keeping my eyes open to the goodness of God

the pictures are a bit out of order...i'm going to be ok with that (hope you are, too :))

• cash kids and the hairspray situation (so much laughter)
• brunch + reindeer games with quintards
• festivus festivities ....golden chopsticks, cookie cake, seinfeld episode (and secrets)

• friends who just stop by
• "Jesus, to Thee be all glory given." 
• all the socks all linked up

• waterfalls of grace
  
• sweet few christmas adam moments in the camper
• cash kids puzzling

• "live in awareness of connection to the loving presence of God." - john mark comer
• "life is full of surprise goodness from God - just keep your eyes open." - jmc
• christmas morning simplicity 

• "i recall all you have done, O Lord, i remember your wonderful deeds...they are constantly in my thoughts.  i cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.  O God, your ways are holy..." Psalm 77:11-13a
• ches taking kids to barnes and noble for book (and game) buying
• beautiful words on christmas morning in lectio 365

• "live in radical amazement." - abraham hesche
• conversations on the porch and around the fire
• christmas eve waffle house (including 2 free waffles!!)

• all went well for the christmas eve services at cityscape
• christmas adam steak with yaya and grandaddy and cash kids
• looking in her room and seeing her like this

• papa's fried chicken for christmas lunch
• everytime i get to talk or text with nick 
• mcmichaels and powells and cashes gathered around the table on the 26th

• uncle lane's goober services...and his all around awesome way of serving and blessing
• eli sweeping without being asked 
• facetiming with our favorite fella christmas morning

• thoughtful gifts from the cash kids
• zoe's toe is getting better and better
• midtown coffee (and cinnamon roll!) with carey

• papa's christmas cards
• christmas eve lunch at yaya's
• winter sky. home. 

• pedicures with my sweet sister
• getting the CS storage room cleaned up...and the fabulous folks who helped
• popcorn + movie + cash girls...just right thursday night. 

making gratitude evergreen

• sweet little 6 am gift exchange
• journal is found.  
• fun time with this one. she makes me laugh so much. 

• big bluey coloring pages for zoe
• the pilot keeps on running 
• good questions as we head towards the end of 2023

• sunday ling ling lunch at yaya's 
• gathering at the overton's...getting to hear "Matthew's Begats"...prayers for nick...great conversation at the dinner table...
• thankful this (spilled creamed corn casserole!) really wasn't a big deal.  thankful it spilled (was dropped) on the oven door and not in the bottom of the oven.  thankful it was still "salvageable" and i had something to take to the potluck.  thankful that caroline cleaned it up while i was gone. thankful that i hadn't spent lots of time creating it. thankful that i didn't get all aggravated at myself about it. 

• shalom at suzanne's
• goodies and gifts galore! 
• zoe's "boat" manuevering (she hurt her toe and figured out a way to move around the house without walking on it)

• date night fun times with nick...making the best of this long distance stuff. 
• listening to zoe laugh on the phone with nick - filters are the best
• pretty pretty reminder

• hit up aldi and wal-mart in one outing and didn't get overwhelmed
• brad worthington's plumbing skillz (and his lovely helper, jean marie!)
• beautiful advent prayer from henri nouwen

• another precious breathe event
• knowing/sharing that relief at the end of a season is ok
• a brother and a sister coloring

• so much stuff got moved from hilton ave to macon road.  fun and easy and productive!!
• wrapping presents with the best helpers - zoe, jo, sarah, annabeth
• the - THE - kringle is here!!!! (won't be here long)

• getting to talk football with amy gagle
• so many beautiful christmas cards
• favorite christmas album of the week: 

• molly's willingness to do my dishes (and so much more!!!)
• how the Lord continues to give me what i need...
• hanging out with cool kids in the nursery (super cool non cash kids - the ones we were actually there for!- not pictured)

• getting to see gina ashley and her crew!
• flowers for our tiny dancer
• this swan did great!!!!! so thankful for her courage and bravery. 

• having eli home.  he's such an incredible human. 
• emma and the hot cocoa song. makes me smile so much. 
• it's almost time for bed. sleep is such a gift. 

looking into the details for His goodness

• blacklights borrowed from TAs
• extension cords and figuring out the plug in situation
• celebrating this treasure of a 14 year old

• "let Me quiet you....quiet you with My love...quiet you with My presence...quiet you with My goodness"
• so many good worship songs. finding more and more. 
• praying arnie in as our newest elder at cityscape 

• i didn't run over the mail in the carport
• the gift of CFA.  fits just right everytime. 
• there's a camper in the backyard (most thankful for the 2 that brought it...and that they'll be back for it :)) and thankful for the cinnamon rolls they brought

• "i'm on the way home" - text from nick friday afternoon
• so much good time together
• good stuff: 

• the way molly blesses me with food...shared meals, baking, offers...just so much generosity to be thankful for 
• oldest 3 cash kids chipping in to help clean up...what a difference 5 minutes makes
• beautiful graphic with meaningful words

• just right podcasts for the ride home from fort stewart
• my marriage. i am so grateful. i do not ever want to take nick/our marriage for granted.
• the sunset tuesday night (the pictures don't really do it justice).  our God paints the skies with His creativity, glory and majesty....my soul needed this sunset.  incredible sky...listening to music by skye. 

