some huge...some little....thankful for all of it.

• the chance to hang out with liam friday night
• fun treats in the mail from clement arts
• two sweet little girls sharing a popsicle in the swing
• airbnb bookings continue to come in 
• real life rapunzel should get to go back to her dad and grandparents wednesday after next
• unexpected double date with william and debbie.  so fun to reconnect with them
• still so grateful for mama melinda's selfless love for her daughter who became our daughter, too

• sweet report from yaya on her time with the girls
• sunshine in the midst of a streak of rainy days (i'm thankful for the rainy days...but the sunshine was refreshing)
• my sweet sister's smile and happiness
• time with laura lea, wendi and april...all in one room! 
• emma's creativity in capturing the rain on the sunroof and windows

• wonderful time and safe travels for caroline and eli to/from/in Chattanooga
• a lot less social shuttling this week 
• yaya's skills in making sweet gifts for baby beau
• easy cottage clean ups
• wisdom and truth from God through ann voskamp

• any ounce of organization that happens in my world
• how easy it is to consign clothes at mikayla's place 
• breakfast for dinner at community group.  carbs and sugar a plenty. 

gifts gifts gifts

• new to me neighborhood to run in
• all the fun colored bricks on the one house on the corner
• the man and all his bird feeders
• good Truth:

• getting to share the sand dollar story
• brunch brought by laura lea
• knowing the youth were playing frisbee on the field at CCC
• Zoe happily played on the zipline by herself for lots of minutes 

• date night...healthy conversation and communication
• basket o' valentines goodies from yaya!
• very successful outing to cooper creek with 3 littles

• flowers and a balloon...tangible reminders of love
• llama llama red pajama 
• all things Clement Arts - especially the Truth they speak over each child (and have those children speak outloud)

• successful online assessment for real life rapunzel
• all the groceries the cottage guests left
• cards christians like.  so accurate in so many ways. (and so ridiculous in so many ways)

• all the fun emma and hope had together
• i surrender all lyrics.  so good.  so many prayers. 
• walks in driveways
• lovely sunset

 

always more to be thankful for

• hamburgers and fries with people we love oh so much
• all the kids got all the places they needed to go (and back home!)
• seeing the tangible evidence of God's work through Clement Arts (and specifically through the love and efforts of Christal Gavin) -- 40 children -- FORTY CHILDREN!!! - were kept OUT of the foster care system because of the collaboration and generosity of the body of Christ.  40 cases NOT added to already overwhelmed caseloads. 40 kids who did not experience the trauma of being removed from their family.  40! that is miraculous. 

• "help me to become a little more like you in the way that i love others today." - lectio 365
• easy peasy time at the dentist getting the temporary crown out and the permanent crown in 
• yummy breakfast at leadership community
• CCC's new logo!

• renewed peace for the process of getting real life rapunzel reunited with her dad
• worship and testimonies at CCC on sunday
• molly's willingness to keep the 2 littles so we could keep our date night plans
• yup.  this: 

• coffee + cinnamon rolls (so good. always.)
• getting to be a part of amy's class.  left that zoom call feeling alive and refreshed!
• 2 sweet sisters singing together in the back of the pilot
• "teach me to walk in the way of blessing." 

all the gifts come from Him.

• cold days and sunny days and cloudy days and warm days and all the variety of weather days...
• Pam and Anja's thoughtfulness - the perfect gift for the sparkly unicorn loving 5 year old

• joshua's ear is all better and perfectly normal!  
• going to see the baby goats (and mules!) with yaya

• celebrating poppa's life and legacy - the service was beautiful and filled with such meaningful moments/gestures
• sweet little fingers and toes all painted

• finding giftcards i forgot i had
• pretty in pink at the playground

• the first of yaya and eli's monthly lunches (such a thoughtful christmas gift from yaya!)
• morning snuggles and nice little routines

• lunch and facebook live with christal
• praying for our friends in albania

 

enjoying (and trying to keep a record) of the gifts in my life

• friends who have adulting clothes for me to borrow for adult life 
• meaningful conversation with lisa
• sweet sisters swinging

• "he is divine.  we are debranches." church sign.  makes me laugh every time i pass it.
• dr. awesome's (tyler myers) kindness and excellent dental abilities
• zoe + bubbles + wednesday morning

• melissa's willingness to pick up kids during community group
• celebrating real life rapunzel's 5th birthday
• kathryn's AMAZING strawberry cake (check out Kathryn's Kitchen on IG if you need something delicious)

• team marquez's ability to help people feel at ease and welcomed 
• birthday girl got to go to dinner with her dad and grandparents
• amazing things:

• Amanda Gorman's powerful poem
• the way Garth Brooks hugged everyone  (pick it up at about minute 3:18)
• yes. this:

• molly's thoughtful generosity to pick a jacket that coordinates with real life rapunzel's hair
• how worship music changes things.  changes the atmosphere.  pain goes away.  holy spirit presence is important!!  
• poppa is where he's wanted to be for quite some time...reunited with his bride...surrounded by love in his eternal home

His kindness never stops.

• the rain held off and amy and i were able to walk
• the joy and love lane brings with him everywhere he goes
• beautiful skies declaring God's glory (no filter, no editing (other than cropping))

• catching up on my correspondence :) 
• another delicious meal from the living way care team (this should be on the list every.single.week.)
• puzzling with this guy

• having t-train here for the week
• the loveliness of benjamincello (thanks for the introduction, molly!)
• sweet moments between this big brother and his littlest sister

• kindness. (i'm thankful for it...and thankful to be thinking about it and looking for it...and excited about my new t-shirt)
• fleece lined running pants
• all the ribbon dancing (especially when the older kids get involved)

• sweet visit with the faircloths...and knowing they are 17 minutes away
• laughing about "what if i walked like this"...for real laughing - abs hurting, falling to the floor laughing 
• so much good stuff from written to speak

• the life, love, legacy and christ-likeness of dorn davidson
• court''s heart and love
• sweet swinging moments (made all the better with coffee in my keep cup)

• sleep. i really do love it.
• dinner with the tveites! friendSHIPs continue in such lovely ways. 
• this:

• how it always seems to work out easily to visit with lauren
• lambie was found! 
• fox slippers

9214 - 9234 (closer and closer to 10,000)

• "sanctify (consecrate) yourselves...tomorrow God will work miracle-wonders among you." joshua 3:5
• sonny's life and the letter he wrote to his family
• lunch and games with the callows!  great way to kick of 2021

• taking stuff to valley rescue
• "i am jennifer james and i am here to say the LIGHT will ALWAYS overcome the darkness."
• caroline's kindness with the littles

• incredibly lovely personalized journal from ann marie
• God is trustworthy
• elephant sheets!

• laura lane got to stay longer
• kimberly's willingness to help make the playground picnic possible
• lots of girls getting good outside play time

• kids doing wii dance...always fun (and i call it exercise)
• lazy mornings
• the way caroline pretty much constantly pours into zoe

• "all day long i put my hope in you" - psalm 25:5
• "better"
• 3 devices purposefully (and willingly) left at home 

• peaceful dentist appointments (tyler truly is dr. awesome)
• CFA's grace in letting us order off of the breakfast menu at 10:31
• the news doesn't rule my life/my peace/my hope