new year's eve thankful list

• hello honks at random cars and ups trucks
• lots of time with Laura Lane this week (and lots of laughter)

• real life rapunzel got to visit with her dad and grandmother
• good stuff.  it's good not to be ashamed...and to not care what people think. 

• so much fun with stomp rockets
• the beauty of nature/my view from the ground...something special about that blue sky

• tears (mine and those of others).  they are valuable and precious.
• our hope is in Him.  alone. 

• we've successfully circled the sun one more time
• good questions from Written to Speak

• lots of peaceful moments (including a beautiful bedtime) with real life rapunzel
• TIME with amy!  (the coffee and pastries were beautiful bonus!)

• lots of fun new toys for sharing with our favorite friends
• the perks of hosting christmas

• fireside chats with my siblings
• generosity through pizza (and eating cheesy bread on the long ride home)...and my favorite mask right now

gifts this christmas week

• breakfast for dinner, gifts and games with the quintards
• bubble fun (while the little girls were napping) 

• amazing christmas eve lunch with yaya and grandaddy
• i just like it:

• little girls in bike helmets running around
• 2 drummers drumming

• weekend with t-train
• ugly christmas sweater cookie decorating

• melissa mount's kind words
• "look, mom, she's my back pack."

• "come to us, abide with us, our Lord, Emmanuel." 
• beautiful book...with all kinds of amazing liturgies

• help from kiddos in cleaning the cottage
• clever marketing

• knowing caroline is hanging out with incredible girls
• 2 friends hanging out on the swings (we've got swings!)

• thoughtful christmas letters from sarah
• fruit on sticks

• yummy cinnamon bread from the whitts
• red and green dot paints

He's the best gift giver

• Avett Brothers' We Americans (couldn't stop the tears the first time i heard it)
• that some folks are capable of voting and not posting the obligatory "i voted sticker" picture (no real judgement for those who do)
• nick's amazing birthday gift to me:

• finally got a response from the company that hasn't sent the items i ordered (thankful for lessons learned about online shopping) 
• 2 lovely sunsets at the beach

• christmas light looking with the family.  lots of good lights, way to go columbus!
• sharing the secret to the gif game
• a new word: 

• many hands make light work (or at least lighter work) - specifically in regards to the youth christmas dinner 
• teamwork making the jungle jumparoo dream work.

• maverick city's "Jesus at the Center/All Hail King Jesus" - wowzahs.  what worship. 
• confirmation that the jungle jumparoo was indeed a good decision

• zoe's laughter and they way she says "that's so funny" 
• good stuff from the lectio 365 devotional 

Christmas Music Listicle

Just in case you're needing some fabulous music to help you through the Christmas Season (and partially because I want to have a list of all my favorites.  Curating is key, friends.) ​

curate: to collect, select and present information or items such as pictures, video, music, etc. for people to use or enjoy, using your professional or expert knowledge.

(I'm definitely using my professional and expert knowledge)

Favorite Christmas Albums (in no particular order):

• Maverick City Music - Maverick City Christmas
• Jill Phillips & Andy Gullahorn - Christmas
• Rend Collective - A Jolly Irish Christmas, Vol. 2
• Sleeping at Last - Christmas Collection, Vol. 1
• Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald - Ella & Louis Christmas
• Phil Wickham - Christmas AND Christmas:Acoustic Sessions
• Jackson 5 - Christmas Album (specifically Someday at Christmas)
• Bebo Norman - Christmas (from the Realms of Glory)
• Allen Levi, Bebo Norman & Ed Cash - Joy
• Relient K - Let it Snow Baby...Let it Reindeer
• John Legend - A Legendary Christmas 

Christmas Album/Worship Experience in a category all by itself:

• Andrew Peterson - Behold the Lamb of God

Christmas Albums I wish existed (or maybe they do and I'm just unaware)

• Avett Brothers 
• Chris Rice (I found one with 5 songs - Merry Chris Rice)

Future me (the one trying to remember what Christmas music you like), you're welcome. 

reminders of the ways God provides

• giggles during hide and seek
• the time, effort, dedication caroline put into studying for blue books
• conversation with CG ladies around the fire 
• celebrating emma!  what a treasure. 

