seeking to have an inappropriate level of gratitude

• "wake us to be present to you and present to one another." - EMH, liturgy before a purposeful gathering
• gathering as a city group at will and ella's
• "we look to the grace of God and to the sanctifying work of the Spirit to accomplish His purposes in and through us this day. " -EMH, The Hours, Daybreak
• reminder to continue to cultivate a ridiculous amount of gratitude:

• meaningful conversation with a lovely friend at Panda Express
• friends who are ok with me asking hard questions (and who are willing to ask me hard questions)
• the smell of my dad.  freshly cut trees with a little bit of machinery...

• "the Pentateuch is probably my strong suit." - Eli :) 
• breathe.  always amazed by the group God gathers and the Truth/encouragement that is shared. 
• the pool isn't dark brown anymore

• Eli and Caroline had a great time on the youth retreat
• brownie bar in honor of Jacob's birthday 
• my girl Caroline behind the wheel

• the best enchiladas this kitchen has seen in a while (and the kindness of Barbara to bring dinner)
• when trouble shooting results in solving the problem 
• Emma's willingness (and awesomeness) to take pictures at Caroline's game

• He sees. He knows.  He won't just pass by.  (words of encouragement that came from studying Mark 6:46-52)
• cookie dough from katie
• sweet sweet moments between grandaddy and Zoe

• nick's gift to Zoe that facilitated time (and fun!) with each of her siblings

• Waffle House with my dad, brother and nephew (who knew there was a Waffle House Raisin Toast song?!)(enjoy)
• WONDERFUL trip to Ft. Jackson
• batting cages (with nick)

• cheeseburgers (with nick)
• walking along the river (with nick)
• found Hunt Brothers Pizza - and enjoyed it (with nick)
• laughing at the office (with nick)
• hotel breakfast (with nick)
• having such a wonderful husband who is so hard to leave
• easy drive to Columbus
• sermon from Church of the City/Jon Tyson "everything for show"
  

loving kindness on display

• pizza picnic - the first of the year!
• sweet Super Bowl gathering at the steiner's
• the idea of "grace drenched reflection" - from Dallas Willard's "life without lack"

• finally finished previously mentioned book. so so good. 
• slow and easy Monday morning
• jim and Shelley's offer of wings 
• aldi for the win with the lime chips!

• "I am your beloved" on repeat 
• jon and sophia's kindness and delicious lasagna
• popcorn protege.  the learner has become the teacher. 

• "thanks for waiting...I'll be out as soon as we're done praying." - acc's text to me when I came to pick her up from mallory's
• team work making the dreamwork in taking care of kiddos so that i can take a little trip to fort jackson and see my favorite human
• dollar store valentine balloons.  they have upped their game (and their price)

• beautiful weather, delightful walk with Lauren
• benji's chocolate chip banana bread
• Isaiah 41:10
• emma's artwork found nick

• how cleaning the cottage so often fits right in to the day's plans
• big, beautiful moon
• cash girls doing gymnastics together in the front yard
• incredible folks who step up to bless and encourage my kids

counting and counting

• our God is louder than the thunder and brighter than the lightning
• "thank you, God, for this new day.  thank you for this new beginning."
• "You're a good place to hide.  Strong God, I'm watching you do it.  I can always count on You - God, my Dependable Love." - psalm 59:17, msg
• super easy buffalo wild wing pick up 
• yaya checking in and being her wonderful self
• a cookie cake slice well shared

• reading God's word aloud with friends. wow. 
• talking with beth on the phone
• we have eli's car back!!!
• "Jesus wants to give me mercy even more than i want to receive it.  He wants to give me grace even more than I want to ask for it." - Jon Tyson
• card game with shea - and that she came to visit
• caroline's first soccer game of the season! AND nick got to watch it via facebook live! (amazed by God's kindness to let me happen to hear someone mention that it was being streamed live on FB)

• scattergories with nick over facetime
• "let the weight of your mercy cover us"
• walking in to see a big brother reading the little red caboose to his littlest sister
• watching Radio with Caroline
• fresh reminders from Exodus via Big Lee
• chef lee's after church

• filled in potholes (so nice not to hit them!)
• seeing that the AFM made it back to Senegal 
• super delicious bacon cheeseburger casserole (and the hands that prepared it)
• a day of relief...nick made it through the gas chamber stuff and eli made it through his communications speech
• a jar of spaghetti sauce and a bag of "end the conversation" hearts
• everbe's first daffodil of the year

• hearing the heart of a friend
• walking around heath park with kimberly
• dinner date with molly!
• God provides...this time it was a box spring 
• we've made it to the halfway point of nick's training/time away!  
• reacting in peaceful ways to things that i have not reacted so peacefully to in the past (still have a long way to go...but it's nice to see a little progress)
• "changes of plans are opportunities to bring God into the realities of my life." - dallas willard

you love me still...

• strong work on 2019's Shutterfly book
• the gifts nick left for us...it's fun to open them...fun to see them dwindling.  2 weeks down. 4 to go. 
• tulltimate!
• funny and cute memes...and the funny and cute friends that send them to me.  

• worshipping alongside my kiddos
• I can trust the Lord with nick...and with everything else, too. 
• candid conversations. openly and easily talking about things that some folks don't openly and easily talk about.
• Caroline in her #99 jersey (and she got her GA #99 jersey!!!)

