plain english: "i am thankful"

• ches's character and maturity and integrity and generosity
• just the right lunch at iguana's (thanks, amy!!!)
• oh dem cousins

• non-stop service from SSI to Columbus
• rain as we came back into town
• fireworks + glow things + icecream (and again being blessed by such generosity and hospitality)

• nice walk with mr. peabody
• little loads to the cottage
• molly + coffee + meaningful conversation + totally bearable being outside in july 

• molly's starbucks giftcard kindness
• tony hale interviews
• "do things to actively get your eyes off of yourself.:
• "...known by people who know us and known by God...that's all the known you need."
• fun and fabulous trip to aldi

• "you have no rival.  you have no equal."
• the moments that feel normal (they may feel kind of few and far between right now...but that's ok)
• another good introducion: 2nd & Charles
  

• jacob wanted to come with us!  (major win in my book!)
• when my dad calls for no particular reason
• windows down + sunset + kids in the car + roar 

keeping track of the gifts

• "the path I have called you to travel is exquisitely right for you." -jesus calling
• nick's perfect response.
• pretty smells
• how quick and easy renewing my driver's license was.  way to go DDS.

• being at st. simons
• everybody is here for the whole week
• umbrella walks on the beach
• cousins on the kayak

• how talented nick is (playing guitar, singing/leading worship, speaking...and not thinking that he's doing anything remarkable)
• bits of independence for eli and caroline
• rocking chairs + coffee + muffins + front porch + amy
• barbara jean's "chocolate stuff"

•  long walks/runs + podcasts
• "not only did God send His only Son, He also sent us His Spirit so that we could understand spiritual things." - Francis Chan
• getting to be present...and trying to be helpful....even if i wish i had more to say
• low country boil

i am thankful

• popcorn picnics
• figuring out an easy "plan B" when the caravan park wasn't quite what we were expecting it to be
• King John's castle (kids' activities, head sized cookies, talented people who are passionate about what they are doing)
• that amy noticed the empanada stamp
• the life, faithfulness, service and Christ-like love of Tom Waechter

• peaceful train and plane rides
• pictures to help with the remembering
• finding free books to read online
• traditional first meal at chick fil a 
• pretty toes again (and yaya's generosity that made them possible)

• 85 thank you books and letters were located (and sent back out)
• "tomorrow's freedom is today's surrender" - all sons and daughters
• .95 bag of french fries (and just the right amount of oil to fry them)
• white noise app
• the ice famine is over (granted, it was only about 7 days...but 7 days without ice is serious business!)

• wonderful welcome home
• getting to open the little treats and treasures that were waiting for me on champions way
• such soft sheets
• grandaddy's homemade beef jerky
• delightful time with such delightful friends 

• yaya & caroline's shopping trip
• fresh supply of socks and undies for the cash kids
• knowing that we're walking along the path that the Lord is establishing
• remembering that we won't have to get on a plane anytime soon (no more tough good-byes for the time being!)
• the cottage looks fantastic!

táim buíoch

• "increasingly released to become the one I created you to be..." - jesus calling
• the really fun japanese place in the london airport (terminal 2!)
• pastry and coffee (many,many times)

• so much good time with amy
• fairy forests and wooded walks
• exploring castles

• RV adventures
• the way emma's hair goes even curlier in the irish rain
• windy roads and beautiful views

• waddle waddle duck song and panda puppies
• josh's burgers
• sweet little girl enjoying a basin of soapy water

• playgrounds. 
• sitting between 2 of my favorite people in the middle of the front
• blue-tiful skies (and eli's wit)

• the way the kids just start playing with other kids in the caravan parks
• nick's planning and orchestrating of this trip
• fun times at the westport house/pirate adventure park - and especially the laughter on the helter skelter slide and the cannonball run

• being cool (in regards to temperature ;))
• quality time with katie
• when all the internets finally cooperate and the thankful list is posted, pictures included

είμαι ευγνώμων

• the way the 3 wells kids and the 3 cash kids clicked right back into place
• kyustendil, bulgaria - what a lovely town! (and God must love her people to send the wells and galloways there!)
• sweet time in olympic beach, greece
• incredible sunsets

