He gives so frequently and so generously...sometimes it's overwhelming

• the phone is attached to the wall (read "not a cordless or a cell phone") but it can still reach to about 80% of our cabin
• ice machine on deck 3 is back!!
• private photo albums on facebook
• "ask and you shall receive" (a night of uninterrupted sleep)
• "what was lost is found" (Africa Mercy style starbucks giftcard)
• "do not fear your weakness, for it is the stage on which My power and glory perform most brilliantly." - jesus calling
• watching (and listening to) eli sing during "carols by candlelight" (and again at the Christmas Eve service)(one has to be careful to make sure he doesn't know that you're looking or listening...)
• AMAZING grilled chicken and potatoes on the dock
• lovely evening (weather wise) to be on the dock
• caroline's christmas gifts for her friends (i am really grateful when our kids have generous and thoughtful streaks)
• envelope of cards & notes from Kingdom Kids

• finding eli asleep with this light on and "story of the world" open
• walk with nick
• didn't have to wash a single dish today (thanks to water restrictions AND one of nick's christmas gifts to me)
• "many hands make light work" (really thankful for the hands that helped wrap "christmas shoe" gifts for the crew...and the hands that helped deliver them!)
• CHERRY COKE BY OUR DOOR!!! 
• another sweet trip to the Island
• this was my view most of the day saturday:

• laundry restriction lifted! (we were getting awfully close to completely out of clean clothes...)
• getting to read other people's thankful lists
• hearing silent night sung in so many languages (what a sweet picture of our community!)
• eli has minecraft (we have officially made him the happiest boy alive...for now.)
• christmas brunch - what a spread!
• one small box of Christmas trash
• shoes in the hallway (i like that ship tradition!)
• christmas eve with nick
• nick's "creative presentation" of my gifts (for example:  he wrapped up lego peole -a little girl and a little boy holding 2 drinks...and there were 2 coke bottle tops with them....the gift = a date/walk into town to get 2 bottled cokes.)
• a bottle of "happy" from yaya and grandaddy!!  i can smell pretty!!
• eli's idea of ringing the bell in the dining room for Jesus' birthday (he didn't actually ring it...but he had the thought...)
• i got the running shoes i wanted off of ebay for a lot less than i thought i'd have to pay (and they have a suitcase to come back to the ship in next week -thanks, erin!)
• walking into the girls bedroom at early o'clock in the morning to find caroline painting emma's toenails
• our candy stash is officially stocked (another perk of Christmas!)
• nick doesn't have malaria (or strep)
• really i'm thankful that none of us has malaria (or strep)
• Christmas Eve morning edition of the workout class (sweet piano music to accompany our sweat)
• mocha punch turned out well!
• my meme called!!
• lady selling potatoes (it's a long story...but basically i was thinking about the possibility of buying some potatoes the other night...and then there was a lady who walked by selling them this morning when we went to the store...very thankful that God remembered that i was interested in buying potatoes even though i had forgotten)
• nice little walk to a market - complete with icecream!

"He brings good gifts into our lives..." (Gal 5:22 msg)

• we have a nativity scene in our cabin!

• practical lessons in humility
• fooday friday! what a cute kid and wonderful story
• that God gave Lane and Wendy a little girl (happy 4th birthday, laura lane!!)
• found someone with the room and the "weight space" to take our christmas packages to the states to mail!
• "O come, o come, Emmanuel"
• cute little kids christmas video
• "in Me you are complete" - jesus calling
• to do lists (they help keep my mind a little more peaceful)
• AMAZING pictures of my friend molly
• beth's "12 days of Christmas" presents to us
• the entertaining quality of jonathan's emails
• christmas cookie making (and the fact that having fun making them and eating them has nothing to do with how they end up looking!  cash's we are - martha stewart or betty crocker, we are not)

• seeing pictures of the lesley's house and backyard
• unexpected financial gifts
• the opportunity to have the HR team in our cabin for cinnamon rolls & coffee
• there was a VVF dress ceremony ! 
• stephanie fiduk's kindess...she blessed me tremendously just by being herself
• email subject line: "texas mail has arrived" (and i'm thankful that i get to go pick it up in a bit!)

i am thankful for...

