“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” -2 Corinthians 4:15

 221. tulips springing forth, the color of sunshine

222. explorations with mosaics

223. swans in the neighborhood 

224. the bald eagle soaring high, reminding us that strength will rise when we wait upon the LORD (Isaiah 40:31)

225. how they rejoice with dancing and signing as they sing along to “Today is the Day”

226. swans flying overhead in pairs

227. Lincoln’s stories about Real Life

228. a Saturday afternoon date at DQ

229. hot fudge sauce

230. driving little boys and girls on the “art bus”

231. new dresses that arrive just in time to wear to the concert

232. sparrows and house finches gathering at the backyard feeder

233. the arrival of the newest, tiniest member at church – Micah

234. little girls in pretty party dresses, celebrating birthdays

235. the sweet friend who serves up the best-ever hot chocolate at Mocha Monkey

236. peeking into the windows of the original, 150-plus-year-old Scandia Church building

237. girlish giggles caused by their own April foolin’

238. more swans — flocking in the wet fields nearby

239. the first sight of the entire backyard in five months

240. little girls dancing the caterpillar dance and flying off as butterflies

241. feet sinking into mud as I tramp eagerly through the field

241. hundreds of trumpeter swans — finally, finally caught by my camera — as they gather in a farmer’s flooded field

242. the majestic trumpeting of the swans as they fly overhead

243. the feathers that remind me of the One who covers me (Psalm 91:4)

244. hands stretched high, reaching for Him

245. sweatshirt weather with sunshine, too!

246. clothes warmed by the dryer

247. aisle seats so little ones can dance in the aisles

248. youths that grow tired and weary and fall asleep in exhaustion (Isaiah 40:30)

249. the strong daddy who carries his sleeping daughter

250. the strong, Everlasting, Abba Father Who carries His trusting daughter