A Few Favorite Moments from Thanksgiving

For all 2 of you the noticed, you're right, I didn't post anything last week. :) It always amuses me that the one Thursday of the year that I tend to not want to post/forget to post (as was the case this time! well, I remembered but it was 10:30pm and I was snug in my bed at the cabin...and the internet out there is a bit tricky...so it just didn't happen) is the Thursday when most other Americans are being more thankful than usual...I was just letting them make up for my lack of a thankful thursday list. 

Today there will be 2 posts...a "favorite moments from thanksgiving" post and a thankful thursday post.  Hope you enjoy the double portion. 

These aren't all of my favorite moments from Thanksgiving...just the ones that I happened to have my phone/camera in my hand.  The weather was amazing...the four wheeler riding was wonderful....my family is such a gift to me.

Uncle Lane breaking into Grandaddy's Fort Knox of pie carriers to enjoy a little Thanksgiving Eve Buttermilk Pie

That Pie is worth breaking in to.  So delicious. 

All of the Cash kids loved riding the 4 wheelers...you can't tell from this picture, but Zoe especially loved it!

Laura Lane, Caroline & Zoe.  

Papa Palmer and Uncle Jonathan working magic in the kitchen. 

Thankful for a family that gathers to thank God

Semi Impromptu Family Picture....everybody cooperated so beautifully!

4 of my favorite people on the planet.  What a treasure my siblings and my dad are to me. 

It was a different Thanksgiving without my mom...but not all that sad.  I continue to be so grateful when I think that she is healthy, whole, and well in the presence of Jesus!  Our Thanksgiving feast was incredible...fried turkey, bar-b-que deer, macaroni and cheese, casseroles of all kinds, a whole table of desserts....but I still think it pales in comparison to the feast she is experiencing every.single.day. Oh, the Hope of Heaven! 

Surely there will be more to come.

today.

it was too good of a day not to share.

started with some good time with jesus...continued with some rounds of the 7 minute workout as i listened to and laughed with the relevant podcast cast.  that podcast is a source of happiness for me (as well as information and randomness).  relevant has lots of good podcasts, check them out if you have a chance: relevant podcast network

then i got to hear about a dear, dear friend's fabulous day long date as i walked up and down our driveway...feels like long time hope deferred is being fulfilled.  my phone ran out of charge...but that's ok...the conversation continued a little while later.  it was worth the delay - what a joy to be able to share my heart and thoughts with such a trustworthy, jesus-loving lady.

came in and had a shower - never do i ever want to take for granted that i turn a knob and clean water comes out.  and it was warm.  oh that everyone had that luxury.

then i was privileged to have a really tough conversation with one of our children about the importance of honesty and how very important telling the truth is (of course, that came about as a lie was uncovered which wasn't fun...but the conversation felt holy).

the morning continued with a DELIGHTFUL time of homeschooling. OH that it was always like this!!  meaningful conversation. laughter.  connecting dots.  applying what we're reading/talking about to their lives.  (including a graphic conversation about eunuchs...and the significance of Acts 8) i love that our school included an Allen Levi song (stand like Stephen) and writing letters to friends on the ship.

i've recently been reminded of Seeds Family Worship...so that was playing in our home most of the day.  scripture set to music - really good music.  nothing better to fill the atmosphere.  (and it was fun to hear kids singing along - to realize that songs they haven't really heard in years are still stuck in their hearts and minds!)

the day continued with kids fixing their own lunches....doing kind things for one another (especially the one boy!)....lots of joke telling...

we ended up with a whole stack of outgoing mail for ms. connie to pick up (though i may have accidentally sent an empty envelope to friends in birmingham.  i have the note but can't find the envelope that i know i addressed and stamped....).

and today is the first day our friends in texas have been at home with their newly adopted son.  talk about long time hope being realized!!  "another pair of shoes" has finally been added. hallelujah.

there were some bumps in the road early in the afternoon...tears and an overwhelmed child....but it was handled with kindness and grace (wish it always was).

