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. 

so many good things

• time on the porch reading 
• pause app "experience jesus"
• b-last from the past (posing as characters from a movie we've never seen...to play a kickball game!)

• cash family water balloon wiffleball 
• just right iced coffee and a good choice for a rainy afternoon
• eli's dessert creation for zoe

• psalm 91 (and the anna golden song)
• anna...tre...yaya...bringing the smiles to emma
• few hours at chewacla state park

• emma's wisdom teeth removal went well...recovery is getting better and better....
• all the things for camp empower keep coming together
• nick made me a plate of all the cinnamon roll centers (and he remembered my "more/less" list from the beginning of the year!)

• multiple naps this week
• good fiction books to read
• runs and a walk with caroline

toasts and apps and friends and birthdays

• pause app "experience Jesus" 
• sweet wedding for Eli & Naomi 
• eli's toast! such a good best man :) 

• tasty lasagna and new members at CityScape
• iced coffee and way better than expected orange scone on the porch 
• most of the waffle friday crowd celebrating molly's newly established mother-in-law status

• made it to tuesday at noon...little more breathing room 
• zoe is so 7
• cookie cake!!

• fun cityscape kids kick off summer event....so many meaningful conversations
• every time my dad calls 
• gardenia bush FULL of buds and blooms

• easy dentist appointment
• bubble bath monster
• iceskating birthday party for these 2 (i love that they share a birthday...and logan, too)

• family freeze tag ended well (lost a little cookie cake...but that's ok)
• whatever my eye had going on went away
• fun chalkboard sign (making the most of that borrow!)

• beautiful breathe event
• bible verse bracelets
• fabulous friends gathered at my favorite table.

life giving moments and gifts

• easy cottage guests and turnovers
• celebrating 23 years of being married to nick! i love my husband so much. 
• butter chicken!  indian restaurant with all the fun vibes. (not sure anything will ever top shamiana in benin...but we'll keep trying) and the best person to share it with.

• caroline made her flight!
• she's ropes course certified
• good stuff: 

• eli has had a good week in houston! (can't wait to hear about it!)
• laughing at seinfeld and hearing nick and emma laughing at it
• buttermilk pie (and driving all the way to byron to exchange half for papa's fried chicken...but then lane didn't show up)(just kidding)(and i hope he was kidding)

• bouquet making at cityscape for mother's day!
• that i get to be eli, caroline, emma and zoe's mom. unbelievable. 
• getting to use beth's art for the tags

• having eli and logan and friends here
• the way they came in from a very busy (and early!) day at impact and proceeded to take time by themselves to spend time with the Lord
• charcuterie on a stick and lovely flowers (both thanks to logan!)

• all of tuesday worked out (even though 4 trips to ccs were involved)
• encouraging emails from amy's end of semester reviews
• so much love and friendship in one picture.

• folks accepted jesus at cityscape on sunday!!!
• teamwork making the dreamwork for pretty much everything....specifically for the rehearsal dinner
• the robertsons.  grateful for ALL the ways they love and serve...and their willingness to go where the Lord is sending them

sad to say i still haven't figured out how to add an email subscription button to the blog...i'm not giving up....just need someone who knows alot more about coding than i do.