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.