Thankful List for July 2013

Thankful List for July
-adoption announcements from friends= sweet pictures of kids who have forever families adorning our refrigerator
-our little Aida turned 18 months 
-"Do not fear My will, for through it I accomplish what is best for you.  Take a deep breath and dive into the depths of absolute trust in Me." - Jesus Calling
-overhearing conversation between Tuck and neighborhood boy.  Caden: "who is that on your refrigerator?".  Tuck:  "my sister... but not Libby."  (wish I could post her precious face) 
-"In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:2-3

And a few random things that have nothing to do with adoption:

Our trip to Georiga (the July half)
-swimming kids
-S’more making
-the sweet treat of seeing my dear friend Dianna and her kids for a few hours while they were home from MercyShips
-celebrating the day Andrea was born
-being able to help my dad in the kitchen
-making peanut butter pie with my sister
-Cooper playing ball with Tucker
-bike rides with my mom
-Eric always being willing to take the kids swimming
-watching cousins play together

-returning home and to Ben
-Ben’s welcome home gifts to the three of us: baseball cards, bubbles, and real tulips (I have no idea how he managed to find them for me in July)… he knows us and loves us well
-Sequence
-Tucker's note to me
-4 free meals from chick-fil-a (cow appreciation day)
-Ben to Libby “Who is your favorite princess?”  Libby: “mommy”
-air conditioning
-Faith Youth helping break up our cement (making progress on summer projects while giving money to a good cause)
-laughter of kids in the morning
-blankets stacked in our bedroom (daily reminders of the beautiful women who made them)

-Vacation Bible School
-truth and conviction:  “Hospitality means if there is room in the heart- there is always room in the house.  And if we’ve really welcomed Christ into our lives it means our lives are evidence that we’ve welcomed the strangers and the neglected and the outcasts.”  -Ann Voskamp
-conversations with Julie Lindsey
-movies with friends
-Great news at Libby’s cardiologist check up (we are so thankful for Dr. Muyskens, our amazing cardiologist, and for continued improvement with Libby's heart)
-smell of sausage sizzling
-celebrating birthdays
-finding kids playing happily together
-“… that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him…” –Deutronomy 30:20
-lunch and dinner with new friends
-tea parties
-Tuck: “Mom, let's have snuggle time”
-the joy of lots of kids in our house throughout the month

-Libby’s hairstyling abilities
-Tuck playing Sequence and baseball with college students
-good bye dinner with Staci
-Carissa and Kelli’s help
-Tuck’s excitement in finding his name on the wall at the library
-spray park with Melissa and Drake