• lovely "africa mercy style" version of the nutcracker
• a successful "walk into town" to get a "skype stick" (soooo not the right name...but that's what i call it)
• the fun time caroline had with catherine and catherine friday night/saturday morning
• the decorations the previously mentioned ladies put up for emma's birthday
• emma's birthday cuteness

• the ease & simplicity (and meaningfulness & joy!) of birthdays here on the ship
• jar of olives from a crew member that i don't even know (well, now i know her - her name is hannah...and i will be grateful for the jar of olives and her thoughtfulness every time i see her!)
• pinata fun - it's just fun to hit stuff sometimes
• the cupcakes remy made for emma's birthday

• josh, emma o. and stephanie's willingness to make cookies for the party!
• mr. ben tucker's character & christ-likeness
• waking up in the middle of the night and realizing i've still got 4 hours to sleep! (as opposed to waking up 5 minutes before the alarm goes off, wishing i had another 4 hours of sleep)
• clean children
• the library has the next book in the series i'm reading!! (and the next one after that!)
• watching "white christmas" with nick
• the hall's christmas letter - so clever! (and their picture - so lovely!)
• job 33
• googly eyes (there's a pair staring up at me from the table...they just add a new level of fun to crafts...)
• peace & quiet
• marking items off my list
• tugboats - those little boats move tremendous ships (reminds me of how the Kingdom of God works sometimes)(and this particular ship isn't even all that big....)

• finding sweet notes from eli to his sisters
• we made it back to the ship (that was a tough run!)
• cold water for a thirsty girl
• a delightful dinner with a fabulous family tuesday night
• people who do the best they can with what they have (and it's especially nice when their best is so wonderfully enjoyable!)
• the combination of snickerdoodle and pretzel
• christmas packages are all packed up and stamped! (now i just need to find someone with room in their luggage to bring them back to the states and mail them!)
• ice (yup, i'm still thankful)
• a husband who takes the kids swimming...and the chance to have a few moments of quiet to type up this episode of thankful thursday. 

It's 12.12.12. I can't not post.

The lovely and thoughtful Jessica Hall shared this song with me...I haven't even listened to all of it yet (takes a while for songs and such to load) - but the 1:08 that has loaded and been listened to has really blessed me!!  Maybe it will bless you, too.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

it's good to give thanks.

• corndogs at the youth dinner! (i was already really thankful for corndogs...but when you haven't had one in 6 months, it's especially tasty!)
• hearing heidi's story
• skype with amy (AND getting to talk to her on the phone!)
• lovely trip to the Niehjer market (complete with icecream)
• realizing that i can't put some of my thankful list items on here because it will ruin christmas surprises...thankful to know that we have fun surprises to send across the ocean...
• sweet time with caroline on saturday...organizing and playing
• "cashing in" on birthday coupons
• picture of the taylors for our wall of love
• got to watch the UGA game!!!
• nick's excitement at getting to watch SEC football

• "there's nothing we want more" - jesus culture song
• "You're all i want in heaven! You're all i want on earth." psalm 73:25
• caroline got to light the advent candle
• fun boutique finds (the one bonus of people leaving so often)
• emma & caroline dancing in midships with mr. gabe & mr. nick
• michelle's pancakes!
• emails from christy collins (life-giving, rich, full)
• AFM craft night

• conversations with lara, hannah & caroline (growth group-ish)
• lamination
• sinter klaas celebration (thankful for the opportunity to learn about other traditions)

• falling asleep in my husband's arms
• doing dishes to "10,000 reasons" (fun challenge to get them done before the song is over)
• year round ornaments that remind me of faithful friendship

• needlegunning started AFTER emma's nap
• "we are weak.  He is strong."
• "...God is in this place - truly...he whispered in awe 'incredible, wonderful, holy.'" Genesis 28:17 (the msg)
• cute christmas images available through searches. happy december!  merry christmas, friends.

Psalm 138:1 "Thank You! Everything in me says, "Thank You!"

