30 Days of Thankfulness: Day Seven

today i am thankful for...

...a job doing something i love with an incredible group of students...not only does it provide an extra little source of income, but it provides me with a great outlet and a chance to use my skills, experience, and love of teaching

...getting to hear all about my sweet girls' exciting days.

...elizabeth shrieking "MOMMY!" joyfully the second she saw me in the pick-up line at the end of the day <3

...going to Costco by myself for a bit after my classes were done...nice to wander with a diet Coke (and just maybe i found some Christmas gift goodies)

...being almost finished with my Christmas shopping

...the prospect of a crafty morning with a couple of friends tomorrow

...laminators (odd...but seriously, the one-time-elementary-education/daughter of an elementary teacher just likes laminating....and i can't wait to start cutting my laminated items...i know, so weird...but i love cutting laminated stuff!)

...a text reminder from a sweet friend who prays for our family every monday...what a priceless gift

...a baby boy who made honest to goodness, real, true forward motion in his crawling endeavors today...and, i must admit, while i am thankful for this, it is so bittersweet--slow down baby boy, it is going TOO fast!

...jilly's "i love you" as i tucked her in bed <3

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day Six

leftovers from after i posted day 5 :)

...freshly bathed babies (because truly they are all still my babies!) who smell fresh and baby-lotion-y

...jilly's love of "jumping" into her bed...a mommy assisted "power-jump"

...the extra hour of evening last night that allowed mike and i to play round after round of "hungry, hungry hippos" with the big girls...and tickle...and giggle...and read story after story

...a husband who picks up Chinese take-out on his way home from work

...a big ol' box of books and goodies from amazon arriving on my porch...also containing my replacement dough hook and flat beater for my kitchen-aid...meaning there must be some baking in order

and today...day 6...a gorgeous and relaxing autumn Sunday

...taco soup...mmm...

...homemade pumpkin pie...and two cutie pies devouring it. :)


...spending the morning at church...where we have a wonderful community/family...so blessed to be a part of College Park Church. so thankful for friends who listen to my frustrations and struggles and turn my eyes back to Jesus. :)

...getting to briefly talk with my big sister on the phone. love you shell. :) and ran across the picture below when looking through a drawer. not sure if i have shared it before...but seriously love it...and whoa...hello jillian!


...having daddy home all day long. the girls were pretty excited to simply be with him...or pile on top of him :)


...singing with jilly at bedtime, her little face pressed right up to mine...giving me slobbery fishy kisses and singing along with all her heart (although she really just repeats "Jesus Jesus Jesus love me me me me me" and "Bible"). precious girlie.

...a family swim at the Y this after naptime

...my kiddos NOT waking me up at 5 a.m. because of the time change...they both slept till 6:30 (which would have really been 7:30 to their internal clock). and right now at 8:10 Kate is zonked and out like a light!

...the sound of clothes tumbling in the dryer...i know, strange...but i love that sound. it is oddly comforting and homey to me. :)

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day Five

1. i am thankful for this little smile...for his easy-going, happy-go-lucky, smiling, giggling personality. he typically rolls and flips wherever he wants to go, but he has been up on his knees for quite awhile now...and this morning i could see his wheels turning, trying to move his knees and make forward progress. go buddy, go!



2. i am thankful for our membership at the YMCA...thankful for getting back into shape...for a break and some time for "me"...for the fabulous workers in the childwatch. and, specifically, today i am thankful that they open early even on Saturday...what a jumpstart to a cold Saturday without daddy at home. (and jilly had a milestone today...making it all the way to the top of the indoor playground (with some help from her sisters!) and found the twirly slide!)

3. i am thankful for beanbag chairs and warm fuzzy blankets and Saturday morning cartoons...because some days are like that. :)

4. and, yes, this post is from yesterday. i am thankful my sweet kate's beautiful personality and spirit. she is funny and snuggly. she is kind and loving. she is tenacious and determined. and boy does she love gluesticks and scissors.

5. i am thankful for my husband who is off working hard yet another day this week...providing for our family...for his example of diligence and hard work....and, yet, yes, i am also very thankful that today should be the last day of overtime for awhile...we are ready to have daddy home with us on Saturdays.

6. finally, because it bears mentioning, i am SO thankful that my laundry baskets are empty for the moment...meaning i actually got that pesky clean, folded laundry into drawers. mind you, there is already a new batch in the washer...but i'll take the accomplishment and celebrate for the moment. (and while i am at it, perhaps i should be thankful for that trusty washing machine!).

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day Four

"Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name."
~1 Chronicles 29:13~

i'm thankful for so many thing...so, so, so many things...my husband tater-sacking elizabeth and kate up the stairs to bed and making up bedtime songs as he tucks them in (yep...i can hear that right now!)...gracious and wonderful friends and their kids who are sweet friends with our kids...luke's slobbering rendition of mama...the chance to stop and relax now that those chaos-inducing kiddos are in bed.

but, seriously, the truth is that it is enough to simply give thanks for Him...
...for His enduring love...
...for a great salvation...
...for His glorious name...
...for His moment by moment, new each morning mercies...
...for His Word...
...for the truth that He is enough--yes, more than enough...

