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!

Fall Photos - Happy Sunday

After a super long day of church and meetings, I don't have it in me to come up with another Naples post--and unfortunately I didn't discipline myself to work ahead at the end of last week. But I don't want to lose my NaBloPoMo momentum, so here are some recent photos to make you smile :)

 

Gratitude tomorrow and then we'll get back to Italy on Tuesday! 

Multitude Monday, Take 354

"God says to give thanks, to do this in remembrance of Him — because in the remembering to give thanks, it’s our broken places that are re-membered — and we are the ones made whole.

A joyful heart is good medicine and our broken bones can be re-memembered when we remember to thank a good God."

--Ann Voskamp

Thanking God these last few weeks for...

7569. finally getting to explore Mammoth Cave during fall break

7570. the way a single tiny light can penetrate the blackest, thickest darkness
7571. hard but good conversations
7572. circumstances that force me to die to self and serve without immediate payoff
7573. having my laziness and self-centeredness exposed and worked on
7574. episodes of Wild Kratts on PBSKids.org

7575. these cowlicks

7576. the prize of surpassing worth: knowing HIM
7577. getting to snuggle other people's babies

 7578. Elijah reading to Jude and a friend's little boy

7579. the promise that Christ will return
7580. a friend's powerful, vulnerable blog posts during 31 Days
7581. windows open + heavy blankets on cool autumn nights
7582. grace to notice and celebrate small progress
7583. reassurance of His love and patience in my brokenness

7584. a visit from my BIL/SIL and nieces/nephew
7585. hearing my SIL's heart about her background, passions, work
7586. indoor obstacle course for the kiddos AND the adults...hilarity ensued
7587. a "Super J" cape made from an old bridesmaid dress
7588. Jude introducing one of his best friends to his cousin

7589. my niece pulling her tooth when she found out our Tooth Fairy pays better than the one at home
7590. our church's beautiful process of selecting leaders
7591. Steve's being voted in as a deacon
7592. the countless ways he is a servant at home, not just in public
7593. realization/affirmation that His grace really is at work and evident in Steve and me

7594. a hike at Warner Park with friends, kids running ahead while we adults walked + talked
7595. being able to rest in His sovereignty in the midst of disappointing complications to our plans
7596. a friend here for coffee, long overdue visit
7597. pumpkin spice scones on fancy plates

7598. leftover half and half + leftover spiced glaze for my coffee
7599. His growing, teaching, transforming a friend; her pursuing Him
7600. time to sit and marvel at my big FIVE year old
7601. a whole bushel of my very favorite apples (Cameos)

 7602. gorgeous fall morning at Cheekwood with Jude and my parents

7603. pumpkins in all shapes, sizes and colors, including orange lace on white

7604. date night with Steve while Grammy and Pops babysat
7605. my first time trying sushi

7606. the ability to buy a new washing machine when ours wore out--unbelievable privilege, wealth, grace
7607. fantastic sermons/lessons from other men in our church besides our pastors
7608. growing pains - good problems to have
7609. the way church has felt so refreshing and restorative lately
7610. Steve helping Jude make a doghouse for Clifford

7611. a visit from one of my dearest college friends
7612. finally getting to try Mas Tacos Por Favor, her treat

7613. openness, honesty, vulnerability, empathy, laughter
7614. getting to hear her sing in an Army Voices concert

7615. the smell of fresh nutmeg, and how cool it looks on the inside

 7616. pile of spices in a bowl of flour

 7617. pumpkin apple streusel muffins

7618. a quiet evening to reconnect with Steve
7619. long overdue evening catching up with a dear friend

7620. upholding the universe by the word of His power

7621. twelve women from my church registered for the Gospel Coalition women's conference next summer

7622. additional discounts since we got a big group together

7623. heart-shaped leaves

 

7624. boys playing in the leaves and helping Daddy with yardwork

 7625. another date night: party to celebrate friends' 30th anniversary

7626. evening of uninterrupted conversations with friends
7627. generous friend who babysat for the boys
7628. my adorable astronaut and fierce Ironman

 

7629. His throne is forever and ever
7630. He anoints with the oil of gladness
7631. He is not ashamed to call me sister

August Gifts + Instagrams

"To be a creature is to be a receiver. 'What do you have that you did not receive?' (1 Cor. 4:7). The great privilege of man is to receive everything that God gives in all the ways that he gives it, and then to know it and enjoy it and delight in it and sing about it, and to know him in it and to enjoy him in it and to sing about him in it." 

