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. 

 

blessings and bright spots

• reading through old journals (and laughing)
• zoe's enjoyment of online piano lessons
• pearly grace arrived...and she loves skyjo!

• daily devo - sing! 
• fancy dinner (thanks to jonathan & katie!)
• waking up to a winter wonderland sunday morning

• doughnuts and coffee
• fun friends who bring yummy food to watch the national championship game
• it's just so pretty!!!!!

• good turnout for Breathe
• watching katie steward infusion days so well 
• grilled cheese and tomato soup

• new to me toyota camry (grateful for nick's research)
• brioche buns
• the tiniest of touches....perfect magnetic sparrow

• rental car is back safe and sound
• raising boys and girls podcast
• monday waffles/ray's reading of the MLK day prayer

• "dressed in His righteousness alone faultless stand before the throne."
• JH 15 year celebration dinner is coming together
• beautiful prayer initiative by clement arts

• emma got her license!
• safe people to share stories with
• azul! 

• "i'm grateful for all the time i've spent laughing this week!" - caroline
• matt and sarah's willingness to share their house
• Shalom - good song
  

list of thankful things

• aldi had all the muffins and doughnuts! (super cute doughnuts)
• plenty of sunday after the 8:00 service
• testing out some office/school hours at cityscape

• sunday afternoon panda express and matcha with eli
• i can trust God with all the hearts and all the things
• good reminder:

• hearing the steiner's life stories
• tasty pizza at community group
• a little flower mister with cleaning spray in it....makes life a little more delightful

• fettucine alfredo.
• walking in the CS parking lot 
• the deer and the damage (practicing giving thanks in all circumstances!)

• french onion dip
• free shipping and $10 off 
• celebrating yaya

• 9 years of the pilot!
• tre's treats! (bread and cookies and such)
• little jason's surgery went well!

attemping to let gratitude shape my heart

• worth and value are not dependent on UGA football
• soup with jim and shelley
• epiphany fire (and potluck!)(and fabulous friends to share it with)

• chocolate covered things (in this case strawberries thanks to emma and jacob)
• when lyrics wreck me -- "i will preach the gospel. i will die and be forgotten - as long as you get the glory."
• good reminders:

• sourdough cinnamon rolls...and the husband who bought them! (and the hands that prepared them)
• "may gratitude shape my heart." - lectio
• time with emma

• worship initiative SING daily devo
• having eli and caroline home for so long
• "behold Him and be satisfied" (and how the Lord is using the word "behold" in so many people's lives)

• all 6 cashes around the table monday night
• borrowing emma's sweaters
• candace's vegetable soup (soup is my favorite way to eat vegetables)

yielding to and receiving His love in (often) tangible ways

 very serious lack of pictures this week...

• yaya's surgery went well
• good covers of good songs
• sweet friends to gather with on new year's eve

• "of the greatness of His peace there will be no end." - isaiah 9:7
• going to buy something and finding it on sale
• these 2...and golden chopstix (new spelling, who dis?) on the 27th

• God is for us. He is with us. He keeps His promises. 
• caroline and eli and their friends/new years plans
• christmas brunch and games with the quintards.  nice long enjoyable visit! 

• a very tangible example of moving in the unforced rhythms of grace
• such a good walk. 
• zoe's oh so clean room (baseboards and all!!!)

• when sermons/podcasts have the same words/phrases...
• putting away christmas (i love christmas...i also love to reset our house)
• good questions: 

kringle and klask and all kinds of things

 pretty much kind of chronologically backwards...but not quite

• christmas kringle!!!
• rectangle trampoline
• gabi is done with chemo!!
• SHINE! lights at the botanical garden (way to go columbus!)

• homecoming CFA
• solid sleep.
• lovely christmas eve services at cityscape
• christmas day wiffleball 

• all of our flights happened...and pretty much on time. 
• christmas. jesus. he came to us...
• family Elf watching on the plane
• christmas eve lunch. 

• easy drive from tarana to sydney
• "tea" after church 
• conversation with lee ann (how are you, really?)
• sunday afternoon situation at mutton falls. so restful.

• feels like a movie hospitality
• so much beauty - mutton falls
• drizzly morning - walk in the rain at culburra beach
• something about them playing...and the windows

• family pictures by justine
• meals on the deck
• 1st seating, opening night - mirritya mundya (i ate emu...and kangaroo!!!!)
• just right reminders

• columbus to culburra (dave + ai's song)
• "at home day"
• perfect pancakes
• surfing lessons with dave-o

• leftovers for dinner
• canoeing the kangaroo river (we/i made it!)
• time at the beach across the street
• bella and zoe's art projects

• billy's kindness to zoe (billy the bombbat)
• the tims and the tams
• an absolutely unbelievable trip to australia that i'll be thanking God for the rest of my life
• this group. this place. friendships really are the best ships. 

• art class with david in the garage (eli, emma, zoe)
• sunset bike ride while caroline ran
• "suck it up buttercup" (mary's socks during the nativity story)
• church under the trees

• mcmichaels and powells are on their way for christmas!
• sourdough french toast. nick makes it just right!!
• christmas kindness all over the place
• klask!!  busy toddler mom for the win again!

how good is this?!

• peaceful easy travels
• watching/laughing with nick re: ted lasso
• beautiful day to walk around san francisco

• pretty decent sleep on the plane
• beautiful day to walk around sydney
• 2 sisters making shade for the littlest tiredest one

• it's so easy to be with dave and justine!
• "the expectation of Christmas is Jesus."
• beautiful birds eating the beautiful pink blossom

• Jesus has been a true friend.
• delicious breakfast made in the tiny kitchen in surrey hills, sydney
• sitting on the porch

• "z" (zed) eggs for zoe
• the way the forrests interact with zoe
• incredible views (the girls and the landscape!)

• logan's package was delivered to the neighbor's (glad it's found!)
• caroline's living situation for next year is sorted
• crawling through a cave to get to this view

• the earth is full of his unfailing love. -psalm 33:5
• easy to use icetrays!
• the incredible views just keep coming (above and below the water!)

• how easy it is to be at the forrest's
• "let every loss and every delight send your heart a-homing after heaven." - john piper
• skyjo on the back porch

• sourdough + jam
• God I'm Just Grateful
  
• the way the rows of trees are lined up in the field

• sitting in the sun (lizarding)
• the words about "walking in knowing herself and her wants/needs."
• all the laughter (hamish and andy...nate bargatze)