My daily gratitude for:

1. The overwhelming feeling of blessing i have felt throughout the last two weeks.
2. Matthew 25, and the humility that comes with reading the story of the sheep and goats.
3. Paul and Marias bringing over groceries for us yesterday and sharing a little fellowship during that drop off.
4. Building a solar system mobile with Ryan yesterday. We had tons of fun with it!
5. The wonderful nourishing sunshine today.
6. Liz Boatwright, a mother of a child I got to know in the hospital who consistently personified simplicity and appreciation of every moment, which allowed her to be present and fun loving. Happy birthday Liz!
7. Mike Patrick, a chaplain in Abilene at Hendrick Hospital who nurtured and encouraged my career in this field.
8. Steve Perry, one of my good high school friends at Norte Vista. I loved his laughter and humor.
9. The feeling of a deep breath in my chest.
10. My sense of smell.

My daily gratitude for:

1. The health of my extended family and the gift of having my parents here and well.
2. Josh Herndon, a PICU RN who embodies calm amidst chaos and is always full of laughter. Happy birthday Josh!
3. The Lucas family and their consistency of love in my life.
4. The fun and info full Magic School Bus Presents books. Ryan loves them and is so fascinated by them!
5. a daily Spanish word email I get from SpanishDict, which helps me hear new words regularly.
6. Our Christmas tree ornaments from Texas State Parks. They carry lots of stories and trips with them.
7. The warm December weather that allowed us to see people outside during our COVID time.
8. The excitement of the coming cold front for New Years!
9. All of my Christmas gifts, whether clothes or bread makers or AirPods or socks or just the hugs of family.

My daily gratitude for:

1. Hopefulness, both large and small.
2. The kindness of the Parkers in having a lovely meal delivered to us tonight.
3. Family games of dominoes tonight. It was really fun to play together.
4. Quality time with Ryan this week.
5. Natalie Peters, and her hospitality and care for us in dropping off some needed grocery goods today.
6. Two great Peloton rides in the last two days, and feeling a good exercise on quarantine days!
7. Simple check ins from Suzi, Natalie, Pam, Chris, my parents, Joe, and others today. Little reminders of good love around us.
8. The sheer joy of watching Leicester City FC as a family and watching them win too. It was a gift to watch a good game and feel enthralled, all of us, with their play and the energy of the crowd.
9. The lovely nativity advent calendar that has been our dining room ambience all season.

My daily gratitude for:

1. All of the many experiences this season of little moments of hope, peace, joy, and love and how they reflected how Christmas light shines in darkness.
2. Lizs returning to health and improving each day. It’s good to have her mostly back to herself.
3. Reading with Ryan every night.
4. Rahel Lee Yoo and Suzi Byrd and their stepping up to help me out as I couldn’t be at work.
5. The understanding of friends and family during a challenging time this week for us.
6. Ryan trying my cinnamon rolls and liking them! Another weekend tradition up and running!
7. Bryan Schackmann and Jeremy Hegi, guys who were able to teach me friendship and welcome and be exactly what I needed in Abilene.
8. Jobs that are flexible when we need them to be- like this week!
9. Christmas Cookie ice cream. Love love this season and it’s great ice cream.

My daily gratitude for:

1. Sharing Christmas morning, the lighting of our Advent and Christmas candles, cinnamon rolls, and bread making with Liz.
2. Liz’s love for gift giving and bringing joy to others.
3. Maria Bryant, my mother in law and cook and chef extraordinaire. Her love is constant and genuine and so good. Happy birthday Maria!
4. Our porch and safely distanced evening with my family yesterday on Christmas Eve.
5. The nurses and staff serving at the hospital caring the families who cannot be at home. Their selfless gift of time is appreciated, especially for the families who they must leave at home.
6. Johnna working Christmas and allowing me to be home today.
7. Watching “A Christmas Story” with Liz.
8. The smell of baking bread.
9. The carol “12 Days of Christmas”

My daily gratitude for:

1. The sacredness of ordinary that we see reflected in Gods revealing in a baby.
2. Family coming together at Christmas.
3. Being the calm presence for a family of a child at the hospital. The familiar face as they called it.
4. Dave Fuller, one of the most awesome friends I have. He is a brilliant man and a generous friend, and I love any time we get together. Happy birthday Dave!
5. Calvin Bradley Jr, whose energy, wisdom, honesty, and advocacy as a pediatric chaplain inspire me greatly.
6. Laughter with Christian Urquidi today and knowing he is thinking about me.
7. Beverly, Barbara, and Bobbie, three elderly ladies who reflect Gods light all over.
8. Steve Sargent’s steadiness.
9. Pumpkin bread from our neighbors.
10. Seat warmers in my car.
11. Costco pizza slices.

My daily gratitude for:

1. Liz’s completion of her grading of SNHU. She has worked so hard these last weeks, and she loves providing for us in doing so.
2. Ryan and Aiden joining the cousins at my parents today for cookie decorating. It warms my heart, even though I am bummed I couldn’t be there.
3. Ashley, an RN in the Heart Center who is a great listener, incredibly gifted, and skilled in compassion. I appreciated her support and sharing today and I appreciate her consistency in care.
4. Megan Austin, a PICU RN whose heart is so big and whose joy and integrity a reflection of God. Happy birthday Megan!
5. Completing the TCH Christmas Service and the joy of collecting all those scripture, worship, and reflection recordings from people I respect so dearly.
6. The Christmas Blessing episode of the Next Right Thing.
7. Dan Kryder, for his physicians wisdom and voice, but also because he was always so dang good at ultimate. Happy birthday Dan!
8. Cold medicine.

My daily gratitude for:

1. The thin spaces of our lives where we experience and encounter God. I feel these often in hospital rooms and with family.
2. Bringing comfort and calm to a family before their sons surgery today.
3. Laura Newsom, and catching up with her this week. She is so adaptable and kind to others, especially to me.
4. Laura Trimble, and her skilled nursing care, her passion for beautiful care at end of life, and her thoroughness. Happy birthday Laura!
5. Ms Worrell, Ryans 1st grade teacher who finished her semester yesterday. Ryan only got her for 1 semester but he appreciated her and grew this semester. Thank so much to Ms Worrell!
6. A great 1st semester for Ryans 1st grade year. Ryan made it half way and I’m grateful for his teacher, his staff, his friends, his school building- all of it during this first half.
7. Courtney Webb and Lindsay Marolfs encouragement to me in my career.
8. The beauty of Maria’s Svarovsy trees and ornaments. I also love the tradition and connection it brings Liz and Maria.

My daily gratitude for:

1. The Quiet Collection Christmas reflections, which have been moving and profound so far. I hear it’s calls and spiritual pull throughout each reflection.
2. Liz’s new haircut that is quite cute.
3. Nacole Jolly, a good friend of Liz who is with us this weekend. She is relaxed and easy going and quite fun!
4. Our lovely FaceTime with my parents last night full of laughs and connection.
5. Jasmine Olipas and Jessie Martins beautiful contributions to our Christmas service.
6. My Secret Santas gift for Ryan! So sweet and perfect for him!
7. Coordinating the Christmas service with my fellow chaplains and staff, and the fun and laughter and encouragement I have shared in through the process. It’s been a joy to see the project coming together.
8. The ability to eat and be full, which is such a privilege.
9. A well done margarita. So good.

My daily gratitude for:

1. Suzi Byrd, a chaplain at TCH whose love for Gods people, beautiful worship, and commitment to serving are making such a great impact on our department.
2. Kristin S, a CICU RN who went above and beyond in her care and compassion for a dying child yesterday.
3. Watching the synergy and good work between two different units to allow a mother to see her baby just hours after delivery as she was dying. Such a complex story but so beautiful in the way that the family was honored.
4. Cynthia Ownby’s love for our children and families at the church.
5. The Bering Drive kids Christmas party today, and how it brought Ryan joy and belonging.
6. Crazy disc golf in crazy wind with Stephen Lucas!
7. Debriefings and the opportunity they offer for tangible growth.
8. Red licorice sticks.