...and so, above all today, i give Him thanks...

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day Three

have i mentioned that i love this? that throughout the day i catch myself searching for moments...moments to simply savor and give thanks...

and there are many of those moments...so many...when i really stop to look...when i refocus my perspective and set my heart on JOY and PRAISE and BLESSING...rather than on hard and tired and ick.

today i am thankful for...

1-four fleecy pajama clad kiddos gathered 'round me while i read book after book after book last night. luke might have attempted to take a bite or two out of a few pages...but he did smile and giggle and grab.

2-the arrival of the Lowes delivery truck in front of my house...and thus...my new dishwasher. elizabeth and kate were SO excited to watch the guys unload it! :)

3-MOPS...and specifically a meeting this morning that reminded me of all of the many things i have to be thankful for
*a consistent home with a warm bed and dressers full of clothing
*the support of my family and friends
*an education
*a husband who LOVES me, SUPPORTS me, and is ALWAYS there
*MORE than i could ever need in the way of material possessions to meet my physical needs

and i am thankful that God is moving and working, intervening and changing hearts in the lives of many, many, many women who don't have those basic things...who don't have a place to call home...a friend to call for help....and on and on. praise God for the ministry of heartchange.

4-a diet coke and the chance to sit down and reflect for a few minutes during rest-time

5-the rain outside my window...and the fact that in a season of lots of over-time, it meants we will have daddy home a bit early and have him with us for a few extra hours this evening

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day Two

what a blessing to see the many, many people on facebook and blogs who are jumping into this 30 day opportunity to focus on minds on all the praiseworthy and beautiful things in our lives.

today i am thankful for so, so, so many things...

1. the freedom to home-school--it most certainly isn't always easy, but what a blessing to be the one sitting next there watching them "get it"...to hear jillian shouting "TWO" when i ask what comes after one...to watch her little fingers trying to stick it on the calendar. what a joy to sit with my girlies around the table (oh my...another thankful, so thankful for the fabulous table we were given by friends who were done with it--and the great chairs my mama found and gifted to us!) and do a brief devotional before school starts and then to watch them dance around the room to the song that goes with it. i know--home-school isn't for everyone...and we have no idea what the future of homeschooling is for our family in the coming years, but regardless, i am so thankful for the freedom to make my own choice in this area!

2. watching my three precious girlies dump every single dress-up item we own on the floor and outfit each other. buzz lightyear and snow white are now happily playing upstairs while a pretty princess takes a nap.

3. a smiling, almost constantly happy baby boy...what an incredible and precious gift. he is really and truly amazing.

4. vacuum lines in the carpet...sometimes its the little things in life...even if they will only last until just after rest-time when the little whirlwinds come back downstairs.

5. gorgeous sunshine, unseasonably warm air, and autumn colored leaves lazily blowing across the yard

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day One

it is november.

november 1st.

wow.

yesterday this sweet friend posted a reminder about the start of "30 days of thankfulness".

blogging has been about 50th on the list of things to-do lately. and yet, blogging is good for my heart, good for my thoughts, good for my soul. combine that with the fact that the past month (or months...perhaps even year) has just been full--full of blessings, but but equally full of hard, exhausting, overwhelming moments, days, and weeks.

yes...i know i am blessed.

yes...i know i will someday miss this year of handprints on the doors, crayon-ed portraits on my fridge, and mounds of little laundry to fold.

i know this...and, yet, i forget about it. every.single.day.

life presses. children clamor. appliances break. meals need prepped. clothes need washed and folded and put away. diapers need changed. and on and on.

i forget about the mountain of blessings right in front of my face, because i become so focused on the molehill of trials and frustrations.

and so, here i am...blogging, planning to do my very best to find my way to this blog....every day this month...to record my "gratefuls"....to center my thoughts on the many, many blessings.

join me. you don't have to blog...you can post them to facebook, record them in your personal journal, or whatever works. but couldn't we all use a bit more thankfulness.

and so...here goes.

DAY ONE:

1. i am thankful for the job the Lord provided me--teaching literature and composition at The Master's Study. i am thankful that it has been fulfilling to get back to doing something i truly enjoy...with a group of junior high kiddos who are amazing!...just one day a week (well, except that silly essay grading!)...AND that my kiddos are learning and well taken care of at the same time. i am thankful for the extra paycheck...that the Lord is using it to provide for our needs!

2. i am thankful for my washer and dryer that work...for my microwave and stove and oven.

3. i am thankful for my husband who works hard to provide for our family...for his loving care for us. i am thankful that he has a job...and that he prioritizes taking care of his family...allowing me to be at home with our children.

4. i am thankful for the community i have within my church...for the reminders of other wives and mamas around me who are seeking Jesus, who remind me daily to CHOOSE Jesus, to CHOOSE joy, to CHOOSE perseverance.