so many food related thankful things. 'tis the season.

• movies and naps and reading and low key days
• christmas waffles with the whites
• 2 sweet girls who are destined to be best friends (zoe and sarah!)

• uncle todd's christmas games
• traci's breakfast casserole 
• games games games on Christmas day (we're especially fond of qwixx)

• "mild He lays His glory by" (it is absolutely amazing that He laid all of heaven's perfection down to come dwell with us...to "move into the neighborhood")
• dave barnes' "december to remember" 
• our marriage, friendship, shared life

• sausage balls from the radney's.  so tasty. 
• eggrolls with amy and pat 
• nick had a bench made for me!!!!

• delicious christmas steak
• walks in the driveway (especially ones with amy)
• the mcmichael's gathered around the table for the second year in a row

• all the food.  all the feasting. 
• basketball goal from the TQs!
• zoe got her second letter from birth mama melinda

thankful things and a bonus explanation

2 hour nap. glorious

quiet time by the Christmas tree

ruth's DELIGHT over the singing cat card from the price's (it's so fun when the perfect card is given!)

• we're waiting IN God, not ON God. - nick 
• jumping on the trampoline with LJ
• traditional "riding around looking at lights" outing (and a stop at ludy's lights!)

• Christmas doesn't have to be complicated
• hot cuppa coffee
• good use for sequins with the sweetest of company in Jacob and AB Baby (wish I could capture the sparkle)

• date night date night date night.  always thankful. 
• sharing a song in the carport. "when we're together, that's my favorite place to be." - sleeping at last's version of the song from Olaf's Frozen Adventure)
• beautiful avett brothers' lyrics (and finding pretty pictures of those lyrics)

• fairy houses and gingerbread houses and sweet friends for Emma to share it all with
• walking up the driveway at night in December (Christmas lights are just lovely)
• Cynthia's gingerbread man gift

Bonus:

a cappuccino blast holding friend's comment made me realize that I may need to explain one of the items from my thankful list a couple of weeks ago - "pick up lines in the pick up line" - no, I'm not being hit on in the pick up line at LJ's school (I did have one guy one time about 15 years ago at a stop light throw a pick up line my way...but that's about it for me and pick up lines for all of time.  I'm not the kind of girl that attracts pick up lines...and I am perfectly happy about that :)), nor am I hitting on anyone in the pick up line at Pineridge.   

I don't feel obligated to explain...but I thought most of you who actually read my blog would enjoy hearing this randomness.  (on that note, if you ever want another item explained, DEFINITELY email me!!!  diannacash@yahoo.com. I'm so happy to share anything and everything.)

"pick up lines from the pick up line" is my amusement - it's a silly gift God has shared with me to make a potentially frustrating chore quite enjoyable.  I have a source (that I will not share) full of hundreds of pick up lines and I pick one or 2 and to share via Marco Polo (messaging app) with a few of my Macro Polo-ing friends.  The lines are ri.di.cu.lous.  

For example, "You've been in my thoughts so much you may need to start paying rent."  or "Are we in a museum? because you are a piece of art."  So good!!!!!  

It's really just a silly silly game that makes me laugh...and I hope it makes the ones who receive them laugh (they say it does).  I know a gal who really loves Jesus and shares "pick up line prayers"...I really love Jesus...but I'm sharing pick up lines instead.  :) 

by the way, cappuccino blast holding friends are simply the best.

adding to the serious business of heaven

• sickness is the exception, not the norm
• long lunch with such a beautiful, trusted friend
• nick's compliments and encouragements
• celebrating this treasure of a girl! 

• lj and aaron's friendship (and pogo sticking)
• having a pogo-stick expert named stacia in my life 
• amy & pat made the trek to celebrate emma
•  CS Lewis quotes that come across instagram

• warm houses, cars, shoes, jackets, socks, etc for the cold-to-us GA weather 
• caroline's offers of help: "just take a nap, i'll watch zoe" - oh that every mama had a caroline
• free cup of coffee from origins
•  teenagers (well, technically a teenager and a 12 1/2 year old) who still build forts

• sandy's cookies - "take homes" are so fun
• when it feels like a purchase is wise
• customer service chats that result in a refund
• incredible podcasts to listen to 

seeking to see things in the most beautifully mindful grace-filled way

• very average size 8 feet...makes finding running shoes at goodwill super easy
• the desk is being used as a desk!
• these sweet kitties

• gas rewards # (i don't know how to access the rewards - yet - ...but at least i have a number that works and the rewards are accumulating!)
• when i get to have a "job" at church parties.  restocking the epic pancake toppings tables was perfect.
• eli. just eli. 

