Much gratitude

For gifts (large and small) #339-375:

- the lilacs on the walk to the subway stop

- the Lamb

- our death has already been died, we've been resurrected

- labor pains of His sweet and bitter providence as we wait eagerly for the redemption of our bodies

- the best is yet to come

- my mom, who entered the presence of the resurrection and the life 10 years ago today, who I/we miss much...

- her humility, grace, sacrificial service, hard work, her art, her gentleness, kindness, love for God, how she painted all over everything, her love for others, her ability to turn garage sale "junk" into cuteness, her quiet- yet Christ-confident voice, her perseverance to the end

- His saving grace- towards my mom and me

- for the hope, JOY, peace of Easter Sunday

- for G's first words this morning (toward my belly), "Hey boy"

- for yes, #4, a healthy little brother! :)

- for safe travels and meetings with men of whom the world is not worthy

- for grace in friends' lives, for repentance, answered prayers...

- for working internet, to get on our blog for the first time in weeks!

- for Easter weather and for Easter buddies- for eggs to hide, for extra local little children getting in on the egg hunt in our courtyard

early party

Inspired in part by Great-Grandma Mac, whom we miss- even from far away- and in part to Fancy Nancy and her party ideas...our little early celebration for G's coming 4th b'day had a "fancy, dress-up, tea party" theme. Here are some pics (not the greatest)...





(pretty sure my cakes could make an appearance on that cakewrecks blog :))

Grateful #308 - #338

- for forgiving children

- and a forgiving Father

- for this good reading (and this and this) as we get ready to celebrate our favorite day...the one we remember daily, and remember weekly...(have I overdone links to her blog?) :)

- for the privilege we have to live here

- for cereal from the States

- for answered prayer thoughtfulness from our oldest

- for his delight in getting a new song and his not wasting a minute to get it down
after lessons

- sweet convos with the sweetest of friends

- instruction, examples, stories heard here...

- a break this morning, a willing and hardworking and excited daddy for time with the kids, His grace that I fall hard on again today, a place to sit and think a bit more clearly

- crying, needy, lost friend on our couch last night...oh that she wouldn't stop feeling needy...

- water, food, heat, gas...no shortages here that our neighbors in Japan still face

- that the 3 love sharing their room and wouldn't have it any other way

- for ultrasounds here and no laws in our land that keep us from knowing in 3 weeks whether #4 will even out the family (our oldest's desire) or not...

- for cheap kites, and bits of grass, and wind, and buddies