then we took eli and eli (cash and white) to classroom session training (have i mentioned that i love velocity and i love that eli is a part of it!?!)...dropped emma off at the whites....had some sweet time with my caroline.  i'm not typically a "splurge kind of girl"....but we splurged on some delicious smelling soaps and coffee and cake pops - and what a joy to remind her that she is worth a splurge! (the last of my christmas money well spent!!) had some fun conversation with her.  thankful for the chance to spend time with her in a way that we both enjoyed.

came back to the whites.  i love time with molly. love it.  kids had fun.  eli and eli (and alex!) made it back to the house (we allowed them to walk the short 1/4 of a mile or so from the school where they had classroom session training....thankful for the chance to allow them to be independent and build our confidence - and their's!!)

traveled the 3 tiny miles back home and worked on a little project while kids (cash, white and one hofer) played and shared community.  the project turned out even better than i was hoping - i daresay it would've been a great pinterest post (except i don't really post on pinterest....definitely didn't take any before/after pictures....)(and i do need to remember that glass can cut).  it's fun to see a wall coming alive...

enjoyed some minutes with the price ladies - including letting the kids play in the rain.  i love it when kids get to be kids and enjoy life.  sometimes i wonder if kids get to enjoy life as much as they should.  so many rules.  so many obstacles.  so many stupid people who do horrible things to children.  i love it when they can just play and laugh and BE CHILDREN.

all the non-cash folks headed to their respective homes (molly brought me a lindor chocolate bar when she came to pick up the boys....speaking of splurge....so excited to enjoy that!!!)....the cash man came home...we went for a run.  i love time with him.  i enjoy exercising...and i enjoy him...combining the 2 and i start singing "all i do is win win win."

dinner was cooked at some point...a meal was shared at the table....conversation was real and rich and meaningful.

now nick is reading to the kids....the kitchen is nearly cleaned up....a "best of" worship list is playing - and it includes some fresh to me hip-hop.  goodness.  my heart feels full.  i couldn't help but share.

and i kind of think i left out some things.  and i didn't even check the mailbox for mail -which is usually one of the main highlights of my day!

in the words of Chris Rice, "why can't everyday be like today? " (though part of that song is talking about tough days, too)

it wasn't a perfect day.  but it was beautiful.  and i felt more like me than i have in a long time. and i didn't want to wait until thursday to share my thankfulness.

can we please have another day like this tomorrow?

5 lessons learned from my mother

It's Mother's Day tomorrow.

I'm glad I have a mom.  I'm glad I have the mom that I have. She has taught me more than she would ever give herself credit for.  I thought it was about time she heard about a few of the things she's taught me (or at least remind her of how she's impacted my life in big and little ways alike).

the art of pinning socks together

In the McMichael house, we always had a little pin cushion or a dish for holding safety pins in our bathroom.  The idea was simple:  take off dirty socks, pin them together, throw them in the dirty clothes.  They would get washed (together), dried (together), sorted (together) and put away (together). If these steps were followed (which was really just one step), one would never find themselves wondering what happened to all those one socks that went missing.  Admittedly, this is a lesson I am not putting into practice but I wish that I was.  Taking the little bit of time to pin the socks together (all of 10 seconds) would save exponential amounts of time spent sorting and searching, not to mention all of the heartache over what to do with the single socks that remain.

the art of thoughtfulness 

One of the things I appreciate most about my mom is the way she cares about each of her four kids - and our spouses - and her grandkids.  If it's within her power, she always has "something special" for us at a meal or family gathering just because she knows it's our favorite.  Banana pudding for Jonathan. Reese's Cups (and various other candy!) for Nick.  That's all I can think of -- apparently I'm not as thoughtful as she is because I don't know everyone's favorite!  I still have more to learn from her.

