30 May 2013

seeking to find Him in every situation...

  • it's all getting done (and got done last week)
  • RELEASE, FREEDOM
  • undeserved, unexpected encouragement
  • running with a purpose: love runs
  • helping
  • learning to pipe icing (kind of)
  • raw pizza dough. i love to eat it!!
  • bill's lesson in work out class
  • lovely-to-look-at cup of coffee
  • the community that happened as a result of the planned blackout
  • Africa Mercy version of cinnabon & coffee
  • caroline's request for fiddler on the roof music (and the dancing that followed)
  • BEAUTIFUL bouquet of daisies from nick
  • my children's encouragement when i thought the project i'd been working on for an hour on the computer was gone -- "it'll be ok, mama."  "don't get upset."  "we'll figure it out."  "just stay calm."  so they HAVE been listening afterall!!!
  • the moment my project reappeared on the screen (caroline said "that's just what i was praying would happen.")
  • "the most reasonable response is to be thankful. do not reject any of My gifts; find Me in every situation." - jesus calling

23 May 2013

merci beaucoup, Dieu

  • nap on the chase's couch
  • sunday morning runs
  • spur of the moment chance to go to the batik making place -- getting to come home with a unique creation and fabulous "piece of guinea"
  • time of worship saturday night (reminded me a bit of eminent)
  • honoring the Mercy Ships' Academy graduates
  • helping. i really like helping and am thankful for the chance to do it.
  • spending time with God in a rocking chair
  • "prayer for the world" during sunday evening church
  • God provided bath mats...and not just any bathmats - the exact bathmats that i was thinking about buying!
  • creative, thoughtful ideas (it's neat to see the body of christ blessing one another)
  • fun new organizing tray
  • lunch in mid-ships with emma
  • a sunny day for cleaning/drying the dockside tents (just what harry asked for!)
  • packages from the hart family
  • safe and uneventful field trip
  • end of the year ballet & karate performances
  • nice walk with the kids to get cokes
  • laughing outloud to a catalyst podcast while walking around deck 8
  • clean, new, fresh sofa/bed!
  • sweet girl napping (on previously mentioned sofabed) (thankful for the time to be productive)
  • package from the white's!  what a sweet week for mail! 
  • 22 days.
  • children playing happily on deck 8 = i can get this thankful thursday list typed up and pictures added while it's still thursday!

16 May 2013

a very visual thankful thursday list...didn't realize there were so many pictures.

  • donna sell's smile, thoughtfulness & kindness
  • making (and eating) pizza with erin - special lunch for a special daddy & kids
  • pizza night with the chandras and walls (i'm a big fan of pizza.)
  • learned how to make powdered sugar
  • fun questions from molly
  • successful rescue mission of the UGA ball
  • shirtless, squinty-eyed little girls wandering into our room in the morning
  • stacks of clean & folded laundry thanks to nick (i'm certainly thankful for the laundry room...but i don't mind not going!)(yup, we roll our towels these days)
  • sinkfuls of dirty dishes that magically transform into clean dishes while i'm gone
  • mother's day cards, posters, pictures & gifts
  • rob's creativity with monday morning announcements
  • Miss Leah's willingness to lead running club
  • successful year of running club!  the cash kids ran a combined total of 676 laps on the dock!!!
  • "jan & i pray for you every day" - in an email from keith myers
  • weekly newsletters from our kids' teachers
  • "what I require of you is to STAY CONNECTED WITH ME, living in trusting dependence on My limitless resources."  - jesus calling
  • our new CD (and the story behind it)(coming soon!)
  • easy conversations with gretchen
  • my husband's awesomeness
  • reconnecting with college friends and remembering fun times
  • our view (thankful that i don't get tired of it!)
  • rainy days.  i love them.  (the view may look dreary to you...but it's BEAUTIFUL to me!)

09 May 2013

thankful for the gifts.

  • cinnamon waffle cone with vanilla icecream
  • people who are pursuing God with all their hearts, souls, minds & strength
  • laying in a hammock on the beach
  • breaking bread together
  • a wonderfully refreshing weekend on Kasa Island
  • yummy pepperoni
  • learning other cultures' slang phrases (here are 2 fun ones:  sticky beat = australian for busy body; winjing (not sure i spelled that correctly) = british for whining)
  • emma's cuteness (and suh-weet sense of style...fluffy pink high heels, sparkly red skirt that is oh-so-great for spinning and skipping, bright blue shirt with frogs...and we need not forget the baby doll - a mandatory accesory.)
  • getting to share the gluten free snacks that matt & sarah sent
  • "only 20 chicken fingers each" - sign in the dining room
  • emma's idea to call aaron
  • choosing to play princess rather than stay on facebook (i wish i always chose so wisely)
  • blue bunny's play station playing skillz (and eli's creativity)
  • leah's kindness to bring flavored milk to the kids at running club
  • new calendar/planner from hannah wysong & laura coles
  • countdowns
  • eli choosing to read instead of having screen time
  • RAIN.  rainy season is slowly making its way back to us!
  • non-vicious dogs on the streets of conakry (makes running less stressful)
  • WONDERFUL date night (most likely a blog post to come at the cash crew blog)


02 May 2013

some tangible (and not so tangible) reminders of God's love and presence...

  • came back from the "final flea market of the field service" with less stuff than we left with
  • making pancakes with emma & nick!
  • finding eli's dirty socks & shoes lined up by nick's after the ultimate game
  • the man my son gets to look to as his role model and example
  • wearing my hoodie all day
  • worshipping to lay me down
  • a whole strawberry pie (thanks, erin!!)
  • a scooter for caroline (really nice and really free)
  • shea's willingness to initiate
  • 100 free prints from shutterfly (thanks, molly!)
  • "your very lack is an opportunity to latch onto me in UNASHAMED DEPENDENCE."  -jesus calling
  • calling popcorn and m&ms lunch
  • all of our nalgenes are found/cleaned/sterilized and re-sharpied
  • discovering faster/easier ways to do things
  • reading my friend beth's thankful list
  • eli's generosity
  • ultimate frisbee