Thankfulness hasn’t been welling up in my heart lately, so today I am trying to make a point of noting some good things – little things, some of them – that make me smile, or relieve stress, or remind me that life can be fun.  Here’s what I’ve come up with.

:: it’s Friday.  Tim works only a half day on Fridays and kids’ schoolwork is a bit more relaxed.

:: a dishwasher.

:: a rearranged living room that is more open and functional and peaceful.

:: a little toddler girl who chases after Tim and me, with arms stretched wide, yelling “‘ug! ‘ug!” (hug).  So, so endearing.

:: a pair of hand-me-down paintings, a cleaned-up milk can found in our garage which is perfect for holding pussy willow branches (which, incidentally, have long since been cleared of their white puffy blossoms (?) thanks to little hands), and an old wooden crate that was left in our attic that works wonderfully as a tv stand…all gracing our still-almost-finished-but-functional family room.  Thriftiness and decorating are both kind of foreign arenas for me, but I’m trying…and finding these things makes me smile.

:: finally finding a pair of maternity pants that fit.  I’m not quite sure why clothing manufacturers think pregnant ladies want to walk around in 5-inch heels just so their pants won’t drag on the ground (maybe most do????) but I don’t.  I’m glad I now have something to wear other than yoga pants.

:: a busy, fun week planned for next week – Caedmon’s 10th (!) birthday Wednesday, a quick trip to an indoor waterpark on Thursday, with some hanging out and shopping followed by a midwife appointment the next day, and the first Upward games of the season on Saturday.

:: a second trimester that has been much kinder to me than usual.  Aside from about a week of my body reverting to first trimester symptoms (following our bout with the cold/flu), I have had only very occasional nausea, and little else for pregnancy-related inconveniences.

:: longer daylight hours.  Even when it is frigid outside, the extra light makes me feel warmer and (obviously?) brightens my day.

:: a new routine.  Or, I should probably say, a routine, since we really haven’t had any to speak of.  And it’s far from rigid or perfect, but it’s better.  I’ll take better.

:: so many things around the house that have, primarily, become the responsibility of my kids.  Though most tasks  are still in need of some improvement, their help makes life doable.

:: adding in a little individual playtime with each child when they get their individual prayer time (one night a week).  It’s been fun.  So far, we’ve mostly played checkers.  Tim is undefeated, I am not.  Our six-year old seems to have inherited Tim’s strategizing abilities, and I am happy to say that it didn’t bother me a bit when he beat me…twice.  I think I’ve finally accepted that I am terrible at games.