28 September 2017

thankful thankful.

  • "i like this day." - grant perkins
  • being inspired for continued cottage living
  • the girls' enjoyment of the horses
  • free jr. frosties! (unlimited until the end of the year.  what?!?!)
  • emma's mail made it to the jones'
  • bingo with poppa
  • puposefully thinking about my favorite summer memory - walking with my dad on the beach through the years
  • raven's incredible talent
  • nick is my husband
  • split steak marsala and double herbs for the bread dipping part
  • finding a new-to-me-forest/river path
  • frederick buechner quotes

  • "the king of heaven wants me...so this world has lost its hold on me." - song on 107.7
  • access to so many good songs and resources on the internet/youtube
  • carpooling. it's the best pooling.  #ilikesavinggas
  • successful sumo wrestling
  • tuesday walk with toni
  • the chance to go to bulgaria
  • hearing eli playing the piano
  • luggage full of treats and staples

21 September 2017

count 'em up.


  • safe road trips
  • running into random folks at the gas station in newnan...nothing like hearing "i think i know you..."
  • daniel tiger and his ability to help emma process her feelings
  • leaving a certain little one crying (so that i can go and compose myself) and coming back to this (it really is best to walk away sometimes):


  • painting the fence with nick
  • eli's chance to go to the auburn game
  • acknowledging my issues
  • truth quotes


  • fun pens made from recycled water bottles
  • "have no motivation other than to know your Father in heaven." - oswald chambers
  • amish friendship bread and cinnamon roll flavored coffee
  • when a brother and sister play together in harmony (have pokemon, will travel)


  • eli's excitement over "manly mondays"
  • a delightful morning of life/school at home (can they all be like that one, please?!)
  • the chance to wear my african fabric dress
  • how easy it is to make images with the youversion bible app
  • lists and charts and figuring things out
  • the kids' delight in going through the car wash
  • polar pops
  • the inevitable jokes that accompany a "boston butt" fundraiser

15 September 2017

waffle makers and whiteboards.


  • "...if i can raise them to be thinkers who love learning, then i will have done my job well. " maandpamodernhomeschool
  • crave at ccc
  • UGA game watching with the Bakers
  • stepping out after hurricane irma (and the incredible lack of disaster)


  • friends who are getting closer and closer to bringing their son home from china
  • mercy me's happy dance
  • getting more and more settled in our home schooling
  • waffle iron worship instruments

  • the sweet friends that hurrican irma brought to columbus (lauren and carey!)
  • when my kids request to listen to really good songs
  • pepper jelly + cream cheese + crackers
  • caroline's cuteness in her jeans and boots

  • the way God has been using the whiteboard this week
  • lunch with dee dee...such easy and meaningful conversation
  • Truth shared and Holy Spirit confirmation
  • felt like getting up to run again.

08 September 2017

He is such a good gift giver!


  • cali n tito's with joy (the person and the fruit of the spirit!)
  • time in athens with amy
  • fun lights strung in the trees



  • live music
  • moments that make me think and weep (and friends who understand)
  • kool-aid dyed hair (and the friends that first introduced us!)


  • kids sleeping in (after late nights)
  • cheesestraws and rice krispies and chocolate cake slyly snuck into the car
  • nick and eli working on eli's fantasy football team (the thankfulness is about the time together...and the way they coordinate with the decor more so than the football :))

  • molly & ritchie's generosity and the God-cidence that the house was available
  • ship friends that come for a visit
  • time at the infantry museum


  • big drink and even bigger popcorn
  • God's creation on display in the IMAX theatre
  • the men and women that have so selflessly served our country as soldiers


  • 2 early morning walks with ann-marie
  • oh this weather. 
  • outside + acrobatics + trampoline + green grass + picnic blanket + blue skies


  • flair pens on sale
  • goats milk soap that is a call to prayer
  • kids in cages and lion faces



  • time in the prayer room at CCC
  • listening to God's truth
  • "i forgive you, mom."  (if my kids know anything it's how to receive an apology...wish they didn't get to practice forgiveness quite so much!)

01 September 2017

lifestyle of giving thanks.


  • hamburgers by the pool (especially once the sun was behind the trees)
  • a mailbox full of mail
  • clean clothes
  • an incredible act of generosity in a funky homemade box

  • celebrating meme and papa - siblings who love each other
  • being close enough to partcipate in family gatherings in person
  • sugar babies and hot tamales
  • getting to see charles play ball


  • late night at waffle house
  • kaycie - amazing girl who hangs out with her boyfriend's family even when her boyfriend isn't around (and gives away really great hats)
  • hearing about the dreams and passions of others -- take the city
  • the loveliness that is the swedish "fika" - and the friends who introduced us


  • meaningful conversation and a run around maple ridge with tiffany
  • seeing sam & christy (no matter how short the visit)
  • global stamps
  • mail from a south african friend!


  • open door kind of morning - coolness in the air!  
  • time to talk and walk around heath lake park
  • "free us for joyful obedience" (part of the responsive reading at CCC) 
  • speaking of south africa, the peachtree mall has cinnabon!!!!

  • so much rich and meaningful time with the whites...seems like we would get tired of each other...but we don't.
  • jesus we love you - bethel song
  • school on the trampoline.  feels so right. 
  • how much caroline enjoyed buying and eating her cfa - and the tiny container of pickles!  


  • easy and excellently timed delivery of the couch for the cottage
  • when a friend starts "feeling like herself again"
  • an introduction to zoe's kitchen
  • sweet time with sweet katherine