• i am not my own
  
• rodeo lunch and lovely walk around that one green space with my best friend
• my favorite chaplain praying it up

• "the more i look into the details, the more of your goodness i find" - lyrics from a song on 107.7
• the prayers and care of so many
• gingerbread made with so much of cynthia's love

• "make little moves against destructiveness." - andre trocme
• having the giftcards
• "the gang's all here" (and just wanted to be together)

• fresh tamales from team marquez
• hearing about God's work in myanmar - best zoom in a long time
• these 2 and the friendship they share

• bag of goodies and sweet time with ella
• friends who bring my daughter starbucks at school
• all gathered in the kitchen

• the way God orchestrates my schedule in ways that i don't even know need orchestrating...He works things out beautifully time after time
• such a fresh cherry coke!
• order from tanner olson/written to speak

• little miracles in regards to one of eli's christmas presents (is there such a thing as a little miracle? it's not like feeding the 5000...but it's significant...)
• the generosity of emma's friends - so many special and meaningful gifts!
• allen levi.  his work. his humility. his cheery (and/or cherry) red sweater vest. his book signing. 

• waking up and hearing my instructions "this is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." 
• 2 peaceful/relatively easy bedtimes in a row 
• how God uses artwork from a friend to minister to my children

• meeting the henderson family and the way hannah prayed for us
• fun stop at bucee's
• pictures & updates from nick .. thankful to have connection

good things, graces & gifts received

• the puppies at sunette's 
• remembering/celebrating glen jones' life
• super sweet childrens' christmas musical at cityscape
• knowing nick was able to watch it via livestream

• it's truly just a game 
• refreshing Sunday morning
• grilled cheese + vegetable soup
• an ok cup of coffee with great company
• sinter klaus! ship traditions live on. 

• christmas crack
• emma & i stayed patient in the midst of the rearranging
• finding what i was looking for
• lunch at impact with eli
• lovely girl in comfy new christmas pjs, beautiful advent readings

• rose's CFA kindness & generosity
• phone calls & facetime with nick
• rich and meaningful connection and conversation at victoria's
• isaiah 9:6 in the msg - amazing counselor, strong God, eternal Father, prince of wholeness...
• yup: 

• emma's nail painting
• "good things, graces & gifts received" - ignatius
• getting to hear someone's heart
• "there's within my heart a melody, jesus whispers sweet and low 'fear not i am with you, peace, be still', in all of life's ebb and flow...jesus, jesus, jesus sweetest name i know. fills my every longing, keeps me singing as i go." -luther bridgers
• beautiful angels

• "i want to love and serve God with my whole life."
• filipino food with christal
• "this is my favorite playground" - zoe
• phone calls to keep me awake on the car ride home when the benadryl had other plans
• the sneezes went away

 

wonderful week full of good gifts

• fun & fabulous family 5K to the fancy house
• bag of goodies from laura lea
• encouraging Truth!  

• chicken salad chick with victoria on the porch
• clement art Art Show! so many wonderful people and fun & fabulous art...all for an incredible organization
• beautiful beloved sticker...and the friend who gave it to me with a huge hug

• the lord's chicken and not the lord's chicken gift cards
• the box of candles was found!
• the best homemade lemon pepper boneless wings yet (and fries!)

• chilly beans walk with a friend on mountainbrook
• driveway walking and talking with the marvelous molly
• festivus shirt that caroline found for nick!

• a friend who offers (and gives) ice + cherry coke + good questions 
• delicious sunday lunch with yaya and grandaddy
• sweet sister moments

• some early christmas with nick
• having someone to love that makes saying goodbye SO STINKING hard. 
• incredibly thoughtful and generous and meaningful gifts for each of us 

• vanilla latte + vanilla scone for staff meeting
• first christmas card of the season!
• cash girls all stacked up

• so many kind texts and phone calls and love and prayers
• ferdinand and isabella (the geese) are back
• friends being silly on a sunday morning. love the way these 2 laugh.

• communion dinner with lis at eden church...amazing soups and edible salads and so much love and laughter around the table
• the cats seem to be all better...all their ailments are gone
• date night hands picture from amanda (impressed that she took note of it whenever nick posted it months ago...and saved it...and painted it....)

• pineapple from hawaii from the canadas
• louise davidson's words to nick
• mike marshall's ministry