gifts galore. 2 weeks worth.

• being at THE beach
• what was lost is found
• "banana bread of life"
• the acoustics in FBC SSI's sanctuary
• emma and the conch shells

• vacation grocery shopping (so good for the heart...figuratively)
• KFC around the table with my family
• riding bikes on the beach (i forgot it was possible)
• <5 house="" li="" minute="" other="" the="" to="" walk="">
• feeding the birds 

• rocking chair + porch + cup of coffee + book + journal + pen
• tandem bike riding
• meme and betsy's laughs
• walking on the beach with papa
• fun thoughts on the zaxby's cup

• reconnecting
• being perfectly ok with the lack of wireless (that would have frustrated me in the not too distant past)
• emma and uncle jonathan making cookies together
• sitting at the water's edge with incredible people (emma, nick, amy, lane)
• bluberry morning cereal

• hamburgers at the lankfords
• figuring out fresh ways not to get frustrated
• kayaking in the ocean
• cracker pepper turkey + colby jack cheese
• all six cousins (and a sweet girlfriend) playing in the ocean

• nick's french toast
• making my mama laugh
• hushpuppies at mullet bay
• looking over thankful lists and remembering God's kindness, goodness and faithfulness
• a box of sonny's delights!!!

• caroline and emma giggling and prancing around in those dresses, high heels and hats (see yaya'a facebook page for pictures,,,)
• everyone is home safe and sound from the beach
• CFA giftcard from the sheek's.  such generosity and thoughtfulness
• caroline let emma lay on her (and vice versa) in the back of the car (that wasn't always the case during that car ride); 3 sleeping kids

• carrabba's with keith and pam
• walking around lakebottom with lauren
• cracker barrel with the robertsons
• connecting with beth on the phone
• how easy it is to be around richard and dee dee...time at their home/their hospitality/their animals

• rich and meaningful conversation with robert and rachel  
• white/cash cafe
• sonic run/paying in change

on vacation...

...the thankful list is on vacation, too (well, the list is still growing...always growing...so maybe it's more accurate to say that "the blog posting" is on vacation).

...it'll be back in monumental proportions next week. 

the gifts, they just keep on coming...

• papa's truck + country music + riding in the passenger seat
• i found the bag

• peace icecream from the peach place (taylor orchards)
• emma fishing with her uncles

• familiar, friendly, efficient, capable Dr. Stewart and his staff/office 
• beautiful gathering of wonderful people sharing a delicious meal

• new socks & undies
• amazon prime benefits
• synder's buffalo bites pretzels (and the amazacredible friend that introduced us!)

• how capable nick is - his leadership and planning and all-around spectacular-ness.
• nick baptizing emma
• the gathering of friends and family to celebrate her

• having amy here in columbus
• her re-purpling my hair skillz
• super awesome mom - super awesome friend - molly white. 

• naps in the car
• the view from that one porch

• webmunity gathering!
• extra bits of bit o' honey

• the feeling of HOPE arising
• delightful coffee (the drink and the company!) at mid-town coffeehouse 

• eye check ups for all
• evan's kindness

gratefully receiving the gifts He's putting along my path

• china lin lin
• 2nd dinner that's even better than first dinner
• "i saw the sign" on repeat + splash pad + playground + amazing friends to share it all with

• seeing friends at market days
• refreshing time at/with the walls
• a remarkable cappucino blast

• courtney's friendship and authenticity
• a day where caroline ate 3 peaches, 2 plums, 1 kiwi and a bunch of grapes 
• this scene (grandaddy reading to the kids, lots of blankets and snuggling):

• precise V7 RT pilot pen (and the friend who appreciates my appreciation of this pen)
• opportunity for eli and caroline to indoor rock climb
• emma + aaron

• yaya's generosity to take us girls to get our nails done
• "my God will come through ALWAYS."
• caroline's coolness

• how very much we all DESPERATELY need God's grace (and how He's so ok with that)
• chips, salsa & cheese dip
• blackberries straight from the vine

• walks in the evening
• beautiful morning at the cabin
• kayakers in the pond

•  trail running
• a whole day with my mom and dad
• girls on 4-wheelers (boys, too)

• the faithful ones of FBC Warrenton - pillars of faith and love and service
• dreaming about possibilities
• internet + computer + all the stars aligned so that pictures can be included in this week's thankful list

a week crammed with gifts

• Graduation outfit sponsored by the katies
• Hats from Remy
• May 27th is here!
• Packing, preparing...all went according to plan
• Made it easily through to the waiting area of the Tamatave airport
• Having Walter and Mel's presence the first leg of the journey
• Creative kids during the layover in Reunion
• Smelling Cool Water...perfume/cologne in airports
• So far, so good - travelling
• Extra coke at McDonald's
• Free, easy to access WiFi
• Spending all of our euros
• All is Grace
• When I actually listen and obey the nudges of the holy spirit and benefit greatly from it
• Welcome home cookie cake
• Empanada parking lot party
• Girls sitting outside reading first thing in the morning
• Lunch with Toni's family
• Time at the white house
• Running, cycling, chickfilaing with Nick
• Dentist appointments at Dr. Tyler's
• Laughing at/with relevant podcasts
• Early morning outside reading and wiffleballing
• Yaya, grandaddy and the kids playing dominoes
• No line, no wait, no hassle laundry room
• Munchkins!!
• He is our "Shelter from the storm, shade from the sun" Isaiah 25:5

Week #2 without pictures....simplicity is one of my favorite things and, at this point, adding pictures would be the opposite of simplicity (though the pictures from this week are rather delightful!!) (I just don't know how to get pictures from the device they are on to the device that is allowing me to post this. It's complicated.)  Maybe next week.