the art of always carrying a snack

She always had the little brown bag with the stop light and some clever words on it.  I may not remember what the bag says (I bet she could...or I bet she could find the bag because she also has the gift of not getting rid of anything that has the potential to be useful - so, unless that bag disintegrated or was eaten by an animal, I would bet good money that it can be found on Johnson Street in Warrenton, Georgia -- my money would be that it's in the pantry in the kitchen...maybe even on the left hand side) but I remember the contents - healthy snack options...most likely peanut butter crackers, maybe some raisins or sunflower seeds.  There's no telling how many meltdowns were avoided (and money was saved) by making good use of the snacks in her little brown stop light bag.  (she also had the little ziplock of gum that was useful during church...that 1/2 of piece of gum - so that chewing would be minimal - was such a welcomed sight in the middle of a sermon!).  The tradition continues, it's a rare occassion to find me without a snack close by (some may think it's for my kids...but it's for me, too!).

the art of getting every last drop out of the bottle  

I don't know if I ever would've known that I had another week's worth of shampoo or lotion in the bottle or more butter to be used if it weren't for my mom (who knows, maybe I would've figured it out on my own...but how long would it have taken and how much would I have wasted before I learned?!).  Instead of throwing away a container that was seemingly empty, she would often cut off the top (or bottom) and was then able to use the rest of the product inside.  This lesson came in very handy just this week with my concealer - I thought I was out...but was so happy to cut off the bottom and find many more days worth! My mom knew life hacks before life hacks were a thing.

the art of thank you note writing

"Dear Mrs. Jean, Thank you for the gift.  I like it and it will be very useful.  Love, Dianna" was never ever going to cut it for a thank you note from me in my mother's world (nor should it!).  I am so thankful that my mom taught me how to be specific in my thank you's (maybe she planted alot of the seeds that have grown into my thankful lists and the heart of most of the blogs that I post here).  The art behind thank you notes according to Sandra was basically be very specific in exactly what you were thankful for and how that gift would be used - and to use the entire card (and not just by writing bigger). This is probably the lesson that I'm most thankful for - and the one I use most.

Happy Mother's Day, Mama.  Thank you for giving your best and loving us well.  You are special and I'm glad you're my mom.  See you in 3 weeks!!!!

everybody needs a friend like molly

here's a mashed potato poem  (bits and pieces all smashed together)(i just made that up), in honor & celebration of my amazing friend, molly.    

Everybody needs a friend like molly.

Caring. Kind. Real. Raw.

Everybody needs a friend like molly.

Passionate. Thoughtful. Committed. True. 

Quick to offer a word of encouragement, Truth and prayers.

Quick to offer most anything.

Dedicated – wholeheartedly dedicated - to the ones she loves…

Tirelessly? No. (mamas are often tired) 

Inexahaustibly? Yes. (always giving, always loving, always serving)

Always giving, always loving, always serving.

Today, more than ever, I celebrate my friend molly.

She's on the other side of the world – that part I dislike.

But the part I love?  We’re forever connected and side by side….no matter the continents and oceans that are between us.

I miss the waves (& dance parties) through the windows.

I miss the magical gate that connected our lives.

I miss the shared coffee…and shared parenting…the daily sharing of hearts and lives.

Oh, how I miss my friend molly….

She’s my friend…and my life is forever better.

Everybody needs a friend like molly.

happiest of birthdays, dear one.

Andrew.

He would have been 7 today.

I wonder what he would have looked like.
I wonder what his personality would have been like.
I wonder what it would be like to have 2 sons.
I wonder what would be different about our lives had he lived.

I wonder...

February 23, 2008...Andrew's birthday.

Today we celebrate a little boy we never had the privilege of truly knowing...a little boy we never rocked to sleep....a little boy we never celebrated milestones with...a little boy that has gotten a head start on heaven (and sometimes i'm quite envious of that) - today we remember and celebrate him and trust that his life was perfectly planned and ordained by our God who loves us so very much.

Thank you, God, for the gift of Andrew...for the gift of grief...for the gift of the process of losing the very thing we were hoping most for...for the gift of being able to trust you more...for the gift of heaven...for the gift of the Body of Christ that was so faithful to love and support and walk through this with us (I can still feel Your arms around us through them)....for the gift of knowing your presence and your peace in more ways than ever before...for the gift of life - no matter how short.

