gratitude # 563 – 586.

a new friend, sent at just the right time

drinking coffee and munching popcorn and talking about childhood favorite books . . . Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon and Little House on the Prairie

Judah is so close to swimming all by himself

Amie is gaining confidence in the pool

grace for David’s trip this week

he is flying home this afternoon

sleepovers with Judah in my bed

Judah and Amie’s fervent, sometimes-understandable prayers

the chaotic, happy fun of pizza night at the Iversons’

Maggie’s new sari

Judah nicknames: “Ams” (Amie), “Moms” (Mommy)

Judah’s friendly self-introductions: “My name is Judah, and this is my sister, Amelie.”

visiting VBS at our friends’ church and dozens of dear faces

little voices learning Scripture

staying up until 1:00 a.m. to finish a good book

emails from new blog readers

air conditioning in three rooms of our apartment

learning that April and May are the hottest months of our summer — and they’ve got nothing on August in Columbia

my growing list of things to bring back from the States

David’s newfound love of Shakespeare

homemade fruit smoothies

medicine that made our parasites go away

anticipating a date at a favorite restaurant tonight

realizing that I can be myself in this country