26 April 2018

thankfulness is a form of self-care


  • "pop the myth of our own importance" - peter greer, new activist podcast
  • "my spot on this planet is to go after God the best i can and tell people what helps me get there." annie f. downs, that sounds like fun podcast
  • the amazing parents that jasmine and aaron will be
  • good soccer season



  • "come on my soul" - rend collective
  • cali and tito's with jonathan, amy and emma
  • the way aaron and emma laugh and play
  • brotherly kindness



  • CFA breakfast date with nick
  • grace and humility on display
  • joy song with emma
  • finding what felt like a magical path at memorial park


  • getting to anwer questions in a room full of college students
  • sprinkles showed up
  • "self awareness is a super power...and there's a major deficit in our culture right now." - miles adcox
  • cinnabon gas station coffee





19 April 2018

tangible proof of God's incredible, extravagant generosity


  • the printer printed perfectly!  the stapler stapled excellently!  the retreat booklets are DONE!
  • kids swimming in the pool
  • AB Baby's enjoyment of her pool
  • Mercy Med Gala - excellently done event!
  • ferris wheel rides and caricatures
  • eli shared his heart with me
  • next to last life school class
  • celebrating aaron and hannah mae


  • biscotti from Laura Lea (and the reminder of rusks in South Africa)
  • "if the wind goes where you send it, so will i." -hillsong
  • "true worship and pride cannot co-exist." -rend collective devo on biblegateway
  • the greatest showman soundtrack
  • strong and healthy marriages - "seeing God's goodness in the land of the living"
  • emma and her loom band bracelet making
  • everyone being elbow deep in projects
  • words like "turmeric" that i never knew before mercy ships and that now remind me of my lovely hummus making australian friend justine


  • walking around the soccer field with grant perkins
  • a new red headband
  • how amazing of a husband nick is
  • exceptionally wonderful airbnb guests
  • "as your awareness of your neediness increases, so does your realization of My abundant sufficiency." - jesus calling
  • hearing eli laugh
  • caroline's hardwork and initiative
  • discovering a new unsung hero: etty hillesum



  • "you're far happier giving than getting." - from acts 20
  • ...the incredible, extravagant generosity of God (also from acts 20)
  • "receive the undisturbedness of the Lord Jesus." - oswald chambers
  • when all the lyrics to a song you forgot you knew come flowing out of your mouth
  • God's "infinite sameness"
  • easy mornings...no rush, no pressure, no reason to have everybody up and out the door
  • fun rapids victory in the first round of the tournament
  • laundry room got an upgrade/african fabric bunting found a home (and can still be used for  party decorations!)




12 April 2018

so many gifts...everywhere.


  • we have a picnic table (and nick's work to get it useable!)
  • getting to see the wilcox family
  • good strides on the retreat book (and when projects aren't as complicated as i thought they might be)
  • rain held off during the soccer game
  • the fatherhood conference at CCC


  • fun new cards came in the mail
  • reading "the giver"
  • the library ordered the 2 books we requested!
  • snoop dogg jokes
  • finding gospel Truth and Love with Emma in the story of "Heidi" 


  • "you can choose to practice My presence or to practice the presence of problems." - jesus calling
  • "He knows you...Love has always known you...." - Jasmine Murray song
  • well timed words from the lord through Mr. Manning
  • "no one ever wins when you start comparing and competing." - brian houston
  • whiteboards and thankful lists during life school 


  • the beauty of a baked potato bar (and an incredible community group to share it with)
  • finding the all pink starbursts (5th place is the charm...though the 5th place is the 1st place i was told to look...i just didn't want to drive all the way to macon road!)
  • marco polo with alison!  (and other dear friends!!  alison is just the newest addition)
  • the way the burger king playground is the exact colors of the hogwart's houses...and all the fun/creativity that helps happen (and that there weren't little kids around so our big kids could play!)
  • beginning to read "daring to hope" 

05 April 2018

gifts gifts and more gifts

  • getting to watch the movie "wonder" (kindness makes me cry)
  • double date with the callows (butter chicken and memories of shamiana are so so good)
  • beautiful azaleas
  • 3 unique kids who picked their own easter outfits


  • coffee and homemade cinnamon crunch bagels with the lovely and spectacular katie callow 
  • when things get back to being "right"
  • freshly patched jeans (appropriate for ship boutique jeans to be patched with african fabric)
  • eli's creativity with the whiteboard (and the teacher that taught him about shape poems: Ms. Remy!)


  • easter.family.food.our savior lives.
  • red birds and blue birds
  • happiness cupcakes with emma
  • taco tuesday tailgating edition (and the incredible color coordination of it all)


  • morning of reading/homeschooling in bed (and not because anyone was sick)
  • my dad is here!
  • backroads and picnic tables
  • figuring out just how many bagels i can get with the panera giftcard...