Sovereign

This song was part of God's reply to the post I wrote about my heart breaking....so grateful that we can trust Him NO MATTER WHAT.  He is sovereign...He is with us...we are held by Him -- all of the pieces of our lives are held by Him. i am so grateful. 

Sovereign - by Chris Tomlin

Sovereign in the mountain air

Sovereign on the ocean floor

With me in the calm

With me in the storm

Sovereign in my greatest joy

Sovereign In my deepest cry

With me in the dark

With me at the dawn

In your everlasting arm

All the pieces of my life

From beginning to the end

I can trust you

In your never failing love

You work everything for good

God, whatever comes my way

I will trust you

All my hopes

All I need

Held in your hands

All my life

All of me

Held in your hands

All my fears

All my dreams

Held in your hands

God, whatever comes my way

I will trust you

thankful thursday - part 2 - thankful toni thursday

today is toni's birthday! toni is our amazing, incredible, fabulous, awesome, wonderful, one-in-a-million  YAYA.

just thought i'd take a few minutes and try to put into words how very thankful i am for her (though i'm pretty positive my words aren't even going to come close to scratching the surface of my family's heart in regards to how thankful we are for her and her love)(but i'll try anyway....)

i love her laugh...and her smile...and the way she knows the things we like to eat.  i love the way she doesn't mind (and actually enjoys!) washing clothes (and i love the way clothes smell that have been washed at her house).  i love her willingness to tell things like they are...and to flat out say "get over it" when those are the words that are needed!  i love how she looks for the best in people and in situations...

i love that one time, when nick and i were dating and staying at her house, she got on to us for leaving dirty dishes in the sink (i understand why way more now than i ever did then).

i am thankful for her strength and her independence - she's going to do what she thinks is right and best (even if it's tough sometimes).

i am thankful that she loves God and seeks to honor Him.  She worships wholeheartedly and she loves wholeheartedly.  When there is a need, and it is within her ability to meet the need, she does - without making a big deal of it.  She loves the people that God has put in her life - and she loves them well.  She's a great friend, neighbor and co-worker.  

she has fed us, clothed us, housed us, let us use her car, kept our kids for hundreds of date nights...she asks what we want for Christmas and then GETS it for us.

she's fun and generous and has been the giver of not just gifts but experiences - thomas the train, caroline's birthday beach trip, the trip to Splash...i know there have been more  - that's just what's coming to mind.  she's been present for the birth of ALL of our children...and has willingly shared in the joys and sorrows of our lives.  God has used her hugs and smiles and candy-bringing to encourage me time and time again.

i am thankful for her dedication to staying connected with us...(i won't go into how sad it makes me to think of her missing us...).  she calls and sends mail and packages...she emails...she makes every effort to skype with us.  i know it's not easy for us to be so far away (understatement of the year) -  but she's still trying...and i really appreciate that.  

Afew words from the kiddos:

Emma's 3 favorite things about Yaya:

• "that i love her"
• "toys from her"
• "reading books with yaya"

"Yaya's birthday!!  I want to give her one of Caroline's books for her birthday.  I love you (holding up the sign.)." - Love, Emma

Caroline's 3 favorite things about Yaya:

• "that we get to live with her"
• "she's nice and makes us lunch sometimes."
• "she took us to lego land with the whites.  i loved that trip because it was so fun!"

"Happy Birthday! I wish I could see you with my real eyes - not just on skype - and say happy birthday.  If I could give you anything, I would give you a whole day for just the 2 of us."  Love, Caroline. 

Eli's 3 favorite things about Yaya:

• "that she always has fruit snacks & blueberry pop tarts for me."
• "that she loves me to the moon and back"
• "that she gets us activity pages and coloring pages"

Happy Birthday, Yaya!  If I could give you anything for your birthday, I would give you a hug.  Hope you get lots of good presents for your birthday! - Love, Eli

eating icecream in your honor!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  We love you!!

crazy faces

so, toni, on your birthday - and everyday - we celebrate you and thank God for you.  you are such a special lady...we are so so so so so so grateful that you are our Yaya...what a gift God has given us. 

we miss you.

my thoughts on the election...and my 32nd birthday!!!!

