thankful for the g-i-f-t-s

• delicious strawberry cupcakes and lovely people to eat them with 
• celebrating 3 years of zoe - special gifts and cards and phone calls 

• getting to see emma dance
• molly brought her flowers 
• papa and amy came in to town
• channeling the overwhelmed into a cleaned out and organized pantry
• pizza picnic at the pool with 2 fabulous 3 year olds
• having t-train's bike here (zoe is loving riding it inside....)
• wild blackberries

• quick aldi run and starbucks with my fabulous sister
• thing that needed to be done before vacation is done! (kind of fun to feel like i was turning in a final paper/project)(and not even at the last minute)
• pickleball and b.merrel's with mr. and mrs. phd
• biscotti and coffee on the front porch on a lovely morning

• emma's baking skillz (seems like every recipe she tries is a winner!)
• full table at community group
• talking to lane
• choosing not to let the socks (mismatched and everything) bother me
• fantastic playlist that includes music from cvang

gift upon gift

• the guy at the pool having so much fun  - "now we're making memories!" (the uncle lane of the crowd)
• eli's chicken fettucini alfredo making skills
• peaceful easy pack up
• ninja class in the shade for 2+ hours
• new elements  
• 4 kiddos hanging around on the ninja gym

• the ease of reserving books from the library
• "Jesus, you have my attention" - breath prayer/tim timmons/TSF
• "we can either practice worry or we can practice trust...and we get good at what we practice." - tim timmons/TSF
• growing goslings

• perfect little playground in the middle of my friday morning walk/run with zoe
• "moving forward is a mystery, looking back is a science." - matthew mcconaughey/TSF
• hearing eli laughing playing video games with his friends
• good reminders to put things back into practice

• when folks are easy to contact and helpful 
• amy's kindness to send a fabulous spoon rest (and the fact that she rememberd and continued to look!)
• meaningful conversations in the driveway and on the porch and on the steps with lovely ladies
• got to run with shelley this morning! 
• eli's chosen sweatshirt arrived.  and how much he loves it. (it's fun when kids have their own money and buy really cool things that you aren't even aware of)

this week's edition of thankful

• everything that needed to get done got done
• laura lea's thoughts that served as a reminder of "what's next, papa?"
  
  
• sweet book to enjoy - "alone yet not alone"
• nick's absolutely AMAZING planning and preparing for our trip
• oranges that remind me of congo (and very nearly inspire a poem)



• brief and momentary crying from zoe (2 moments on a 6+ hour trip isn't bad!)
• french toast and a lovely family to share it with
• just right mother's day
• peaceful evening skies (and a sweet emma who captured it)

• celebrating 19 years of marriage to nick
• walking through bubbles about the same time as we did 19 years ago
• for real fruit snack with zoe

• rider swap situation...skipping that line is nice
• eli's enjoyment of all things star wars

• shea!  i'm glad God created her and that we get to celebrate her
• fun and entertaining t-shirts
• plum-tuckered out little sister being carried by her tremendously fabulous big sister

• this family of mine.  they're a special bunch

• beautiful things that remind me of beautiful people







• found the car each evening (that would've been a bummer not to)
• beautiful butterfly

• so many memories made
• epcot in the evening (and an extra stroll through the countries)

• cloud coverage
• well-placed fans
• cool shady spots
• zoe and her moana outfit 

gifts along the way...

• beautiful drive on new to me country roads
• strawberry cake and cleaning the jumpy house with fabulous folks
• thinking on "fresh hope" and what that may mean 

• playgrounds.  they are such gifts.
• thoughts on teaching kids about financial stewardship
• strong climbing girls

• hearing about queen bertha - a courageous hero of prayer
• yaya's handling of zoe's daffodil leaf eating
• good stuff in lectio365

• the villanueva's willingness to host CG
• the best beef jerky from the best MIL (perfect mother's day present!)
• emma made homemade cinnamon rolls and icing.  this could be dangerous. 

• hearing the world (birds and such) wake up (and then going back to bed)
• free BR birthday icecream in may 
• tasty cupcakes at the CC end of the year celebration