breathing room...good gifts...

• friends eating burgers in the forest
• "i don't know margot" sweatshirt from nick
• well placed string of lights 

• panera with emma 
• shelley's grave digger story/impersonation
• sweet little walk with a beautiful view

• talking with ella grace
• the countdown is measured in weeks
• walking back with these 2 

• "belonging matters"
• being on "this side" of the deployment mountain (as compared to this time last year)
• walking in the woods with wonderful people

• isaiah 25:12,,,,watching the trees applaud God
• blackstone hibachi!
• these 2 sweet sisters and their cute pictures

• "live and breathe with greater ease - as an eternal being loved by You." - lectio
• all the things for the prayer & worship night seem to be coming together
• sweet moments on the porch

• cream cheese + pepper jelly + crackers + friend who brought them
• kind lady at the tag office that let me go in front of her
• favorite trader joe's treat:

• cherry coke from the camper (and the best ham sandwich)
• rain + rest 
• porch + coffee + cinnamon roll + phone call with nick (2x)

more than a thankful list this week - sharing a sermon

This is one of the most impactful sermons I have listened to lately.  I listened to it once...and then went back and listened again and took some notes....and then, as I was putting this blogpost together, I listened to it again...

Church of the City New York, Jon Tyson, Formed: Sanctification

A few of my favorite quotes:

The foundation of sanctification is Christ's work, not our performance.

There is no formation without repetition.

Your faith is not based on how good you are at your gifts but in the places of brokenness that need to be transformed and healed. 

The school of life is the school of formation...how can this moment make me more like Jesus?

Titus 3:4-7

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

And my most favorite part (the one that has really made me think and pray)

Do not settle in the sanctification process. Let Jesus go after the motivational structure of your heart.

Bonus: i got a little distracted by the "fame and deeds" banner on the pulpit while he was preaching (honestly, I've never watched a Church of the City sermon - I usually just listen to them)...so I googled it and found that "fame and deeds" is from Habakkuk 3:2 and is a part of their church's vision  "To see the fame and deeds of God renewed and known in our time."

let's write our blessings in marble.

• everyday gets us closer and closer to nick being home. 
• such a sweet kitty

• hearing about God's work through hidden hook..."stay humble, stay hungry" - lee mcbride
• doing math with harris III cards

• meeting beth at botanic
• such a delightful cinnamon roll and coffee

• "i yield to You all of my striving to achieve anything for You in my own strength. acknowledging my weakness, i will depend always and only on You." - lectio
• good stuff:

• my happiness, joy and contentment are not dependent on the outcome of an election
• did i already know this? i don't think so....maybe...regardless, i love palindromes. 

• getting to share at crosspointe about jeeah's hope (and getting to be with a friend on the q&a panel)
• good stuff in the hands and hope emails

• Laura Story's Come Unto Jesus
  
• sooo many wonderful pictures (and giggles) from the backseat

• nick on a stick (thanks to amy!)
• celebrating charles & leah (and also getting to watch the UGA game ;)

• rainy days
• walks in the woods (and runs on mountain brook)

• sooooo much birthday love and care....bacon and giftcards and treats and honeycomb words....meals shared and texts sent....cupcakes and ling ling and IG posts....too many wonderful things to post them all. 
• beautiful book...and playing the piano more in the past week than i have in the past 2 years combined

• mr. don and his team....working their magic. 
• all the warning lights went away.  pilot seems to be running just fine....

less pictures than usual...but still alot of thankfulness.

• full morning of really great JH meetings
• lotsa good volleyball for emma 
• caroline taking care of her foot. way.to.go. 
• lunch a la car 

• downtown julia brown brought country's (and a piece of pie!!)
• caroline's encouraging texts and messages
• multiple good sermons that all tie in together
• getting to pick this girl up

• college ministry hoe down throw down.  never have i ever seen such intense line dancing!
• "grace and mercy released over your life" 
• talking to nick. so grateful. 
• zoe and her sight words!  she's getting it!

• candy + costumes + walk in maple ridge (one of my favorite nights of the year!)
• eli is home!
• the upgrades to the foyer at cityscape!!  (creamer pump is especially great)
• sbucks giftcard delivered via text

His never ending generosity on display....

