few favorites...good to think about...

...partially because i didn't want the blog to feel totally neglected....and partially because i really like these and want to share them with people i really like! 

bet you didn't think you were going to get a thankful thursday list, did you?

right now, as i'm writing this it is thursday...but as you're reading this, the time that i'm writing it is thursday a week ago.  AND as you're reading this, it is thursday a week from now.  mind boggling, i know!! i tried to make sure that actually says what i'm trying to say...but i'm not sure it does!  it's  a bit confusing trying to make a thankful thursday list for the future....but i'm trying it anyway!
(some -alot!- of these are assumptions...if they end up not being true i'll let you know!)

• i got to take a nap! (that's convenient since i was up at 4:30 in the morning!)
• everything wrapped up well at the IOC (final presentations included)
• i got to see molly! sweet sweet time with a sweet sweet friend
• everything fit (in some way or another) into our luggage and carry-ons
• i talked to my mom on the phone
• fun postcards from michigan!
• the ability to schedule a blog post
• the button on my long shorts...i like it (and if it wasn't there i would certainly miss it)
• eli's willingness to help pack -- "what can i do to help?" one of my favorite questions
• we made it to ghana safely!!! (assumption)
• emma  and nick playing "you can't catch me"
• french toast for lunch
• the lady who works in the cafeteria who says "hey lady!" 
• the book of psalms for alicia
• knowing that people are praying for us
• getting to trust God more
• the coke on the airplane (assumption)
• the excitement of joining what God is up to in Ghana
• stretching (i'm not a big "stretch before i exercise" kind of girl....but a good "sttttrrrretch" feels so nice!!)
• if you took the "e" off of "so nice" and smashed the words together, you would have "sonic."  i like sonic ice.  it's so nice. 
• "guest meal vouchers" for the anchorage cafe at the IOC (a gift for shredding paper last week.  shredding the paper was a gift in and of itself!!!)
• how "be thou my vision" tends to be a song that really sticks in my head for a while

i may have to come back and make an addendum to this thankful thursday once i've actually lived the week that i'm writing this list for :) 

i am NOT going to try and make a thankful thursday list for july 26...just wanted to go ahead and tell you so that you won't be too terribly disappointed when it doesn't happen (though it may end up happening if we have any sort of internet access in ghana).  feel free to make your own list and email it to me diannacash@yahoo.com :) -- then maybe i'll do a huge "thankful thursday from my friends" compilation.  maybe. 

much grace, loads of peace, tons of blessing to you.

fun new (to me) song!

I scheduled this to post while we're in Ghana...just for fun!  We sang this at the church we attended during Gateway....the more i've listened to it, the more i've grown to LOVE it.  i could totally see Jay and the band rocking out to this at CCC (the drummers especially!!!).  Not sure how much jumping and dancing the congregation would do....some more than others, i'm sure! :)  Enjoy!!!
Bethel Church - Deep cries out, New Album: Be lifted high, Year: 2011

I've got a river of living water
A fountain that never will run dry
It's open Heavens You're releasing
And we will never be denied

Cause we're stirring up deep deep wells
We're stirring up deep deep waters
We're going to dance in the river, dance in the river
Cause we're stirring up deep deep wells
We're stirring up deep deep waters
We're going to jump in the river
Jump in the river and everybody singing now

Deep cries out to deep cries out to
Deep cries out to deep cries out to
So we cry out to, we cry out to, You Jesus

We're falling into deeper waters, calling out to You
We're walking into deeper waters, going after You

If He goes to the left then we'll go to the left
And if He goes to the right then we'll go to the right
We're going to jump jump jump jump in the river
Jump jump jump jump, everybody
If He goes to the left then we'll go to the left
And if He goes to the right then we'll go to the right
We're going to dance dance, dance dance in the river
Dance dance, dance dance, everybody
If He goes to the left then we'll go to the left
And if He goes to the left then we'll go to the right
We're going to shout shout shout shout in the river
Shout shout shout shout in the river, everybody

even more to be thankful for than i realize...