May God bless our president - whoever he is after today's election.  He's got a tough job that I certainly wouldn't want. That's all I've got to say about that.  On to my birthday celebration!!!!

God loved on me lots this weekend!  I feel like I should share about it for 2 reasons 1) because people have asked and, chances are, if you're reading this, you know and care about me and want to know how my birthday was celebrated (thanks for caring and wanting to share life with me!!) and 2)every good and perfect gift is from above - and i want to give credit where credit is due!

I suppose it started on Thursday at 1:15 when I had my massage that Nick signed me up for (yup, seriously, a  massage...what kind of "living on a ship in Africa" is this?!  a pretty amazing kind!!).  there's a sweet lady from Texas named Cyndi who is here for a few weeks on a Mercy Team...she's got some amazing massage skills that she shares with the crew while she's here.  I LOVE it when people use their skills to bless others...I especially loved this special treat!  So I got my 15 minutes of neck/back/shoulder massage on Thursday (so grateful for a husband who would sign me up for it...for whatever reason, i wouldn't have signed myself...and apparently the slots went fast...so even if i had finally gotten around to deciding that i wanted one, it would've been too late!).

Skip on over to Friday afternoon...the girls and I were making chocolate chip cookies in the crew galley (picture by emma):

 

....from a mix...they don't compare to hannah dewlicious cookies...but they'll do :) and the ever so sweet & lovely stephanie duncan came and found us and asked if i wanted to meet her and remy (my 6:15am dutchie workout partner) for coffee.  sure!  i'd love to.  about 6:10 in E ward?  sure!  sounds good. (the 3 of us have met for coffee in E ward multiple times...so it didn't seem out of the ordinary at all!) (though in previous years my radar would have been waaaaay up....) (keep in mind that for many years i set myself up for failure on my birthday because all around my birthday i would figure out every possible way that every possible person could surprise me....and, though i've had some wonderful birthdays, i must admit that it's not even possible for any birthday to live up to the expectations that i would put on it....so God's been working on that a bit...the evidence is that i haven't really done that the past couple of years - and i've been pleasantly surprised and wonderfully blessed instead of miserably disappointed!!!)

So at 6:09 I headed down to E ward (an empty room on Deck 3...with couches....).  Stephanie met me in the hall - and very naturally says, "oh i was just going up to get my coffee...nah...maybe i'll go get some in a bit." and in we walk to a room full of friends saying "surprise".  Now, I'm no good at reacting to surprises...and we all know I'm not so good at being the center of attention...so that was a pretty awkward moment....but after moving on from that initial surprise, the next hour was absolutely fabulous!

Stephanie Duncan, Stephanie Fiduk, Josh Callow, Catharine Fulmer and Tori Hobson = 5 rock stars of thoughtfulness and awesomeness.  As far as I know, they are the ones responsible for Friday night's festivities (i'm so sorry if i'm leaving someone out - please let me know...i want to heap thankfulness on you, too!!!)

The room was decorated with one of my most favorite things - encouraging words!!!! One wall (of cabinets) was covered in cards and bible verses that had been collected for me (reminded me very very much of a TA blessing bag. what a lovely thing!).

They also took the time to print off pictures of me/my family and laminate them and punch holes in them and hang them from the ceiling - they wrote words that describe me on the back (they were far too kind).  AND there was a jar for "coupons" -- I've got all kinds of fun gifts to cash in on: babysitting, cups of coffee, chocolate, a cup of tea at sunset on deck 8, a hug at my favorite ice machine,  a pancake breakfast, french toast casserole, chocolate chip cookies, extra shower minutes!  So many wonderful gifts from so many wonderful people.

 

There were cokes & juice & cookies & pretzels & even a BOSTON CREME PIE!!  (thanks for finding out and making my favorite, Josh!)(he's the one looking on as i cut into his creation!).

