seeking to have an inappropriate level of gratitude

• "wake us to be present to you and present to one another." - EMH, liturgy before a purposeful gathering
• gathering as a city group at will and ella's
• "we look to the grace of God and to the sanctifying work of the Spirit to accomplish His purposes in and through us this day. " -EMH, The Hours, Daybreak
• reminder to continue to cultivate a ridiculous amount of gratitude:

• meaningful conversation with a lovely friend at Panda Express
• friends who are ok with me asking hard questions (and who are willing to ask me hard questions)
• the smell of my dad.  freshly cut trees with a little bit of machinery...

• "the Pentateuch is probably my strong suit." - Eli :) 
• breathe.  always amazed by the group God gathers and the Truth/encouragement that is shared. 
• the pool isn't dark brown anymore

• Eli and Caroline had a great time on the youth retreat
• brownie bar in honor of Jacob's birthday 
• my girl Caroline behind the wheel

• the best enchiladas this kitchen has seen in a while (and the kindness of Barbara to bring dinner)
• when trouble shooting results in solving the problem 
• Emma's willingness (and awesomeness) to take pictures at Caroline's game

• He sees. He knows.  He won't just pass by.  (words of encouragement that came from studying Mark 6:46-52)
• cookie dough from katie
• sweet sweet moments between grandaddy and Zoe

• nick's gift to Zoe that facilitated time (and fun!) with each of her siblings

• Waffle House with my dad, brother and nephew (who knew there was a Waffle House Raisin Toast song?!)(enjoy)
• WONDERFUL trip to Ft. Jackson
• batting cages (with nick)

• cheeseburgers (with nick)
• walking along the river (with nick)
• found Hunt Brothers Pizza - and enjoyed it (with nick)
• laughing at the office (with nick)
• hotel breakfast (with nick)
• having such a wonderful husband who is so hard to leave
• easy drive to Columbus
• sermon from Church of the City/Jon Tyson "everything for show"
  

loving kindness on display

• pizza picnic - the first of the year!
• sweet Super Bowl gathering at the steiner's
• the idea of "grace drenched reflection" - from Dallas Willard's "life without lack"

• finally finished previously mentioned book. so so good. 
• slow and easy Monday morning
• jim and Shelley's offer of wings 
• aldi for the win with the lime chips!

• "I am your beloved" on repeat 
• jon and sophia's kindness and delicious lasagna
• popcorn protege.  the learner has become the teacher. 

• "thanks for waiting...I'll be out as soon as we're done praying." - acc's text to me when I came to pick her up from mallory's
• team work making the dreamwork in taking care of kiddos so that i can take a little trip to fort jackson and see my favorite human
• dollar store valentine balloons.  they have upped their game (and their price)

• beautiful weather, delightful walk with Lauren
• benji's chocolate chip banana bread
• Isaiah 41:10
• emma's artwork found nick

• how cleaning the cottage so often fits right in to the day's plans
• big, beautiful moon
• cash girls doing gymnastics together in the front yard
• incredible folks who step up to bless and encourage my kids

counting and counting

• our God is louder than the thunder and brighter than the lightning
• "thank you, God, for this new day.  thank you for this new beginning."
• "You're a good place to hide.  Strong God, I'm watching you do it.  I can always count on You - God, my Dependable Love." - psalm 59:17, msg
• super easy buffalo wild wing pick up 
• yaya checking in and being her wonderful self
• a cookie cake slice well shared

• reading God's word aloud with friends. wow. 
• talking with beth on the phone
• we have eli's car back!!!
• "Jesus wants to give me mercy even more than i want to receive it.  He wants to give me grace even more than I want to ask for it." - Jon Tyson
• card game with shea - and that she came to visit
• caroline's first soccer game of the season! AND nick got to watch it via facebook live! (amazed by God's kindness to let me happen to hear someone mention that it was being streamed live on FB)

• scattergories with nick over facetime
• "let the weight of your mercy cover us"
• walking in to see a big brother reading the little red caboose to his littlest sister
• watching Radio with Caroline
• fresh reminders from Exodus via Big Lee
• chef lee's after church

• filled in potholes (so nice not to hit them!)
• seeing that the AFM made it back to Senegal 
• super delicious bacon cheeseburger casserole (and the hands that prepared it)
• a day of relief...nick made it through the gas chamber stuff and eli made it through his communications speech
• a jar of spaghetti sauce and a bag of "end the conversation" hearts
• everbe's first daffodil of the year

• hearing the heart of a friend
• walking around heath park with kimberly
• dinner date with molly!
• God provides...this time it was a box spring 
• we've made it to the halfway point of nick's training/time away!  
• reacting in peaceful ways to things that i have not reacted so peacefully to in the past (still have a long way to go...but it's nice to see a little progress)
• "changes of plans are opportunities to bring God into the realities of my life." - dallas willard

you love me still...

• strong work on 2019's Shutterfly book
• the gifts nick left for us...it's fun to open them...fun to see them dwindling.  2 weeks down. 4 to go. 
• tulltimate!
• funny and cute memes...and the funny and cute friends that send them to me.  

• worshipping alongside my kiddos
• I can trust the Lord with nick...and with everything else, too. 
• candid conversations. openly and easily talking about things that some folks don't openly and easily talk about.
• Caroline in her #99 jersey (and she got her GA #99 jersey!!!)

• "you are the lover of my soul.  you know everything about me and you love me still." - spontaneous worship at cityscape
• t-shirt sheets at my sister's.  i forgot how very soft they are!! 
• playground time at sunset
• pre-dinner cookies at BK

• best gushers ever
• quick and easy trip to Athens
• fun times at trader joe's (and the sweet cashier who gave Zoe all the stickers!!)
• cali n' tito's with some of my most favorite folks
• getting to answer questions in a room full of college students