i’ve come to learn that i love lists. grocery lists, thankfulness lists, playlists, bucket lists, to-do lists. you name it and it’s probably in my journal or phone notes. and not just because somehow my memory has dwindled down to recalling only the previous 14 hours… but specifically, i write thankfulness lists nearly every day. it’s a great way for me to realize and literally count my blessings.
so here’s a list that i’ve been working on through the month of april. a list composed of one thing each day that stood out to me as special, something i know i will most likely never get again after we come back to the states… and yes im aware a common theme is coffee, im just really really thankful for coffee.
1. cross country trips to see friends and celebrate easter (with bomb spaghetti)
2. team time worship sessions with everyone wearing headphones full blast volume singing with all of their heart
3. naming and collecting beetles with a bunch of 7 year old boys who dont speak english
4. kiddos that you love wanting you to meet their moms and taking you into their home for a gymnastics show
5. riding horses around emerald green lakes in the mountains, surrounded by mossy cliffs AKA ireland in ethiopia??
6. massive, messy volleyball games
7. sitting on rooftops in Addis and talking for hours
8. mid afternoon macchiatos
9. friendships so good it’s hard to say goodbye
10. waking up to an amazing, supportive community every morning
11. surprise puppy gift from your ministry host???!!!!
12. said puppy sleeping in your bed at night so you have to wake up on her time which happens to be two hours before you usually would so plenty of silent time in the morning for coffee and quiet jesus time
13. homey fireplace nights with good music, smores, and laughter in multiple languages
14. paying $2 for a cakepop and gelato
15. worship so powerful & the holy spirit so present it brings you to tears
16. the lion king
17. my girlie Dunia running into my arms at the camp after not seeing her for a week and a half
18. donuts the size of my head
19. babies tackling me into hug piles
20. living with my team all in one room
21. drinking coffee to the sound of rain in the quiet early morning before everyone gets up
22. living room poetry slam-coffeehouse nights that turn into dance parties
23. eating fruit while painting fruit murals
24. puting flowers in my friends at the camp’s hair and seeing their faces when they feel beautiful
25. frozen fruit on sunny afternoons
26. love stories & movies about them (honestly this is because i wept to The Fault In Our Stars for the 57896th time in my life)
27. passionate kingdom shakers who want to pray boldly for others
28. movie nights & sharing popcorn with our puppy
29. watching a young artist get overwhelmingly happy as his photographs get auctioned for the first time and go for hundreds of dollars
30. airdrop parties and reminiscing with my team
