228-241

228  kayaks
229  brisk lake air with bright sun overhead
230  exploration afloat
231  a newly found lagoo, complete with creepy docks that lead to nowhere, tree limbs underwater that look eerily similar to body parts, muck and algae and other floatings.
232  uplifting conversation...for hours
233  a new and dear friend: feisty, wise, motivated, a joy to my heart.
234  excellent food. gf. and those pancakes...
235  pamela's bread mixes. pam, we love ya.
236  jacuzzi. 109 degrees...too much? probably...
237  a perfect night's sleep. cool air, warm blankets, a full and satisfying 8 hours.
238  a bit of mid-september sunburn
239  fall colors just starting to peek
240  sore muscles
241  a small weekend retreat. rest.

224-227

224  this kid. precious time with him each wednesday. taking beautiful delight in all the naps, cries, diapers, bottles, smiles.
225  high energy toddlers that i'm learning to love well. the shy grins and giggles all day.
226  quiet afternoons while little ones sleep so very safely. i'm not used to down time...
227  time to think and rest. because my Father knows what i need.

gifts 220-223

I have possibly been the most absent of writers so far on this blog, but it is simply because I forget. But thankfulness has indeed changed my life, my perspective, my heart.

220. this ring that I bought two years ago to remind me that God is good, He is faithful, and that all is grace.

221. gloomy days suit me well sometimes. I don't like them for two long because they can after time begin to draw out the depression that sits inside of me at times, but today, and once in awhile, when I get to grab out my tall red hunter rain boots and hope it storms, or sit cozy in this classroom and wait for the pitterpatter of little feet. I watch the dark clouds and am thankful for the possible rain, the watering the earth. I think of soup.

222. This job. there are 74 little ones in my care this year. I get to challenge their minds and their hearts with color and pencil and teach them to create. is it possible that God has given me such a wonderful job? I cannot complain, I cannot.

223. Lately, i have been giving my lovelife a number. 1-10. I tell max if we ever fight again I will yell the number 3 at him. lol. Things have been so peaceful and full of romance and flavor and cuddling though of late.. max reaching out in the middle of the night to hold me. I love this man so completely. sometimes I watch him while he sleeps, his lips move around as if hes talking to someone in his dreams and I laugh at him, sometimes out loud, but he is such a sleeper he doesn't hear me. our lovelife has been a 9/10 these last few weeks. he is learning me, and I him. and it is an adventure and I feel so blessed. 

gifts 211-219

This morning I woke up, and both my kids were singing and cheerful. No whining cries, or stubborn outcries, just little voices singing Jesus Loves Me, and an explanation of how to build a tent. in great detail. [gift 211.] I consider this a gift because when my husband is gone away on work, I sometimes get overwhelmed at the daunting task of being with the littles all weekend on my own, i am not a fan of refereeing, and managing screams and nagging, and it does a GREAT wonder, when the kids are peaceful and cheerful. It makes things much more doable.

I also noticed it to be a crisp cool morning as I looked out the window. The kind of air that cleans out your insides, leaving you refreshed and renewed, and the sun is bright as ever, so there is that bit of warmth the cling to, but who doesn't love cozy boots and socks, and pretty scarves to drape yourself in? 

[gift 212.] I enjoyed dressing for the cooler weather, just the simple act of pulling out my gray ugg boots, and helping Ben into his hearty cotton flannel button down, and putting little norah in a cute long sleeve shirt. We had errands to do today, and we dressed appropriately. 

213. hot chocolate! Ben has been begging me to make him some, but I keep putting it off because it just quite didn't seem crisp enough, but today, he cleaned his toy room with an excellent attitude, [214.] without one word of complaining or arguing, and I wanted to bless him for his blessing to me. I brought him some hot cocoa with the tiny white marshmallows and he gave me a big grin. totally worth it. I made some for myself too;)

[215.] face time calls from Mom and Dad English. They live in beautiful California, so far away, but it is such a joyful surprise to get phone calls from them and now with their new purchase of iphones, we can facetime anywhere, in this case, in the middle of Target! It just blesses my spirit that they continue to take the time to invest in both Nathan and me, and their grandchildren.  It's easy to forget or set aside the effort when you live a countryside apart, but they have always made it a priority to invest in the relationship with us, and we feel so loved by them. I know they are Nathan's parents, but I consider them the same, as well as respected friends. 

[216.] cold toes on the bare wood floors, a cool wind that seems to shake our house, but I feel alive and thankful.

