choosing gratitude...because I get to.

• Friday night pizza (and Thursday night pizza at community group!)
• emma's game party thing with friends
• having a carport to pull into when it's raining

 

• easy peasy dentist appointments (and Lori's kindness to "try" with Zoe...she just wasn't having it though)
• running on mountain brook 2 days in a row
• thinking on verses and looking at them in other translations

• got a new driver's license ordered (long story that i'm happy to share with anyone who might want to listen)
• Eli + Caroline + a successful TA kickoff event
• these lyrics = my prayer

• celebrating my dad! (and knowing I get to see him Saturday)
• getting to hear a friend's heart.  goodness that's a gift. 
• this is my solution to most everything....

• realizing the burst of energy came from the lemon lime ginseng fizz stuff that I added to my water ;)
• Dollar Store balloons for special kiddos in my life
• such truth - I don't know that this is what's implied - but it's the truth I'm adding - rely on the Lord and His word to tell you how and what to think and to tell you who you are

• hearing Zoe sing 'Jesus loves me" 
• Aidan's company...so enjoyable! 
• such a simple "hack.'  saving one tube of bubbles at a time. 

• caramel capp blast (with a military discount!  nick joining the army national guard reserve definitely has its perks ;))
• "The situation is complicated but the question isn't." 
• another pair of new to me shoes - just when my others were starting to fall apart!  so fun how Lauren had them in the back of her car.

• the rain/storm stopped just in time for Zoe, T-train, Annabeth and Jacob to get to swim! 
• welch's grape juice + Hawaiian sweet rolls
• holy love.  the 2 words that best describe God...in any language (and the friends who shared the sticker)

• so much fun with the bug-a-salt gun 
• the way the pilot G-2 05 pen writes (or the way I write with it?)(I especially like my handwriting when I'm using that pen!!)
• excellent reminder (and in such a lovely form)

a week's worth of gifts

• celebrating Elliot! (David and Kimberly have some mad skillz when it comes to simple yet meaningful birthday parties for kids!)
• school has started well (thankful for kids who do what they need to do without a lot of hassle/reminding/prodding)
• Eli's first day of college classes went well (he's standing with the CSU cougar sticker :))

• Jesus obeyed to death 
• getting to hear nick preach
• the deliciousness that is cookie cake (and the INCREDIBLE girl we got to celebrate)

• toasts to Caroline...and cheers with cupcakes
• hearing about a moment of self-control/walking away...when really a good talking to/chewing out would have been understandable (though maybe not right or best!)
• last little bit of yaya's jerky...perfectly paired with cherry coke

• "...don't ever limit your joy or fail to rejoice in the wonderful experience of knowing our Lord Jesus!" Philippians 3:1 tpt
• big ol' chipotle burrito at the CG leaders' lunch 
• good reminder:

• chicken minis + hashbrowns + cherry coke + the friend who brought them + fellowship 
• Cooper Creek with the white family
• seeing things that other churches are doing to bless and encourage their students.  this is so good on so many levels!  the Body of Christ is full of so many beautiful ideas!

• the fun and delight of joining LL cool J (M) in her work/service at the St. Anne outreach center
• the way that the outreach center is and its contents are positioned/organized to minister to so many (it may not always be true but, in my book, organization = good stewardship)
• starting our week with the chance to help and serve

• lovely breathe event
• strawberry shortcake (and knowing just how much love went into putting it together/preparing it)
• yes yes yes:

• the guys at Sheffields were able to check my tire...a reliable, trustworthy and kind mechanic is such a gift. 
• seeing the sunset and sunrise pictures from yaya...("the next best thing to being at the beach is being thought of my someone who is" - Amy Kay)
• so many things that aren't broken (sometimes I can get so discouraged when something breaks/needs repairing/replacing...really that's a part of life that I need to learn to embrace/deal with better...for now I'm going to think about all the things that aren't broken!) 

more to be thankful for. always and forever.

• recovery sleep
• the goodness of saltine crackers and coke
• Shane and Shane's new album

• the ease of getting teaching textbooks all set up for the school year
• Janet's love and prayers
• time with Molly!  uninterrupted conversation (unless the interruptions were from ourselves...and from our clapping for random people that weren't who we thought they were)

• Jeremiah 15:16 "when I discovered Your words, I devoured them.  they are my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear Your name, O Lord God of heaven's armies."
• incredibly beautiful news about a former foster care placement
• zoe's enjoyment of the splash pad!

• laughing with Wendi and Aidan about the oriental grocery store and its neighbor
• delicious food and fantastic conversation at community group
• yup:

• rainy afternoon 
• very good use of a trip to ellersie/cataula
• the right breath prayer at the right moment

• early birthday lunch for Caroline with yaya and grandaddy
• big ol' bag o' beef jerky from yaya.  her jerkiness is the best. :) 
• lovely cash sisters 

• Hawaiian sweet rolls
• Emma was able to go to chicken sandwich tour after all...thanks, Amanda (and thanks for loving on my girl extra)
• one working hard on school work....one with a stack of cookies. 

• how hard Ms. Edwards works to get the respite care we've done paid for
• enjoyable meeting with the E2F+ team
• safety first at supper time 

• nick found a car for Caroline...great car at a good price from a trustworthy seller
• everything doesn't have to make sense in order for me to trust God 
• silly things in the 4 year old class at christ community

He gives and gives and gives

• nick and Emma are home from Washington!  
• hearing about the stories Jeff told....I love that they got to laugh so much 
• good stuff from Dallas Willard's Life Without Lack

• Jupiter's leg got better (with no vet bills!)
• tag's willingness to cut the grass
• nick's shenanigans while Caroline is trying to do school work 

• double header playground morning with Molly and kiddos
• talking about homeschooling highschoolers with emily
• toasting the fact that Emma can do whatever she sets her mind to doing (we weren't really toasting that...but that's what the toast represents to me...we were actually toasting the fact that Emma successfully gave up coke for over a year)

• Come and Behold by Maverick City/UPPERROOM
  
• cool august mornings (what!?!)
• yaya and grandaddy's love and care for little ones

• God provided all the books Caroline needs for Challenge III (sharing is caring!)
• so much Marco Polo-ing with Amy this week. I like being connected to my sister. 
• for someone who often feels ordinary, these words were life giving:

• ...it was just a matter of plugging it back in...
• golden donut is open again!  
• i had not one but 2 boxes brought to me :). donuts are my love language. 

• "...the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil." - 1 John 3:8
• based on true stories/actual events movies
• the moments when she is playing peacefully and contentedly all by herself

• the way Victoria cares for and interacts with Zoe (and really for everyone that sets foot in her home/life)...she made sure Zoe had her own little cup of coffee and plenty of options for entertainment

• spur of the moment trip to Tuesdays on Saturday with Caroline and Zoe!

• sweet moments between Zoe and T-Train (fun fact - inside scoop - these 2 definitely took a slow tumble off of this bench just after this picture was taken...somehow neither was hurt...instagram rarely tells the full story :))