• "thanksgiving opens up your heart to rich communion with me." - jesus calling
• i ate some salad! and i liked it!!  
• pizza on the balcony
• train rides

• free wifi, air conditioning and ice...3 of my favorite luxuries
• the crazy awesome air hockey game (so many pucks!) 
• watching beauty and the beast
• getting to hike part of mount olympus

• we all fit in one taxi (luggage included) - multiple times!
• clean water for showering and drinking
• walking along beaches, putting toes in the water, swimming
• a daughter who tries octopus (and pretty much anything else)

• knowing emma's spending her screen time using the kids' bible app
• remembering that i've got books on the kindle for reading! (thanks for the free ones 6 months ago, amazon prime!)
• getting to cook (as simple as it may be) again.  ease back into it...
• getting to see really incredible places...and really old stuff

• "His holy spirit, moving and breathing in me, is the most intimate part of my life, making me fit for himself.  don't take such a gift for granted."  ephesians 4:30 (msg...plus changed the "you/your" to "me/my")
• the hospitality of greek people - seems like each interaction has resulted in some gift - a map, jalapeno cheese in pouch (?), the previously mentioned salad, a dish of watermelon, a bottle of water...there's much to be learned from their generosity!  
• having a washing machine available for our use (and lines/clips for drying!)
• more phenomenal sunsets

• when caroline holds my hand
• that hearts get settled again
• knowing that things don't have to be posted on social media for them to have happened and for them to be valuable experiences...facebook and instagram are not the validators of my life...
• lovely paths for walking

благодарен съм

• 2 euro per child well spent - museum entrance fee
• cards, notes, letters, good-bye book
• kids in the candy shoppe
• picnic in the park

•  games with josh & katie
• pizza with esther & laurin (x's 2) (bonus: the delivery guy was already waiting for us at the port gate with the pizzas!)
• free samples (dried fruit)
• mad bread: leche leche + amazing pastry

• easy - peaceful - all went as planned - last morning on the ship
• luggage to use when all the plans changed 
• callow's presence, support, kindness, generosity
• kids creativity in the airport

•  amy taylor's kind questions
• proper mercy ships send off in the mcdonald's parking lot from andrea, briana & silke
• kids & photo scavenger hunts
• just the right first stop after leaving the ship

•  time in bulgaria with the wells
• beautiful views and cool air
• kids' meals
• a selfie with nick...because we can.

•  fried zucchini and all kinds of other deliciousness at "friends"
• reading the right book at the right time
• the beall springs of bulgaria
• picking cherries

•  when you read something that is what you'd say/write if you had the ability to say it/write it in such a wonderful way
• "thankfulness awakens you to My presence." -jesus calling
• our God can be spoken to/worshipped in any language/tongue/dialect/accent.
• knowing nick is in one of his favorite places (nature/water/creek)

• having a true true friend waiting for me in columbus
• lovely hikes in the woods
• "can i help you translate?"  yes please! (and the connection made)
• how much eli is enjoying the wells' kitten

estoy agradecido

• time on the bow
• smooth sailing
• cool breeze + bright sun + deck 7 + early morning
• boys and their games of bang

• listening to jae's testimony/story on the CCC podcast
• party in reception!!
• cool breeze + bright sun + deck 8 + late evening
• one last sailing sunset and some much needed quiet time on deck 8

•  esther & laurin's generous hospitality - they have drinks in their fridge for me
• sitting with windsor in her favorite spot
• new journal
• girls in a tree

• better than expected time playing legos
• the dolphins made an appearance
• biscotti (and the hope of making it someday)
• first night of shore leave

• safe sail
• shelly's hospitality and generosity (and the way she has pretty much anything you're looking for)
• ah...astican.
• mad bread coffee & pastry

•  all the wonderful memories of moments with special people stirred up by being back in las palmas
• good-bye notes delivered
• blueberries + strawberries + kiwi + cherries + nectarines + plums
• perfectly placed punctuation.