Thankful in September 2105

September 2015 Gratitude:

1. Neighbor boys playing in the backyard, building forts, running wild

2. Reading aloud with my older kids

3. Enjoying a well-told story on CD as I drive, drive, drive

4. Apps that help my children learn to read

5. Apps that teach me French and Spanish, 10 minutes at a time

6. A Saturday to be home and get projects accomplished

7. Watching a movie as a family

8. Watching a football game on the couch and eating popcorn

9. Trying to practice French with one of my kids

10. Being prompted just when to send an encouraging text

11. Seeing a play at Town Theatre with mom and the girls (Singing in the Rain)

12. Mom's church gathering to pray over her healing and trips to MDAnderson

13. Tea time with L's friends in a London reunion

14. Discipleship opportunities for my children at church

15. Will is no longer qualified for tutoring, but his teacher will still allow him to come to continue closing in the gap

16. Deciding when to call it quits in a sport and focus on the next thing

17. Sweet connection moments

18. Steak night at Rioz celebrating our boy turning twelve

19. A chance to experience flying first class with miles points

20. Finding a chocolate on your hotel pillow

21. Turquoise water of Jamaica

22. A lounge chair by the sea (with lots of shade)

23. Frozen lemonade

24. Time with our best couple friends

25. Reading a good book late into the night

26. A glitter tattoo on my ankle for temporary sass

27. Recruiting enough dancers for the Singing Christmas Tree

28. Watching Once Upon A Time with our kids on Sunday nights with our kids- finding a tv show

29. Locating someone who can restore a Craig's List cello to good playing condition

30. A resurgence of MJ and Will wanting to be read to at night- the last little bits of being little in a preteen world

Thankful in August 2015

August 2015 Gratitude:

1. The girls' rescue from the stuck elevator in the Oceans 1 condo

2. A week of indulging in off-limits treats for the kids at beach week and gym facilities

3. Spaghetti supper with my extended family

4. View of the morning sun over the ocean: dazzling

5. A slow walk on the beach with Mom, Trey, Michelle, and kids in the evening- thankful for Mimi's recovery progress

6. A breakfast date with my husband on the pier

7. My kids snuggling me; sitting down to enjoy tea and Victoria magazine

8. Cleaning out nine bags of clothing that were given to us, and passing them on for Shandon's "Generocity" campaign

9. Teaching N to learn to budget with tax-free shopping and coupons

10. Eating a meal and watching a DVD together as a family

11. Being "tearfully aware" of God's presence on a "rainbow day"- knowing that sensitivity to God and beauty is a gift

12. B sitting beside me as I have quiet time- talking about spiritual things

13. The therapy of laughter- happy that the boys are spending some summer days being brothers and playing Wii together

14. Home Spa pedicures and foot rubs for the whole family

15. MJ having Sean and Lillian over - enjoying each other's company so much

16. Trusting that God cares for my children when they face crushing disappointments

17. A child's renewed determination to improve his fitness level and sports skills

18. Having moms show me the ropes at high school

19. Men gathering at our house to grill and plan how to best minister to our class

20. Lunch with Mom

21. Cookies and milk for e new neighbors

22. Praying with a family member on the lake house screened porch

23. Soul Sisters time on Betsy's back loch

24. Andy and the kids so very excited about getting a puppy for Christmas

25. Happy to see L sporting spiritwear, settling in to high school

26. Kids enjoying the first night of new youth groups

27. A training our kids on couch-to-5K runs- straining towards better fitness

28. Ordering new Biblestudy materials for our church-excited about helping our ladies grow closer to God

29. Taking Will to the pool and watching him have a great time all by himself

30. Having friends over for burgers

31. Sitting on the couch watching a movie with Will, just because he asked me to- doing something he wanted to

Thankful in July 2015

July 2015 Gratitude:

