savoring the small (and large!) joys

• "I am Your beloved...the one the Father loves...the One who knows me best is the One who loves me most."  SUCH a good song from the Heslers. I highly HIGHLY recommend that you listen to it!!
• getting to turn right on Manchester
• full and rich Sunday...and how everything worked out beautifully - especially timing
• seeing (and smelling ;)) and getting to be with Dee Dee 
• yummy cake and tasty meatballs
• button prompted prayers for my girl Boots 

• Redeeeming Love with Yaya and Ella 
• realizing nick's popcorn at home is just as good as movie popcorn (and probably even tastes better because it costs a bazillion times less and I can eat it in my pajamas)
• getting things back to the people they belong to (just feels right!)
• "there's joy in the house of the Lord." (the song. the truth. the singing of it at CityScape)
• "you are the shepherd and overseer of our souls." - 1 Peter 2:25
• these words given to me on a card by a friend on JUST THE DAY I was contemplating Him being the shepherd and overseer of our souls: 

• "blessed assurance Jesus is mine....I in my savior am happy and blessed."
• incredible weekend at Young Life's Sharptop Cove for Eli and Caroline
• fun night and morning for Zoe and Emma at Yaya's
• fun night and morning for me while Zoe and Emma were at Yaya's and Eli and Caroline were at YL camp
• cheddar bay biscuits
• sleeping until 11
• lovely things from the lovely Mary Grace 

• having a knife when there were no scissors available
• kids' pita bowls with Amanda
• airbnb guests who respond graciously to things that are beyond my control
• table full of teenagers Tuesday night (and I didn't ruin the hamburgers!!)
• borrowed books, fascinating stories
• treats from shea (and my fabulous unboxing video!)
• ridiculous amounts of generosity from 'chelle.  seriously. wow.  

• it was just a dead battery!!! (some folks in the CFA drive through got to see me do quite the happy dance in the parking lot)
• a teenager who wakes me up to talk (I would lose sleep for that reason any night!)(though I must admit I'm thankful it doesn't happen every night)
• talking to lane Friday night...and to my dad multiple times throughout the week.  
• tent for Zoe from Carey.  she's loving that thing!
• Emma's experiments with her new camera

• seeing JMo and thinking "that's my pastor!"
• home sweet home repair (need a handy woman, I've got a number for you!!)
• "in Your presence there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore!" - psalm 16:11
• "all your children will be taught by the Lord, great will be their peace." - Isaiah 54:13
• talking to nick tonite/shared cherry coke over FaceTime.  so so good for my head and my heart.  
• these 2 teenagers of mine.  they are special. 

• being lavished with God's love and kindness.
• one week down, five to go
• "impress less and connect more." - Hannah Ro
• the heated steering wheel and seats of the rented car (and the hope that tomorrow it will go back from whence it came)

acknowledging God's goodness and generosity

• another lovely evening at allen levi's...delicious cake, wonderful friends and an exceptional person to celebrate
• a little lighter for the candle on the front porch (God provides!  I love how He cares about the details)
• SNOW!  and how very excited the girls got (especially Caroline)

• cleaning out the closet/storage room for CityScape.  so much fun!!  seriously. 
• Emma's picnic with/for her friends
• i really am married to such an incredible man

• "...may I spend these hours well...in good service to You." - from Every Moment Holy
• the way emma sees and captures beauty
• the way the Lord paints the skies

• delicious french toast and bacon
• seeing nick on the exit ramp at 8:58 (prayer works!!)
• ice maker full of ice!

• all the thoughtfulness and goodies from yaya
• sitting in a living room sharing about where we've seen God move and where we are hoping to see Him move.  we could've done that all afternoon and into the evening!  
• He is the "overseer of our souls" - 1 Peter 2:25
  
  
  

Remembering His grace and love...and gifts and treasures.

• seeing the Walls across the parking lot
• cityscape is happening!  so very "yes"
• celebrating yaya! 

• walk and lunch with Christal 
• folks who went before us on the path at heath park and put bark across the puddle...that'll preach. 
• "I think I'm going to sweep off the roof." - eli - goodness.  that initiative is a blessing.

• getting to sit in the sunshine for a few minutes
• coming on home.  tears and all. 
• emma's enjoyment and delight

• sliding around on socks, making forts, enjoying treats, having fun with AB and Jacob 
• delightful date night that included 1/2 a cake...among other treats. 
• creative ideas and funny things to think about.  watch out, this may happen:

• lemon hummus.  
• Tuesday time with Laura Lea + CFA + Kimberly
• REMEMBER YOUR GOD - from a liturgy in Every Moment Holy

• pizza and king cake with the faircloths
• nick put the leftovers in the fridge (they weren't ruined by my forgetfulness!)
• moments that make me so thankful that we homeschool: 

• Wednesday afternoon on benson drive.  and that Molly has coffee creamer in her fridge just for me. 
• new day, fresh breath (not fresh as in "mouthwash fresh") - fresh/new/another day of breaths
• clever stickers: 

• a peaceful ending to a community group that has gathered most every Thursday night for almost the past 4 years.
• nick, lane and my dad together for lunch.  i love that my husband loves my family pretty much as much as i do - and vice versa :) 
• 3 men who have invested so much love, prayer and encouragement into me: 

• the joy of obedience
• being under all the covers
• 3 hours of our yearly foster care training done for me and nick (3 out of 15...or 6 out of 30 depending on how you look at it...either way, 1/5 of the way done!) 

all the more.

• Friday full of friendship (I love how God knowns what my heart needs and makes provision for that before I even realize what my heart needs!)
• enjoyable UGA game :) 
• fun and SAFE and fabulous fireworks New Years eve!

• wonderful friends and lots of laughter ringing in the new year and "starting it off on the right foot" (most of the females pictured here)

•  the times Caroline comes up and randomly gives me hugs
• "what a gift it is that Your mercies are new each morning and that we don't have to wait for a new year to begin again." - Kayla Craig, Prayer for New Year's Day, to Light Their Way
• how Lauren stops our walk to look me in the eyes to say especially meaningful (and usually encouraging!) things
• Cash 6 time in Helen.  so so wonderful.
• cozy pants, good reading material, sitting by a fire, in a cabin in the woods

• lovely walks and hikes in the woods.
• God's majestic waterfalls 
• cash kids.  I like them. 

• the ease of making dinner (yay for frozen spaghetti sauce)
• fun times on the mountain coaster 
• getting hot in the hot tub. 

• taco cat goat cheese pizza.  no hands were broken.  lots of laughter was shared. 
• the random selfies exchanged between Caroline and Emma (I only had Caroline's on my phone...this is one of many)

• how easy it is to be with bart and victoria
• Eli's trip to and from Franklin! 
• making the most of an "all day jump" at launch.  gummie lifesaver rings included. 

• brownies from Anna Beth.  so delicious!!
• really good questions: 

• CityScape!  it's happening! "this is not just a place for people to meet each other but a house for God to meet us." 1 Chronicles 29:1 (msg)
• really really great sermon - Church of The City, Jon Tyson, SEEKING GOD: Surrendered Hearts, January 3, 2022
• neat words: 

• enjoyable rainy run/walk...lovely views (very ireland-esque)