#516. the sounds of cheering, hooping, and hollering as seasoned swimmers dive in and race to the other side of the pool.
#517. the beauty of my oldest daughter's butterfly stroke.
#518. coaches that really care
#519. my dad loaning us his aero-dynamic van for our week long travels across the country....thanks dad!
#520. for the phrase that is being quoted around our house in light of this trip.... we are "cautiously optimistic ." Our expectations are not unreasonably high.... they are realistic and hopeful.
#521. our home away from home in Edmond, OK..... with friends who love us for who we are.... no mascarades.
#522. for treasured time with my sister-in-law and her growing family.... the Lord knit our hearts together so many years ago, and as Polyanna would say... "I'm so glad!"
#523. for cousins.... many many cousins
#524. for hours driving in the van with my husband.... time to communicate, reconnect, and unite together as we join his family for a reunion.
#525. for my sisterhood back home that has my back covered in prayer
#526. for an inadvertent "love letter" that has me flying high...

511. Beautiful friends who love my baby like an aunt would and let him get away with murder because "he is so darn cute"
512. Homes that are actually time-warps where the passage of time has no meaning or relevance to the day
513. the fact that my God has given me a family who, in more than one generation, gives me roll models of how to love well
514. The Morlans - have a great trip, friend, you will be missed!!
515. The Belbecks

508. Freedom that comes from obedience and its ripple effect on my family.
509. A season of rest that has blessed my soul and given me hope.
510. My summer book club. Iron sharpens iron.

#504. 2 absolutely beautiful June days... cool breezes, sunny afternoons outside, lightning bugs at dusk... 

#505. Challenging words that require wisdom and insight

#506. VBS

#507. friendships that are over a decade old

501. Happy Father's Day, Brad and Dad. Your love and leadership are solid and beautiful . Our family is blessed with you.
502. And to my Heavenly Father, Your love carries me.
503. My husband on his birthday. I am ever grateful for your life, and that mine is one with yours. Be blessed today and know you are celebrated by many on earth and by your Heavenly Father in heaven. He delights in you!

496. A morning walk in His presence.
497. Joining the birds in their praise chorus.
498. Awe at who He is.
499. Confession.
500. Rain. His gift to me. The washing away of sin. With each drop I feel freedom and joy!

#493. Pine Sol and rubber gloves

#494. An uninterrupted night of sleep

#495. wellness

#490. Sweet words of gratitude this morning from a son who has been hanging over a toilet all night long...."I am so thankful for a Mom and Dad who take care of us when we are sick."
#491. My daughter whose middle name is Joy. She embodies this character trait even in the middle of the night while being so so very ill (like her brother)... she continued to lift her head and smile even in her weariness.
#492. My husband who is not afraid of the stomach flu... he is tender and holds back hair, while softly speaking courage to the afflicted.

485. Books and words and listening and learning.
486. Watching my 4yr olds in their first swim meet wondering if they can make it across that long pool. Cheering at the top of my lungs like it is the race of their life, and feeling overjoyed at the look on their faces when they have made it all the way across.
487. The beauty of my older more accomplished swimmers as they skim across the water.
488. Watching my children rejoice in each others accomplishments, encourage and bless each other.
489. My redeeming God who is turning my heart gently.

478. precious friendships of my 3 year-old son
479. the things 3 and 4 year olds say to each other when they think no one else is listening
480. the opportunity to help and friend AND make my son's day
481. unexpected lunch company
482. sweet time with a dear friend
483. chicken salad and crackers
484. knowing that I know that I know...

473. 7 years of marriage!
474. Time alone to talk, joke, and enjoy each other's company
475. How he always lets me know that I'm loved and appreciated
476. His willingness to let me talk through a topic until it feels resolved...
477. My wonderful, sweet, loving husband

468.  The miracle of life.

469.  Our children's excitement to have baby #4 come and join our family.

470.  My precious 6 year old who reminds me daily how my stomach is growing... 'it's getting bigger'

471.  The opportunity to be living in the SAME place where I had Ezekiel, being able to see the SAME doctor, SAME hospital, etc. Huge Blessing!

472.  The blessing of another pregnancy

#462. "Mr. Sunshine" and the joy and smiles he brings to everyone! Happy 4th Birthday to the blond boy who has stolen my heart!
#463. for the prayers of Isaiah..... "Dear God, help me to love You God.... You are a mighty, mighty, mighty, mighty God. Amen"
#464. for his long hippie hair that hangs in his eyes... just like his daddy's! (this is a stretch for me)
#465. for the way he rubs my face with his baby boy hands and tells me that he loves me so so so much and then tells me that I am a pretty mommy.....
#466. for all of his silly nick-names..... worker boy, mower boy, tater tot, ding dong, raymond, martha(this one belongs to his daddy only), zay zay, ray ray..... and surprisingly, he answers to them all with a big grin!
#467. Most of all I am thankful that the Lord in His sovereignty knew that I needed this boy. I need his smile, his bright eyes, his giggle, his comments, his veiw of life, his constant questions, his singing, his praying, his endless energy, his love for all things lawn related, his admiration of his big brothers, his tenderness to his big sisters, his passion for music, and his devotion to making this entire family laugh at his antics 24/7! Everyone needs a kid like this!

#460. The Word of Truth whose power untangles the strung out chords of my heart, and shifts my skewed sight upwards so that I might see.

#461. Fernando Ortega's "Shadow of Your Wings" CD that helps the above proccess.

458. Hearing my middle two count the seconds between lightning and thunder. Nervous giggles. Trying to be brave together.
459. My sleepy eyed teenagers home from camp. Glad we are all back together again.