last chance to give thanks in 2015.

• hearing the bells on Christmas morning
• the offering that was Christmas morning brunch
• an AMAZING gift-giving husband (he's amazing...and the gifts that he gives are amazing)
• playing in the waves (twice)

• lovely friends who take incredible pictures
• anchored hope sweatshirt
• "God is not dead nor does He sleep"
• redemption in a bracelet

• pictures on websites...cause that's easier than taking a picture of my own bracelet
• 48 hours AWAY
• playing hand ball with caroline
• psalm 103

thanks on christmas eve

• sea salt chocolate caramels shared with love
• "i love you more than you think i do." - emma
• a day outside with hikes and lemurs and waterfalls and beautiful views

• the way caroline will just come and put her arm around me
• puppy chow production
• the acoustics at carols by candlelight (or "candles by carol light" as caroline was saying)

• my God is unchanging - no matter how changing i am
• "container only" box snuck in by crew mail (no charge!)
• sunshine filled quiet moment on the edge of the dining room
• pulling silly faces at grandaddy and yaya over skype

• linden's joy and kindness
• rain on the window
• safe arrival of the logos hope
• 2 vessels, side by side

• "Christ in me, the hope of glory."
• salted caramel hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream
• home alone + popcorn + miss remy's classroom
• cash christmas tradition of driving (walking) around looking at christmas lights (doors)

• impromptu bell playing during our "driving around looking at christmas lights"
• cabin full of kids + christmas movies
• time to work on blog posts during previously mentioned situation

'tis the season for gifts. here are just a few of mine from this past week.

• waffle mix sharing friend
• intentional moments to stop and BREATHE and talk about what God is doing
• picnic in the palm grove
• crowder's "come as you are"
• getting to give gift by way of our door

• missing alison - thankful to have a friend on the ship that i miss when she's away
• children singing
• Spirit Fall song
• joining in with Laurin and Esther's wedding via skype

• lisa schwind is back onboard
• "facing the emptiness inside you is simply the prelude to being filled with My fullness." - jesus calling
• walking in an AFM winter wonderland
• a crew member's maturity in a particularly tough situation

Spirit Fall - song of the week

just press play...worship...soak it in...be refreshed...may the Spirit fall on us again and again and again.


You breathe life, You restore
Awaken my soul, I know that I've been made for more You speak truth, You renew When I'm in Your presence You show me the glory of You Spirit fall, Spirit fall Fall on us for we are Yours Fall on us for we are Yours You will make, all things new Until you return all creation cries out for you There is power in Your presence Hope and healing in your presence There is freedom in Your presence Spirit fall

always more...

• amazing song
• saturday full of community
• 3 incredible cash kids & the fact that i get to be their mom

• kids' weekly skype call with yaya and grandaddy
• my worth and value do not have anything to do with my cookie making/decorating abilities (or lack thereof)
• anytime cake shows up outside of our door

• hot, fresh potato chips
• friends & pizza at our table 
• christmas cards!!

• billy madison references
• 5 miles with zodi 
• extremely meaningful thanksgiving card from the McMichaels

more than i thought.

• "my life is in the hands of the maker of heaven."
• when i have more to be thankful for than i thought
• beautiful song lyric on a deck 3 door

• bike ride + 501 + shea + breakfast
• refill of passion fruit syrup
• tin of buttons that remind me of beautiful friendship

• the excitement of kids about christmas
• time with nick and suzanne
• koontz cookies

• shea's willingness to take caroline to the pool
• "needing Me is the key to knowing Me intimately, which is the gift above all gifts." -jesus calling
• so much creativity at AFM christmas craft night

• burgers at la braise (and the company that was even better than the burgers)
• snap happy red nail polish
• kind words from jamie for everyone in the room

• sneaky coffee 2.0
• sneaky coffee thursday version
• just the right note at just the right time on thanksgiving day

• the report from the advance team about benin
• community gathering ended right on time 
• delicious seashells from steph

thanksgiving + amy's birthday all in one...an epic day to be thankful.

• really great song
• "i want my eyes to see right, i want my mind to think Christ." - from spontaneous worship, jeremy riddle
• knowing so many around the world (and especially in the US) are intentionally thinking about thankfulness today

• when a fellow thankful-er comes by just to share the gift she received
• shoprite + adam & eve outing
• that time a friend delivered a favor faaaaar faster than i was expecting- what an unexpected blessing!  
• lovely flowers & Truth words

• hearing men read to kids
• science night!
• family pretzel making
• getting to be generous with my hair...purpose in most everything.  (and the funny quote from ben about my haircut "you took a risk and the risk paid off.")  

• giving thanks and celebrating my LOVELY sister's birth all in the same day.
• a few things i'm most thankful for when it comes to amy (a thankful list within a thankful list)
• her commitment to clear communication
• her dedication to our family - and really to everyone that she cares about - she does not give up on anyone.
• the way she looks for the good
• how she believes the best about people & about life - and how she believes the best in me
• her faithfulness to send birthday boxes
• that she likes to take long walks on the beach with her sister as much as i do
• her convictions and passions.  she considers what she stands for and why.
• she has brought cali-n-tito's to the airport both times we've come home in the past 3 1/2 years.
• she gives and gives and gives
• she is strong and capable and knowledgeable - but still real and humble.
• she values people - no matter their age or position or lifestyle
• that she's my sister and my friend.  i'm so thankful. 