1. Strong decaf Starbucks with lots of creamy half and half

2. Birdsong during my quiet time, a light breeze, the rest of my family still asleep

3. Melting Pot fondue night with teen girls and their moms

4. A and I watching a movie upstairs with whirlypop

5. Mimi cooking a country-style big dinner; enjoying being around her table together

6. Riding the pontoon boat to see the Lake Murray fireworks

7. A three for one photobook coupon- family gifts planned

8. Reading Will's early reader Bible each morning

9. Time with my kids in the early morning (when they are still half-asleep and still sweet)

10. Being remembered by friends from long ago on my birthday

11.. Good fellowship in our home for Biblestudy

12. Women's ministry events

13. Our children having good friends

14. A bus that comes (most days) to our front door to pick Will up for summer reading camp

15. Dinner out with my Soul Sisters for summer birthday celebrations

16. Gelato made from avocado that actually tastes like chocolate mocha

17. Watching MJ in a play singing her first solo; Proud of L and N for helping with Worship Week

18. Having our family show up to the kids' performances and games

19. Being a home away from home to three college counselor guys- being able to show hospitality (and receiving vouchers to boot)

20. Pinecove Camp in the City - high energy activities for kids to learn to love Jesus

21. A morning to be at home in silence, alone with The Lord - personal retreat

22. A good relationship with my husband after 15 years

23. Good books on CD from the library to make the commute more enjoyable and productive

24. My kids seeing camp leaders transparent in their testimonies and choosing to spend their summers for Jesus- able to observe " a great cloud of witnesses"

25. Watching McFarlane together- Gratitude for teachers and coaches who help kids believe that they can go to college one day

26. Morphine, Valium, and other strong drugs when Andy's kidney stone caused such blinding pain

27. Time to organize, donate, and volunteer in the summer

28. A day when some of my children can sleep in

29. A day for L to volunteer at B's TLC orientation- preparing the next group for days ahead

30. Volunteering as a family to help the women and girls of South Sudan

31. Medical help for A's clot- learning that baby aspirin is now "low dose" aspirin after searching the pharmacy shelves

Thankful in June 2015

June 2015 Gratitude:

1. The ability to send pictures and videos throughout the day- instantaneous communication (when desired)

2. Natalia being recommended to lead a small group of third graders next year at church: learning to mentor at a young age

3. L going to a pool party with TLC friends- celebrating the end of an era

4. N getting accepted into AVID- comforted that she will have an academic umbrella to help her succeed and prepare for college

5. B watching amazing guitarists on youtube - being able to learn from others we've never met

6. Finishing a school year with cream soda in loyal says bottles and ice cream sundaes

7. SS lake day

8. A cello found nearby on Craig's List

9. Free doughnuts at Krispy Kreme given for good grades-  boxes of them

10. Great turnout for Bible Study

11. Lunch with my Soul Sisters under umbrellas at a cafe

12. Free football camp for the boys

13. Smoothie movie night at home - summer!

14. Traveling to Europe (traveling anywhere!)

15. N's sicknever quickly over

16. Cathedrals built with majestic artistry

17. Cafés, coffees, and afternoon tea

18. Some quiet down time by rose bed gardens

19. Cooler temperatures and vast parks

20. Only one day of rain in England - unheard of!

21. A husband who drives to Charlotte on Father's Day and fixes the flat on the van

22. Horseback riding lessons for the girls at the Crooks' farm

23. Professional carpet cleaning to get the puke smell out of the boys' carpet

24. Friends who are happy for us when we posted a third anniversary Gotcha Day picture

25. The sounds of our house: listening to MJ's auditon practice, B's guitar, N's piano, L's violin, W's reading- enjoying watching them learn and grow

26. Reading a book in the afternoon

27. Fresh starts

28. An open afternoon for the girls to lounge around at Mimi's house

29. A friend sharing tomatoes from her garden

30. NOT driving in my car all day

Thankful in May 2015

May 2015 Gratitude:

1. Sunday school women who pray over me and bring my family a casserole when I will be with Mom in the hospital

2. So proud of Mary Jayne's theatrical abilities put to good use for Jesus!

3. Thankful for a family picnic together on a beautiful spring day

4. The pull of the Holy Spirit who sends tears and a heart for missions

5. Watching my brother tenderly care for my mom in the hospital

6. Thandful that our kids won an award for scripture memory

7. Cars that keep running

8. Friends and family that visit mom while she is in the hospital - notes, balloons, flowers, cards

9. Family camp silly songs, blob bouncing, zip-lining, fireworks, square dancing

10. Kids handing me a flower on Mother's Day

11. My generous husband's desire to send kids to camp who otherwise would not be able to experience God's love and     message in this way.    