• mid morning nap
• brio, clubhouse and citizen magazines for the cash kids
• her plan included us

• 2 minute clean ups
• scissors in the glovebox of the car (quite possibly in the top 10 best decisions i've ever made) 
• sinterklaas! (even if i almost missed it)

• "the chute" is alive and well
• being able to have pictures printed at cvs 
• the way caroline sees and captures beauty

• flowers, a note and a lit candle from nick (and the 187 times a day they remind me of his great love for and care of me)
• court's willingness to grieve for others
• lovely quotes

• pick up lines in the pick up line
• someone to sit with on the struggle bus
• the life, leadership and legacy of George HW Bush. 

the first of many, i hope

Early in November, I received a letter in the mail from Zoe's birth mama.  On the back it said "Don't open till Thanksgiving."  I'm not sure I've ever looked forward to Thanksgiving so much!  Thankfully Thanksgiving was early this year, so the wait wasn't as long as it could've been!

The fourth Thursday of November finally arrived...Zoe was quite oblivious to the gift that was waiting on her to wake up!

The envelope had a letter for me, a letter for Nick and a letter and picture for Zoe.  Never have I ever received such a meaningful gift on Thanksgiving (and the gift was only partially for me...and that made it all the more beautiful!).

All of this almost feels too sacred to share...but it's evidence of God's continual faithfulness in Zoe's life, in her birth mama's life and in our life.  It truly is our desire to be in relationship with Zoe's birth mama.  What is that going to look like?  We really don't know - we've never done this before and neither has she!  But we do know that God is with us and in this - and we will follow as He leads us on this journey of being an adoptive family, all we need to do is keep holding on to His hand.  Faithful He has been, faithful He will be.   

It thrills us that Zoe's birth mama took the time to write not only to Zoe, but also to us!  I sure hope this letter is the first of many...I can picture Zoe sitting with these letters through the years - as a child, as a teenager, as an adult - treasuring each one...soaking up the love that her birth mama has for her...tangible reminders that her life has been, is and will always be treasured.

Now to find just the right box to put these priceless letters in...

Surely there will be more to come.

carrying gratitude in my bones.

• "make me a vessel. make me an offering.  make me whatever you want me to be." - new wine/hillsong
• papa's chocolate cake - and his determination to keep it hidden so that I could have as much as I wanted. 
• hearing a pastor say something along the lines of "I don't network...it may be what God has other people doing but it's not what God's asked me to do." 
• thanksgiving walk in the woods with Zoe in the sling - and this beautiful sunset to end the day

• laying/resting/reading/marco-poloing on the camo couch
• all the relevant podcasts (in particular the newest one "unedited")
• MaMa made it out to the cabin so much
• kids' shenanigans and pumpkin smashing

•  how careful cash kids were on the 4-wheelers
• wings + pizza + GA game + family
• good quotes

• "this is a call to all the dead and disappointed.  the ones that feel like they are done.  this is a word to all the ones that feel forgotten - you are not.  we're alive...in You." - Alive/All Sons and Daughters  
• a beautiful, God orchestrated and ordained triangle of adoption conversation - an adopted son, a mother of 2 adopted children and me.  
• decorating the cottage...and LJ's excitement

• texts with bean.  real questions. real answers. honesty all around. 
• "christmas spirit" gift from Laura Lea (God is so very kind)
• reading david crowder's Praise Habit with the kiddos...and responses to the Psalms

• how very wonderful Thursday nights with community group are - one of THE BEST conversation topics has got to be God's been faithful and where we've seen Him at work. 
• when a cash kid (or really any kid...but especially a cash kid) shares a piece of their heart with me
• Melinda's thanksgiving letters to me, nick and Zoe
• Katie's kind, encouraging and helpful words

thanksgiving thankful list

• all the thankfulness happening today
• meeting katie at the cute coffee shop in newnan
• a WHOLE DAY where i never left the house (i cannot remember the last time that happened)
• beautiful tree in the radney's yard (and the way/reason caroline captured it)

• boneless teriyaki wings (and being able to make a request)
• a husband who will do whatever he can to make any request happen
• words of Truth for Zoe Grace Cash

• the fun time nick and emma had at the museum (and the fun - not crummy! - crafts)
• the same song playing on the Truth (107.7) and the Joy (93.3) (i've been waiting for that moment)
• mcmichael road made the GPS

• the older youth that are investing in eli and caroline - they love jesus and are excellent role models
• the way the everbe embroidery is helping me appreciate our home all the more
• relevant quotes

• hearing thoughtful and responsible words coming from my nephew's mouth
• laughing through Relevant Magazine's "6 ways to have the most awkward family meal ever"
• 6 months with this precious one

all the more.

