piece of thanksgiving pie

• "come and consume, God, all we are.  We give You permission our hearts are yours." - bryan and katie torwalt
• amy's time in columbus
• one last capp blast
• cash bash (#3!)
• celebrating caroline

• white cash sleepover
• lady working at the bank who shared a way that we can get more from our account
• all went well at the 9:00 appointment
• swimming in the pool
• cracker barrel - just the right way to end our time in the states

• sweet and easy flight from atlanta to london
• few moments of solitude in the middle of the airport
• "it wouldn't be so hard if there wasn't so much love."
• word on the street is that the AFM will have internet that allows skyping

• #checkyourselfbeforeyouwreckyourself
• b-rad baker
• jacob's joy with the icecream cone thingy
• back on the afm

a small slice of my gratitude manifesto

• all the times that the traffic is not jammed
• rich and meaningful time with patrik and diana
• beautiful waterfalls

• day at the lake with the doblins 
• the doblins easy, extreme generosity
• plenty of putt putt this week

• pork tenderloin (and learning how to cook it)
• my forgetfulness didn't cost nearly as much as i thought it would
•  beautiful skies/reminders to look up

• authenticity, vulnerability, honesty...always thankful for those who dare to be courageous.
• how often emma says "i love you."
• creative ways to keep chip bags closed (He provides all we need...even ways to keep chips from getting stale)

 

• tetherball with caroline
• croissants from a can + pepperoni + string cheese
• so much fun zip lining

•  "Hope Heals" by Jay and Katherine Wolf
• "God...who inexplicably gave us everything, even in the taking away...." - jay wolf
• lots of other good quotes from their story

• baby animals.  
• seeing lemurs and being reminded of what a privilege it's been to live off the coast of madagascar these past 2 years
• God's creativity...this guy's hair and face just make me smile

• the way God seems to always send bunnies for eli
• solo time 
• country roads for running on

He gives and He gives and He gives.

• chick fil a + carey bray
• just me + nick
• zaxby's + wifi = documents get sent 
• rooftop views
• beignets and coffee at cafe du monde

•  the official beginning of a mug collection
• missing our kids (glad to be reminded of just how very special they are and how blessed i am to be their mama)
• nick lets me eat off of his plate
• news of a very hard but very good decision
• the brave soldiers of WW2 (and the excellent museum to share some of their stories)

• messaging with michelle murrey
• 5 guys (cheese) burger and fries
• 12+ hours of sleep (multiple nights in a row!)
• new day with my best friend
• street car rides

• how molly not only cares for my heart but also for the hearts of my children
• jonathan pinney's "Ascent" bars
• messaging with caroline
• gas station coffee + rainy day + car ride + nick
• riding to the beach (2+ hours) to go for a walk
• sno cones^^
• street musicians

• seeing pictures of the kids from their time with Aunt Amy
• Yaya and grandaddy took them to see "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" at the Springer
• the ladies passing out boxed lunches and water to those who are hungry on the streets of NOLA
• hearing ^^ their story of how this happens every tuesday - 1500 lunches each week!
• seeing those boxes in the hands of the hungry all over town over the course of the next few hours
• hearing the caliope
• mall chinese food

so very thankful.

• papa's hamburgers and french fries (he should open a little drive by stand in the driveway)
• contacts are ordered
• time with tiffany at mid-town coffee
• making the TA connection with Thomas (and his willingness to give us a 10% discount!)
• caroline + ariel + friendship + giant jenga giggles

• "hold the phone! are you ok?"  -emma
• being able to recharge devices...such a convenience
• sharing at CCC
• family who came to CCC to hear nick (and hopefully encounter God's love and truth!)
• raven's notes from our sharing

• "you can cry if you want to." - emma to me
• Chick-Fil-A lunch date with emma
• so much kindness and courtesy at CFA
• at the cabin once again
• emma + papa + fishing
• caroline + four-wheeler

• little side trip to Athens
• celebrating Freedom
• safe fireworks
• excellence in action (waumba land meeting)
• Athens Church
• finally put words to something that's been in my head for a while

gifts galore. 2 weeks worth.

• being at THE beach
• what was lost is found
• "banana bread of life"
• the acoustics in FBC SSI's sanctuary
• emma and the conch shells

• vacation grocery shopping (so good for the heart...figuratively)
• KFC around the table with my family
• riding bikes on the beach (i forgot it was possible)
• <5 house="" li="" minute="" other="" the="" to="" walk="">
• feeding the birds 

• rocking chair + porch + cup of coffee + book + journal + pen
• tandem bike riding
• meme and betsy's laughs
• walking on the beach with papa
• fun thoughts on the zaxby's cup

• reconnecting
• being perfectly ok with the lack of wireless (that would have frustrated me in the not too distant past)
• emma and uncle jonathan making cookies together
• sitting at the water's edge with incredible people (emma, nick, amy, lane)
• bluberry morning cereal

• hamburgers at the lankfords
• figuring out fresh ways not to get frustrated
• kayaking in the ocean
• cracker pepper turkey + colby jack cheese
• all six cousins (and a sweet girlfriend) playing in the ocean

• nick's french toast
• making my mama laugh
• hushpuppies at mullet bay
• looking over thankful lists and remembering God's kindness, goodness and faithfulness
• a box of sonny's delights!!!

• caroline and emma giggling and prancing around in those dresses, high heels and hats (see yaya'a facebook page for pictures,,,)
• everyone is home safe and sound from the beach
• CFA giftcard from the sheek's.  such generosity and thoughtfulness
• caroline let emma lay on her (and vice versa) in the back of the car (that wasn't always the case during that car ride); 3 sleeping kids

• carrabba's with keith and pam
• walking around lakebottom with lauren
• cracker barrel with the robertsons
• connecting with beth on the phone
• how easy it is to be around richard and dee dee...time at their home/their hospitality/their animals

• rich and meaningful conversation with robert and rachel  
• white/cash cafe
• sonic run/paying in change

on vacation...

...the thankful list is on vacation, too (well, the list is still growing...always growing...so maybe it's more accurate to say that "the blog posting" is on vacation).

...it'll be back in monumental proportions next week. 

the gifts, they just keep on coming...

• papa's truck + country music + riding in the passenger seat
• i found the bag

• peace icecream from the peach place (taylor orchards)
• emma fishing with her uncles

• familiar, friendly, efficient, capable Dr. Stewart and his staff/office 
• beautiful gathering of wonderful people sharing a delicious meal

• new socks & undies
• amazon prime benefits
• synder's buffalo bites pretzels (and the amazacredible friend that introduced us!)

• how capable nick is - his leadership and planning and all-around spectacular-ness.
• nick baptizing emma
• the gathering of friends and family to celebrate her

• having amy here in columbus
• her re-purpling my hair skillz
• super awesome mom - super awesome friend - molly white. 

• naps in the car
• the view from that one porch

• webmunity gathering!
• extra bits of bit o' honey

• the feeling of HOPE arising
• delightful coffee (the drink and the company!) at mid-town coffeehouse 

• eye check ups for all
• evan's kindness