• "you are the lover of my soul.  you know everything about me and you love me still." - spontaneous worship at cityscape
• t-shirt sheets at my sister's.  i forgot how very soft they are!! 
• playground time at sunset
• pre-dinner cookies at BK

• best gushers ever
• quick and easy trip to Athens
• fun times at trader joe's (and the sweet cashier who gave Zoe all the stickers!!)
• cali n' tito's with some of my most favorite folks
• getting to answer questions in a room full of college students

savoring the small (and large!) joys

• "I am Your beloved...the one the Father loves...the One who knows me best is the One who loves me most."  SUCH a good song from the Heslers. I highly HIGHLY recommend that you listen to it!!
• getting to turn right on Manchester
• full and rich Sunday...and how everything worked out beautifully - especially timing
• seeing (and smelling ;)) and getting to be with Dee Dee 
• yummy cake and tasty meatballs
• button prompted prayers for my girl Boots 

• Redeeeming Love with Yaya and Ella 
• realizing nick's popcorn at home is just as good as movie popcorn (and probably even tastes better because it costs a bazillion times less and I can eat it in my pajamas)
• getting things back to the people they belong to (just feels right!)
• "there's joy in the house of the Lord." (the song. the truth. the singing of it at CityScape)
• "you are the shepherd and overseer of our souls." - 1 Peter 2:25
• these words given to me on a card by a friend on JUST THE DAY I was contemplating Him being the shepherd and overseer of our souls: 

• "blessed assurance Jesus is mine....I in my savior am happy and blessed."
• incredible weekend at Young Life's Sharptop Cove for Eli and Caroline
• fun night and morning for Zoe and Emma at Yaya's
• fun night and morning for me while Zoe and Emma were at Yaya's and Eli and Caroline were at YL camp
• cheddar bay biscuits
• sleeping until 11
• lovely things from the lovely Mary Grace 

• having a knife when there were no scissors available
• kids' pita bowls with Amanda
• airbnb guests who respond graciously to things that are beyond my control
• table full of teenagers Tuesday night (and I didn't ruin the hamburgers!!)
• borrowed books, fascinating stories
• treats from shea (and my fabulous unboxing video!)
• ridiculous amounts of generosity from 'chelle.  seriously. wow.  

• it was just a dead battery!!! (some folks in the CFA drive through got to see me do quite the happy dance in the parking lot)
• a teenager who wakes me up to talk (I would lose sleep for that reason any night!)(though I must admit I'm thankful it doesn't happen every night)
• talking to lane Friday night...and to my dad multiple times throughout the week.  
• tent for Zoe from Carey.  she's loving that thing!
• Emma's experiments with her new camera

• seeing JMo and thinking "that's my pastor!"
• home sweet home repair (need a handy woman, I've got a number for you!!)
• "in Your presence there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore!" - psalm 16:11
• "all your children will be taught by the Lord, great will be their peace." - Isaiah 54:13
• talking to nick tonite/shared cherry coke over FaceTime.  so so good for my head and my heart.  
• these 2 teenagers of mine.  they are special. 

• being lavished with God's love and kindness.
• one week down, five to go
• "impress less and connect more." - Hannah Ro
• the heated steering wheel and seats of the rented car (and the hope that tomorrow it will go back from whence it came)

acknowledging God's goodness and generosity

• another lovely evening at allen levi's...delicious cake, wonderful friends and an exceptional person to celebrate
• a little lighter for the candle on the front porch (God provides!  I love how He cares about the details)
• SNOW!  and how very excited the girls got (especially Caroline)

• cleaning out the closet/storage room for CityScape.  so much fun!!  seriously. 
• Emma's picnic with/for her friends
• i really am married to such an incredible man

• "...may I spend these hours well...in good service to You." - from Every Moment Holy
• the way emma sees and captures beauty
• the way the Lord paints the skies

• delicious french toast and bacon
• seeing nick on the exit ramp at 8:58 (prayer works!!)
• ice maker full of ice!

• all the thoughtfulness and goodies from yaya
• sitting in a living room sharing about where we've seen God move and where we are hoping to see Him move.  we could've done that all afternoon and into the evening!  
• He is the "overseer of our souls" - 1 Peter 2:25
  
  
  

Remembering His grace and love...and gifts and treasures.

• seeing the Walls across the parking lot
• cityscape is happening!  so very "yes"
• celebrating yaya! 

• walk and lunch with Christal 
• folks who went before us on the path at heath park and put bark across the puddle...that'll preach. 
• "I think I'm going to sweep off the roof." - eli - goodness.  that initiative is a blessing.

• getting to sit in the sunshine for a few minutes
• coming on home.  tears and all. 
• emma's enjoyment and delight

• sliding around on socks, making forts, enjoying treats, having fun with AB and Jacob 
• delightful date night that included 1/2 a cake...among other treats. 
• creative ideas and funny things to think about.  watch out, this may happen:

• lemon hummus.  
• Tuesday time with Laura Lea + CFA + Kimberly
• REMEMBER YOUR GOD - from a liturgy in Every Moment Holy

• pizza and king cake with the faircloths
• nick put the leftovers in the fridge (they weren't ruined by my forgetfulness!)
• moments that make me so thankful that we homeschool: 

• Wednesday afternoon on benson drive.  and that Molly has coffee creamer in her fridge just for me. 
• new day, fresh breath (not fresh as in "mouthwash fresh") - fresh/new/another day of breaths
• clever stickers: 

• a peaceful ending to a community group that has gathered most every Thursday night for almost the past 4 years.
• nick, lane and my dad together for lunch.  i love that my husband loves my family pretty much as much as i do - and vice versa :) 
• 3 men who have invested so much love, prayer and encouragement into me: 

• the joy of obedience
• being under all the covers
• 3 hours of our yearly foster care training done for me and nick (3 out of 15...or 6 out of 30 depending on how you look at it...either way, 1/5 of the way done!)