savoring the small (and large!) joys

• "I am Your beloved...the one the Father loves...the One who knows me best is the One who loves me most."  SUCH a good song from the Heslers. I highly HIGHLY recommend that you listen to it!!
• getting to turn right on Manchester
• full and rich Sunday...and how everything worked out beautifully - especially timing
• seeing (and smelling ;)) and getting to be with Dee Dee 
• yummy cake and tasty meatballs
• button prompted prayers for my girl Boots 

• Redeeeming Love with Yaya and Ella 
• realizing nick's popcorn at home is just as good as movie popcorn (and probably even tastes better because it costs a bazillion times less and I can eat it in my pajamas)
• getting things back to the people they belong to (just feels right!)
• "there's joy in the house of the Lord." (the song. the truth. the singing of it at CityScape)
• "you are the shepherd and overseer of our souls." - 1 Peter 2:25
• these words given to me on a card by a friend on JUST THE DAY I was contemplating Him being the shepherd and overseer of our souls: 

• "blessed assurance Jesus is mine....I in my savior am happy and blessed."
• incredible weekend at Young Life's Sharptop Cove for Eli and Caroline
• fun night and morning for Zoe and Emma at Yaya's
• fun night and morning for me while Zoe and Emma were at Yaya's and Eli and Caroline were at YL camp
• cheddar bay biscuits
• sleeping until 11
• lovely things from the lovely Mary Grace 

• having a knife when there were no scissors available
• kids' pita bowls with Amanda
• airbnb guests who respond graciously to things that are beyond my control
• table full of teenagers Tuesday night (and I didn't ruin the hamburgers!!)
• borrowed books, fascinating stories
• treats from shea (and my fabulous unboxing video!)
• ridiculous amounts of generosity from 'chelle.  seriously. wow.  

• it was just a dead battery!!! (some folks in the CFA drive through got to see me do quite the happy dance in the parking lot)
• a teenager who wakes me up to talk (I would lose sleep for that reason any night!)(though I must admit I'm thankful it doesn't happen every night)
• talking to lane Friday night...and to my dad multiple times throughout the week.  
• tent for Zoe from Carey.  she's loving that thing!
• Emma's experiments with her new camera

• seeing JMo and thinking "that's my pastor!"
• home sweet home repair (need a handy woman, I've got a number for you!!)
• "in Your presence there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore!" - psalm 16:11
• "all your children will be taught by the Lord, great will be their peace." - Isaiah 54:13
• talking to nick tonite/shared cherry coke over FaceTime.  so so good for my head and my heart.  
• these 2 teenagers of mine.  they are special. 

• being lavished with God's love and kindness.
• one week down, five to go
• "impress less and connect more." - Hannah Ro
• the heated steering wheel and seats of the rented car (and the hope that tomorrow it will go back from whence it came)