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