Gratitude of late

a smattering of things I've been thankful for lately.... 

5508 | Isaac's great attitude through this hives trial
5509 | antihistamine, which has given relief during the daytime
5510 | book club with like-minded mamas the other night
5511 | my mom, watching the kids this morning
5512 | Sally's podcast, talking about strengthening our arms:

"Our lifetime will have many trials; our lifetime will push against the ungodliness of our character: our ungodliness, our lack of faith, our lack of knowledge.  And in that place it becomes a place where we can say, 'God, what would you teach me here? How would you strengthen my arms here?  How would you help me to live in peace here?'"

(A heartfelt yes! to that prayer.  When faced with a challenge, instead of griping or grumping, or beginning the woe-is-me dialogue I tend toward... instead asking God to strengthen my arms for *this* thing; for this task, this challenge.)

5520 | a good appointment, a thorough doctor
5521 | Michelle, walking us through this from afar
5523 | an immediate referral to Children's
5524 | Mark having the day off today, being present with the kids
5525 | Mark's insurance

5530 | having friends and family who are praying
5531 | Isaac's gratitude, several times a day: "Thank you for caring for me, mommy."
5532 | and his worry for me: "Don't worry about me, mommy.  I'm okay."  Or, "I want you to sleep well tonight and not worry about me."
5533 | his faith.  His initial statement of: "God's got my back."
5534 | the kids' prayers for him
5535 | and their concern
5536 | Mark, taking time off again tomorrow
5537 | tears and prayers with Mark
5538 | him hugging me in the kitchen today
5539 | the comfort of God's word (Ps 95) and the truth of who God is: the picture of Him as a good Shepherd, tending His flock
5540 | Audra and Isaias, collecting snails in the garden, Audra's "Snail Park", and their marble run in the dirt that she's so enthused about

Audra and her little paper-made doctor's kit

5541 | the honey that seemed to soothe Isaac's throat a bit ago

5543 | for the J's, bringing us pizza for dinner last night, and peanut butter cups for dessert!
5544 | and flowers
5545 | and my favorite- a sweet card from B to Isaac with a verse on it... Joshua 1:9, and a drawing of them playing football together.  LOVE
5546 | for the prayers of the J's, B's, friends and family.  People who care so much.
5547 | that he is moving around so much better today; that his hives aren't as regularly itchy, that his throat was better yesterday, that his appetite was back Saturday morning.
5548 | for a meal from the B's, Friday night

5551  | the ability to make and bring a meal to the M's last night to celebrate their adoption of T.  Lasagna, Caesar Salad, homemade crusty bread, ice cream pie....
5552 | finding lasagna sauce a few days ago in the freezer downstairs that made it all seem doable

5554 | all sorts of two-on-one time with Isaac on our drives to and from Seattle

5556 | solving riddles with Mark and Isaac on our drive Monday.  (actually, I read them out loud, those two smarty pants solved them while I looked bewildered and tried to keep up.)
5557 | the kindness of so many blog readers and friends-- praying and asking how Isaac is doing
5558 | tucking myself next to Ella on Monday night after the girls were all tucked into bed, and the little girls slept.  Chatting with her about her day at grandma's house and Finn and all his cuteness,....


5561 | Mark bringing me Woods coffee yesterday (!!!)

5567 | sunshine this week

5569 | morning snuggles with my Audra, and her cheerful chatter

5572 | laughter

Open House | Monday, May 18

Hello, dear friends-

Here is what's going on today:

Outside my window | is our garden, just waiting to be planted.  Tomorrow is the day.  (More details on that to follow, I'm sure.)  So excited.  Also outside are my tomato plants, waiting to be potted.  And some white petunias I just potted in some terra cotta pots for my front porch.

our garden spot after rototilling, with happy chickens pecking around in it

Homeschooling | today it's in the 70's, so we did as much as we could outside.  Nature study, picture study and read-aloud all happened outdoors in the sunshine (me & Ella) or shade (everyone else). ;)

In the kitchen | does making lattes count?  ;)  This morning I made breakfast sandwiches- by making up a double-batch of some quick yogurt biscuits (have I shared that recipe here?), slapped a fried egg on each of them, sprinkled some cheese and a piece of bacon.  They were a hit.  We even delivered some to daddy at work. :)

Reading aloud | I am in the process of reading three books to the kids.  The first one is The Tarantula in My Purse (funny true stories of a family who adopts several interesting pets, including a crow and apparently that other one mentioned in the title that I may have to skip.  Yipes.)  I'm also making my way through Little House in the Big Woods (because earlier this year I decided we needed to read through the whole series again, with the little girls in mind) and Copper-Toed Boots (a recent find at a thrift store- 99 cents!)  Mark is reading The Green Ember in the evenings to the kids.

Looking forward to | my next date night with Mark, our anniversary get-away in June, getting our garden planted, having friends over Thursday morning, heading outside very soon to sit in my cozy orange chair in the sunshine and journal, Friday-night game night planned with my brother and sister-in-law, Mark's day off.... all sorts of things!  :)

Thankful | for a little goal I made back in March.... "20 lbs by 40".  I'm turning 40 in July ( which is utterly crazy ) and I decided in mid-March that my birthday gift to myself would be to lose 20 lbs.  And... I'm nearly there!  (16 lbs down), so I'm super thankful for the dedication God has gifted me during this season.  [I've just been counting calories through My Fitness Pal, and committing to exercise at least 20 minutes 6x/week.] 

Here is a peek at the back pages of my journal- my own little calendar where I'm keeping track of (by coloring in the little daily box) each day I come in under or at my calorie count).

Thinking | about possibly starting to read books again in July.  That will have been a six-month sabbatical from books.  And I miss reading so very much.  :(  We'll see.

Enjoying | these Bible studies from Stone Soup for Five, which are inductive-based but also very creative-minded.  I love this combination.  I'm journaling my way through Philippians right now using one of her studies, and Ella and I are slooooowly working through a Matthew study together. 

Best posts I've read online lately |
Sally Clarkson's post called If You Want to Win Your Child's Heart, Don't Go By the Rules, and Aimee's post called Bedtimes, Hot Cocoa Packets, and Listening to the Spirit.
Go there, read those.  You will be encouraged in your mothering.  :)

I truly hope you are all doing well and enjoying our lovely Spring!  

Blessings to you and yours,
~Stacy


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Grateful

Thank you, friends, for your kinds words and emails from my last post.  You're all so very sweet.

In my journal the other day, I listed some things I was thankful for in our homeschooling day, so I thought I'd list them out, here, too...

* * *

4802 | being able to sleep in a bit today (thank you, Peter Pan, for entertaining the kids.)  ;)

4803 | morning hugs from Audra

4804 | Bible time with the kids over breakfast (reading about Moses)

4805 | getting outside for playtime and Nature Study and- when I called them in, they asked for extra time outside because they were having so much fun playing whatever game they'd made up out in the yard together.  [Time given. ;)]

4806 | storytime with the kids on the couch, all the kids, all gathered around.... that sweet coming together that reading provides. 

4807 | the All Kinds of Kisses book that Adelia chose for me to read, a book about farm animal mommies snuggling and kissing their little ones, and in which I announced that she would be getting kissed every time I read the word "kiss".  So I tried to smooch her for each page and she hid beneath the blanket and giggled, and all the kids along with her.

4808 | Audra (6), telling me about the movie Peter Pan and how "that girl was acting all fancy and stuff" toward Peter.  (I believe we would call it flirtatious but I loved her description!)

4809 | the sounds of the kids practicing piano

4810 | a good day of math for Ella~ no tears!

4811 | Clipboards!  how well they've taken to them, and how great it is that they are working more independently.

4812 | Spelling with Isaias

4813 | Mark home for lunch

4814 | dinner in the crock pot (pork roast)

4815 | Mr. Putter & Tabby books, because we just love them.



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**Still counting up those "thousand gifts" in my journal.... :)

My heart

Thank you, friends, for your kind words of comfort after my last post.  Your comments, emails and Facebook messages have made me tearful with gratitude.  Thank you so much for your prayers and for your encouraging words.  Each of you has ministered to me and I thank you.

I have the sweetest readers.  (((hugs)))

There are so many thoughts and emotions swirling around in my head and heart and the way I process it all is to write.  I've been filling up pages in my journal (and then filling Mark in on all I've written) and I want to share some of it with you, too.  I hardly know where to begin so I'll just start and hope it's not too rambly.

On Christmas Eve I got sick (influenza), and have been very sick ever since.  As I write this it is January 9th, and I'm still sick.  Fever, chills, achy, and upper respiratory stuff.  I have coughed enough in the last two weeks that I'm certain I could win some sort of award if there was such a one, and I have slept very little because of it.  The kids got sick the weekend after Christmas- high fevers for days and everyone lethargic and needy.  (And my amazing [and healthy!] Mark- taking care of us all, should win his very own award.)

It is in this state of weariness and feeling so beaten down already, physically-- that we found out about the miscarriage.

So I have been feeling pretty low, and asking God~ Okay, what is it You want to teach me through all of this?  I have prayed that my eyes, mind and heart would be receive whatever lessons He wants to reveal to me through this trial; that I wouldn't miss it.  And He has been faithful to show me something.

I can feel very sad if I ponder this: Why would You give us this precious gift only to take it away?... Or when I doubt God's goodness: I should have known it was too good to be true... Or when I feel sorry for myself: But it takes us so long to even GET pregnant.  Years.  Or if I think of all that I will miss: how my belly was going to grow and the baby move within me, how I was going to get to see Mark holding a baby of ours again,.... just- all the many thoughts down that road.

I know that God does not mind my questions or my grief, but I have felt a check in my spirit when I have those kind of thoughts.  Very soon after we realized we'd lost the baby, I began to have thoughts of "It was too good to be true, I should have known it wouldn't really happen", etc.  And right away I recognized it as a lie from the enemy.  God is good.  Period.  He is a kind, loving Father, who loves to give good gifts to His children.  And this does not change that.  That's the truth.  I believe it.  I know Him, I know His character, and I trust Him.

I am learning so much by watching my kids.  I saw them grieve, hard- that first day.  Audra's heart-wrenching sobs, Ella's silent grief, Isaac's questions, Isaias' stunned silence....  But just hours later they were back to their play, their laughter, their imaginative creativity.  They live in the moment.  This one; the one right before them.  And they embrace it and delight in it and take joy in it.  They aren't concerned about tomorrow, or about what happened yesterday.  They were so quick to accept this new reality and move on.   I admire that in them.  They simply do not have the capacity to dwell on sadness.  It's just not in them. They are content, they feel secure, and they trust that all will be well.

So I see them and I am reminded to be the same way.  When I befriend my sorrows and sort of camp out with the sad thoughts of all that would or could have been, I feel very melancholy.  But when I remember God's goodness, when I rest in His word and His promises, when I remind myself of His character and His faithfulness, I am heartened.  When I choose not to not dwell on the past and not to worry about tomorrow, but live this moment, and trust Him, I am content.  So I am practicing this, purposing not to "go there" in my thoughts and arriving at a place of quiet acceptance.

Mark read me portions of Lamentations last night- this is one of his favorite passages in the whole Bible.  In chapter 3, Jeremiah is struggling with some seriously dark thoughts, talking about his great affliction and feeling like God's hand is turned against him.  He says things like "He has weighed me down with chains.  Even when I call out or cry out for help, he shuts out my prayer." Or, "Like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in waiting, he dragged me from the path and mangled me and left me without help."  He goes on and on like this, for eighteen verses.  And then, this:

I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

I cannot identify with Jeremiah's dark thoughts- not to that extent.  But my heart lifts when he gets to the part of "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope...." and goes on to tell of God's love and compassion and faithfulness.

YES.  That is what I am calling to mind, too.  I am resting in the truths of who He is.  The LORD is my portion; my all, and He is enough.

Today

Today was a perfect kind of fall day- blustery and not raining.   I was driving this afternoon and spotted this strip of grass with gloriously big trees and a carpet of leaves (!) on the ground.   I promptly called Mark and told him to get everyone ready because I was coming home to pick them up so that we could go play in the leaves. Here are some photos:

my new favorite place to play in the leaves

handsome husband.  i love him so much!

i think it's funny that when i suggested we get a picture by the lamppost, those three kids decided they should be climbing said lamppost during the photo. 

cute ella kate.

We threw piles of leaves at each other, made huge piles and buried ourselves in them, caught the falling leaves when a gust of wind came along,  played tag, found grasshoppers, raced around to touch all seven huge trees, laughed and had a lot of fun!

audra (4)

adelia (5)

(blurry.  but the only one we got, so i'm posting it.)

cutest, sweetest kids i love so much

love this boy

Then we got back into the car to go home and saw the beautiful sky- so we drove toward the water for a better view, and then tried to capture a photo of all the beautiful oranges and grays and pinks and blues and yellows.... and this is all I ended up with (which of course doesn't do it's beauty justice):

sunset

But I'm so thankful for today.  For the wonder of the seasons, the beauty and familiarity of where we live, and especially for God who created all this beauty!

Gratitude: Monday, October 22

this.  beautiful to me.  and grateful to my God who created it all.

2426 | quilting (and that even though I have no idea what I'm doing with this log-cabin piecing, I love it.)
Again: Inspiration here.

2507 | a day off for Mark (and his Columbus Day creativity for the kids for breakfast)

2513 | for Audra, who apparently thinks hiking means running.  The whole way.  We could barely keep up with her.

2520 | For the garter snake that Adelia spotted, Isaac wasn't afraid of, and everyone else was wary of.

2561 | Mark, who loves well
[also, as a side note: I always feel so proud of myself if I can somehow manage to get a candid shot with everyone in it.  Success!]

2594 | apple-picking with mom and the kids: a new tradition!

 for these six. {even the grumpy one!}

other snippets from my list>>

2406 | removing rocks from the pockets of Audra's dress before I put it into the washing machine today

2411 | our cozy home

2428 | library with the kids today

2443 | that God and His laws are trustworthy (Ps. 111)

2463 | pumpkin pancakes with whipped cream

2466 | holding Ella when she got hurt today

2477 | Audra's arms tight around my neck at 4 am when I took her potty, with a whispered, groggy, "I love you, mama."

2479 | Isaias' improved reading skills

2487 | the sound of Ella practicing piano

2491 | that God's word stands forever (Isaiah 40) What else stands forever?!  Nothing!

2499 | He does not grow tired or weary (Isaiah 40:28) 

2410 | for the picnic lunch we had at the base of the mountain

2412 | for a falling-over- (onto Isaac) -asleep Adelia in the van on the way home.  We were all laughing so hard.

2535 | that He has swept away my offenses like a cloud, my sins like morning mist. (Isaiah 44:22)

2559 | for a warm mug of anything to wrap my hands around on a cold morning

2564 | Chex Mix

2570 | crisp Autumn weather

2571 | cozy socks

2574 | impromptu baseball game in the yard on a Sunday afternoon

2578 | Ella, standing at the sink, washing Fiestaware

2579 | Isaias, offering to pray for me so often while I was sick

2583 | MadelineTosh yarn

2599 | sleeping next to Mark every single night

2602 | Audra, napping next to me in bed




 

Early morning gratitude

I was up early this morning with the girls while everyone else slept.  They were vying for a position on my lap- both were sleepy and wanted to snuggle with mommy and Audra did not want to share lap space. Adelia is very sweet about sharing, so for the most part she will let Audra have me to herself. This is quite unfortunate because I *love* it when Adelia just wakes up from a night of sleep or from her nap.  It's the only time she will sit still, and she wants to be held.  (Audra, on the other hand, wants to be held fifty times a day!)

***

(Case in point: as I was typing that statement, Audra came over and said, "I want to sit on your lap." ;))  So: I closed the laptop and set it aside and pulled her onto my lap.

Anyway~ back to what I started to say earlier:  I sat this morning on the couch, taking turns with the girls- when Audra was off playing happily, I'd pull Adelia into my arms and vice versa.  At one point, Adelia was snuggled in beside me and Audra sat on my lap, facing me- squeezing my cheeks and poking my eyes and giving me tight hugs and chattering about all sorts of things, (if she says 'Jofuss' (who goes with Mary and baby Jesus for those of you who don't know who 'Jofuss' is) I might actually die from cuteness overload.)  And I thought: "This is the greatest job in the world."  What other occupation could you be in where people approach you several times a day just to tell you how much they love you, and to cheer you with countless hugs and brighten your days with smiles and laughter?  What wonderful years these are!  And how gracious God is to allow us- as mothers- to get to play such a big part in their lives.

I was overwhelmed with thankfulness this morning.  How dear my children are, how much I love them and delight in them, and how grateful I am to get to be their mommy.  Yes, the days are long and often challenging, but God is gracious and is so faithful to give strength and perseverance with each new day.  It is such rewarding work, isn't it?

Blessings to you and your children today.  (Don't forget to tell them how much you love them!)

Blessed

I took the kids to the vegetable store today- at 5:00pm- to get some celery that I needed for the cornbread stuffing I was making for dinner.  Once there, I couldn't resist those happy orange pumpkins, so I told the kids they could each choose a small sugar pumpkin.  They were delighted.

Each pumpkin cost me a little more than a dollar and the kids were over the moon about them.  

Isaias, in awe: "I've never gotten to choose my own pumpkin before!"  In fact, he has.  He just doesn't remember.  And usually we have pumpkins growing in our garden, so we don't always buy them.  But not this year. 

Shortly after I took this picture, I handed out Sharpie markers and they drew faces (and scribbles) on their pumpkins. 

I look at this picture and I feel so, so blessed to be mother to these five.  I love them so much and I truly just delight in who they are and who they are becoming.  I see God's faithful hand leading me as their mama and I am so thankful for His provision and for the ways He answers prayers in my life and in theirs.

I think about how Isaias prayed tonight at the table: "God, I thank You that daddy and mommy know about Jesus so that they can teach me about Jesus" and his earlier comment about how he's glad we adopted him so that he didn't have to stay in the orphanage and so that he could have the joy of playing with Adelia and Audra and be trained and taught about Jesus. 

I think about how when Mark came home from work, the kids all shrieked and ran over to him to tell him about their pumpkins and that when he came in, Audra clung to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

I think about how Ella has posted a song sheet by the washer and dryer- so that when she does her laundry chore she can sing songs of praise.  I heard her today, joyfully singing as she worked.

I think of my hard-working husband who comes home each night to us.

I think about how we all remained at the table after dinner for family worship and then we prayed together and how much I love that.   

I think of all these little moments that string together to make our days and how each one is a gift from God, and I am so thankful.

{Thank you, Lord!}

Octobers

"Oh, Marilla," Anne exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it? Look at these maple branches. Don't they give you a thrill-- several thrills? I'm going to decorate my room with them."

* * *

{Things I like in October}

-apples, especially honeycrisp

-clean, brisk air

-huge maple leaves

-crunchy leaves to step on while walking

-pumpkin-y candles

-chex mix

-living in a neighborhood with trees all around us

-the colors of the trees: reds, yellows, oranges, browns, and fading greens

-leaves falling into our yard

-the return of socks and slippers

-knitting

-lotion

-boots

-cozy hats

-blustery days

-butternut squash

-pumpkins on porches

-wearing these shoes again

-sweaters

-soup

-homemade bread (which I have yet to make, but I have every intention to do so, and soon.)

-snickerdoodles

-pumpkin-y baked goodness (breads, cookies, scones, cakes)

-chestnuts

-scarves
-how pretty the grass looks with the colored leaves on it
-1000-piece puzzles

(#'s 1679- 1705, One Thousand Gifts)

What would make your list?

Grateful: Monday, August 1

{ snippets from my list over the past few months }

1519 | apple blossoms

1522 | tiny strawberry plants

1524 | picture books strewn across my bed from some early-morning reading with the girls

1539 | color.  vibrant, beautiful color

1544 | the tiny bouquet of lilacs- light and dark- sitting on the patio table

1559 | bare feet, five sets of them- scampering through the yard

1565 | our beautifully blooming Hawthorne tree

1566 | the slope of our front lawn, perfect for little bodies to roll down

1567 | pansies in terra cotta pots at the front window

1569 | that He does not treat us as our sins deserve

1571 | the way Audra calls "hair pretties" (barrettes, elastics, etc) "pretty hairs", as in: "Mommy, I have pretty hairs in!"

1572 | waking in the mornings to Adelia and Audra singing worship songs

1573 | the way they play together: tucking dollies into beds, singing songs, jumping, dancing, exploring...

1579 | coming home
1602 | Audra's prettily-painted fingernails that were done at a library craft fair the kids attended yesterday with grandma.  Several times I've seen her splay her fingers out in front of herself and admire them.  And several times she has told me about how two girls without tutus (skirts) did that (painted her nails.)  In her world, not wearing a tutu is a serious offense.

Grateful: Monday, April 18

{snippets from my journal: One Thousand Gifts... and still counting!}

1462 | Audra, in her pink tutu... twisting her hips and watching her skirt twirl

1463 | Audra, who is indignant if I happen to call her "baby girl".
"Mommy: I'm not a baby. I'm Audra."

1464 | the delight of Isaac, who finished his chore today in time for the timer! (Hooray, budders!)

1472 | Tonia's posts on peace: here and here.

1477 | Mark's friendship with Andy and Erik, and their weekly breakfasts together.

1488 | That Isaac (7) always takes my hand when he's walking beside me.

1489 | The cheery bouquet of daffodils Mark brought me. And the bouquet of lilies and freesias he brought at the same time~ all because I'd said a few days before that the only thing our living room seemed to be missing was some spring flowers (thinking I couldn't wait for them start blooming in our yard so that I could cut some and bring some in!)

1492 | Brisk, early-morning walks (and talks) with my mom.

1500 | Your faithfulness, oh God~ in helping me find things! (papers we needed for taxes: lost, then found!)

1502 | Audra's face... and hands... and legs... after about 15 minutes of finger-painting!

1503 | The sound of someone mowing their lawn (Spring!)

1506 | Waking up to the song of the birds each morning

1507 | Getting to meet Sandi, from A Mother's Musings~ someone I've been friends with online for *years*... (We met for breakfast, and talked and talked and talked...! It was such a blessing to meet her!)

* * *

Grateful: Monday, March 7

I've had a rough couple of weeks. Audra has been sick, I have been sick, and Adelia has been sick. We've all been getting very little sleep, what with all the middle-of-the-night wake-ups with the two little girls...

This morning was especially challenging. Adelia intentionally dumped her bowl of oatmeal on the floor, and I asked her to pick it up. Audra and I were at the sink, doing dishes-- my distraction for her unceasing "Hold you, mommy?" these days-- and it was working, this distraction. I was washing glasses and whispering prayers for wisdom of how to handle my defiant three-year old, who was hollering that she didn't want to pick up her oatmeal, because, of course-- who wants to do that?, and she proceeded to scream at me to express how very much she did not want to do that. I went over to her and gently but firmly told her that I wanted her to pick up the oatmeal, and she could take however long she wanted to, but she would be doing it. She continued screaming (and not picking up the oatmeal). I turned to ask Ella to do something, and she proceeded to tell me why she'd like to do that later, not now... and so I was explaining why it had to be done, now, please, when Audra grabbed a glass and it shattered in our sink. (Oh, and did I mention that Adelia was still screaming?) I snapped, and hollered at Ella and said something to the effect of, "If you would have just done what I asked you and not argued with me, this wouldn't have happened!" Ella burst into tears, feeling responsible, now, for the broken glass, and went to do the thing I'd asked her to do earlier. Audra was trying to pick up the glass (lovely), Adelia was still screaming, I had a headache and was near tears myself, and now I had wronged my sweet Ella, and had to make things right with her. Sigh. I couldn't even think straight with all the screaming we were all enduring, and we couldn't start school at the table until she was done with the oatmeal, which had not yet been touched and... arghh. I was fully overwhelmed.

Twenty minutes later I had cleaned up the glass, apologized to Ella, and Adelia had finally picked up the oatmeal off the floor (The screaming had stopped, and I sat with her and watched until she did what I'd asked; then helped her with the last few clumps.) Mark called and I briefly detailed our morning (which included some things with the boys that had ocurred before even these events) and told him, "I can't do this. I am failing. I am doing nothing right. I am critical, impatient and too quick to anger. I am so overwhelmed and feel like I am suffocating under the demands of these five kids." (Yes- I do tend to have a flair for the dramatic.)

When Ella was at the table doing her schoolwork and the boys were each doing their "buddy time" with the little girls, I retreated to my room to change our sheets and prayed for help, and tried to remind myself that I could do this, with God's strength, and that His mercies for me were great and that He was my Helper and then, I was reminded of this verse, from 1 Thessalonians: "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

So, as soon as I was able, and with the help of a carefully timed video for the younger four kids, I grabbed my journal and pen and sat down to write down my thanks. Following are some snippets from my list:

1433... a double batch of lasagna sauce, simmering on the stove for dinner
1435... a plan for dinner
1437... warm, soapy water in the sink to wash glasses with
1438... a tight hug from Ella, after I said sorry to her
1439... the forgiveness of children- how quick they are to move on and *forget* the incident every even happened
1440... clean sheets on our bed
1441... our down comforter, freshly fluffed
1442... tissue for runny noses
1443... children who know how to blow those noses
1448... the patch of sunlight coming through the window, falling on the love seat... the very spot that I'm now sitting
1450... the grace You bestow on me, Lord, for all my sins

I know why He says to give thanks.

It is good for the soul, this.

Counting up those endless gifts...

Grateful: Monday, December 27

~ that Mark had the whole week before Christmas off!

~ aunties and uncles and cousins galore!

~ celebrating my grandpa's 90th birthday, and being surrounded by that extended family I love so much

~ Ella's happy sigh one evening, coming home from a Christmas event: "I just love having cousins!"

~ homemade cinnamon rolls, two days in a row

~ homemade pizzas on Christmas Eve, and making them with my dear sisters-in-law

~ Isaac's nativity scene for our Christmas cards this year, colored in by all our kids

~ Christmas morning breakfast, lovingly prepared by my parents

~ a traditional Christmas dinner, with ham, potatoes and rolls- made by mom

~ siblings, and all the days we've lived together and the inside jokes that are so abundant at these gatherings

~ gifts given that were loved

~ grandparents who love my children well

~ our kids' exuberance over giving gifts to children across the world: baby chicks! fruit trees! blankets! meals! clean water! mosquito nets! sports equipment!

~ skyping with Michelle, days before Christmas

~ singing Happy Birthday to Jesus; blowing out the candles on our coffee cake that morning

~ our slumber party by the tree

~ playing Settlers and Ticket to Ride with Mark, doing a wintry puzzle, and playing LEGO Creationary with Isaac

~ the kids all tumbled onto our bed on Christmas morning with their stockings

~ all the gifts Ella so carefully made this year: a sewn pillow for Audra's baby, a mobile for me with colored ornaments hanging from it, an ornament in my stocking that said "JOY", pictures for the boys, a phone for Adelia, a drum for Audra

~ Isaac's question to me a few days before Christmas: "Mommy? What is the thing you love most in all the world?" [My response was 'daddy' until he clarified: "No. Something I could wrap and put in your stocking!"] So I said 'chocolate', and then opened my stocking to find that he'd tucked all sorts of chocolates into it

~ Audra's any-time-of-the-day cuddles, the way she wraps her arms tight around me and says "I yuv you so mush!" What a joy she is!

(counting up His lavish gifts, #s 1326-1346)

Thankful! {Thanksgiving edition}

{continuing on in gratitude from my initial One Thousand Gifts list}

1286~ hearing Ella sing worship songs to the girls at bedtime each night

1287~ Audra's cute little phrases: "have some?", "read dat?", "yuh you!", "follow me"

1288~ unsolicited good morning hugs from each of my children

1289~ hide and seek games under the covers to surprise mommy when I walk into the room

1290~ Ella, taking a hot bath with a book in her hands :)

1291~ my boys, happily playing dollhouse with Audra

1292~ a new stick of Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer... *perfect*

1293~ Adelia's eager hands to help me with a load of laundry this morning... then the buttermilk pancakes. She loves to get her hands on the mixer. :)

1294~ white out my window this morning... still!

1295~ memories of pulling the little girls through the yard in the sled last night, in the dark... as we waited for daddy to come home. And how Ella, Isaac, and Isaias' play was to entertain them on their sledding journey, by popping out from hiding spots to make an animal noise. Glancing back to see a rosy-cheeked Audra, carefully holding her baby doll, and Adelia suggesting, "How 'bout a kitty?" in lieu of the preferred bears that kept pouncing out from behind things. :)

1296~ grocery stores during the holiday season~ all the cheery hustle and bustle and our holiday favorites: eggnog, satsumas, and fixings for pigs-in-a-blanket!

1297~ reading our Bible story book aloud each morning over breakfast. This morning: Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and how they refused to eat the kings food. I asked the kids, "What do you think would you have done?" and we talked about what a big thing that was for Daniel to say no, and then we marvelled together at how, when they came before the king at the end of their time? They were TEN TIMES better in matters of wisdom and understanding than all the kings magicians! I love God's word, and I love it *with* my children!

...even though it's not a "Monday" at all. ;)

{Happy Thanksgiving}

This is a great week

Today we celebrated Isaac's 7th birthday~ with balloons and gifts and for breakfast: Swedish pancakes with syrup and whipping cream, sausages and fruit smoothies. With pizza for lunch and meatloaf, sweet potatoes and applesauce for dinner. With a trip to the library and time to play in the back yard and lots of time to play on the living room rug with Legos. With birthday kisses from his little sisters and the Happy Birthday song sung all day long. With phone calls and emails from those far away. With hugs and smiles from loved ones gathered round our living room tonight to celebrate our boy. With lemon cake and lime sherbet or chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. We are so thankful.

Tomorrow is a regular school day.

But Thursday? Thursday is not regular at all. I get to drive to the airport to pick up one of my dearest friends and then we're going to stay at a hotel for TWO blessed nights and just talk and pray and laugh and sleep and eat.

I know.

I feel incredibly blessed. God is so good to give me (us!) this time, and Mark? Such an incredible husband to let me do it. [Michelle's husband, too! {Thank you, Chad... for letting her come!!!!}]

What's great about your week?

New blog design!

If you read my blog via a reader, click over so that you can see what my blog looks like now!

(Isn't it the cutest blog design you've *ever* seen in your whole life?)

Thought so.

The amazingly creative Debi put this together for me. I am positively thrilled at how it turned out, and Debi is so talented and was wonderful to work with.

{Thank you, Debi!}

Grateful: Monday, July 12

1235 | Spending time this morning (every morning!) with my early-morning girl, while the rest of the house slept. Watching as she brought toys and books to my lap, seeing her discover things and express herself in cute little gestures and with sweet exclamations.

Words I heard her say this morning:

down
here 'go
dank you!
guy? (referring to Isaac's LEGO guys)
nigh-nigh (as she tucked the LEGO guys under a blanket)
bank-ee (blanket)
Jesuh? (because that's what we sing when we go nigh-nigh!)
horsey
cow
moo
dee-ya (Adelia)
mine
book
cozy
love oo
up boo (up)
nice
birdie
fye (fly)
wogee (froggy)

1236 | The blessing of my wonderful Ella, who invited the little girls to help her with her laundry chore. Having a few moments of freedom while the boys did their chores, I made a phone call to a dear friend who has been on my heart. Ella got the girls dressed- in matching outfits, no less- and took them outside. I peeked out the back door to find this:


{She pulled up those little chairs for the girls to have front-row seats as she took care of her chicken chore.}

I kept peeking, as I was on the phone, and spied this a few minutes later:


I noted that she chose our calmest hen for this endeavor, for which I am thankful. :)

She made one more trip inside with the girls to get them bundled up in sweatshirts (it's cold this morning!) and then headed back outside to play with them. How thankful I am for this precious oldest daughter of mine!

The weeding fairy

Remember when I wrote this yesterday?

Our week has been full of backyard fun: splashing in the kiddie pool and eating meals on the patio, hanging clothing on the line to dry, mowing, sidewalk chalk and painting. And me, looking at our vegetable garden every day and wishing someone else would come and weed it. I'm still waiting. I just don't have it in me to get up and do it myself.

Well.

This morning as Mark was leaving for work, he was startled to find someone bent over in our garden, weeding away.

That someone was my mom, bless her serving heart.

And she doesn't even read my blog.

She just "had this thought" during the night that she should come up and weed our garden for us.

How blessed are we? [And how good is God to put that on her heart when it's been something both Mark and I would like to do but haven't exactly been able to?]

Three cheers for my wonderful mother!

Grateful: Monday, May 17

1207 | our garden planted this weekend: sunflowers, snap peas, carrots, basil, and all sorts of varieties of lettuces


1208 | beautiful sunshine, all weekend long, and happy children in it


1209 | Audra, who loves to be outside



1210 | this moment with Adelia, who walked along our sidewalk, pressed her nose into several tulips and happily exclaimed over each one