Thanksgiving 2014

Song of the week: Nothing I Hold On To / Climb (Will Reagan) || Cover by Sarah Lee

we sang this song at our Community of Faith gathering Sunday night...it struck a chord in my heart and mind.  just press play (there's a bit of bonus material...the lyrics below start around 1:11).

The words:

I lean not on my own understanding,
My life is in the hands of the maker of heaven

I Give it all to you God, 
Trusting that you'll make something beautiful out of me

I will climb this mountain 
With my hands wide open

There is nothing I hold on to.

All Glory To God, Forever. Amen

tsara be fanomezam-pahasoavana (very good gifts)

• sunday morning salt scrub
• the beautiful friend that inspired previously mentioned activity
• star made from a pallet

• the moment you realize someone was really listening, heard you AND delivered on it (exhibit A: star in above picture).
• waking up to a house full of creativity
• CHEETOS!!!!  

• running around the "track" talking about thankfulness
• all the days my kids AREN'T sick
• dessert + madagascar geography lesson all in one (we're in the city marked with the scoop of chocolate icecream)

• dinner with remy.  so good in so many ways (or areas, depending on how you look at it)
• jas' faithful service - on the AFM and in life.
• an achingly beautiful quote

piano versions of beautiful songs
warm, fresh bagel - and cream cheese to boot!
enjoyable long term crew gathering (and really stellar new long term crew)

incredibly good stuff

just press play.  listen and be encouraged.  these are some of the most powerful, grace filled words i've heard lately.


 just press play.  watch and be inspired. the song is amazing. the dancing is lovely.  the lighting spectacular.  

i love getting fresh tastes of ways that the Lord has gifted His body.

gift upon gift upon gift

• fresh bar of soap
• store with passion fruit syrup was open
• a little corner of my world

• calypso breakfast with katie and remy
• spur of the moment "head back out" bicycle excursion with shea 
• mr. josh callow - his life, his service on the AFM, his talent, his heart

• "beautiful girl" on repeat
• the daddy my daughters have (and my son, too!)
• a beautiful moment at the Hope Center

• vanilla icing + strawberry sauce + doughnut
• gungor's "beautiful things" on repeat on eli's ipod
• kindness & thoughtfulness in a vase

• anytime there is chicken fingers for lunch
• fresh picture of a very common phrase ("he will uphold you with his right hand")
• successful pirate paaaaaarty

He's such a generous gift giver...

• the way a freshly washed bathroom mat looks and feels
• 2 successful dentist appointments for 2 sweet cash girls
• getting to play barista in the café Tuesday morning
• delightful lunch with beautiful friends at darafify

• “what are you passionate about?”
• the taxi brousse accident wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been
• making mini-doughnuts with elsa
• newest relevant magazine to enjoy

• nick’s kind kind kind words and compliments
• nick’s help to get the thank you card created
• blooms on plants

• the ortho team and all they are accomplishing
• gymnastics and soccer club for the kids
• lavished with so much birthday love

• dipping (sauces for bread and chicken and zebu)
• sharing the wealth...treats, treasures, resources....sharing is caring.
• creative and thoughtful birthday gestures by my kids (makes me excited for the people they’ll love and bless in the future)

• He’s the stuff dreams are made of…and he’s mine.
• Field trip to 501
• Trash can full of texas trash
• Best facebook day of the year

thankful for...

• getting to ease into saturday
• new to me ipod
• celebrating the upcoming marriage of the ever-so-special esther

• getting creative on the AFM...
• silly bridal shower games and the laughter they cause (and they fact that i didn't have to be the one getting rolled in toilet paper)

• hearing yaya pray for the kids over skype
• andrea got the pen to work
• pyramids of cokes

• "oh, the thought of having God all alone to myself and knowing that God has me all alone to Himself." - andrew murray
• elle lets me hold her and hang out with her
• eli's sweetness towards previously mentioned baby (caroline and emma's, too)

• community & manicure at the pool sunday afternoon
• caramel popcorn delivery
• lovely lights

•  walking through mid-ships and hearing one crew member reading God's word aloud to another
• abundance of cherry coke 
• thankfulness on the door of a hospital ward

• little teacup devo with the elementary...He really does make beautiful things out of the dust. 
• unexpected generosity...completely out of no where....
• delicious cupcakes from a super special grade 1 student and her super special teacher

• breakfast buffet at calypso
• getting to be inside on rainy days 
• children peacefully and happily and eagerly reading

giving thanks with a grateful heart

• mr. macgregor's passion for science
• big room after school on friday
• ultimate frisbee
• impromptu cycle ride to shoprite
• "home" song from nick
• 3 waffles delivered to our door (even after i forgot to order them)

• michelle's kindness/investments/comfortableness with us
• nick is on his way back
• "she who refreshes others is herself refreshed" (gave waffles, received dishes washed/an empty sink)
• he's home!
• gifts & treats & treasures galore
• nick came back just in time to pull emma's tooth
• grandaddy's beef jerky
• kids' hard work that results in new devices