thankfulness is a form of self-care

• "pop the myth of our own importance" - peter greer, new activist podcast
• "my spot on this planet is to go after God the best i can and tell people what helps me get there." annie f. downs, that sounds like fun podcast
• the amazing parents that jasmine and aaron will be
• good soccer season

• "come on my soul" - rend collective
• cali and tito's with jonathan, amy and emma
• the way aaron and emma laugh and play
• brotherly kindness

• CFA breakfast date with nick
• grace and humility on display
• joy song with emma
• finding what felt like a magical path at memorial park

• getting to anwer questions in a room full of college students
• sprinkles showed up
• "self awareness is a super power...and there's a major deficit in our culture right now." - miles adcox
• cinnabon gas station coffee

tangible proof of God's incredible, extravagant generosity

• the printer printed perfectly!  the stapler stapled excellently!  the retreat booklets are DONE!
• kids swimming in the pool
• AB Baby's enjoyment of her pool
• Mercy Med Gala - excellently done event!
• ferris wheel rides and caricatures
• eli shared his heart with me
• next to last life school class
• celebrating aaron and hannah mae

• biscotti from Laura Lea (and the reminder of rusks in South Africa)
• "if the wind goes where you send it, so will i." -hillsong
• "true worship and pride cannot co-exist." -rend collective devo on biblegateway
• the greatest showman soundtrack
• strong and healthy marriages - "seeing God's goodness in the land of the living"
• emma and her loom band bracelet making
• everyone being elbow deep in projects
• words like "turmeric" that i never knew before mercy ships and that now remind me of my lovely hummus making australian friend justine

• walking around the soccer field with grant perkins
• a new red headband
• how amazing of a husband nick is
• exceptionally wonderful airbnb guests
• "as your awareness of your neediness increases, so does your realization of My abundant sufficiency." - jesus calling
• hearing eli laugh
• caroline's hardwork and initiative
• discovering a new unsung hero: etty hillesum

• "you're far happier giving than getting." - from acts 20
• ...the incredible, extravagant generosity of God (also from acts 20)
• "receive the undisturbedness of the Lord Jesus." - oswald chambers
• when all the lyrics to a song you forgot you knew come flowing out of your mouth
• God's "infinite sameness"
• easy mornings...no rush, no pressure, no reason to have everybody up and out the door
• fun rapids victory in the first round of the tournament
• laundry room got an upgrade/african fabric bunting found a home (and can still be used for  party decorations!)

so many gifts...everywhere.

• we have a picnic table (and nick's work to get it useable!)
• getting to see the wilcox family
• good strides on the retreat book (and when projects aren't as complicated as i thought they might be)
• rain held off during the soccer game
• the fatherhood conference at CCC

• fun new cards came in the mail
• reading "the giver"
• the library ordered the 2 books we requested!
• snoop dogg jokes
• finding gospel Truth and Love with Emma in the story of "Heidi" 

• "you can choose to practice My presence or to practice the presence of problems." - jesus calling
• "He knows you...Love has always known you...." - Jasmine Murray song
• well timed words from the lord through Mr. Manning
• "no one ever wins when you start comparing and competing." - brian houston
• whiteboards and thankful lists during life school 

• the beauty of a baked potato bar (and an incredible community group to share it with)
• finding the all pink starbursts (5th place is the charm...though the 5th place is the 1st place i was told to look...i just didn't want to drive all the way to macon road!)
• marco polo with alison!  (and other dear friends!!  alison is just the newest addition)
• the way the burger king playground is the exact colors of the hogwart's houses...and all the fun/creativity that helps happen (and that there weren't little kids around so our big kids could play!)
• beginning to read "daring to hope" 

gifts gifts and more gifts

• getting to watch the movie "wonder" (kindness makes me cry)
• double date with the callows (butter chicken and memories of shamiana are so so good)
• beautiful azaleas
• 3 unique kids who picked their own easter outfits

• coffee and homemade cinnamon crunch bagels with the lovely and spectacular katie callow 
• when things get back to being "right"
• freshly patched jeans (appropriate for ship boutique jeans to be patched with african fabric)
• eli's creativity with the whiteboard (and the teacher that taught him about shape poems: Ms. Remy!)

• easter.family.food.our savior lives.
• red birds and blue birds
• happiness cupcakes with emma
• taco tuesday tailgating edition (and the incredible color coordination of it all)

• morning of reading/homeschooling in bed (and not because anyone was sick)
• my dad is here!
• backroads and picnic tables
• figuring out just how many bagels i can get with the panera giftcard...