so many gifts (271-280)

271. A fun night celebrating a friend's birthday.

272. Finally having time to unpack the rest of my boxes and very nearly get this new home set up :)

273. My new dining table, which now ranks among my favorite/best craigslist finds.

274. Spending Saturday evening playing this ridiculous but fun game with friends.

275. Getting to serve in preschool at church and play with some of the cutest kids ever.

276. These cookies, which the lovely Sabrina made for our Bible study...and which I loved so much that I made a batch myself the next day. (Yes, cookies are making my top-ten list of things for which I am thankful this week. They were that good. And I maybe have a bit of a sweet tooth...)

277. Getting to spend more time with a dear friend from church, now that we're coworkers :)

278. This is unoriginal, as it makes the list nearly every week (and the weeks it's not actually here in writing, it's very much in my heart)...but I am just oh-so-thankful for this amazing body of believers that I'm blessed to be a part of.

279. Getting to do lots of cooking/baking in the past few days.

280. This post from my pastor's wife, which I just came across tonight (though it was written earlier this month). Very timely for me, and very much something I need to learn/remember.

Christ is risen from the dead

We are one with Him again

Come awake, come awake

Come and rise up from the grave!

- Matt Maher

busy, busy week

The beauty of the cross is that there's One who has redeemed my soul

The beauty of the cross is that I'm finally free and letting go

The beauty of the cross is that Your grace has found me just as I am.

Beauty of the Cross - Jeff Johnson

261. Loving this music!

262. A quick visit to see extended family in Tennessee; so thankful for the opportunity to see my grampa one more time.

263. Awakening to the chirping of birds outside my window.

264. Beautiful spring weather.

265. A quick Sunday afternoon nap beside an open window.

266. The sound of my neighbors' kids playing.

267. Spending my lunch break with a wonderful friend from church, who is also my newest coworker :)

268. An evening playing games at a coffee shop with friends.

269. An especially fun night of bingo at the assisted living home.

270. A belated Valentine's Day party with my dear friends, watching this favorite movie.

Valentine's gratitude

I've found a love greater than life itself

I've found a hope stronger and nothing compares

I once was lost now I'm alive in You!

(Love Came Down)

We love because He first loved us.

(I John 4:19)

So, so much to be thankful for on this Valentine's Day.

251. The amazing, incredible, awesome way God worked out all the details for me and Paul to sublet our apartment and move into our new duplex.

252. Our duplex, with its yard. and attic. and doorbell. and windows. and space. and everything about it that makes us so excited to live here :)

253. The generosity of several wonderful people from church who donated furniture to the couple from Spain who sublet our apartment.

254. Friends who gave up their evening to help us move.

255. A birthday dinner for a friend.

256. The opportunity to serve coffee with coworkers at a benefit concert for a family in need.

257. A movie night with friends.

258. Discovering another kindred spirit.

259. A beautiful afternoon, and time spent under a tree reading through I John.

260. Spending Valentine's evening with girls from church, enjoying a wonderful meal cooked by one of the elders and remembering that "this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:10)

cookies and coffee and snow, oh my!

241. Watching the kids at Lifegroup act out the story of Ruth.

242. A great evening at f(logos) discussing the first chapter of the book we're studying this semester.

243. SNOW!!! and the wonderfully fun morning at work that consisted of running outside every 15 minutes or so to make snow angels (especially enjoyed teaching the proper way to make a snow angel to a customer named Josh from Aruba who had never seen snow), slide around, and basically just bask in the Texas snow!

244. Sitting in the falling snow, drinking a cup of Verona with Sir Green Shirt.

245. Spending time with Bunny at a coffee shop, sharing about what the Lord is doing in our lives.

246. A homemade hat, knitted by a friend in Chicago, which I've had several opportunities to wear again this week.

247. Girl Scout Cookies (I bought Thin Mints and Caramel Delights on Sunday!)

248. This book; so convicting, but soooo good.

249. Getting to sleep in on Saturday after a busy week filled with late nights and early mornings.

250. Getting to visit with Everly and another girl from f(logos) Saturday afternoon.