How could I express all my gratitude? I'll keep trying...

• having Chris Tomlin's My Soul Magnifies the Lord in my head and heart most of this advent season
  
• delicious Christmas Eve meal with Yaya and Grandaddy and the Whitts
• Yaya's thoughtful and generous gift giving
• laughter over (and in) the purple Comfy

• huge "hershey kisses" - and especially the words written on the white paper thingy
• Christmas Eve stroll with Yaya and Caroline
• christmas cinnamon roll cake + coffee (and one to take with us!)

• Brandon Lake's song Gratitude
  
• playlist from Eli.  it's so good. 
• gifts from mama Melinda

• "my worth is wrapped up not in what I achieve but in who I am in God's cosmic knowing." - Kayla Craig
• sweet moments by the fire

• "God is not dead not does He sleep." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• "you let us hold you in our arms" - from a prayer read on Christmas morning 
• Peaceful, easy, wonderful Christmas Morning and day and day after Christmas and day after that....

• Papa, Lane, Laura Lane, Amy and Wil all here safe and sound
• table full of incredible folks and food

• watching someone (2 someones) open a gift made especially for them

• help with the washing of dishes
• festivus cookie cake (and korean food)
• plenty of PT (porch time) with Lane
• finally reading Eugenia Price books
• good questions to ponder as 2021 comes to a close:

He gives such good gifts...at Christmas and always.

• "all of the missionaries are free." - news article about the 17 kidnapped in Haiti
• "gratitude and anxiety cannot exist in the brain at the same time." - spoken word in a maverick city Christmas song
• Riley and Olivia's wedding.  such a joy when 2 Christ followers join together in marriage!  
• Zoe's enjoyment of her tea set from trey...happy to give that dirty Santa gift a good home

• christmas light looking with the family (Kirk Franklin in the form of a singing Christmas tree was the cherry on top)
• time with the faircloths (and the delight of sharing the avocado song....)
• max lucado's story "the crippled lamb"...so much goodness and truth in that children's book
• memes that make me laugh

• lovely gathering of ladies for Jeeah's Hope Breathe/Open House (valet parking and all!)
• perfectly wonderful Wednesday afternoon
• Amy Taylor's scones and cookies for sharing
• this friend (and amazing camera angles from the capable Caroline).  i'll say it again - everybody needs a friend like Molly.

• a borrowed bouncy house. wowzahs. 
• Abe Stewart's arrival into the world
• hearing about christmas pizza and wings.  celebrating the growth and wisdom and grace of a beloved friend. 
• danish kringle shipped from Wisconsin...and the friends who introduced us/gifted it.  (pretty sure I single handedly (forkedly?!) ate the entire thing)

• hearing that T-Train is doing well 
• Christmas Adam = Cash Kids + Yaya and Grandaddy's Christmas Eve Eve tradition (it's officially a tradition)(and a tradition that allows me and nick to have an extra long date night!!!)
• time with the quintards. 
• thoughtful gifts from thoughtful friends.

'tis the season for gifts. always.

• sweet time in the kump home...especially when Zoe and Annie got to laughing
• God's got plans that I may not understand...and that's better than ok. 
• this reminder: 

• naps and a long night of rest to kick this cold to the curb
• fun book finds (in this case "snugglepot and cuddlepie" for a treasured friend)
• incredible night of inspiration and worship (and tasty treats and coffee)

• a gentleman's agreement/handshake and the truck is sold!
• Emma's attention...she seems to notice when i get overwhelmed or need some encouragement....
• houseful of middle schoolers (all are not pictured here) to celebrate Emma ("homemade launch" included)

• the part we've been waiting on for Eli's car is supposedly on its way! 
• the way the horses' hay smells right now...it's different - and sweet! 
• delightful and beautiful Christmas tea hosted by yaya and mama suzanne (thrift store shabby chic was the dress code)

• how meghan knows her neighbors' names
• beautiful afternoon for a walk around 1st Avenue
• sipping cherry coke out of our tea cups 

• pizza with the klause family 
• pretty smooth room swap
• perfect Monday lunchtime picnic on the corner of peacock and wynnton road

•  Zoe's enjoyment of yaya and grandaddy's on Wednesday nights...makes date nights all the sweeter
• how the cottage stays booked...even when there are cancellations, it gets rebooked....
• the continued and extreme generosity of the Village Foster Care and Adoption Ministry

some of the joyous mercies

• the compilation of testimonies nick put together for the Jeeah's Hope board meeting  
• decadent gingerbread (and the rest of a delicious meal) provided by Molly for a whole table full of folks 

• community and fellowship and delicious bar-b-que and a not-so-great football game at the walls on Saturday
• so much good stuff in this verse...the promise of pleasures and plenty and joyous mercies...permission to hide in Him...invitation to worship in awe and wonder...the reminder that we've been made holy 

• meaningful conversations on the porch 
• the way Eli cares for the kitties

• a family all together heading back to their mission field
• teamwork making the dreamwork. tangible (and edible) generosity on display. 

• cozy socks
• rainy day!

• laughing with lane on the phone this morning 
• emma's birthday lunch around the island. 12 years with this treasure. so grateful. 

• food for sharing...and folks that don't mind being shared with 
• incredibly beautiful time at the Levi farm...left so full....

keeping a record of His kindness

• the way my dad saw something (the flag and flagpole at the cabin) that needed fiixing and he did something about it (new flag, reset the pole). he's such an honorable man in so many ways. 
• stunning weather. incredible evening skies. 
• elf with the eberts! 
• lovely - in a plethora of ways - morning at two cedar.  amazed by Laura Lea's ability to give and give and give. 
• Emma's creative eye - and especially the way she takes pictures

• questions that affirm what the Lord has been doing in my life
• super easy shuttle run to the airport
• restful Sunday - worshipped and took a nap and finished a book and went for a run and shared some meals and watched some football
• a week saturated with rich and meaningful conversations and interactions
• fun times at a favorite park with some of my favorite kids

• sacred time at Victoria's.  goodness.  God's tender care of us is so tangible sometimes.
• the jump rope from team marquez!!! (such a simple yet SIGNIFICANT reminder of God's presence, his attentiveness to us and his provision)
• long lasting fresh flowers
• "O God, you have made even the necessary act of eating a nurturing comfort and a perpetual delight."  - every moment holy 
• God's word that is SO APPLICABLE:  

• Cracker Barrel lunch (and the leftovers) with yaya and Zoe
• Teen Advisor Christmas Market.  I only cried 7 times (kindness and worship music are 2 of the things that make me cry quickest)
• how one small comment kept things from really getting messed up (i had the wrong date for an event that i was helping to line up food and such for....)
• drum line!!!  #lifeneedsmoredrumline
• complimentary hot chocolate (and hugs and twirls) with my girl zoe at the previously mentioned market

• the sacred mischievous gleam in the eyes of people who want to anonymously bless others
• "I hear you're the child whisperer." and the uproarious laughter that ensued.
• seeing Eli and Caroline interacting with their friends
• trusting God with my kids and their hearts
• figuring out that all the things i need to create a little gift for a super special sister o' mine are already here