29 December 2016

He gives and gives and gives


  • hearing johnson's testimony 
  • good news about elizabeth phillips' surgery
  • waffles and clue and AUNT AMY on a friday morning


  • "you are my lovely star" mug from nick 
  • tatyana's milk soaked cinnamon sugar bread
  • fun christmas eve morning at the beach


  • emma's charade game
  • the hardwork of the galley and dining room teams
  • Christmas brunch = best meal of the year! 


  • tasty treats and sweet gifts in our shoes
  • how peaceful and easy it was to have the barki kids with us
  • delicious pizza on the 3rd floor of dody's


  • unicorn pajamas (and the smiles they bring)
  • seeing the mcmichaels gathered
  • the way nick cares for our kids...and especially for the girls' hearts


  • open cabins
  • laughing at miranda (the tv show) 
  • red beans & rice, pecan pie, sweet tea...and delightful friends that shared it


  • going back to sleep/morning naps
  • tasty pretzels
  • kj's willingness to take me and amy to ouidah
  • being at ouidah with amy - one who cares deeply for justice and human rights and LOVE
  • "take time to be still in My presence so that I can strengthen you." - jesus calling
  • the way the "joy to the world" creation was used in the dining room decorations
  • the hand/ring in the above picture...i am so very thankful for his dedication to our marriage
  • reading by dock light
  • 8:33 bedtime 

22 December 2016

He gives me presents all year round.

  • parking lot full of cars on a thursday night
  • hearing nick sing/lead worship
  • carols by candlelight on the dock. 


  • the beauty of santa lucia
  • suzanne's willingness to teach the girls a dance
  • the way kj captured emma's worship


  • the variety of cultures and nationalities that lead the community gathering (south african, nigerian, australian, american, malagasy, dutch)
  • thinking about the question "is there room?"
  • emma & adalynn's friendship 


  •  the wall family's faithful service on the AFM the past 4 1/2 years.
  • amy's here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • finding eli's words on a bulletin board


  • gluesticks.  they're so helpful.
  • so many wonderful Christmas activities
  • another successful trip to the fabric market

15 December 2016

treats and delights.


  • computer issues cleared up (i think)
  • plenty of time with shea
  • shea's friendship and all around awesomeness...and especially in the realm of teaching!


  • LAUGHTER (especially when MWS songs are involved)
  • unexpected time to get things done
  • AFM Christmas cookie making


  • unity cup soccer
  • nick's phone calls with keith
  • sugar cakes place!! (and the friends that introduced us)


  • baby #5 in the making for the whites
  • package from cathy
  • boost bites.  wowzahs.  good stuff.


  • unexpected thursday morning firedrill means no afternoon firedrill (and there's shade in the morning!!)
  • relevant podcast entertainment and sprints in a thursday morning run
  • emma!  celebrating her 7th birthday


  • holly's willingness to take (and mail!) all of our christmas packages for us
  • amy will be here in 4 days!!!
  • powerful quotes full of Truth:

  • remembering that missing people is a reminder of the mutual investments made
  • overhead announcements successfully made
  • spontaneous christmas caroling (and a beautiful problem solver)

08 December 2016

thank to the ful(l)


  • friendship with the barrs that will last long beyond their days on the ship
  • coffee and doughnuts
  • time with the wall family before they depart
  • decking the decks...6th grade boys happily decorating.  a 1st grader and a 9th grader playing in a cardboard box. chicken fingers & fries as an extra incentive.  


  • carly's time here
  • pointless (not out of date) magazines to enjoy 
  • listening to patricia share her stories of when God spoke to her
  • when people joyfully serve behind the scenes and make so many special moments happen.


  • cheesesticks for takeaway (how many times are cheesesticks going to make one of my lists?!)
  • ipod that allows for emailing when the computer isn't cooperating
  • how Molly lives her life - glorifying God every day - not perfectly (cause that's never what's expected) but beautifully, faithfully, consistently
  • our amazing malagasy crew...their beautiful voices...their incredible hearts...their powerful stories...their determination


  • listening to eli and a friend play and being reminded that 11 year olds can still be little boys
  • listening as God was saying "go downstairs"...and then finding a friend who encouraged and prayed for me
  • brave and courageous decisions (and the friend who made one this week)
  • emma's last night of being 6.

01 December 2016

such randomness when you really look at it...but boy am i thankful.

  • christmas plays in the blom's bedroom
  • the creativity of charlotte and emma
  • dr. pepper christmas gift
  • cheesesticks 2 nights in a row (both graciously paid for by others!)
  • dining room and galley devos
  • sweet goodbyes to sweet friends who came as 2 and left as 1.
  • loaf of delicious bread bought for a good cause
  • accents. love hearing them all across the ship. 
  • ghost breath/fairy floss/candy floss/cotton candy from a lovely friend.
  • chocolate seashells from my favorite dutchie (no offense to any other dutchie)
  • christmas quotes and solomon's happiness to cut and laminate them for me
  • sitting with a friend in the pain. (but oh how wish i knew what to do when hugs and prayers don't seem like enough)