• double stuffed oreos
• He never lets go.  His love never fails/runs out/gives up.
• pumkin pie (and the fact that none of the other cash's eat it...so i got extra!)

• the spaciousness of the Africa Mercy (we were able to tour a neighboring French Naval ship...whew...talk about close quarters!  we've got it quite nice here!!)
• AMAZING packages from Yaya and Molly!!!!!
• how cute eli looks in his new pants & shirt (and how excited he was that his little water gun fits perfectly into the pocket...)

• the way emma watches/enjoys the electronic picture frame
• caroline's interest in/willingness to wash the dishes
• emma's excitement over the sippie cup!
• wit/humor (especially well placed)
• pencil sharpeners
• FB comment from ches
• impromptu trip to the park

• sitting with the VVF ladies sunday afternoon
• when the printers work/connect/cooperate (man oh man it's no fun when they don't!)
• caroline's book "the new neighbor"
• "You are good and the source of good..." Psalm 119:68
• "Caroline, will you hold me?" - emma
• silver glittery fingernails that remind me to pray for the ladies 4 decks below

• hands that look like my sister's
• getting to talk to amy on her birthday
• alex telling amy happy birthday in swedish
• emma's beautiful smile

• dinner with remy & stephanie
• potholes - they make for a more interesting and giggly trip
• Eli's hug on deck 7 when i was having a particularly tough moment. What a comforter/compassionate kid he is (not sure why i had my camara...but thankful to have captured this moment.)

• praying for other families
• those 2 little ones running around the hospital hallway.  what energy! what joy!
• eli & caroline's DELIGHT in getting work in the cafe
• mr. dave & miss emma's willingness to "let" them work in the cafe
• the hat the guy was selling on the streets of conakry (maybe a sign of things to come?!) (jk)

• the freedom that accompanies surrender
• hearing people's stories
• caroline's invitations to her book reading
• christmas tag!
• emma & caroline dancing around to christmas music
• decorating for christmas (it's definitely different...but good)

• we have our stockings here
• fun little "learn to speak french" book
• the kids getting to listen to grandaddy's recording of "what do snowmen do at night?" (thankful for his willingness to record it and thankful for how much they enjoyed hearing him reading it!)

• date night/run last night.  i needed that.  i love time with my husband.
• the fact that this post has taken a significantly fewer minutes than my last post with pictures.  whew.  yay!  i like it when things go as they should. :)

 

I Surrender All (the hymn, the lyrics, some thoughts, some verses)

ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER
ALL TO HIM I FREELY GIVE
I WILL EVER LOVE AND TRUST HIM
IN HIS PRESENCE DAILY LIVE.

ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER,
HUMBLY AT HIS FEET I BOW
WORLDLY PLEASURES ALL FOR SAKEN
TAKE ME JESUS, TAKE ME NOW

ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER
MAKE ME SAVIOR WHOLLY THINE
LET ME FEEL THY HOLY SPIRIT
TRULY KNOW THAT THOU ARE MINE

ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER,
LORD I GIVE MYSELF TO THEE
FILL ME WITH THY LOVE AND POWER
LET THY BLESSING FALL ON ME

I SURRENDER ALL
I SURRENDER ALL
ALL TO THEE MY BLESSED SAVIOR
I SURRENDER ALL

i've  just been reminded afresh of how important SURRENDER is and how much and often i need to SURRENDER. and how, in God's incredible grace, He welcomes my surrender. 

i give You all  of me, God...ALL...all the good, all the bad, all the lovely, all the ugly.  i give You all of me, all of my feelings, all of my emotions, all of my failures, all of my successes, all of me.

and know what i love?  i can bring all of me...all of my junk...all of my attempts at honoring and blessing Him....all of my yuck...and HE LOVES ALL OF ME. He loves all of you, too... 