• a weekend with lots going on and plenty of community
• porkchop at the whites
• these 5 fabulous guys (and all the other pursuit youth at ccc)

• jeanie's generous lunch and the chance to hear some more of zoe's miraculous story
• my first ever gigi's cupcake (kindness abounds!)
• this beautiful girl and the way her daddy loves her

• "want me to keep zoe for you?" - caroline
• cut through on holland road
• coffee with rachel greenland (worth every second of the drive to the airport)

• "bad puns, that's how eye roll." - letterboard quote
• things are rolling in the right direction
• impromptu art session at the ultimate game.  amanda is generous with her talent (and her supplies)

• amazingly sweet and beautiful time of listening prayer at ccc
• community group casseroles
• perfect sunday afternoon ultimate game

• clean sheets and swept floors
• rainy days for days
• the ccc staff takes time for a retreat (and that it doesn't last too long and nick is back home!)

thank-full.

• "Choosing the best interest of another and acting on their behalf." - Tim Tebow's definition of love (from the "that sounds fun" podcast with annie f. downs)
• New Rivers - Brave Worship "a drop sets me free...but You're willing to pour me an ocean." 
• Rotisserie chicken (x's 2) and friends to share them with
• "don't choose party over humanity." - mike foster 
• ALL the gifts in this picture

• p2p with Caroline
• a week rich in community and friendship...
• thoughtful gifts (and sneak previews of ones to come!)
• when something is noticed and a thank you is shared
• coming home to these 2 treasures on the porch together

• grocery tossing (eli and emma's favorite way to unload groceries from the car)
• tastiest pretzel from sam's
• sweet time with AB Baby....her delight in painting nails and drinking chocolate milk 
• velocity classroom sessions
• emma and zoe's light saber battle

• walking on traveler's way and the nearly unprecedented authenticity.
• AMAZING scones from a trusted friend (scones from a friend can be trusted...)(silly - and inaccurate -  rewrite of proverbs 27:6)
• LJ's willingness to share his feelings
• God's good and perfect plans for each one of us
• free CFA with molly and our gaggle of children

He's always giving good gifts....

• a carved clementine
• getting to sit beside nick for 3+ hours at the FM pastors/spouses retreat
• candy corn on the table
• strong (big) Truth on the wall at The Village Church

• cookie reception for derrick
• the torch has officially and smoothly been passed
• running with carey (she's worth getting up early for!!) 
• beautiful evening skies (even if the picture doesn't do it justice)

• shopping trip with 4 fabulous teenagers (especially the goodwill part)
• honest conversations (always a gift)
• boston butts (and all the jokes)(and the money that was raised to help the wells get to albania)
• free starbucks at target (and friends who share that valuable information)

• hearing about God's work in swaziland
• 2 hours that feel like about 37 minutes at panera with a trusted friend
• stroll around cooper creek
• friends who take surprise selfies with my phone

• coke + cheese dip + nick + 3 cash girls
• the way aaron greeted me on the trail!
• perfect day for a picnic (and a bagful of .50 corndogs!!)
• treadstone + rails to trails + exercising together

• having ccc staff fun day here
• AMAZING fall weather
• looking in the rearview mirror and seeing kids reading
• halloween at yaya's

• conversation with christal
• jeeah's hope fall potluck
• grandaddy and emma's "bird" cage project
• buffalo chicken dip

gifts throughout my week.

• strawberry blow pops
• muffins from molly
• early morning hugs from emma
• caroline's cool skater girl vibes (photo credit: marvelous molly)

• LJ's almost done with his history project!!
• reading in the pick up line
• tennis with jon and sofia
• peacock feathers and the fun they can provide (though this picture doesn't really capture the fun that was happening)

• community group leaders retreat -perfect mixture of purpose, rest, enjoyment, fun, refreshing, meaningful.
• all the kids got cared for during the weekend 
• kids who wait well (for the most part)
• selfies with these teenagers that i get to live with

• everyone is officially caught up on all immunizations
• unexpected trip to six flags for the 2 eldest
• tasty chicken salad chick
•  zoe's peaceful sleeping self

• when nick busts out the snoop dogg lyrics
• the hall family.  i admire their strength and courage and patience and obedience. 
• LJ's leaf blowing skillz (and how he went above and beyond!)
• putting a face to a name (ruth haley barton) and getting to hear teaching from someone who has impacted me greatly (primarily through her book "invitation to silence and solitude")

• the electricity came back on
• nick got me a window seat for my birthday!
• eli's wit and jokes and puns
• moving the chalkboard to the carport.  it's the little things.