• amy taylor's hair do-ing skillz (love knowing my girl is in good hands...for her hair and her heart!)
• scones & coffee & conversation in the taylor's kitchen
• all thing HOCO went so well! 

• josh + taylor.  look what God has done/is doing. 
• when it's easy...

• deacon.  she's remarkable - especially in her ability to name characters/greet people. 
• hotdogs, pie, hot chocolate - all put right into my hands at Harvest at Midtown
• sweet little pre-bible study swing with these 2 

• getting to meet South African Aliche, seeing the Tulls at H.A.M.
• TA parent night (i heart TAs) - good reminders & encouragement (and tasty food!)
• the best pen as of late:

• sweet & special Breathe.  love hearing people's stories. 
• ch ch ch care package from sarah (round 2)
• a few minutes by the river at sunset

• the best cats.
• gorgeous weather
• sweet sisters

• vacationing in the adirondacks (without leaving columbus)
• a cinnamon roll & coffee at the ready for the most recent adirondack visit
• lovely things in the window sill...reminders of beauty and friendship and prayer

• connecting with folks this week
• the getting ready corndog eating and journal reading
• that these 2 got to get ready for dinner/the dance together:

• psalm 111..."His generosity never runs out."
• this week is better than last. better pace/rhythms.
• a moment captured

• when the neighborhood really feels neighborly (got to meet james & josie and hear some of their story)
• jack o lantern of absolute JOY (candy + giftcards...the perfect combination)
• being with the MIC ladies...recounting God's faithfulness. 

the gifts never stop....never run out...always more.

• yet another treat tuesday
• lemon pepper wings...and time with the kump girls
• sweet volleyball end of the season banquet/awards night 

• field trip outside during staff meeting
• naps in the front yard (2 days in a row!)
• caroline (and bay!) took zoe hiking

• the Lord is my strength and my shield. i trust Him with all my heart.  He helps me and my heart is filled with joy. Psalm 28:6-7
• peaches
• these 3 incredible cash kids (the littlest one is incredible, too....but wasn't available for the picture :))

• the entire redcoat band was inside the coliseum (so fun. so loud.)
• sweet little memory making moment seeing carson beck on the sidewalk juuuust across the street...
• such a fun friday night in athens!

• so long dr. serff (unless a retainer is lost or broken....)
• starting to pay attention to the birds a little more
• saving the best for last. so proud of that one on the left especially. 

• fun night at powder puff (icey girl accepted our "get one free" coupon!)
• the good music beth shares (in this case anchor hymns)
• the sweet friendship between emma and abigail

• kindness and generosity lavished on emma by some lovely ladies. God's provision for HOCO is remarkable. 
• sitting with folks in the midst of adoptions....hearing their hearts...getting to celebrate....
• the most beautiful thing i've ever seen drawn with dry erase markers

• the love and care molly pours out on zoe
• "that temperature went from 90 to 55 like it saw a state trooper" (i do like the cooler weather!)
• good reminder:

• silly subject lines (and really hoping people find it as funny as i do)
• leftover taco stuff being left in my fridge
• empanada picnic with a few of my favorites

• lane.  his presence is soul strengthening...the wind in my sails (and beneath my wings ;))
• rolls (and hugs!) in the texas roadhouse parking lot
• situations can be difficult...but relationships don't have to be sacrificed because of it. 

He never stops giving good gifts.

• so.much.laughter with friday friends (who are actually every day of the week friends)
• super tasty pretzels from aldi
• lovely truth shared by a friend

• molly completed her hours.  way to go!!!!
• fun new swiffer mop thing (+ fabulosa cleaner)
• ping pong (ish) in the kitchen with zoe

• yaya's help with hoco dresses
• MIC lunch...good to catch up
• catching up on miranda hart 

• being married to the most incredible man
• meeting Sarah from Hope Foster Care
• celebrating 24 years of kissing aforementioned man

• emma's first practice with aces (encouraging coach!)
• JH Board...easy to work with
• running with caroline/zoe riding her bike on the riverwalk

• getting to see/walk through lauren's garden!
• really good staff meeting
• Mr. Brad's willingness to take a look at emma's door (so many helpful people!)