25 October 2019

Aware and Appreciative of a Benefit (thankful)

  • "...keep one's soul completely and continually open to the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ" - Oswald Chambers
  • community group ladies' breakfast 
  • KJ's visit!  (i'm especially thankful for how she just fits right in to our family and whatever it is that we have going on)
  • dinner at my dad's table

 

  • "...attached to nothing and to no one except our Lord Himself..." - Oswald Chambers
  • playing on the warrenton merry-go-round with emma and zoe
  • molly showing up with a cappuccino blast...truly a surprise!
  • how very much emma (and all of us) love my dad's fried chicken


  • surprise sunday afternoon walk with amy
  • the way our house smelled when we got home tuesday night
  • delightful day for a picnic with yaya 
  • sweet sisters on the slide


  • mugs from the doblins.  beautiful mugs with a lovely story.  
  • meaningful conversations before/at/during community group
  • the success of soup night 
  • how the cats tolerate and are so gentle towards community group kids (and everybody...)


  • laminator from my favorite cross-sticher
  • wings with the gavins 
  • kids getting to be creative with costumes
  • all my life He has been faithful.  all my life He has been so so good. 

18 October 2019

glad that something has happened or not happened (thankful)


  • AL/GA Free Methodist Pastor's and Spouse's retreat in Newnan - amazing hospitality (including fried pies as a welcome gift!), goodie bag at the hotel, relaxed schedule, pam's leading of the time with the ladies, 1-on-1 time with my favorite pastor
  • flip-flop finding adventures through parking lots with aforementioned favorite pastor
  • how he (that same pastor of mine) knows so many of the words to the chicken fried song
  • "it is well" being all over the place
  • baskin robbins giftcard.  capp blasts for dayz. 
  • yaya's generosity in taking emma and aaron and me and zoe to the fair
  • a system that allowed for maximum rides and minimum line-waiting for the kiddos
  • zoe's contentment in the stroller 
  • plate of fried deliciousness (okra, pickles, cheese) and a coke 
  • peace about decisions 
  • double biscotti and coffee and quiet house kind of moments
  • when things are cleaner/straighter than they have been in a while (if only they'd stay that way)
  • sleeping better and better
  • window seat sitting and breakfast with zoe
  • time well spent at lakebottom park




  • velocity and elevate leaders and their investments in eli and caroline (and all the other 7th, 8th and 9th graders involved in those amazing programs!)
  • food for sharing
  • tremendous thursday afternoon with fabulous friends...full of outside time, creativity, yummy dessert making, goldfish picnics, bridge sitting, driveway walking



  • my toe is better!  better is such a beautiful word. 
  • zoe saying happy...and zoe...and yay....
  • caroline's grocery bag dancing

11 October 2019

conscious of benefits received (thankful)


  • Our God is good and trustworthy
  • "...while all the time God has stood with His hands outstretched not only to take you but also for you to take Him..." Oswald Chambers
  • sweet sweet sister moments

  • a moment of knowing that not a single cash was on a screen
  • coffee and life-giving conversation around april's table on a tuesday afternoon 


  • emily's kindness and thoughtfulness.  cherry coke and chicken salad chick + a conversation on the porch and a homemade loaf of bread...it doesn't get much better :) 
  • successful canoe trip for nick, eli, brad and tyler


  • fall weather!
  • when brownies take precedence over bedtime
  • this was emma's and my spot for reading wednesday morning:

  • nick's hard work in the yard and carport (and everywhere!)
  • kind cards from near and far
  • the loveliest wreath that was delivered today...with a kind note but no name or return address (generous, thoughtful sender, if you want to identify yourself, that would be wonderful :) but if you want to remain anonymous, i can respect that!)

  • "rather than fearing your inadequacy, rejoice in My abundant supply." -jesus calling
  • my friend molly has beautiful isaiah 52:7 feet...feet that keep taking steps of serving and loving all day (and often all night!) long


04 October 2019

this week's installment of thankful things

  • quite the productive time at 90 johnson street
  • papa's ham biscuits and rice krispy treats
  • reminders that others are looking for the gifts along the way, too


  • Phil Wickham's song in my soul
  • getting to go to the ballgame with my brother and niece and dad
  • very strong folks 


  • getting to talk to my dad so much
  • thoughtful note on my water bottle 
  • sometimes it's the simple things...like a really good hole puncher for .25 at valley rescue mission 


  • generous kids...thatcher's gift to eli white, aaron's gift/thoughtfulness of the volleyball to caroline, aaron and emma's handling of the launch giftcard, caroline's offer to swap rooms if that would bless emma
  • when there's disappointment or a change of plans, God's always got better (and we've always got His love and presence...and that's enough)
  • fun hour at launch for 4 special kiddos (and a peaceful time of catching up on a few things while they jumped and swang and stuff)


  • windows that are cleaner than they've been since we've lived here (thanks to the grass ninjas!)(maybe they can also be the "glass ninjas")
  • friends doing brave things...fostering...giving 2 weeks notice...retreating...not giving up
  • sunday evening on rails to trails 


  • flowers from nick.  how did i ever get such a wonderful husband?! 
  • the ice cubes that are hollow
  • zoe really does ham it up for the camera sometimes