Multitude Monday, Take 358

So...it's been a while, hmm? By special request, an old-fashioned round of the Monday gratitude list. Because, as G.K. Chesterton once said, “When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.”

Thanking God recently for...

7816. strawberry season

7817. Jesus' glorious invitation: "Let the little children come to Me!"
7818. the privilege of leading them and telling them about Him
7819. an impromptu pizza date with Jude
7820. memories of countless pre-orthodontist-appointment pizza lunch dates with my dad
7821. peony blooms in the light of the magic hours

7822. six big bushes heavy with gorgeous peonies

7823. painting with a friend while we caught up on life
7824. grilled cheese with bacon jam(!)
7825. boys opening my car door for me
7826. the way the neighbors' white dogwood glows in the early morning
7827. walks to preschool

7828. friends' listening ears, empathetic hearts, encouragement
7829. two-year-old sleeping in my arms during church nursery duty
7830. super kind and helpful endodontist
7831. sweet church friends babysitting for the boys
7832. double date in Nashville
7833. the neighbors' peonies

7834. Northern friends' peonies to enjoy on Instagram after mine are dead and gone

instagram/christiepurifoy

7835. cool morning breeze after overnight storms
7836. sweet times of sharing and prayer with the women in my community group
7837. VidAngel: way better movie selection, cheaper + more convenient than Redbox, *and* the ability to filter objectionable content!
7838. the energetic, joyful, kind woman working at the donut shop--loving her job, loving people, loving life
7839. visits from both sets of parents
7840. makeshift Narnia costumes

7841. theology discussions with Steve
7842. bluebirds on the greenway
7843. the scent of honeysuckle
7844. a friend's example of staying in the fight
7845. a Skype meeting with an old college friend

7846. Talenti coconut almond chocolate gelato (check your grocery's freezer...oh man)
7847. time to pray and prepare my heart before a meeting I dreaded
7848. incredibly merciful and sweet answers to those prayers
7849. our pastors' care for us
7850. their families' sacrifices to free them up to care for us

7851. Jude saying "Bless me!" when he sneezes
7852. a clean desk--with space to actually work *at the desk*! what?!
7853. re-launch of our women's Sunday School class
7854. getting to snuggle a dear friend's impossibly cute grandbaby
7855. boys dressing like ninjas and taking their swords for a walk on the greenway
7856. Steve sneaking and swordfighting with them, to the great amusement of passersby

7857. this cutie pie (who's grown an inch and a half since his October birthday!) graduating from preschool

7858. five-year-olds in mortarboards

7859. three quarts of rhubarb from Ohio
7860. great big creamy white magnolia blooms
7861. their scent surprising me as I passed under several trees
7862. the privilege of intercession
7863. seeing the gospel in Ezra
7864. silent reading time with Elijah while his little brother naps

7865. at least one friend who reads my blog and misses it when I don't post
7866. summer break!