• the beautiful bird i saw on my walk (at first i thought it was white, red & green like the flag of italy...but then i realized it was red, yellow & green...or maybe blue...i don't know!  it was beautiful...and felt a bit out of place in the woods of Texas...)
• 10,000 reasons song
• JJ's willingness to keep our fridge and kitchen "stocked" and his faithfulness to make coffee
• sugar coated raisins (the best part of raisin bran)
• "God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are."   Romans 8:16
• Worship at CCF on Sunday (especially the "Great I am" part)
• playing soccer with caroline
• throwing frisbee with eli
• doing 2 previously mentioned things at the same time
• chick-fil-a (i didn't realize how much i missed it!)
• package from the wells (2 golden doughnuts for nick included!!!)
• getting to see & spend time with the edfeldt's!
• the experience of the Bass Pro Shop
• this week's wide open schedule (for the most part)(for the most part it's wide open...and for the most part i'm thankful for that!)(though i must admit it was a bit of an adjustment to go from the past 4 weeks being super scheduled to a week that is more "choose your own adventure" ish)
• "those with Him will be the called, chosen & faithful."  jesus calling
• yummy icecream sundaes at the blackburn's...and a backyard that lives up to its description
• time in the cafe with caroline
• productive time of emailing the other day (along with easy access to email addresses)
• card & pictures from molly
• shredding with caroline (with a paper shredder...not the workout video...)
• super special 4:45am date with God
• God never sleeps (along with the realization that the entire world never sleeps all at one time - and that's one of the reasons God never sleeps)
• a change of plans that is resulting in someone getting something that i wanted them to get all along...
• realizing that i have more to be thankful for than i realized.
• 3 thankful pictures:    

  

  last week's pedicure.

  

  my absolute favorite piece of jewelry (except for my engagement/wedding ring).  amazima.org

the kids with "bubba teeth" - this picture makes me smile...and i'm thankful for that!! :) (and thankful their teeth don't really look like this....)



never have i ever...

...had so much fun at a Bass Pro Shop. We had a wonderful time in Dallas this past weekend with our friends, the Edfeldt's (ben, beth, tucker & libby).  So thankful that we got to see them and spend Friday evening and most of Saturday with them.

Not sure if it's ridiculously sad or incredibly awesome that the Cash and Edfeldt families were satisfied to let the Bass Pro Shop be the main event of our day (i'm leaning towards incredibly awesome).  We toyed with the idea of Legoland....and the thought of a water park crossed our minds....but in the end, after a morning of swimming and fun lunch in grapevine, we just hung out at the Bass Pro Shop. Honestly, I don't even know how long we were there...but we were there - and it was good!!!  Other stores may need to take some lessons.  They've got it going on - there's tons of stuff for the kids to do (which makes the moms happy so that the men can shop in peace)(though neither the head of the Edfeldt family nor the head of the Cash family are too "into" all things Bass Pro Shop). 

Top 10 Favorite things about the Bass Pro Shop (in no particular order because i don't feel like thinking about which is the best):

• 2 words: free carousel
• 2 more words: free samples
• free craft! (are you catching the "free" theme)
• kid's "fishing", archery & bb gun shooting (all free, of course!)
• GIANORMOUS fish tanks!
• educational activities (treasure hunt -with a prize - included) for kids
• big boats that they let the kids "play" on
• air conditioning
• big waterfall in the middle of the store
• watching the people who ARE into all things Bass Pro Shop

They even took our picture...with a real fake "camp scene"...

BassPro Summer Camp (the link should you care to order copies of this picture...you can get it on a mug...or mousepad....or pen...or coozie...or rifle.)(go ahead...get all your Christmas shopping done!!). 

Most of the time it's the simple things that make life so lovely...

thankful!

• assignments (for our gateway journal).  i like 'em.
• bacon, egg & cheese biscuit from mcdonald's (and the date with God as i ate it)
• sitting outside of barnes & noble at 8:00 in the morning making use of their free wi-fi (the shade and breeze were quite nice)
• comfortable conversation
• pedicure with amy (never have i ever had hot rocks rubbed on my legs before that night.)
• "activate your faith" (right word at the right time)
• 5 guys burgers & fries
• 2 nap weekend
• yaya is here!!
• chocolate covered expresso beans from wal-mart (score one for wal-mart)
• He is my shield! (and He keeps showing me verses about that)
• the way Lauren Marquez encourages me - and i got to see her!!!
• first italian soda
• gak package from the walls
• every night is not like monday night (broken sleep...)
• best night of sleep yet (last night)
• courtesy flushes.
• how much caroline enjoyed the "jump thing" at the 4th of July celebration
• soldiers.  so thankful for the way they sacrifice & serve.
• the post-its nick left for me
• "draw near to me with a thankful heart, aware that your cup is overflowing with blessings." - jesus calling
• comfy skirt (not sure i really match. but it's comfortable.)
• watching nick v. & dave celebrate america's independence
• mis en place (a french term for "everything in its place")