Joyeux Noël (happy christmas)

these are out of order...thankful that the gifts don't have to be listed perfectly chronologically to count...

• "may the irrepressible joy fill me with the holiness of heaven's happiness..." - lectio 365
• church on christmas morning
• beef jerky and a labeler!!
• games with yaya AND grandaddy 
• games around the table

• lane and his 3 kiddos together
• the gift of sabbath...and a trader joe's shopping spree...and running shoes!
• mcmichaels fixing plates (right on time!)

• eli's artwork for each of us
• "...fit us for heaven..." 
• cash kids at christmas (and always)

• successful splinter removal
• fuzzy slippers 
• quiet cooking christmas morning
• some cashes sleeping in the living room on christmas eve/christmas morning

• thoughtful gifts from wonderful friends
• friends that end up as family (it's in writing!)
• games with the quintards

• yummy leftovers
• coffee and bacon and cinnamon rolls 
• christmas eve with hazel 

• 2nd annual cash/mcmichael festivus (golden chopsticks, cookie cake, fireworks)
• papa went with us to golden chopsticks! 
• hearing lane and nick laugh at the seinfeld episode
• so much wonderful time with wonderful family
• playing "you can't catch me" with zoe

he's always giving

• the nutcracker (at least part of it!) with friends
• fun and fabulous music at cityscape
• looking at christmas lights in a limo
• nick's forethought and creativity in planning a memory-making evening

• coke and water and gatorade in fancy glasses
• the fun and life yaya brings with her wherever she goes 

• the gift of "the boy, the mole, the fox and the horse"...so many beautiful quotes
• story time with laura lea (reading previously mentioned book)

• puzzling with eli and emma
• the vickery's generosity with ray's car
• such good lyrics (especially "cheer us with your nearness" and "close the path to misery")

• miracle stories from lane
• 2 walks right in a row with lauren
• beautiful girl with a beautiful yellow ribbon

• delightful date night 
• yummy delicious cheese straws that help support kids in africa
• good stuff from written to speak "today, tomorrow, and forever. God, be my strength. God, be my hope. God, be my joy. today, tomorrow, and forever." 

• cinnamon rolls from (and with) amy taylor
• sick that is quick 
• things i find in the pantry that make me laugh (contents of the bag are saltine crackers from CFA...caroline reallllly loves them)

his gifts bring awe and wonder to my soul

• VRM book finds!
• saturday afternoon errand running = a success 
• yaya and mama suzanne's 2nd annual christmas tea (so much loveliness and generosity and tasty treats!)

• victoria's vegetable soup and friendship and a walk through turntime
• how God provides (in this case, vitamin B)
• sacred time at ancient way farm, intentional stillness/quietness/fellowship

• coffee with amy tuesday morning
• green bean casserole, squash casserole, pink stuff and cinnamon rolls (and other yummy food) at jonathan and lisa's and an INCREDIBLE staff to enjoy it all with
• maddie's creative skillz - such a neat cityscape ornament!

• "what stirs up awe and wonder in your soul?"
• rewatching the national championship game from last year (and finding out that my dad did the same!)
• celebrating emma with cookie cake and friends!!

• all the goodies that just seem to appear in our kitchen...
• gingerbread house making with molly and kiddos
• celebrating emma at el carrizo

• seeking to "live by the spirit and keep in step with the spirit" in regards to all things christmas.  this season doesn't have to be unbearably busy.  
• extremely generous and unexpected gift to jeeah's hope
• amy + wil + cash kids + dinner

• "wisdom begins in wonder" (quote on the scarborough's wall)
• "He's made a world of wonders" - psalm 98:1
• wondering about the word "wonder" 

so.many.gifts.

• the cutest elephant christmas cards from yaya (and getting to send them to friends)
• meaningful moments and sacred steps in the driveway 
• sweet girls painting christmas ornaments

• "i feel like i was able to give things to God this morning." text from someone i really care about. 
• CSU semester ended well for eli and caroline
• dawgs on top (of all things football AND of the christmas tree) :) 

• "God made us to hunger and thirst for Him; we shouldn't be surprised when nothing else satisfies." - r.c. simons
• hearing a mom giving a new mom her phone number at tuesday time
• elephant pants + prayers for the doblins

• the best cracker barrel biscuit i think i've ever had (and the conversation that accompanied it)
• watching christmas movies as a family
• the way the older sister took the little sister over to watch the car going through the car wash

• the pilot is cleaner than it's been in a while
• time at midtown coffee with melissa
• cheese danish + coffee + good stuff in God's word

• remembering God's miracles (and thinking about my brother's life!) 
• a week with flexibility and gaps that make last minute plans possible
• reagan + zoe + icees (hope these 2 are friends for a long long time)

 

celebrating all the good things

• delicious leftovers
• good run in the woods 
• his and hers pedicures :) 

• tasty quiche!  and a chicken pot pie!
• nick and Eli playing guitars and singing together
• favorite song this Christmas season (so far)

• "celebrate all the good things that God, Your God, has given you and your family." Deuteronomy 26:11
• list of favorite Christmas music (way to go 2020 Dianna!)
• so many beautiful advent books on the table

