carrying gratitude in my bones.

• "make me a vessel. make me an offering.  make me whatever you want me to be." - new wine/hillsong
• papa's chocolate cake - and his determination to keep it hidden so that I could have as much as I wanted. 
• hearing a pastor say something along the lines of "I don't network...it may be what God has other people doing but it's not what God's asked me to do." 
• thanksgiving walk in the woods with Zoe in the sling - and this beautiful sunset to end the day

• laying/resting/reading/marco-poloing on the camo couch
• all the relevant podcasts (in particular the newest one "unedited")
• MaMa made it out to the cabin so much
• kids' shenanigans and pumpkin smashing

•  how careful cash kids were on the 4-wheelers
• wings + pizza + GA game + family
• good quotes

• "this is a call to all the dead and disappointed.  the ones that feel like they are done.  this is a word to all the ones that feel forgotten - you are not.  we're alive...in You." - Alive/All Sons and Daughters  
• a beautiful, God orchestrated and ordained triangle of adoption conversation - an adopted son, a mother of 2 adopted children and me.  
• decorating the cottage...and LJ's excitement

• texts with bean.  real questions. real answers. honesty all around. 
• "christmas spirit" gift from Laura Lea (God is so very kind)
• reading david crowder's Praise Habit with the kiddos...and responses to the Psalms

• how very wonderful Thursday nights with community group are - one of THE BEST conversation topics has got to be God's been faithful and where we've seen Him at work. 
• when a cash kid (or really any kid...but especially a cash kid) shares a piece of their heart with me
• Melinda's thanksgiving letters to me, nick and Zoe
• Katie's kind, encouraging and helpful words

thanksgiving thankful list

• all the thankfulness happening today
• meeting katie at the cute coffee shop in newnan
• a WHOLE DAY where i never left the house (i cannot remember the last time that happened)
• beautiful tree in the radney's yard (and the way/reason caroline captured it)

• boneless teriyaki wings (and being able to make a request)
• a husband who will do whatever he can to make any request happen
• words of Truth for Zoe Grace Cash

• the fun time nick and emma had at the museum (and the fun - not crummy! - crafts)
• the same song playing on the Truth (107.7) and the Joy (93.3) (i've been waiting for that moment)
• mcmichael road made the GPS

• the older youth that are investing in eli and caroline - they love jesus and are excellent role models
• the way the everbe embroidery is helping me appreciate our home all the more
• relevant quotes

• hearing thoughtful and responsible words coming from my nephew's mouth
• laughing through Relevant Magazine's "6 ways to have the most awkward family meal ever"
• 6 months with this precious one

all the more.

• a weekend with lots going on and plenty of community
• porkchop at the whites
• these 5 fabulous guys (and all the other pursuit youth at ccc)

• jeanie's generous lunch and the chance to hear some more of zoe's miraculous story
• my first ever gigi's cupcake (kindness abounds!)
• this beautiful girl and the way her daddy loves her

• "want me to keep zoe for you?" - caroline
• cut through on holland road
• coffee with rachel greenland (worth every second of the drive to the airport)

• "bad puns, that's how eye roll." - letterboard quote
• things are rolling in the right direction
• impromptu art session at the ultimate game.  amanda is generous with her talent (and her supplies)

• amazingly sweet and beautiful time of listening prayer at ccc
• community group casseroles
• perfect sunday afternoon ultimate game

• clean sheets and swept floors
• rainy days for days
• the ccc staff takes time for a retreat (and that it doesn't last too long and nick is back home!)

thank-full.

• "Choosing the best interest of another and acting on their behalf." - Tim Tebow's definition of love (from the "that sounds fun" podcast with annie f. downs)
• New Rivers - Brave Worship "a drop sets me free...but You're willing to pour me an ocean." 
• Rotisserie chicken (x's 2) and friends to share them with
• "don't choose party over humanity." - mike foster 
• ALL the gifts in this picture

• p2p with Caroline
• a week rich in community and friendship...
• thoughtful gifts (and sneak previews of ones to come!)
• when something is noticed and a thank you is shared
• coming home to these 2 treasures on the porch together

• grocery tossing (eli and emma's favorite way to unload groceries from the car)
• tastiest pretzel from sam's
• sweet time with AB Baby....her delight in painting nails and drinking chocolate milk 
• velocity classroom sessions
• emma and zoe's light saber battle

• walking on traveler's way and the nearly unprecedented authenticity.
• AMAZING scones from a trusted friend (scones from a friend can be trusted...)(silly - and inaccurate -  rewrite of proverbs 27:6)
• LJ's willingness to share his feelings
• God's good and perfect plans for each one of us
• free CFA with molly and our gaggle of children

He's always giving good gifts....

• a carved clementine
• getting to sit beside nick for 3+ hours at the FM pastors/spouses retreat
• candy corn on the table
• strong (big) Truth on the wall at The Village Church

• cookie reception for derrick
• the torch has officially and smoothly been passed
• running with carey (she's worth getting up early for!!) 
• beautiful evening skies (even if the picture doesn't do it justice)

• shopping trip with 4 fabulous teenagers (especially the goodwill part)
• honest conversations (always a gift)
• boston butts (and all the jokes)(and the money that was raised to help the wells get to albania)
• free starbucks at target (and friends who share that valuable information)

• hearing about God's work in swaziland
• 2 hours that feel like about 37 minutes at panera with a trusted friend
• stroll around cooper creek
• friends who take surprise selfies with my phone

• coke + cheese dip + nick + 3 cash girls
• the way aaron greeted me on the trail!
• perfect day for a picnic (and a bagful of .50 corndogs!!)
• treadstone + rails to trails + exercising together

• having ccc staff fun day here
• AMAZING fall weather
• looking in the rearview mirror and seeing kids reading
• halloween at yaya's

• conversation with christal
• jeeah's hope fall potluck
• grandaddy and emma's "bird" cage project
• buffalo chicken dip