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)