Ephesians 3:17-19 I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

it's the day of all days to be thankful

• trip to the island this past friday (pictures & more details coming soon to a cash family blog near you)
• seeing my kids RUN on "God's green earth" (or in this case, His tan sand)
• content, peaceful, easy children the entire trip
• no suburns!
• emma fell asleep on the boat ride back
• my flip flop was recovered from the water (twice!)
• cartwheels on the beach
• "2 Saturdays" (ship holiday!)
• making paper beads with chelle
• early morning swimming
• caroline's letter writing abilities
• yummy cupcakes (well done, michelle deneen!)
• popcorn for lunch
• deck 8 after dinner
• catalyst podcasts
• big christmas present project is done
• wall o' magnets in the supply closet
• coffee & conversation with stephanie buchanan
• "you don't have to perform well to receive my love." - jesus calling
• wifi on deck 8 (and elsewhere)
• thankful for a year round thankful list (takes the pressure off of thanksgiving week!)
• the "wash me in the water of your word" shane & shane song
• seeds family worship songs (check our their website if you want: amazing kids' scripture songs)
• nick's willingness to handle bedtime
• knowing my family will be gathering at the cabin today - i am grateful (slightly envious - about 10%...but overall, tremendously GRATEFUL - about 90%.)
• cup of pumkin spice coffee specifically in honor of molly and thanksgiving this morning
• the overhead page just came over summoning me down to the cargo hold for our packages!!!!

Caroline is (unknowingly) testing this theory...

 

 

6 are hers, 2 are mine, 1 is from all 3 kids.  It's been so fun to watch her write letters the past few days (thanks, yaya, for the AWESOME stationary set and stamps!!!).  We like mail - sending it and receiving it.  :)  Very thankful that mail can get across the ocean. 

very very grateful.

• magnificent mail from molly (and alliteration) for me and my children
• peaceful night of sleep
• so many successful surgeries! (especially the one that so many people were praying for)
• "imperfect progress"
• lindt/lindor "irresistible milk chocolate truffle".  oh. wow. so. good.
• "we cannot rely on our assumptions & partial understanding."  - peter koontz
• walk to Leader Price with stephanie and caroline
• ALL SUFFICIENT GRACE
• "by Your grace you are making us faithful" (song lyric)
• smiles in the midst of frustration
• family potluck
• new blue shirt from yaya.  perfect fit!
• caroline's cheerfulness/obedience/excellent attitude/eating at lunch
• reading psalms with nick
• peaceful morning before school
• "late night" cereal with kiddos
• BETTER (it's always nice to hear that things are "better")
• birthday present from molly

• pumpkin spice coffee!!!
• a french press to go with the coffee
• my first attempt at using the french press was a pretty decent success 



• "our lives gradually becoming brighter & brighter & more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become more like Him." 2 Cor 3:18 (msg)
• safety
• "fully understood and unconditionally loved" - jesus calling
• a surprise coffee card from sarah

 

• chicken fingers & fries for supper!!!!
• the angels are welcoming in a sweet saint as jimmy griggs is getting settled in his heavenly home
• hundreds of birthday confetti ballons...and the fact that most of them remained contained in the package (and the cool picture it made!)(below!)
• this blog post is very nearly done (there have been many moments today when I wasn't sure it was going to find its way to completion!)(formatting has not been my friend...).  just one click away...

'tis the season to be thankful.

lots of my thankful thursday items are in the previous post....i'll try not to repeat too much...

• God's ridiculous patience with me
• live music/worship in the cafe (such diversity and awesomeness!)
• caroline & anna sweeping up popcorn
• rebekah's help with my bible cover
• the french braid in caroline's hair
• puzzles (especially thankful when the kids are enjoying putting them together)
• the facebook message from kristen hall
• going to the riviera hotel with nick
• the creme brulee was really good (but not soooo good that i'm going to be trying to figure out ways to get back there to have more each week!)
• caroline's willingness to share what God is teaching her
• birthday messages on facebook (it's the one day i'm really really thankful for facebook)(i'm thankful for it on other days...but frustrated by it at times, too)
• the thankfulness that is being proclaimed each day by so many on facebook. 
• watching the wedding singer/laughing with nick
• pretzels and goldfish gifts on the door
• ben & beth's online auction (NOT "online adoption" as i keep saying) click here to check it out!
• watching "my mercy box" with the kids (they still love it) and seeing our cabin on there!
• that little brush that came with the carpet sweeper.  what a useful tool!
• cleaning out/organizing/setting up the desk for a new guy coming in
• paslm 36:5-6 (the msg) "God's love is meteoric, His loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, His verdicts oceanic.  Yet in His largeness, nothing gets lost; not a man, not a mouse slips through the cracks."
• the only ironing required of me involves melty beads.

my thoughts on the election...and my 32nd birthday!!!!

