thankful.grateful.

• lauren found the nail with her shoe instead of her tire (a while ago...but i'm still thankful)
• friday night chocolate chess pie
• wisteria - in time for nick's birthday

• zoe's unit reviews/assessments
• headaches don't last
• just right picnic spot

• cool air again
• words from francis and lisa chan (nice to know we're not the only ones)
• more and more gifts for eli and logan

• time with rachel - fancy napkins, attention to detail, excellent questions
• staying home friday morning
• shalom - the lyrics are just so timely

• amanda brought zoe and jo to the church...and a cherry coke from sonic
• grace's axolotl party (it's a candace party!)
• lots of dutch blitz

• so many people willing to serve at cityscape
• yaya and molly's help cleaning up - couldn't have handled it without them (especially the beans!)
• the moment it all comes together

• sherrie's kindness...with the hammock and the cedar and sharing the peaceful place
• gas station pizza at ellerslie park
• 3 sweet sisters

• God sees and knows and cares
• breathing in "yah" and breathing out "weh"
• clean sheets, banana laffy taffy, ice (3 repeats...)

so many things to be thankful for.

• new folks serving in hospitality/greeting
• cleaning up the stuff in the ping pong room (with the best partner in crime)
• wildcats! really grateful for upward soccer

• starbucks giftcard(s)
• leftover fancy cookies and coffee
• kids swinging and ziplining and jumping.

• waffles & such at candace's
• pretty days and pretty walks with pretty friends
• just right sunday lunch

• march 4...the best day of the year...(not really....but it does tell you what to do)
• when the woods smell especially fresh
• generous gift for jeeah's hope families!

• CSU basketball! so fun to support those guys. 
• getting glimpses of emma's weekend (thanks queen anne)
• ALL the sharptop buses are back!!! (perfect timing on the pick up!)

• friends who pray.
• molly's help with the cottage. coming in clutch. 
• monday mornings with this one...

• delicious chicken fettucine alfredo. so many good meals from one pan of pasta!
• going to bed. 
• moonlight through the trees (picture by zoe)

• citykids cityscape bingo.  it's coming. (sunday!) :) 
• cathedral - good song
• zoe's help with the breath prayer cards

• finding the right people for the right jobs
• getting to share with the citygroup sunday morning
• God's got good plans...and He'll let us in on them when He wants to. 

some of the gorgeous-ness

• all the abatement went quicker than expected (what a rare thing to say)
• a really beautiful breathe event - i wish everyone could hear leah's story and perspective!
• noteworthy sharing (from previously mentioned story!) (sharing that was so good i took notes!)(and a sweet sneaky note from amy g.)

• generosity towards jeeah's hope that is so incredible it makes me shake my head in disbelief, immediately burst into tears and double check the number of zeros
• time with beth at botanic
• such good chocolate and INCREDIBLY encouraging words from my wonderful husband

• getting to see the callows! friday night frozen pizza and saturday morning waffles were such a treat with this precious ship-friends family! 
• walking in the rain
• good reminders written on mirrors in a wedding dress shop (or shoppe if you will)

• we're back in our house (no floors or ceilings in the big room and only some of the walls....but we're here! grateful to be in our beds and have access to most of our stuff.)
• the cottage icemaker seems to have sorted itself out
• these 2 (though it's not the best picture. i was trying not to be obvious).  the way they laugh together is special. 

• sweet dinner at cracker barrel (and all the funny things in the store)
• tuesday's "overwhelmed" didn't last 
• logan found a dress!! eli's bride-to-be is stunning...inside and out!

• sourdough from ella grace
• randy & jen wenndt...especially their help finding and putting together office furniture
• knowing these 2 were having such a sweet time together 

always gifts along the way. always.

• clay bucket borrowed from addie (and that she texted to check on zoe)
• getting to stay in the cottage
• spaghetti in a yeti and meatballs
• the cottage bed is comfy! 
• cottage coffee and tasty pastry

• access to the laundry room and sunroom
• nick & emma got to go to laura lane's game!
• eli and logan are starting to receive wedding gifts in the mail at our house.
• blueshield's excellent and fast work
• he's posting the sidekick!  (i would've been ok if he never did...but i'm thankful that he did)

• hot spot for internet
• sucessful winter retreat for the CS youth! 
• another successful water pick up for CS
• amy's phone call - checking in/asking questions
• sweet surprise of re-finding a christmas gift

• diverse power's quick response
• emma's sweet texts and cute honks
• walking with a friend who is trusting God with all she's got
• date night - time to connect and converse with nick
• just right picnic 

• chris & charles mitchell's help with the tree.  so refreshing to see something taken care of/all cleaned up.
• caroline's heart and tenderness
• insurance checks
• dr. keller's continued kindness and generosity - and same day appointments!
• getting to work with lisa williams on jeeah's hope things

so many good gifts. so many.

• lauren's excellent care of the kitties while we're away (complete with pictures and updates)
• tim keller's sermon on contentment
• post-its on a certain daughter's wall

• caroline surprised us and came home for 24 hours!!
• dakota got the promotion!
• lightboard artwork creations

• "i'm so glad it's sunday." - joseph
• delicious cups of coffee (and one last boberry biscuit!)
• yes. this: 

• sharing about missions and ministry
• getting to see jacob play soccer
• the way he loves us all 

• the dominos seem to be all lined up and ready to be set in motion
• peace and patience in the process
• the wildcats!! 

• all my favorite chocolates in one perfect bundle!!  i have THE BEST valentine. 
• well on our way with renewing all the things for everbe (and it's not making me cry)
• one of the jeeah's hope stories
  

here are some things i'm thankful for.

• when discipleship happens through coffee making
• friends who do hard things (really hard things) for the sake of obedience
• gathering ingredients for evil brownies

• cut up fruit
• bucket o' banana laffy taffy
• tables are set 

• long nap (just so right on a sunday afternoon)
• jeeah's hope 15 year celebration family dinner went well!
• so many beautiful stories shared

• welcoming joseph to the cityscape team
• all the things got done/taken care of before leaving town
• double date with eli and logan!

• sleep. rest. naps. walks. a break from regular. 
• time away with nick. 
• zoe's sewing lessons with yaya - pearly grace has a new blanket

things i'm thankful for.

• having eli, logan and talia around
• purposeful water bottle collecting
• folks that invest in my kids with kindness and food (the big kids in the background and the littlest kid in the middle of katie's lap!)

• all of nick's reading time with zoe (and with all of our kids through the years!)
• laughing with the folks at the jokes
• so much flip seven!

• southeast restoration.  grateful to know who to call. 
• tre's chocolate croissants
• the fairy house building and rebuilding

• jacob and emma brought panda express
• carrying cares with folks
• late night recital in zoe's room

• francis chan and Joni Eareckson Tada interview
• ct scans that come back clear
• the first daffodil of the season

• "i've never had a full tank of gas." (being reminded of things that i take for granted)
• the way mrs. jean kent poured so much love into me as a kid and teenager
• this (and getting to practice it): 

• watching step sing...cutest sheep ever. 
• "i know the Lord will provide...my God is not empty handed....everything i need, my Father has it!"
• nick is only gone a few days...not a whole year.