My daily gratitude for:

1. My grandmother Lorine, whose birthday was the leap year Feb 29. She was a light and continues to be a light in our family. Her zest for life, hard ass biscuits, love for Jesus, and deep well of compassion made for one special grandma. Love you still Grandma.
2. Michael Bell. He’s one of those guys who knows me so well and always seems to know the right thing at the right time. I appreciate the wisdom he brings to my life.
3. The fellowship among friends during the Bering Service Saturday at the Christian Community Services Center.
4. The immense love SOuthwest Central has for their local community and being salt and light for the people around them.
5. The Meet and Eats at Bering.
6. Girl Scout cookies!

My daily gratitude for:

1. Liz’s strength to make big decisions.
2. The lovely Fry family! We love Kacie, Mycayla, and Layla and love sharing a table with them.
3. Having projects and ideas to work on in the Heart Center. It’s a great challenge to take on!
4. A good evening at Vinology. Liz and I love chatting with people and trying all the fun and lovely wines, and also learning from their fantastic somms and hosts!
5. Ryans comfort with the dentist!
6. The beginning of Dynamo season and the joy of soccer.
7. Delicious Juniper Lemon and Blueberry Passionfruit kombucha all week long.

My daily gratitude for:

1. Beginning again every morning.
2. The Sleeping at Last songs and podcasts.
3. My in laws. Paul and Maria have been so supportive and helpful to Liz and I in our beginning as a couple.
4. Introducing the concept of nurture to Ryan and knowing that between Liz and I, he has good examples in our household to see nurture. I love the idea of nurture for a boy.
5. The PICU team of folks. I love the Heart Center so much, but I also love my peeps in PICU and their tireless devotion.
6. Suzanne and Jaime and Tracy (among many others too!), RT’s in the CICU who are so well trustees and loved. They are great supporters of the nurses and bring a light hearted spirit as well.
7. Getting creative juices flowing for ways to support the Heart Center.

My daily gratitude for:

1. The song “Create in Me a Clean Heart”, which I was dwelling on for my meditation this morning. It was a humbling song and phrases to hear as I reflect over the Lent.
2. The leadership of Natalie Peters and Pam Krinock for Ash Wednesday at TCH. Such a big day and such thorough planning!
3. Ryans love of reading.
4. Snuggling with Ryan on the couch when he’s sick.
5. A workplace and colleagues who are flexible so I can be home when my kid is sick.
6. The warmth under a blanket on a cold morning.
7. The game Go Fish. We love it in our house!

My daily gratitude for:

1. This lovely note that Ryan (and Liz) made me for my arrival home on Sunday after camp!
2. Adam Boatz. He has been a true friend and an anchor for me over the last couple years, as someone that I trust and someone who is quite hilarious too. Good to share dinner last night!
3. The cafeteria workers at Ryans school. I had lunch with Ryan and his class last week and I saw a group of people who were tirelessly working to serve, nurture, clean, and bless all the kids with good food and good lunch time.
4. The clear blue sky and energy lift it brings.
5. Seeing the stars and being mesmerized this past weekend. So so cool.
6. The community garden that has been and will continue to be a part of Kolter Elementary.
7. Alarm clocks that keep me up when I am dozing away in bed.

My daily gratitude for:

1. Having enough. Enough clothes, enough food, enough “toys” and games, enough house, enough all. Want continually expresses itself but I have enough.
2. Hang out time as a family with the Luber family (Sam, Sally, and the kids). They are good people who came around just as Liz and I were growing into family and became great supporters!
3. The Harrod’s and their hospitality to us. Happy birthday Jim!
4. The good coffee Liz got for me from House of Coffee Beans.
5. Liz surprising me with a trip to kombucha while I was away for the weekend.
6. The bus ride back from Camp for All with great conversation with Will Decker.
7. Liz and Ryans comfort at Bering.

My daily gratitude for:

1. Liz’s support and appreciation of my career and work as a pediatric chaplain.
2. Sharing quality time with the Decker family and seeing them grow as a family.
3. Supporting fathers at the Retreat of Renewal. It is humbling to watch their love for their families and also to be the receiver of their memories, their stories, and their hopes as they move through grief.
4. Playing capture the flag at camp.
5. Jeff Fischer, who was so important to me in my short time in transition in SoCal before I started at TCH. His humor and brotherly kindness supported me so much. Happy birthday Jeff!
6. Brittany Goldy’s engagement!!! This makes me so happy for her and for the future God creates for her.
7. The health of my family. Any time at this camp reminds me to appreciate the people around because life itself is fragile.

My daily gratitude for:

1. My partnership with Liz, which is foundational for all the beautiful and hard things life brings, and consistently challenges me towards the person God created for me.
2. Lunch with Ryan and his friends today. I love sitting with 5 year olds and love seeing my son interact with his friends!
3. Ms Gonzalez, the admin who welcomes and cheers and watches out for all the kids at Kolter. What a gift she is to Kolter!
4. Officiating at weddings and having the humbling privilege to pronounce a couple husband and wife. It’s such a privilege to me.
5. The quiet afternoon.
6. Completing a major project and feeling relief with its finish.
7. Girl Scout S’mores cookies!!!! They bring me joy…and I am passionate about them so much that I had Liz jump out of the car to grab a box randomly passing a set up troop outside a pet supermarket. lol.

My daily gratitude for:

1. The story of the temptations of Jesus. Today as I was doing my normal reading, I was taken not by his knowledge of Scripture, but the reflection of trust through his interaction.
2. Jessica Vaughn, whose heart and love as a RN and more importantly, as a follower of Christ, is constantly a source of inspiration and hope. Happy birthday Jessica!
3. Ryan growing up. It’s beautiful and yet hard to some extent as a parent, but it’s humbling to see regardless.
4. Working with Rainey and Kiersten yesterday, and seeing their Heart center leadership.
5. Feeling the trust from the couple whose wedding I’m officiating tomorrow. They are young and hopeful and of course nervous, and I treasure their trust during the vulnerable time.
6. Hiking with Liz. It’s some of our best time together, with great conversation and laughter.
7. Feeling in good health all around today.

My daily gratitude for:

1. Gods presence in stillness.
2. My parents preparing to move to Houston. I love following them step by step and knowing that a year away has become months!
3. Buescher State Park, where Liz and I enjoyed a hike yesterday. I loved the elevation changes, the lovely yaupon hollys and live oaks and loblolly pines, and the beautiful smell of pine on a cool day.
4. This Valentine I received from a family and little one I know! So cute!
5. Andrea Sawyer Gray. I got to know her as an RN in the PICU and now I get to see her all the time in Cardiology. I love the way she brings voice to her work, a voice that carries wisdom, humor, and advocacy as a genuine person.
6. A weekend with lots of outside time and things I love to do.
7. A Bucc-Ees drink and snack on long car drives and after hikes. The choices there are great for us after sweating on a hike!