May God bless our president - whoever he is after today's election.  He's got a tough job that I certainly wouldn't want. That's all I've got to say about that.  On to my birthday celebration!!!!

God loved on me lots this weekend!  I feel like I should share about it for 2 reasons 1) because people have asked and, chances are, if you're reading this, you know and care about me and want to know how my birthday was celebrated (thanks for caring and wanting to share life with me!!) and 2)every good and perfect gift is from above - and i want to give credit where credit is due!

I suppose it started on Thursday at 1:15 when I had my massage that Nick signed me up for (yup, seriously, a  massage...what kind of "living on a ship in Africa" is this?!  a pretty amazing kind!!).  there's a sweet lady from Texas named Cyndi who is here for a few weeks on a Mercy Team...she's got some amazing massage skills that she shares with the crew while she's here.  I LOVE it when people use their skills to bless others...I especially loved this special treat!  So I got my 15 minutes of neck/back/shoulder massage on Thursday (so grateful for a husband who would sign me up for it...for whatever reason, i wouldn't have signed myself...and apparently the slots went fast...so even if i had finally gotten around to deciding that i wanted one, it would've been too late!).

Skip on over to Friday afternoon...the girls and I were making chocolate chip cookies in the crew galley (picture by emma):

 

....from a mix...they don't compare to hannah dewlicious cookies...but they'll do :) and the ever so sweet & lovely stephanie duncan came and found us and asked if i wanted to meet her and remy (my 6:15am dutchie workout partner) for coffee.  sure!  i'd love to.  about 6:10 in E ward?  sure!  sounds good. (the 3 of us have met for coffee in E ward multiple times...so it didn't seem out of the ordinary at all!) (though in previous years my radar would have been waaaaay up....) (keep in mind that for many years i set myself up for failure on my birthday because all around my birthday i would figure out every possible way that every possible person could surprise me....and, though i've had some wonderful birthdays, i must admit that it's not even possible for any birthday to live up to the expectations that i would put on it....so God's been working on that a bit...the evidence is that i haven't really done that the past couple of years - and i've been pleasantly surprised and wonderfully blessed instead of miserably disappointed!!!)

So at 6:09 I headed down to E ward (an empty room on Deck 3...with couches....).  Stephanie met me in the hall - and very naturally says, "oh i was just going up to get my coffee...nah...maybe i'll go get some in a bit." and in we walk to a room full of friends saying "surprise".  Now, I'm no good at reacting to surprises...and we all know I'm not so good at being the center of attention...so that was a pretty awkward moment....but after moving on from that initial surprise, the next hour was absolutely fabulous!

Stephanie Duncan, Stephanie Fiduk, Josh Callow, Catharine Fulmer and Tori Hobson = 5 rock stars of thoughtfulness and awesomeness.  As far as I know, they are the ones responsible for Friday night's festivities (i'm so sorry if i'm leaving someone out - please let me know...i want to heap thankfulness on you, too!!!)

The room was decorated with one of my most favorite things - encouraging words!!!! One wall (of cabinets) was covered in cards and bible verses that had been collected for me (reminded me very very much of a TA blessing bag. what a lovely thing!).

They also took the time to print off pictures of me/my family and laminate them and punch holes in them and hang them from the ceiling - they wrote words that describe me on the back (they were far too kind).  AND there was a jar for "coupons" -- I've got all kinds of fun gifts to cash in on: babysitting, cups of coffee, chocolate, a cup of tea at sunset on deck 8, a hug at my favorite ice machine,  a pancake breakfast, french toast casserole, chocolate chip cookies, extra shower minutes!  So many wonderful gifts from so many wonderful people.

 

There were cokes & juice & cookies & pretzels & even a BOSTON CREME PIE!!  (thanks for finding out and making my favorite, Josh!)(he's the one looking on as i cut into his creation!).