12. Mom getting to come home from the hospital!

13. An encouraging solid line-drive hit for B

14. Another day with mom

15.Listening with mama pride to the eighth grade orchestra play "Pink Panther"

16. A thirty second cuddle before we're off in different directions

17. Brennan's hearty laugh

18. Cool air and an orderly (for the moment) home

19. So proud of girls who haver scribed long a ad hard to make beautiful music

20. The wonder of flight and air travel

21. Key lime pie and the search for the best recipe on the island

22. Having child care (and drivers) so that A and I can reconnect

23. The amazing blue-green waters of the Keys

24. An opportunity to exercise on the beach - yoga under palm trees

25. The opportunity to try a paddle board yoga class at sunset

26. Memorial Day - celebrating those who gave their lives for our freedom

27. Barry's help with pharmacies- the gift of having a friend who is a pediatrician

28. Taking Natalia to choose a new puzzle and finding the right size frame for the Irish one she finished

29. Finding clothes bargains; cheap thrills at the consignment boutique

30. Mom giving L a haircut

Thankful in April 2015

April 2015 Gratitude:

1. The trampoline getting good use (anything but computer games!)

2. Family pulling together around Mom during her cancer diagnosis

3. L being able to fins a dress she liked with Grandmama

4. The little gift of a tapestry "DO NOT DISTURB" sign from Jane

5. God holding off the rain when I lead Pilates for FIA

6. Beautiful dogwoods and azaleas abloom in the south

7. Having LIFE in His name

8. Being able to lead a good Bible Study lesson for Sunday School

9. Being able to sleep by the whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium on a school field trip

10. Being able to go with B to tour Turner Field and see baseball through the eyes of someone who plays

11. A not-too-packed Spring Saturday

12. The whole family at the ball filed cheering (or at least present for moral support)

13. An amazing number of honors classes offered at our public schools

14. Fresh picked strawberries in season

15. The possibility of good friends for L next year at RNE

16. Pretty colored toenail polish

17. Helpfulness from the school office staff

18. Zumba class with Mary Jayne at school; running with B in the rain; sweaty red-faced kids

19. Seeing African dance and drums

20. Mom, Trey, and Michelle together, sharing a pew

21. A day to sit with Mom and discuss the future

22. L feeling pretty for the school dance

23. A's safe travel back and forth from Houston

24.people who come to Zumba FIA in the park, even when it's raining

25. Free henna tattoos and food samples at international day at the library

26.Picnic in the park with the Sunday school class

27. Buying sweets from the candy barrels with Mom at Mast General Store

28. Watching kids we've known since bit party walk aisles to receive academic awards

29. B's happiness to go to the library and pick up the next book in a series

30. Being able to drive to grocery stores and search for "Grapples" even if we didn't find any

Thankful in March 2015

March 2015 Gratitude:

1. Rain giving us an extra night at home together

2. Gardenia-scented candles

3. Riding to an event with girlfriends

4. A husband and IT coordinator who could recover my files when they crashed

5. Snubbing Pilates and having someone I didn't know tell me how glad they were that I had taught the class

6. Women's Ministry: all the hands coming together to pull off an event

7. The delight of being given the opportunity to speak to speak and share what I'm learning.

8. Bringing Gzranddaddy joy by having a seventieth birthday dinner; enjoying the family photoshoot

9. A blanket and back support on a cold baseball game bleacher

10. Meeting working girl Stephanie for lunch

11. Encouraging a friend with a new baby

12. Asking a neighbor if she'd like to go on a walk

13. A vehicle that works again (to drive family all over the planet)

14. A rainy Saturday to get to stay in and get some work done plus time to play

15. Having a room to share with guests

16. Watching a rare family movie together on the couch

17. Making apple and key lime pies for Pi day- making math teachers smile

18. Meeting with Soul Sisters at Betsy's house

19. thankful that we are both have each other to parent when we need to "tag-out" emotionally or physically

20. THANKFUL THAT MOM'S CANCER WAS DETECTED EARLY!!!

21. Trey being able to stay at the hospital during Mom's biopsy

22. A friend who brings me chocolates and a journal when she hears that I've relieved bad news

23. Very's pizza night shared with family friends; building a relationship with our favorite waitress

24. A date with my husband trying a new restaurant

25. Having coffee with mom at her kitchen table

26. Kids playing outside on a beautiful day on the trampoline

27. Medicine

28. Hearing my kids giggle

29. Watching one kid read to another

30. A night of my man's attention and affection

31. The promise held in a new day to try and get things right