counting my blessings. being a rebel.

• multiple conversations about thankfulness
• Aldi.  i just like it. 
• dining reward...got a whole lot of tasty food for $17
• practicing being a rebel

• military discount at Brewster's 
• plenty of cherry cokes and plates full of herbs during date night
• all the things around the house that nick has taken care of lately 
• this one:

• the way the guy at the Starbucks on Windy Hill in Smyrna interacts with his customers - with kindness, attention and an uncharacteristic awesomeness
• visiting with Katie!  (and the really cool playground!)
• the simple beauty of mac n cheese for lunch with a friend
• someone with a big platform is quoting me (not really!!  but it's something I've been saying for a long time)

• having the chase family visit for the weekend
• God's word is alive and rich and never disappoints.  
• delicious dinner grilled by nick, enjoyed outside
• beautiful day of hiking at FDR

• few moments by the fire
• meaningful conversations with our teenagers
• fun and fabulous time at the Jeeah's Hope Fall Potluck
• will's picture of Yaya taking our picture

• gourmet Italian lunch at the Robertsons
• the pool liner is in!
• laughing with Caroline about "this is the worst"
• 3/4 of my kiddos and 2 of their incredible friends in a lovely setting 

• the pilot wasn't running right...and then it was (and has continued to).  I think God fixed it. 
• how very much nick makes me laugh
• I got to see my dad (and lane!)! thankful for how his recovery from surgery is going 
• grandaddy's willingness to be in warrenton to help my dad

continuing to cultivate thankfulness

• lemon pepper wings that did not disappoint (from a dangerously close location)
• Sunday night cereal dinner
• fresh screen protector...and the scratches and cracks magically disappear
• such a sacred time at the Jeeah's Hope Breathe event

• coffee + snicker doodle + fresh morning + porch
• refill rockets for the stomp rocket launcher
• mason jar Thursday with the one and only Andrea Omojola
• phenomenal kids and incredible fun at the Riverwalk on a gorgeous afternoon 

• successful knee replacement surgery for papa
• getting to share the pumpkin painting with one of my favorite ladies 
• celebrating God's creation of Amanda...and Melissa...and Sally (soon)
• October. 

pouring out my praise

• listening to nick play the guitar and sing
• ocean breeze
• incredible white noise (the stove vent/fan)
• catching up with shelley in the wee hours of the morning (the running is just bonus) 
• it's really unbelievable how much the Lord loves us and what He has done to bring us near to Him. 

• things on I-75 could've been so much worse
• grace upon grace upon grace
• "i am set free....it is for freedom that i am set free" 
• such a refreshing walk with lauren
• delightful evening celebrating one friend while experiencing another friend absolutely ROCK her talents, gifting and passions

• the cookies molly shared with me. so good. 
• delightful double date at luke's pub
• anytime caroline comes and sits with me and puts her head on my shoulder
• nick's hardwork on our property...specifically spreading a ton and a half of gravel the other day
• loooots of time this week with this girl in my lap (she wasn't the biggest fan of us being gone last week) and all of her sweet and silly faces

• a week of really great cottage guests and easy turnovers
• emma's sweet and thoughtful text 
• eli's responsibility level
• jerry at frank's collision center.  he's a nice guy. 
• prayer of abandonment by charles de foucauld

           Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will.

           Whatever you may do, I thank you: I am ready for all, I accept all.
           Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures.

           I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my soul;
           I offer it to you with all the love of my heart, for I love you, Lord,
           and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into your hands,
           without reserve, & with boundless confidence, for you are my Father

approaching life with gratitude

• poets, painters and storytellers - what a great Clement Arts' event!
• addressing postcards and praying for jeeah's hope families
• friends who text to check in 
• caroline's fun and adventurous (and safe!) weekend in athens

• time away with nick.
• walking on the beach with nick
• sitting on the beach with nick
• throwing frisbee on the beach with nick
• reading on the beach with nick
• running on the beach with nick

• high functioning ice maker
• cooler bag for transporting cookie dough
• empanadas from the marathon gas station 
• sidewalk chalk reminders

• tasty cheese naan and butter chicken 
• so.much.sleep. 
• ella grace's text/words about my thankful list...such kindness and encouragement!
• such a good quote: 

• amy and yaya's willingness to take care of all things cash kid/home related so that we can be away
• "attend to the soil and the seed.  leave the degree of fruitfulness up to God." - lectio 365
• "we can receive the things we do not want - or give up the things we do want - if we have decided, by the grace of God, that we can trust God to take care of us." - dallas willard, life without lack
• "because your love is better than life, my lips will praise you." - psalm 63:3
• "hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love." - psalm 130:7