gratitude.

goodness, april already!

for the first part of my spring break, i had the chance to have a short girls weekend getaway and meet up with some of my dearest friends in boston and nyc. it was so refreshing to spend time with these sisters and eat, and laugh, and eat :)

here are some pics from the ny portion of my trip (so sad i didn't get any in boston, sylv!):


grace-squared stuffing our faces at milk and cookies


grace, me, and chris at gottino...photo taken by the owner who spent quite a lot of time on the terrace on his phone with a towel on his head...i love ny. :)

this trip was just another reminder of all the good things and great people that peter and i do have in our lives. we are so thankful and grateful for all the support, love, and encouragement we have received from our friends and family throughout this journey. we would be lost without your prayers and your presence in our lives! i'm so sorry for not replying to all of those beautiful and uplifting emails i got in response to sending out the link to this blog -- things have been crazy in kindergarten world! but, i did read and cherish each of them, really and truly. :)

thank you for being such blessings to us! it is a good friday indeed. :)

the title of this post reminded me of one of my favorite songs, "gratitude" by nichole nordeman. it's a song that always reminds of those sprinkles on top like i talked about in the last post...you can listen to it and read the lyrics for yourself, and i promise you'll be blessed.



Gratitude by Nichole Nordeman

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
What we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus, would You please . .