So, after the fun surprise party, I got to go participate in part of the ship's "spiritual retreat weekend" - I felt like it was God's birthday present to me!!   It really deserves a blog post of its own (maybe there will be one that i can link you to).

Dianna's nutshell version of the spiritual retreat weekend:  the chaplaincy department did an incredible job of creating "stations" and providing activities where we could interact with God, His word and His Truth throughout the weekend.  Caroline and I ended up working through the stations together Friday night...what a gift to be able to share that with my daughter!  Saturday we were able to make fabric covers for our bibles (again, it was a privilege to do that with Caroline!).  I sewed -semi-successfully!!- for the first time!!  I covered my Jesus Calling book.  I tried to cover my Bible...but ended up letting Miss Rebekah finish it for  me (many thanks!).   My covered books are my tangible birthday gifts from God!!  Here's one of them:

On to Sunday - my actual birthday!  We had a peaceful morning...Nick arranged for Tori to make (and deliver!) her AMAZING french toast casserole. 

It is so good. so good.  At some point I decided that I was only going to eat what I wanted to all day (with not even attempt at "healthy and balanced") -- I had multiple servings of french toast casserole throughout the day! 

God gave me a rainy morning - another birthday present from Him.  I love the rain!!

We went down to deck 3 for Ward Church. Got to shake our bodies for Jesus and play our pretend trumpets. :)  Then this really incredible, good looking, wise, creative guy spoke about walking with God and "what's your next step?" He's my favorite.  (and then it was super cool to realize that yesterday's Jesus Calling used some of the exact same words that Nick used as he taught...).

After Ward Church we had lunch...and I had a quick nap...Emma had her nap...Eli went to karate and Caroline went to play with a friend for a bit.  About 2:45 Catharine came to watch the kids and Nick and I went to the Hotel Riviera. 

What a delightful time with my best friend...the weather was perfect.  The music was fun (especially when "I will survive" came on - who knew it was such an international song?  The brazilians present seemed to particularly enjoy it!!!).  I even got to hear the "crunk my money" (or whatever in the world the words are!!!) song.  The coke was refreshing (complete with ice!).  My glass is without a doubt 1/2 full.

The creme brulee (one of the main reasons nick took me there) was delicious!  The pool was nice.  a very enjoyable time, just me and him.  We headed back to the ship...had dinner (Catharine graciously agreed to keep the kids a bit longer while we ate) and then enjoyed a BEAUTIFUL sunset on Deck 8. 

After that we headed to "church" (ship wide service on Sunday nights)...enjoyed some sweet worship and heard some neat testimonies of what God did through the spiritual weekend. 

This was my favorite conversation during the service (the chaplain leading was inviting people to come to the front and share what the weekend had meant/what God had done):

Caroline: "Mama, can I go up and share something?
Me:  "Absolutely!"
Caroline: "Will you go up there with me?
Me:  "Nope.  Ask your daddy."

(she did and he said "yes"...and it was lovely)

Interspersed throughout my birthday weekend were gifts and phone calls and emails and facebook messages (so much facebook love!) from so many thoughtful and caring people....so much love and encouragement and blessing poured out all over me.  It was almost overwhelming - in a good way! It kind of feels like it may take me a while to reply to emails and such...I'm sorry for any delays!!

I do believe this one may take the prize for "best birthday yet." (and i don't give those kind of awards out lightly)(but it's a little hard to give that award when some of my most favorite people are on the other side of the world...)(but thankful that each and every one was a part of blessing me for my birthday).

It's a good start to being 32.  (annnnd....i'm really excited cause i know there are a few more things heading my way through crew mail....the celebration continues!!!!)

i'm praying that i experience the presence of God more in the coming year than ever before...praying that i draw nearer and nearer to Him....praying that i will decrease and He will increase..praying that i'll recognize God and join Him in whatever it is that He wants me to do.  Praying for more patience and less selfishness.  Praying that He will be the center, the focus, the ALL of my life - every moment, every day.  Can I ask for one more birthday present? Will you pray these things (and anything else you want!) for me, too?