  • another month down. fun to flip to february.
  • putting this book to good use
  • anytime a conversation/interaction is meaningful and purposeful
  • first daffodil of the season!
  • matt & sarah's hospitality
  • emma had a great time at sharptop (and got a cute hat)
  • the ease of talking to nick/connecting with him
  • sidewalk chalk & walking in the cul-de-sac
  • surprise bacon, egg & cheese biscuit!
  • hands & hope subscription....didn't realize how much i would look forward to the monthly mail! 
  • tuesday night cracker barrel with yaya and zoe (the grilled chicken was extra good!)
  • honest prayers
  • when people are passionate about something/have ideas AND they are willing to help make them happen
  • mr. brad & mrs. jean marie put the shelves up for me
  • eli is back home safe and sound from brazil! 
  • the prayer breakfast at ft. sill went well
  • found the back scratcher! (much needed since my favorite one is in oklahoma)
  • lauren's alliteration 
  • time at the scarborough's table
  • this silliness (it's kind of true though):