He gives and gives and gives

• hearing johnson's testimony 
• good news about elizabeth phillips' surgery
• waffles and clue and AUNT AMY on a friday morning

• "you are my lovely star" mug from nick 
• tatyana's milk soaked cinnamon sugar bread
• fun christmas eve morning at the beach

• emma's charade game
• the hardwork of the galley and dining room teams
• Christmas brunch = best meal of the year! 

• tasty treats and sweet gifts in our shoes
• how peaceful and easy it was to have the barki kids with us
• delicious pizza on the 3rd floor of dody's

• unicorn pajamas (and the smiles they bring)
• seeing the mcmichaels gathered
• the way nick cares for our kids...and especially for the girls' hearts

• open cabins
• laughing at miranda (the tv show) 
• red beans & rice, pecan pie, sweet tea...and delightful friends that shared it

• going back to sleep/morning naps
• tasty pretzels
• kj's willingness to take me and amy to ouidah
  
• being at ouidah with amy - one who cares deeply for justice and human rights and LOVE
• "take time to be still in My presence so that I can strengthen you." - jesus calling
• the way the "joy to the world" creation was used in the dining room decorations

• the hand/ring in the above picture...i am so very thankful for his dedication to our marriage
• reading by dock light
• 8:33 bedtime 

He gives me presents all year round.

• parking lot full of cars on a thursday night
• hearing nick sing/lead worship
• carols by candlelight on the dock. 

• the beauty of santa lucia
• suzanne's willingness to teach the girls a dance
• the way kj captured emma's worship

• the variety of cultures and nationalities that lead the community gathering (south african, nigerian, australian, american, malagasy, dutch)
• thinking about the question "is there room?"
• emma & adalynn's friendship 

•  the wall family's faithful service on the AFM the past 4 1/2 years.
• amy's here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• finding eli's words on a bulletin board

• gluesticks.  they're so helpful.
• so many wonderful Christmas activities
• another successful trip to the fabric market

treats and delights.

• computer issues cleared up (i think)
• plenty of time with shea
• shea's friendship and all around awesomeness...and especially in the realm of teaching!

• LAUGHTER (especially when MWS songs are involved)
• unexpected time to get things done
• AFM Christmas cookie making

• unity cup soccer
• nick's phone calls with keith
• sugar cakes place!! (and the friends that introduced us)

• baby #5 in the making for the whites
• package from cathy
• boost bites.  wowzahs.  good stuff.

• unexpected thursday morning firedrill means no afternoon firedrill (and there's shade in the morning!!)
• relevant podcast entertainment and sprints in a thursday morning run
• emma!  celebrating her 7th birthday

• holly's willingness to take (and mail!) all of our christmas packages for us
• amy will be here in 4 days!!!
• powerful quotes full of Truth:

• remembering that missing people is a reminder of the mutual investments made
• overhead announcements successfully made
• spontaneous christmas caroling (and a beautiful problem solver)

thank to the ful(l)

• friendship with the barrs that will last long beyond their days on the ship
• coffee and doughnuts
• time with the wall family before they depart
• decking the decks...6th grade boys happily decorating.  a 1st grader and a 9th grader playing in a cardboard box. chicken fingers & fries as an extra incentive.  

• carly's time here
• pointless (not out of date) magazines to enjoy 
• listening to patricia share her stories of when God spoke to her
• when people joyfully serve behind the scenes and make so many special moments happen.

• cheesesticks for takeaway (how many times are cheesesticks going to make one of my lists?!)
• ipod that allows for emailing when the computer isn't cooperating
• how Molly lives her life - glorifying God every day - not perfectly (cause that's never what's expected) but beautifully, faithfully, consistently
• our amazing malagasy crew...their beautiful voices...their incredible hearts...their powerful stories...their determination

• listening to eli and a friend play and being reminded that 11 year olds can still be little boys
• listening as God was saying "go downstairs"...and then finding a friend who encouraged and prayed for me
• brave and courageous decisions (and the friend who made one this week)
• emma's last night of being 6.

such randomness when you really look at it...but boy am i thankful.

• christmas plays in the blom's bedroom
• the creativity of charlotte and emma
• dr. pepper christmas gift

• cheesesticks 2 nights in a row (both graciously paid for by others!)
• dining room and galley devos
• sweet goodbyes to sweet friends who came as 2 and left as 1.

• loaf of delicious bread bought for a good cause
• accents. love hearing them all across the ship. 
• ghost breath/fairy floss/candy floss/cotton candy from a lovely friend.

• chocolate seashells from my favorite dutchie (no offense to any other dutchie)
• christmas quotes and solomon's happiness to cut and laminate them for me
• sitting with a friend in the pain. (but oh how wish i knew what to do when hugs and prayers don't seem like enough)