feeding on His faithfulness.

• harmonizing with the "ohms" 
• listening to an incredible sermon from Louie Giglio/Passion City Church:  fear must fall  
• good advice that i wish the world would heed:

• apricot bars (and rachel g. shared the recipe)
• one last treat shared with krissy - a daim bar!
• another piece of luggage loaded up and heading to the States with a generous crew member

• miranda party in the queen's lounge
• the little bit of time and effort that rach put in to create a memory for a room full of people.
• the colors of the sea and sky as the storm came in this morning

• the opportunity to help
• knowing that someone finally feels heard
• laurin's willingness to give us a deck 1 to funnel tour - making a mercy ship dream of mine come true!

• crew mail box from erin!  
• amazing news on mother's day and an absolutely wonderful christmas card in May.
• african fabric bunting...and the generosity of the friend that made it possible. 

always a good idea to be thankful

• epic saturday - slept until nearly the afternoon, didn't get out of my pjs and didn't leave the cabin ALLLL day.
• our stamps arrived
• all things amy
• new day, new mercies

• successful cabin sale (nothing came back into the cabin...)
• dreaming of eating at the picnic table 
• nick's willingness to help the girls with planing and carrying out mother's day festivities
• sweet and thoughtful words, deeds and food, including a fondant bear (not pictured :)) (the dry gin bottle is full of peanuts.  promise.)

• usps finally came through and the piece of luggage finally made it
• jamie's help to print the banners
• early morning messaging that makes me laugh
• my unstoppable friend in cameroon

• irish whistles and harmonicas being played in 6318
• story upon story of God's great faithfulness
• "fresh new" smell (created by the new bed that we weren't expecting)
• emma's field trip to see what the supply department does (she's the blue-hatted one looking at the tomatoes)

• talking to beth on the phone
• celebrating shea 
• that molly remembers (and how that reminds me that God remembers)
• johnson's kindness to bring a pizza by

more and more.

• nice time at grand popo
• a sister i love thinking about while i'm at the beach (and any other time, too!)
• beautiful and pretty much deserted beach to walk on

• eli's help with the powerpoint for sunday night
• cokes, ice, lime
• good reading and listening materials

• when a good song gets stuck in my head
• jamie & lee anne's kindness to organize a goodbye party
•  the phenomenal job tom did sharing last thursday night

• "Faith is strong." - Nat Geo "Surgery Ship" episode 6
• shared lunch and fellowship in the barki cabin 
• getting to have a real dutch apple pie!

• coffee with moriah - so refreshing
• how happy emma was after time with moriah and monica
• "Colors of Benin" AFM Fashion Show

• steps forward for the edfeldts in their adoption process
• 2 for the price of 1 benin field service t-shirts
• kelsey's willingness to take a bag back to columbus for us

• the new-to-me emoji shared by KJ...oh the joy. 
• toni's willingness to work so hard to get our missing package delivered
• packing up the dreams God's planted 

• celebrating 15 years of being married to my favorite person on the planet
• sparkling apple juice in fancy glasses
• cinnamon rolls that are cooked to perfection (slightly not done!)

• jeans from the boutique that fit perfectly
• andrea's passionate and raw honesty 
• raising our ebenezer

raising ebenezers all over the place.

• "...the most important thing God could give them...to know Him better." - Tim Keller "Prayer"
• date night childcare always works out
• help for smelly clothes (thanks to whoever put this outside of our cabin!)

• solomon's help cutting out paper rocks for ebeneezer activity
• kind, kind email from emelia
• friday evening frisbee

• they know our order at shamiana
• the box michelle murrey sent...thoughtful generosity = beautiful
• chocolate from lisa svatek

• looking through pictures on the share drive...remembering God's faithfulness in benin
• eli's help with the powerpoint
• transition ladders & an expert in transition on the ship

• that life is about more than packages/luggage making it where they are supposed to go.  
• real mail from kirsten murphy
• those who are up before the sun serving (and who happen to be excellent public speakers.  wow, tom, wow.)

always more. always.

• reading about a potential malaria vaccine
• cherry coke with krissy (she even brought ice!)
• oh, this guy.  he's special. 

• treats from katie via peach
• febreeze trashbags
• people who go above and beyond and create glitter balloons

• josh mcgrath's willingness to coordinate and lead sports club
• early morning latte...with a perfectly timed song to boot
• excellent salad making...those who serve behind the scenes 

• when a process is easy and someone is hugely blessed because of it
• time with jasmine (and the by-product of a hair cut and fresh - though subtle - purple)
• special moments for dads and daughters

• brownies with chocolate chips
• sweet braids in cash girls' hair (and the reminder that God gives us the abilities that we need when we need them)
• the remarkable people my kids get to have conversations with

• hearing about nearly 700,000 kids who were given measles vaccinations in conakry, guinea.  
• that nick gets to enjoy watching so much football (channel that pretty much always have football on)
• walking with windsor on wednesday mornings (didn't even realize the beauty of the alliteration that was happening)

abundance.

• "His perfect love could not be overcome."
• good friday video (the reverse one)
• good friday service...especially the cross activity

• swimming at the embassy
• emma's easter egg hunt (her kindness and thoughtfulness is extraordinary)
• little bags with precious presents (and the collaboration between Benin and Cameroon)

• special easter outfits and dances
• talking with amy on her deck (via messenger)
• family

• easter lunch...the food, fellowship and laughter
• tasty popcorn with krissy
• phenomenal time at hotel du port with nick & suzanne

• the richness of friendship with the veltjens
• packed open cabins
• my brother jonathan.  happy to celebrate him today!  

t-h-a-n-k-s.

• quick and easy set up for palm sunday (many hands really do make light work!)
• holy week/easter promo by andrew
• the chance to be generous...and obediently generous
• the incredible (and creative) teacher that nick is

• practicing for ireland (coffee + blanket + coffee +  rainy day)
• the moment you realize you haven't forgotten something really important (that it's still 2 days away)
• caroline's snuggly moments
• the way amy believes in me as a parent (and the articles that she sends my way)

• emma's worship (added bonus = she was wearing her panda pajamas)
• new of Derek & Elisabeth's baby
• willing and helpful volunteers
• Truth (from the song "beloved" by vineyard)

• having a good book to read
• singing "trust and obey" with comfort and emelia in the crew galley
• sierra leone gifts from osman
• borrowed magnets

• "work and rest" sermon from the village church podcast (april 9)
• watching the sloppy show.  classic comedy. 
• super special gifs from kj
• elementary easter breakfast