30 July 2021

not too far from 10,000

  • eli's time at Immersion and getting to hear all about it 
  • great is Thy faithfulness. i love that hymn. 
  • this: 
  • tasty peach cobbler
  • the humor of looking out of my kitchen window to see horses - and my attempts to get them back inside the fence...
  • how quickly mr. wright came over to fix the fence and get them back where they're supposed to be (I don't have the horse magic like he does...)
  • time at goat rock lake with the Scarborough's
  • on site date night with nick
  • emma's love and care for Zoe during the car wash (Zoe is NOT a fan)(but we are taking advantage of our 9.99 for a month of unlimited carwashes!!!!)
  • inviting myself over for leftovers with yaya and ending up with ling ling
  • solo swimming in the rain
  • gummi bears specially melted for me in Las Vegas. 
  • nick and Emma and the rest of the team made it to Washington
  • easy dentist appointment for t-train (and somehow we didn't get caught in the storm coming or going) 
  • good quote/thought/reminder:
  • really hard but really good conversations about choices with one of my kiddos
  • super easy clean up at anja's
  • emma's creative picture taking
  • getting to say ridiculous things to nick during church and how he said "wow, dianna, you say outloud what i keep in my head."
  • time to read Tuesday night
  • finding fun pictures on my camera roll
  • "the well kept secret of the ordinary is that it is made to be a receptacle of the divine, a place where the Life of God flows." - Dallas Willard
  • fun finds on the side of the road 
  • zoe's cute dress with pockets!
  • getting to spend a bit of time with the Sivaks! and Amy's wonderful hospitality!
  • the care team meal this week was zaxby's. so good.   
  • incredible sunset on the way home
  • floating/treading/talking with Melissa 
  • cinnamon rolls + bacon
  • random things that make me laugh

23 July 2021

praising Him for what He has done

  • time with 2 super cool klause kids
  • mercy ships couples welcoming babies into the world
  • $1 coke from mcdonald's
  • the beauty of Fields of Grace (the actual beauty and the spiritual beauty...the present beauty and the future beauty)
  • t-train's face time call with the chalmers - her smile and giggles were beautiful
  • celebrating riley and olivia
  • serve week.  it's so incredible in so many ways. very thankful for Eden Church's leadership, coordination, planning, preparing, executing.  so much good stuff happening in/for our city and her people.
  • zoe's nail painting expertise (and caroline's willingness to let her)
  • grilled hotdogs, weather that cooperated and a nearly perfect time at callaway
  • nick's willingness to bring the paddleboards over (and how close it is to his office!)
  • a week that has been rich and full...quite packed...but packed with really great things
  • my own personal kitchen fairy
  • another beautiful breathe event
  • staying on the prayer call just a few extra minutes
  • "i trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.  for what you have done i will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.  And i will hope in your name, for your name is good." psalm 52:8-9
  • sidewalk chalk prayers for bio parents
  • a new to me karen kingsbury book to enjoy
  • anytime the fly swatter connects with a fly
  • tiny ice ice tray (my husband loves me!)
  • yaya and zoe enjoying brown bear, brown bear (and yaya's cute headband :))
  • kid free time with ella
  • no more speech therapy is needed at this time for t-train!  (and getting to see familiar faces at her evaluation)
  • emma's excitement about the school year and the books that go with it
  • getting glimpses into eli's world at immersion through instagram


 

16 July 2021

some of God's gushing goodness

  • time with the faircloths.  love that it's easy and real and easy.
  • pizza box postcards (now to see if they make it to their destinations)
  • knowing eli is in an incredible environment at impact 360 for learning and discussions and fellowship and friendship
  • "startle the world with glimpses of divine kindness." - dane ortlund
  • all the giggles and grins that can only come from girls playing in a cabinet
  • "God loves to just gush forth with His goodness." - dallas willard, life without lack
  • a friend willing to let me know that something i did (or in this case, didn't do/say) stung.  true friendship requires honesty...and i'm grateful for the true friendship.  
  • cup from benin, plate from bulgaria, coffee from costa rica, cake from a friend...just the right breakfast
  • april's thoughtfulness with the book and flowers and trader joe's goodness
  • nick's kindness and intentionality to make it possible for me to get away for a couple of days (and the fact that the house was cleaner when i came back than when i left.  he's so wonderful and capable!!)
  • TIME at Ancient Way Farm
  • the gifts God gave me through the weather - including the power going out and the perfect overcast Tuesday
  • long nap
  • delicious food at a delightful table
  • plenty of time to read and run and write 
  • the way things all tie together - sermons, books, readings, conversations
  • Psalm 27
  • so much Truth in God's word.  it's living and active.  always more.  

  • church on thursday night.  breaking bread and sharing life and praying together is such a gift.  
  • coffee and biscotti and friendship on benson drive
  • seeing/hearing emma and caroline enjoying one another
 

09 July 2021

full of thanks

  • "you are for us.  you are for us.  you are for us." - the blessing song
  • community group gathering at the Kao's on saturday
  • sisters and facemasks (the sister who provided the face masks isn't pictured)
  • super fun and fabulous afternoon at the walls on sunday (and that all the kids are still friends after the ferocious water polo games...)
  • God takes lumps of clay/piles of dirt and forms it (us) unto His likeness/His glory
  • time in yaya's little piece of paradise (how amazing is it that at 2 pm on a wednesday afternoon in july in Georgia it was nice enough to sit outside?!)
  • TWO nap Thursday
  • the gift of BIG Jenga (and knowing that these pieces were leftovers from a SHP bed build...these pieces of wood used to be attached to pieces of wood that are currently BEDS for kids in our community!)
  • july 8th fireworks at the cash casa (and the ones on the 4th, too)
  • zoe's paddle board skillz (and her amazing dad!)
  • nick's fun date night plans
  • good stuff from thegirlnamedblake
  • "yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore, He will rise up to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for Him!"  - Isaiah 30:18
  • picture perfect messaged postcards from molly 
  • things that make me smile:
  • the simplicity of registering for #oneweek
  • hair dying party at the hebert's
  • nice meeting with t-train's CASA
  • bray farm blueberries and fabulous friends to pick them with
  • lavender lip balm 
  • the kindness of God - he created blueberries!!  

02 July 2021

'tis the season for CFA peach milkshakes

  • movie night at yaya's
  • most everybody swimming lots and lots most every day
  • CAPS certificate made it to AGB
  • "bravery badges" with llamas
  • t-train's bio parents making good decisions and moving on to new stages/phases
  • friends eating ramen and laughing on a friday night
  • hearing back that things are taken care of and in order
  • peach milkshake (and how fun it is to know so many of the CFA employees)
  • Mama Florence - "I must take care of my pastor." A tray full of food that reminded me of Tuesday nights on the Africa Mercy (plantains included!!) and a gallon of super special ginger drink
  • 7-8am Tuesday and Thursday morning this week
  • icecream money from yaya
  • another fun day at callaway with friends
  • finally had that coffee date with anja 
  • girls watercoloring and bike riding and puddle jumping and generally having a good time



    • when those three year olds are in bed for the night (especially grateful when they quickly and peacefully fall asleep!!)
    • friends and little ones in the pool thursday morning (and the gift of an unexpected milkshake!  2 in one week...amazing!)
    • amanda's wisdom to our friend (and her fantabulous questions)
    • "...already loved, already chosen....that is enough..." -Jireh, maverick city/elevation worship 
    • prayers for our city - every day at 7am and 7pm on 107.7 
    • that melissa just stops by
    • lots and lots of fruit from aldi