thankful things.

• deck 8 + sharing hearts + eye of the tiger
• one last run with gretchen
• good-byes (they aren't so fun...but i'm thankful)

• fun time at the palm beach hotel
• running back from ultimate with shea
• really great phone conversation with my mom
• no traffic to and from le grande 2
• shared tiramisu
• eating outside
• sweet friendships

• the moment between moriah and matthew
• miss moriah's beautiful heart  (goodness i'm going to miss that lady)
• my God...who wakes me up early just to be with me
• a car available for just the right time slot to be able to go get icecream
• the way the Academy celebrates our students
• flying flags - there's just something beautiful about it 
• fun times at the pool

• the breeze
• our OR tour with Missy
• chuck's willingness/eagerness to take the box o' trash the 2nd half of the way
• tierah's kindness to take our family to get icecream
• funny glasses (and funny children)

a few quotes...

...i recently read "Year of Biblical Womanhood" by Rachel Held Evans.  

Here are a few of the gems I want to hold on to:

Peace and joy belong not to the woman who finds the right vocation, but to the woman who finds God in any vocation, who looks for the divine around every corner.

Every act of faithfulness in these small tasks communicated his love for God and desire to live I perpetual worship… (speaking of Brother Lawrence)

Be careful of challenging another woman’s choices, for you never know when she may be sitting at the feet of God. 

Knowing that God both inhabits and transcends our daily vocations, no matter how glorious or mundane, should be enough to unite all women of faith and end that nasty cycle of judgement we get caught in theses days. 

Full.

• catherine clarke murphy.  what a jewel.
• successful morning filling in in reception
• no emergencies during previously mentioned morning
• hands on productivity
• mr. josh's cinnamon rolls
• the totally engulfed, wrap-me-up hug from josh before he disembarked.
• tierah's birthday dinner
• feeling fully alive
• saturday's outing with "gail and friends" (love those accents)
• bartering with fruit snacks (and a pebble and mints)
• fun new dress
• knowing God knows my name (how to spell it and how to pronounce it) and it really doesn't matter who else does (or doesn't)
• bonfire on the beach
• rearranging
• my awesome friend molly (i could write a whole post about her awesomeness)(maybe someday)(i did this post early JUST FOR YOU, my friend...so that the first time you checked to see if i'd done it yet, it would be there!).  

• being with people who make me feel like i'm really funny
• dinner with the palmers (lara always manages to get us together)
• suzanne (and how much she cares about our family/children)
• brunch with the chaplaincy team
• multiple outings where time didn't matter.  fully enjoyed the time without rushing back or feeling the need to be back at a certain time.
• chocolate cake with vanilla icing
• the way eli arranged our bed for us 
• watching eli do karate
• the port released the containers!
• miss shea's heart 
• hearing the horn blow for a beloved family(the part present and the part across the ocean)
• people who can express their hopes and disappointments in productive ways
• i passed my AFM driver's test
• when i smash the little flying things on the first try
• knowing where nick's stash of chocolate is
• granola from the plomp's (and knowing they'll be back in benin)
• the privilege of prayer
• lovely setting, enjoyable meal
• the way the Africa Mercy celebrates and honors people
• thoughtful, personal touches

thankful heart.

• refreshment (this particular time in the form of doritos, dr. pepper & God's word)
• emma's sweetness when she is not feeling well - the manners really come out.
• KJ's kind note
• verses and a note full of all kinds of favorites
• beautiful friends who come to our childrens' french play
  

• when little projects come together
• toast + strawberry jam + boiled egg
• even the HOPE of some incredible people coming bak to the ship
• sweet sweet mother's day moment
• 3 special gifts from 3 special children

• sharing ideas
• cards & chocolate - a delightful anniversary exchange
• celebrating 12 years of marriage
• pitted olives (goodness it's the little things)
• full sun & full moon walk on the beach
• cute king

• celebrating shea
• molly's phone call on sunday
• beautiful ballet
• message from amy
• end of the year invitations and celebrations

• everything came together sunday night
• "we must go benin 2009" video
• God's heart for the people of benin
• God's heart for the crew of the Africa Mercy
• buying cokes
• never have i ever felt so safe in a landrover...
• heart shaped leaf discovered by a precious girl and saved for just the right moment

things i'm thankful for

• catchy blog titles are not that important to me 
• being wrapped up in a quilt (not necessarily because it's cold...more because it's comfortable)
• my mama made me a quilt when i graduated...not an afghan
• chilled-once-melted-reese's hearts that still taste delicious
• ms. barbara's willingness to mail a little package for us in the states.  maybe it'll make it on time.
• eli's reaction when he saw nick (after nick had been gone on the retreat) -- "my daddy's home! my daddy's home! my daddy's home!!"
• successful retreat for the JH and HS students..blessing bags, yarn balls and trust activities included. 
• beautiful things
  
• i haven't bitten into a piece of aluminum foil in a long time
• 2 chairs side by side facing opposite directions - excellent for conversations
• "it's ok to make mistakes, right?" - emma  "absolutely." -me
• "Lord, those who know you will trust in you.  You have never deserted those who look to you." - psalm 9:10
• the Academy Creative Arts night - i love being reminded of what a wonderful school our children are a part of
• the anticipation of summer plans

abounding generosity

• the life and community sparked by sunday night's worship
• green fingernails
• i am enough in Him
• "going in giggles"
• PACKAGES!!!  13 of 'em (see that cherry coke?!  and doritos!!!).  what a blessed family we are.

• generous generous people who love us and support us through package sending
• space to put all the goodness
• early morning on deck 8
• "you came close when i called out.  you said 'it's going to be alright.'" Lamentations 3:57
• cheerful people
• "awareness of your inadequacy is a rich blessing training you to rely wholeheartedly on me." - jesus calling
• jumpdrives
• sweet time of fellowship with the mums (and the best pizza in town)
  
  
  
• creative thank you note from KJ
• "absolutely yes" responses
• cookies on our "door step"  :)