So, after the fun surprise party, I got to go participate in part of the ship's "spiritual retreat weekend" - I felt like it was God's birthday present to me!!   It really deserves a blog post of its own (maybe there will be one that i can link you to).

Dianna's nutshell version of the spiritual retreat weekend:  the chaplaincy department did an incredible job of creating "stations" and providing activities where we could interact with God, His word and His Truth throughout the weekend.  Caroline and I ended up working through the stations together Friday night...what a gift to be able to share that with my daughter!  Saturday we were able to make fabric covers for our bibles (again, it was a privilege to do that with Caroline!).  I sewed -semi-successfully!!- for the first time!!  I covered my Jesus Calling book.  I tried to cover my Bible...but ended up letting Miss Rebekah finish it for  me (many thanks!).   My covered books are my tangible birthday gifts from God!!  Here's one of them:

On to Sunday - my actual birthday!  We had a peaceful morning...Nick arranged for Tori to make (and deliver!) her AMAZING french toast casserole. 

It is so good. so good.  At some point I decided that I was only going to eat what I wanted to all day (with not even attempt at "healthy and balanced") -- I had multiple servings of french toast casserole throughout the day! 

God gave me a rainy morning - another birthday present from Him.  I love the rain!!

We went down to deck 3 for Ward Church. Got to shake our bodies for Jesus and play our pretend trumpets. :)  Then this really incredible, good looking, wise, creative guy spoke about walking with God and "what's your next step?" He's my favorite.  (and then it was super cool to realize that yesterday's Jesus Calling used some of the exact same words that Nick used as he taught...).

After Ward Church we had lunch...and I had a quick nap...Emma had her nap...Eli went to karate and Caroline went to play with a friend for a bit.  About 2:45 Catharine came to watch the kids and Nick and I went to the Hotel Riviera. 

What a delightful time with my best friend...the weather was perfect.  The music was fun (especially when "I will survive" came on - who knew it was such an international song?  The brazilians present seemed to particularly enjoy it!!!).  I even got to hear the "crunk my money" (or whatever in the world the words are!!!) song.  The coke was refreshing (complete with ice!).  My glass is without a doubt 1/2 full.

The creme brulee (one of the main reasons nick took me there) was delicious!  The pool was nice.  a very enjoyable time, just me and him.  We headed back to the ship...had dinner (Catharine graciously agreed to keep the kids a bit longer while we ate) and then enjoyed a BEAUTIFUL sunset on Deck 8. 

After that we headed to "church" (ship wide service on Sunday nights)...enjoyed some sweet worship and heard some neat testimonies of what God did through the spiritual weekend. 

This was my favorite conversation during the service (the chaplain leading was inviting people to come to the front and share what the weekend had meant/what God had done):

Caroline: "Mama, can I go up and share something?
Me:  "Absolutely!"
Caroline: "Will you go up there with me?
Me:  "Nope.  Ask your daddy."

(she did and he said "yes"...and it was lovely)

Interspersed throughout my birthday weekend were gifts and phone calls and emails and facebook messages (so much facebook love!) from so many thoughtful and caring people....so much love and encouragement and blessing poured out all over me.  It was almost overwhelming - in a good way! It kind of feels like it may take me a while to reply to emails and such...I'm sorry for any delays!!

I do believe this one may take the prize for "best birthday yet." (and i don't give those kind of awards out lightly)(but it's a little hard to give that award when some of my most favorite people are on the other side of the world...)(but thankful that each and every one was a part of blessing me for my birthday).

It's a good start to being 32.  (annnnd....i'm really excited cause i know there are a few more things heading my way through crew mail....the celebration continues!!!!)

i'm praying that i experience the presence of God more in the coming year than ever before...praying that i draw nearer and nearer to Him....praying that i will decrease and He will increase..praying that i'll recognize God and join Him in whatever it is that He wants me to do.  Praying for more patience and less selfishness.  Praying that He will be the center, the focus, the ALL of my life - every moment, every day.  Can I ask for one more birthday present? Will you pray these things (and anything else you want!) for me, too?