• clement arts board dinner...way to go taco bar and karaoke (and incredible chocolate cookies...and fruit salad!)
• breathe at midtown coffee
• Lauren's incredible teaching ability

• Eli brought the decorations down from the shed
• the moment I saw the Christmas books all wrapped up
• Sunday afternoon Christmas decorating 

• connections with cottage guests
• kids playing in puddles
• lots of skyjo

• blankets
• Zoe fell back asleep the other morning
• the cushion fairy sent a gift

being rebellious - counting blessings

• CS Teamwork – got a mail out ready in about 15 minutes that would’ve taken one person a couple of hours
• “I want to live the kind of life that makes no sense at all unless You exist.” -Lectio 365
• Molly’s laughter about the van doors 
• reminder that it's good to be a rebel 

• I like the cold but I like the “not quite so cold”even better 
• sneaky gain detergent fairy 
• roasted peanuts + nice lady at Ace Hardware 
• Thanksgiving eve 916 wake up 
• coming home to a straightened up house – teenagers are incredible (at least the ones in my world are!!)
• dinner with the Edfeldts 
• talking all things EHR and enneagram with Jen Y.
• watching a single leaf twirl and dance and float 
• campfire(s) at the cabin
• 2 incredible folks REALLY ready for the blessing
  
  
• lane's way of serving...he makes it seem to easy
• meaningful connections and pretty decent conversations
• sweet walk in the rain with my sister and her namesake 
• all of my dad’s and papa palmer’s cooking for thanksgiving 

• so so many things to be thankful and grateful for...and i don't have to wait for a special day of the year to be thankful and grateful.
• still thankful for the ability to schedule the harvest devotional emails to be sent 
• eli's willingness to let me use his computer to get this thankful list done (I allllmoooost had it figured out on my phone...but the pictures weren't cooperating)
• thanksgiving at the cabin.  it's just special. 

giving thanks. being grateful.

• super wonderful family time sunday afternoon/evening 
• hearing about emma and eli's conversations on wednesday nights on their car ride home
• a treat and coffee on the porch (never gets old)

• unexpected solo time (love molly's generosity to have zoe!)
• caroline's willingness to swing by the store to pick stuff up while she's out
• sweet little girl wearing aunt amy's dress

• caroline is well on her way to having all she needs for the dominican republic trip!
• emma's smile and spark
• "i want to tie my sweater on like mrs. katie." - thankful for the adults that my kids get to look up to (for fashion tips...and for the way they love jesus!)

• phenomenal dnow weekend!!!
• hearing paxton laughing and being the loudest
• middle school boys gathered around the fire pit (and strewn about the house all weekend)

• getting to meet beth in opelika for her birthday lunch!
• gina's bd question and thoughts
• dancing and jumping and laughing and running around with some super cool kids

displays of His kindness

• hibachi rice and chicken with the whites friday night
• easy yurt sleeping
• "God has surely listened and has heard my prayer." - psalm 66:19
• hiking with friends (and kids)(and siblings)

• jon white brought a TV that made UGA game watching possible
• God's gentle words of correction in regards to "this is not what i signed up for" 
• chicken salad chick chicken salad
• kids in rocking camp chairs

• amanda's kindness towards and care of emma
• birthday cards waiting in the mailbox
• good report from papa's doctor's appointment
• delicious cake and coffee (and my thoughtful, thoughtful friend)

• such a good walk and talk with such a good friend
• hearing any of the cash kids laughing
• a fun box of cards shared (and how lauren is so good at sharing)
• organizing the backroom with jenn wenndt

• all the CFA from laura lea
• playlist of zoe's bible verse songs
• cityscape leaders' potluck...oh the laughter. 
• God's beautiful creation

• God's kindness to keep working on me...
• barbara's note to emma
• coming home to a houseful of teenagers
• triple date at panera

working gratitude into my mind's new normal

• prayer requests pouring out in a text
• how lane says "tell me some good news!"
• wings + doughnuts + wings + goodwill finds = very successful outing for nick and emma
• nick's kindness, thoughtfulness, generosity, creativity and care towards/of me
• such a fabulous and fantastic time at ok sun's 
• post surprise party birthday cake for breakfast

• "i feel bulletproof." - emma
• honesty....bits of trust rebuilt (big bits)
• pizza in yaya's driveway
• walking around maple ridge
• candy and costumes!

• how zoe almost always sleeps past 8
• athalie's adoption is final
• caroline's lorelei costume
• all 6 cashes on a pew together sunday morning
• eli's organization of a saturday morning hike

• eli's energy and excitement the other night.
• the ability to schedule an email (that's really making things easier)
• hearing lane's romans 8:28 story
• lots of good quotes this week: 
• "i sit at your table and savour Your Word." - lectio 365
• "we share our best." - katie kump
• "work gratitude into your mind's new normal." -john mark comer
• "what have you and Jesus been up to?" - john eldridge
• "would you awaken my heart, expand my mind and shape my identity today..." lectio 365