His goodness just keeps coming

• Michelle stopped by on her way to Florida (and gave the kiddos really neat reuseable straws!
• social distancing walk with amy t.
• "and God is able to bless you abundantly so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 corinthians 9:8

• webmunity zoom call
• voice filters and fabulous jokes on marco polo
• sharing communion with CCC across the city

• coolness after the rain (not to mention that it washed away the pollen!)
• jeans + hoodie + flip flops
• bicycle basket bouquets

• zoe's vocabulary/language skills...they are taking off! 
• velocity/elevate/TA staff - their purpose, intentionality and engagement with their students is AWESOME.
• facetime monopoly for aaron and emma

• a whole night of sleep!  no cats...no babies...no bathroom breaks...just sleep!
• good song!  thank you (do yourself a favor and google "maverick city music" and have a worship session!!) 
• wisteria

• beautiful weather!!
• farkle!
• good reminder: 

• the CURATING of memes!  (and when your super awesome friend molly knows the right word!)
• good (dance) song: in jesus name
• little makeover for the porch chairs (amazing what a fresh coat of black spray paint can do...)(next step will be getting seat cushions that go with the ones on the swing)

• talking to lane
• sunshine + swimming
• intentionally taking a break

• chicken fingers and fries from molly (not to mention groceries dropped off!)
• sleeping with the windows open (we have windows!!)
• $1 well spent on sidewalk chalk :) 

• dry wall guys came!
• eating outside
• so much enjoyment of the pool! 

almost forgot...

with so may of the normal "markers" of my week gone/cancelled/postponed, i kind of almost forgot it was thursday!  but, alas, even in the midst of pandemic and national crisis, the thankful list must go on!!  it's true - there is always, always, always something to be thankful for (and in this case, plenty of "somethings").  keep looking for the gifts...they are there.  

• cash girls (including yaya!) group hug
• caroline's cute shopping trip finds
• fun games (especially quirkle and azul right now)

• strong worship songs for the week:
• housefires' "lift you high"
• passion's "there's nothing our God can't do"

• community group zoom calls
• guys and gals gathered in honor of eli's birthday

• "better"...it's such a beautiful word
• emma's enjoyment of the sand pile that the brick guys left
• "tea thyme" at CCC (way to go yaya!)(i apologize for my lack of hat)

• more and more people in columbus being trained to be foster care advocates in their churches
• 10:02 alarm - the hope and belief that 1002 churches will be planted in the coming years
• encouragement, good reminders and sweet IG posts: 

lots of merci(s)

• papa came for a visit
• cupcakes

• note and cards from kami
• standing up for the lemons

• care team dinner
• the relationships surrounding eli

• JOY in worship
• eli's room is coming along

• katie and william's visit
• reminders

• approval from the state for Sweet Little One to go back to her other foster family
• sitting outside

• the callows were able to meet us at the varsity (so glad to get to see these friends two times in one week!) 
• fun times at the world of coca-cola

• celebrating nick and eli
• 40+ letters!! 

full of thanks.

• "He knows how many would show up if it was just Him." - Francis Chan, Letters to the Church
• CELEBRATING LANE!  what a wonderful human.
• eating outside.  this needs to happen more.  

• Michael and Denise's kindness and generosity to host lane's party
• zoe's little dance moves 
• papa's ambrosia - fruity sunshine in a mason jar.

• eli's honesty
• emma built a fire on her own 
• 5 free chicken biscuits!  yay for free mystery breakfasts every tuesday during march (and fabulous friends to eat with). 

• new mug from jason and wendi
• borrowing a good book 
• sweet little one playing peacefully on her own with a bucket o' puffballs (those bless-ed puffballs!)

• nick's willingness to help in any way he can
• laughing during date night 
• helpful reminders  

• yaya's generosity to keep kiddos so that date night has happened for nearly 15 years (minus a few while we were on the AFM...but she would've if she could've!!!)
• caroline's efforts 
• bright encouragement (and friends who share it generously)

• dark chocolate espresso trail mix from target (it's nice that they call it trail mix...makes me think i'm being slightly healthy)
• not getting stuck today
• cleverness in a venn diagram

thankful list, a thursday tradition

• successful empowered to foster potluck
• cherry coke in 20 ounce bottles
• sweet morning time with just zoe

• how lexi rescued me during an awkward conversation :)
• francis chan's "letters to the church"
• plate from bulgaria, mug from benin, doughnut + coffee, significant time on the window seat

• "pressing pause pays off." - jennifer scott's instastory
• starting and ending the day with letters to the church and coffee
• free pancakes at IHOP

• "what would please God most?" (rather than thinking of what we would enjoy or asking others what they would like)
• teenage boys hanging out at our house
• walking over to see our neighbor...sweet sisters (so fun to think we've got a toddler, a tween and a teen! these girls are wonderful.)

 

• gift of a conversation with geni from living way.  what kindness.  
• celebrating Little One's 2nd birthday!
• "all looks good, no concerns" for previously mentioned 2 year old

so many things.

• caroline came out to the car to give me a hug
• how God can drop a thought/idea/plan in your head/heart and in a moment you know exactly what to do
• gummi bear valentine messages 

• eli's room is cleaner than it's been in a while
• getting to do a reference form/recommendation for team marquez. it's easy to recommend remarkable people. 
• incredibly thoughtful doorknob valentines for all of us (including Sweet Little One) from emma - she put different verses on the back of each one

• baskin robbin's birthday gift cards lasted me all the way to february 19
• robert's time/generosity/help with the next item on the list 
• we've got windows in our bedroom!  (this is the first one going in....)(or out?!)

• making marvel movie references
• we get CFA rewards points when using giftcards (smart move CFA.  smart move.)(and thank you)
• not only did yaya keep the 2 littlest ones at our house so they could nap, she folded laundry, and made us poppyseed chicken and quiche!!

• hearing skip and ashley's life stories
• the renewal that comes from community
•  "sometimes all you hear about is the hate, but there is more love and kindness in this world than we could possibly imagine."

• when you say the right words at the right time and you don't even really know it (until later when someone shares how God used what you said)
• laura lea's willingness to clean out the sink strainer (that's one of my least favorite parts of being an adult)
• when they enjoy each other and laugh (even when it's late!)(see one of our new windows in the background!)

• roman's arrival! 
• peace and connectedness with my favorite person on the planet.  i love our marriage. 
• good reminders: 

grateful and thankful

• being well is so much better than being sick.
• unlike mine, God's patience and grace are endless
• a clear instruction from God.  the opportunity to be obedient. 
• emma's picture of the flowering bush behind the cottage

• christal brought chicken salad chick
• super fast wal-mart grocery pick up
• anytime any kid shares their heart and life with me 
• good stuff: 

• excellent podcast from mike foster on communication -- "we don't hear what someone said, we imagine what they meant." "what do you need right now?" 
• texting with gina 
• thursday morning wake up call from amy ;) 
• sweet little ones playing sweetly together.  peaceful moments in toddler town. 

• the giggles (and the workout) that came from the girls as they were pulled around on the blanket
• even when it feels overwhelming, it's really not all that hard to get everything reset and cleaned up
• such delicious breakfast for dinner.  community group food is so good. 
• helpful math tool that saved our morning/day

• yaya's willingness to bring/make lunch here on sunday.  
• the note from nick
• the questions asked and hearts shared in community group
• getting to see polly's ultrasound - sharing in the doblin's joy!