[217.] just so aware of God's presence this day, and I am so thankful and joyful that He makes Himself known in this way! Jesus, thank you for being so close today, and blessing me with Your goodness and mercy, and Your joy that fills me up!! You are so worthy of all worship and glory, and i can't help but worship with you with what You have poured into my heart and soul. Everything seems to fade in the background, and I am reminded that You are all I need. You are all I need.

[218.] dark maroon nail polish. another sign that autumn is here.

[219.] peace in our home. the kitchen is clean, with sun blazing through, the bathroom is also clean, however, the living room has piles of blankets and pillows from Ben building forts and creating with his imagination, but it doesn't bother me like it used to. [not that I am super clean or orderly. not at all. I just would get anxious with kid messes anywhere but the toy room.] but it's fine. It's peaceful. there is time to clean it up later. it brings him delight to create. he is only 4 once, I am stepping back to let him at it, and I choose shalom over chaos. 

gifts 200-210.

200. a quiet morning with my mom. she is a good listener, and a faithful friend.
thankful that this where our relationship now is. 

201. sending my first born son off to school for the first time was huge, but I am praising Jesus it so well for both of us and we are both healthy enough to be ok with this new season.

202. deposits. any income that comes our way is a gift. and appreciated.

203. the ability to learn. 

204. a patient husband. and I mean p a t i e n t.

205. corn dogs and spiral mac and cheese. it's total crap, but tastes so good every once in a while.

206. that as of right now, I can walk in the light and not be struggling or fighting some sort of inward demon of lust, or jealousy, or an angry heart.

207. thankful that God is our Councilor, that He is full of endless wisdom and understanding. His ways are so lofty, yet He chooses to speak to us.

208. for Chelsea, Tammy, Lindsey, Jeanne, Stephanie, Nikki, and Casey. My 7 closest and most highly adored friends. These are my kindreds, my heart is so thankful and humbled by these women.

209. I am so anticipating fall and all that it brings, but I am thankful for these last hot lingering days of summer. 

210. water. water. water. i LOVE water, and I never did before.

194-200

194. that my mom will watch my kids and love on them.
195. learning something new. a new alphabet. new vowels. and beginning to see a new language open up.
196. late night coffee with the sac club. a rich time that is a big blessing.
197. blue walls in the bathroom.
198. chocolate chip scones from wsb.
199. that my kids get the opportunity to learn to dance. ballet, tap, and hip hop.
200. promises in isaiah 58. "Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard."

182-193.

182. Fresh flowers picked from a beautiful garden now sitting in various mason jars around my house.
183. A new piano. the color i love. the size is perfect. 
184. Friends that are now my family.
185. 2 kids in school all day all week at a place where people love Jesus.
186. Time last night to watch my cute husband coach football. 
187. New paint colors in my home. 
188. A fun filled day at work on the road with my husband. 
189. Witnessing two good friends get married on a beautiful rainy afternoon.
190. Time that i can purposefully dig deeper into the Word with some ladies. 
191. Godly, wise counsel for me and my husband.
192. People who have served our family through dryall work and tiling the bathroom.
193. That God intervenes in my life. He doesn't have to. But He wants to. 

176-181.

176. cream of wheat with fresh frozen blueberries on top

177. catching up with a forever friend. that she is right where i left her, and she was joyful to see me. 
It means much to me.

178. hospitality. the simple act of being fed. even if its spiral whole wheat noodles mixed with green peas. i never tasted something so delicious. it was given/made in love.

179. closure. a reckoning. the ability to move on fully, with nothing lingering.

180. friends that love at all times. that hold tightly to me, even though I fall short most of the time. they point me to Jesus, and offer grace. so thankful.

181. a husband full of passion and zeal. for everything. 

164-176

164  such a firm GOSPEL foundation in our Father's good, gentle, gracious love for us
165  and church leadership with such pure ambassadorship for proclaiming the truth of our condition
166  zechariah 3
167  freedom to dream
168  opportunities to share the same truth
169  and the sure promise of like-minded people
170  a job. tuesdays and thursdays. twin toddlers. a boy and a girl.
171  another job possibility. mondays + wednesdays...
172  free wireless internet at starbucks
173  john+kelsey's wedding. and a dance party.
174  away. chicago. wind + sunshine.
175  those 5 girls. backpacks and miles of sidewalk on tired feet. laughter multiplied.
176  that discipleship and friendship can be one in the same.