few more for the list.

• gilmore girls with shea
• "bible in a minute" song
• finding just the right blend of syrups, shots, milk and mug 
• package from yaya and grandaddy and the smiles (real and silly) that followed

• container boxes!!!!
• alfred's courage and authenticity
• knowing it's all going to be ok and come together just right
•  time in the library

• "you are called to...continual dependence on Me." - jesus calling
• cheesesticks that did NOT disappoint
• easy teeth cleanings in the clinic downstairs
• sweet saturday spent at sakate

• codebar rooftop conversation with my favorite person on the planet
• ridiculous song lyrics that make me smile ("i love who you are, i love who you ain't....)
• messenging and talking and having coffee with KJ....
• powerful moment of hearing a spoken word piece during our worship gathering

• peaceful productivity
• being thought of in the boutique
• card from the winsteads
• list of ladies planning to attend the on-ship women's retreat this weekend

plethora. abundance. so much.

• "My presence enables you to face each day with confidence." - Jesus Calling
• mom's gathered on deck 8 under fairy lights
• a very kind note and a very kind piece of chocolate

• sickness doesn't last
• dove chocolate delivery from stacia
• emma's creativity and thoughtfulness in her gift for mr. ben's birthday

•  when someone speaks life, Truth and encouragement over/about/to my children
• the easy peacefulness of being with Shea and KJ
• courtney, the waffle queen

• the way sleep restores and renews
• amy bought her ticket to benin!!!!
• coke at dream beach

• early morning holding with emma
• the day the container was unloaded 
• the way God continues to use Jesus Calling year after year, in country after country

• surprise time of feasting with the One who knows me best and knows me most...eating on the run works sometimes...and the grab and go is ok....but sitting and savoring is so very wonderful...(having a sick child can have its benefits) 
• the meeting ended at 8:29!  (and myriam did a remarkable job MCing!)
• the way my husband doesn't mind asking directions

• rob's generous thoughtfulness...and getting to be his gift deliverer  
• the buffalo wing pretzel pieces are even better than i remembered 
• peace-filled report card day

scanning for joy

• chocolate and email reminders that God sees me as lovely
• kissaversary!!!
• finding pictures on the internet of beautiful friends that God has allowed us to meet through our time on the AFM

• gateway/onboarding lunch - i still say we had the best onboarding group ever. 
• the way lipgloss helps
• random things on the ship that amuse me

• cookie making and eating with katie
• laurin's alligator stories (and someone else carrying the conversation)
• discovering cool pictures that eli captured on the Grade 6 blog

• me to God: "i give so little. you give so much." God to me: "I'm happy to do it."
• we made it to the Hope Center
• peanuts and coke

• i got to see Bignon 
• hearing my kids worship
• love bread fulbert brought us from togo

• tuesdays at 10 community group
• so much laughter in the course of a few hours
• celebrating tracey at a real house with dinner (funny how flipped that is...usually it would be dinner out to celebrate a birthday)

ordinary moments of joy

• sweet note and a curly wurly
• tasty hummus
• watercolors, blank cards and a beautiful girl

• "joy comes to us in moments - ordinary moments. we risk missing out on joy when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary." - brene brown
• wonderfully thoughtful package from remy
• really fun pens from a really remarkable friend

• prayers in other languages
• tuesdays at 10 community group
• package of CFA sauces (and Famous Dave's...whoever he is) from Rob Brugler

• jordan and katie are back!
• watching "war room" with a roomful of strong ladies
• getting to go to ganvie

• when people share what God is teaching them and how they are recognizing His work in their life
• really nice double date with saul & therese - good conversation, good food, beautiful evening
• fun jabulani day (especially the surprise behind the curtain!)

5 minutes on the word of the week: pursuit

Pursuit

Oh, that Declaration of Independence that I studied in American Government with Mr. Hammond....I don't remember much about it but the one thing I do remember is the lines about... 

...holding these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness... 

Or something like that (inalienable?). 

That's pretty amazing that those establishing a new nation, a new government, a new way of life would put the pursuit of happiness in the same category as life and liberty (and mark them as rights given by God!) (and have it following close behind the statement that all men are created equal).  Seems significant.  

The pursuit of happiness...a right that we have as humans have.  What does that mean? 

A few things that I pursue that make me happy:  

• questions
• sunshine (the kind that warms a car up on a cold day)
• thoughtfulness and kindness
• dove milk chocolate
• authenticity
• pajama pants and hoodies

I don't think that's quite what the forefathers were thinking...but it's what I'm thinking.  

What does your pursuit of happiness look like?  

grateful for the gifts

• 2 bus fulls of folks to the Hope Center
• my life/worth/joy are not dependent on certain teams winning
• tuesday popcorn

• fanice adventure
• no overflowing suds from the round of washing on monday
• hearts that remind me to pray for the chandras

• ice.  
• finACE talk with deck guys 
• chocolate cake from krystal

• carrot cake and cup of coffee
• sweet, sweet saturday
• view from "after 8" at myosotis

• "sunshine in my pocket" song
• coffee with martha and her lovely heart (and scottish accent)
• excellent tools

• where sin runs deep, Your grace is more.  where grace is found is where You are and where you are Lord I am free
• tasty african dinner 
• osman's life and testimony

5 minutes on the word of the week: relief

Going to try and do "word of the week" again...just feeling the desire to write a bit more - but only in 5 minute increments!  "Word of the week" is my version of "five minute friday"...just not so official or linked in with others.  Molly sends me my word...i type for 5 minutes....and then i allow myself to edit/format for 5 minutes...and then i hit "publish"....(so maybe it should technically be 10 minute Friday...).  This week's word...

Relief

Just the word makes me breathe in and sigh.  

What a relief.  Take a break.  The hard part is over.  Relief is here.    

I want to breathe deep more often...doesn't it feel good?  Take a deep breath...hold it...release it...that's what relief feels like.  

Relief can come in the form of a deep breath...or when Nick walks in the door at just the moment when I feel so done being a mom...or when a friend brings a coke with ice for sharing...or a friend across the world assures me that i'm not being ridiculous and that it's all going to be ok.  Relief.  

Relief pitchers in baseball.

Disaster relief.

Relief from the news not being so bad.

Relief from that experience being over. 

Coming in and offering help...just in time, just when it's needed most.  

Glad our God offers us the gift of relief.  

But what a weird word when you say it/type it multiple times in five minutes!