the song on my heart today

Keep Me Near - Rend CollectiveJesus keep me near to Your heart
For outside of You I'm lost
Draw me in the tide of Your will
Lead me as I yield myself to You
Keep me near Your heart
Keep me near Your heart

Rescue me in weakness of mind
When distraction conquers me
Keep me in Your shadow oh Lord
Give me grace to follow where You lead
Keep me near Your heart
Keep me near Your heart

For You are everything that is beautiful
And You are all that I long to see in me
You are everything that is beautiful
Breathe Your desires in me

Keep me in the place where You are
For Your presence is my joy
Break my selfish nature and pride
Mould a life of loyalty to You
Keep me near Your heart
Keep me near Your heart

Form in us a heart of divine beauty


Yes, please.  

He is everything I long to see in me.  

In His shadow...near Him.  That's where I want to be.  

the gifts never stop coming.

• the way the world goes quiet when you go beneath the water in the pool
• sitting around a table of desks realizing that i'm getting to share brunch with some incredible people who also happen to be some of my best ship friends
• saturday morning:  errands to get chocolate, icecream, and more chocolate
• lime note...and the treasure of a friend who wrote it

• encouragement on the ultimate field
• girl scout cookies delivered in cheerful packaging accompanied by a kind note
• fun tape

• lives well lived
• well written stories (i'm reading "unbroken")
• plate o' sandwich cookies

• the way i can breathe a bit better when nick is around 
• good skype time on tuesday with 2 of my favorite people...the one who is my real sister and one i would choose in a heartbeat to be my sister if i could. 
• delightfully thoughtful package from the ever lovely catharine fulmer

• time with KJ. always good. 
• shea's fiesty-ness...so much laughter 
• uh-mazing box o' goodness from Matt & Sarah

• finding beef jerky in the bottom of the box
• God's attention to the details
• getting to help in reception just a bit 
• dianna/diana squared

i am beyond blessed.

• funny card from gretchen (makes me smile every time i read it)
• friendships that are getting stronger and going deeper
• ridiculous jokes
• 3 incredible kids

• 1 phenomenal husband
• delicious dinner with the chaplaincy team
• talking about vulnerability
• practicing vulnerability
• eli's leadership
• easy parent/teacher meetings
• picnic on the beach

• celebrating nick and eli
• when people feel comfortable enough around me to use whatever language they need to in order to express their thoughts and feelings
• "all of me loves all of you" song
• pi day festivities

• nick's amazingness (especially in planning, putting together, pulling off eli's 10th birthday dinner)
• wholesome movie ("hachi") with my 2 girls
• rob to me: "was there any particular reason for the cake?" my reply: "no, i just wanted one."
• "you drown my fears in perfect love." - bethel song
• access to bethel songs on youtube
• OneNote on my computer!  (my life just got about 17 times easier)
• St. Paddy's Day Dash (100% participation and completion by the cash family)

• dinner on the dock
• extra run to the port gate with nick
• God who gives us what we need before we even know that we need it
• honest questions
• caroline's decision to cut her hair
• 2 more bags of the world's most delicious treat (for the time being).  yay for that trader man named joe (and my sweet sister's that sent bought them and mailed them!)
• birthday box from aunt amy

thanks for today.

• sweet smelling lotion
• comfy pj pants
• lovely swedish chocolate from lovely swedish friends

• “there’s something so beautifully destructive about Jesus’ love.  When you catch even a glimpse of its immensity it leaves destruction in its wake.  It destroys all pride, selfishness, greed, apathy.  You just can’t be the same.  How can it be that One so good loves our broken beings so furiously?! “ –hannah palmer
• AFM Crew singing "In Christ Alone"
• No Ebola in Liberia as of 5 March

• magnets are unstuck from the counter
• KJ's kindness to print her file o' amazing quotes
• surprise cupcakes from Grade 1
  
• gurkha security
• packages in crew mail
  
  
  
  
• sweet moments of rest
• the notes that emma writes...so generously and abundantly
• "all we have needed, Thy hand has provided" -- even blueberries for birthday muffins
  
• celebrating my husband and my son (more to come on that)
• granola (and thoughtfulness) from Krystal
  

not the longest list...not the one with the most pictures....but thankful, nonetheless.

• water with lime
• toast
• easy access to the pool
• really great blog about blood donation here on the AFM
• a friend who searched out the blog address for me when i couldn't find it
• chicken fingers
• quotes that just make sense. 

• looking out at sky, ocean, waves, clouds
• getting to know katie k.
• rain rolling down the window
• better.  it's always good.
• all "save the date" invites for support raising seminar are delivered
• knowing toni is there to love on molly
• random moments of unexpected entertainment on the AFM (i tried - unsuccessfully - to post the video here...oh well.)