--Joe Rigney, The Things of Earth

Somehow the entire month of August slipped by without my getting a gratitude post up, so here's a big roundup. Thanking God for all that He has given and I have gladly received in the last month, including...

7472. the distant rumble of summer thunder
7473. the "kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk" of blueberries hitting the bottom of a pail

7474. eating our fill right off the bushes

7475. purple passionflowers

7476. grace to slow down, stop yelling, see myself as no different from my boys
7477. beautiful promises in the Old Testament prophets
7478. learning the habit of adoration from Sara Hagerty
7479. flyswatters
7480. getting to hear the detailed story of how He miraculously, repeatedly saved a dear friend's sick little boy
7481. inter-library loans
7482. end-of-summer lunch date with Daddy

7483. fountains at Bicentennial Mall for splashing and playing

7484. how good it feels to wash off sunscreen and sweat at the end of the day
7485. oatmeal pancakes with warm peach topping
7486. seventeen years of our church growing and thriving
7487. our pastors' faithful preaching and shepherding
7488. Jude's Sunday school drawings of what God created: water, sea creatures, the moon, an astronaut, and hot lava

7489. abundant basil, plenty to share
7490. our church's beautiful process of selecting elders and deacons
7491. a nature scavenger hunt with the boys
7492. Jude looking through the binoculars backwards

7493. Elijah's enthusiasm about school
7494. my own fond memories of second grade with a beloved teacher
7495. amaaaaaaazing blueberry cheesecake flapjacks

7496. hearing the boys recite selections from Revelation 19 and 21 about the coming of the eternal kingdom
7497. morning walks to preschool, Jude's chatter
7498. snail mail surprise: card + awesome set of brush pens from a friend

7499. Elijah's friendship with boys whose mom is a dear friend to me
7500. the incredible, free(!) indoor playground at Cornerstone Church
7501. peach milkshake from Chick-Fil-A
7502. being near to all who call on Him
7503. His personal, specific salvation: not just "He will save people from sin" but "He will save HIS people from THEIR sins"

7504. feeling heard, respected, and valued by my husband
7505. the safe arrivals of two friends' new babies
7506. the sounds of locusts buzzing in the trees
7507. Steve's unflappable patience when I am inexplicably grouchy
7508. Jude's excitement about preschool and popularity with the kids there

7509. Steve's creativity in coming up with a Lego Ironman vs. Hulk cake

7510. a free oil change
7511. inviting me to ASK Him
7512. my cousin and a friend's son both preserved through bicycle accidents
7513. naked ladies blooming along the side border of our yard

7514. a visit from Grammy and Pops
7515. sitting in the sun chatting with my mom
7516. their babysitting so Steve and I could have a date

7517. free big band dance at Centennial Park
7518. fabulous burgers at Burger Republic
7519. laughing and foxtrotting with my handsome husband
7520. a friend asking if I was OK, and really wanting the truth
7521. Dad bringing his ice cream maker and laboring over a batch of mint chocolate chip

7522. how amazing that ice cream tastes

7522. the recipe, written down in his handwriting

7523. 23-pound and 27-pound watermelons from the farmers' market
7524. surrendering and drinking the cup I deserve
7525. Amber Haines's exquisite memoir

7526. technology: reading a picture book about boats to Jude, seeing an aircraft carrier, and within seconds, pulling up a video on my phone where we could see planes landing on a ship. What is this world we live in?!?
7527. restraining His freedom in order to set me free
7528. boys making ninja masks out of shirts thanks to Lego magazine instructions
7529. sweet time in prayer on a quiet afternoon
7530. the fact that He is sovereign and can be trusted

7531. eyes to see and confess my sin
7532. humility to receive criticism and take it to Him
7533. getting to hold my dear friend’s adorable grandbaby
7534. being able to share with friends how I’m seeing evidence of His grace at work in me
7535. gorgeous calligraphy in my Instagram feed

7536. reminders that my days with Jude at home are precious and fleeting

7537. eyes to love him and say “I see you!” with enthusiasm

7538. the glorious promises of Romans 8
7539. girls' night, with friends being transparent and vulnerable
7540. the beauty of Jesus in their gracious bearing up under trials
7541. a new EP from Nichole Nordeman after ten years!