• behold the lamb livestream
• mountain of clean clothes.  a washer and dryer that work.  the people who get those clothes dirty. detergent that smells good (i was struggling to be thankful for the pile of clean clothes that i could have literally hidden in...was trying to be grateful instead of grumb-ly)
• they finally figured out the issue with the pipes.  i really really dislike the pricetag...not sure why God would want us to spend His money that way...but i trust Him...and i'm grateful for pipes that bring clean water (hot and cold!) into our home.  
• quotes about 2020 that i appreciate:

• jill phillips' song "bright sadness"
  
• molly's suggestion of marco's (and josh's presence/present)
• christmas pj pictures

• so much fun at great wolf lodge
• sweet books to read
• fleece lined running pants
• lemon pepper boneless wings at shane's rib shack with my favorite wing eating partner. 

continuing to learn to live a life marked by gratitude

• when papa gives gas money (he's way too generous)
• sweet sleeping girls on the car ride home from warrenton

• reminder that gratitude is more than just keeping a list of things i'm thankful for.  (what a challenge: steadfast refusal to order one's life around comparing, complaining or coveting.)

• Rend Collective's "A Jolly Irish Christmas"
• Nick's willingness to take the lead on Christmas Decorating

• cottage guests that make clean up so very easy
• sisters with AFM fabric wreaths on their heads

• zoe's fun and delight with the little antler thingys

• Amy's willingness to be here with our kiddos so that I could go with Nick to meet the 1000 Churches team in Maryland
• easy flights
• good stuff that came across my screen this week

• powerful and authentic prayers
• "showers of blessing" being sung in portuguese, french and english

• krystal remers. i admire her. 
• rest and refreshment in the form of journals, books, chocolate and a super comfy hotel bed

• sharing a to-go plate of ok sun with nick
• mama florence's plantains and rice! (especially the plantain part)

truly so much to be thankful for. always.

• nick made it home safe and sound
• getting to hear about the things the Lord was/is speaking to nick during his time away
• funny stuff 

• naps.  
• marco's pizza.  so delicious. 
• stack o' books shared/given...lots of potential wisdom and knowledge and good stuff in this stack

• free dozen golden doughnuts...always welcome in my world
• walking over to see tiffany and her boys
• cotton candy skies...and a lovely emma who noticed and captured it

• made a significant purchase that should make cash kids (and other kids visiting the cash casa) happy.  i'm not one for buying much of anything...but i thought about this one for months and finally decided to go for it. feels right.  thankful for God's help in making decisions - big and small, for play and for serious.
• mature understanding from my kids
• playgrounds.  i truly am grateful for the them...i love enjoying the girls as they enjoy the playground. 

• trail run in the rain (drizzle)
• walk in the woods with my sister
• thought provoking, conversation starting, incredible question from the ever inspiring patrice

• cabin thanksgiving...the people, the food, the place....all so very special. 
• celebrating the loveliness that is my sister amy...so very thankful God created her and shared her with the world
• girls (and boys!) on the 4 wheelers and golf carts (especially thankful for older siblings taking younger ones for rides....lots of rides)

• yeti cup full of ice + ice cold cherry coke (and plenty of them)
• computer/internet/easy way to do my thankful list from warrenton
• 2 sweet little girls who went easily and peacefully to sleep

miracles of kindness

• ella grace's birthday campout...so many incredible families.
• conversation with colleen
• friday night pizza and fire and fireworks

• walking with amy
• melissa and john's uber ride for caroline
• slugs and bugs show!!

• jon tyson's "blessed are the peacemakers" sermon
• frozen at calvary - especially seeing luke's gifts and talents on display
• chicken salad chick with/from laura lea
• yielding prayer from lectio 365 app

• afternoon nap(s)
• time with tiffany - it's good to have good neighbors
• emma's enjoyment of the little tractor
• zoe's cuteness.  and fall. 

• lady party time with AB Baby 
• hearing about eli and sarah's afternoon...and especially their time at PAWS
• prayer room at Harvest Coffee Co.
• good things to release and receive.

• Take 5s with all the messages coordinated by Wendi
• pumpkin roll goodness
• good quote in regards to politics/the election (and really most anything): "if you're thinking 'I can't understand how anybody could believe that', then you just made a confession.  there's something you don't understand, and you can seek understanding." - andy stanley
• all the sweetness in the crib: