Today hasn’t been a great day for me.  Not really for any good reason, just life stresses and lack of sleep, mostly.  And I’m not normally one who is easily brought to gratitude for the “everyday” blessings of life.

But right now, I have a crock-pot of chili that is full of organic meat and veggies simmering fragrantly in my kitchen (whether or not you believe there is any benefit in the organic distinction, the fact of its availability in mid-winter is noteworthy).  There is a sheet-pan full of winter squash baking in the oven.  I have a warm mug of coffee on the table beside me and cozy blanket wrapped around me.

I am able to look out the window at picturesque snowfall; and earlier, I lay down in a pile of deep fluffy snow while sunshine and snowflakes fell softly on my face – able to enjoy this winter wonderland without any of the fear or hardship it has the potential to bring.

Washer and dryer are cycling through five loads of laundry. Five loads from only two days.  Five loads representing God’s provision, and our simple routine, and our full home.  The dishwasher runs for a second round today, because we are all home for almost all of our meals.  Some people might think that makes our lives sound small; I think it makes our lives sound unbelievably blessed.

My husband is spending his afternoon doing shopping and errands, because he loves me and knows that the stress those things cause me in the current social climate of our world is more than I can handle.  My older kids are happily whiling away their afternoon playing a board game with a friend, my littles are watching a movie and munching on popcorn.

It’s true that I sometimes bemoan the unfinished or slow projects around this house, but even more true is that while the stresses of life outside these walls often threaten to overwhelm me, I am thankful beyond words for the life I have in this home, with these people who are my favorite people in the universe.  And I’m thankful for my God, who knows – among all the other things about me that He knows – my frailty and my need for a safe harbor.  He has provided more of what I truly need than I could have ever asked for.

This one’s hard for me.  I’m sure next year will be harder still.  Caedmon is another year older, another year closer to adulthood.  It would be an understatement to say I’ve shed a few tears over this fact.

But right now, I’m not going to borrow trouble worrying about the future or reliving the past.  I’m simply going to celebrate who Caedmon is today.

Today, Caedmon is a hard worker who identifies what needs to be done, and does it.

Caedmon is a terrific big brother who has wrestling matches with Lucas, plays games with his littlest sisters, and [usually] graciously fills the role of everyone’s first choice for sharing ideas or new knowledge or funny stories.

Caedmon is intelligent and diligent.  His respectably high PSAT scores have resulted in a steady stream of emails and brochures from colleges eager to capture his interest.

Caedmon still, and probably forever, loves Lego.  It has been his most enduring interest and still comprises a healthy portion of any Christmas or birthday wish list.

Caedmon is a talented musician.  Though events this past year have limited any performance opportunities, he has continued with saxophone lessons virtually, and spends considerable free time at the piano or transcribing music by ear.

Caedmon is, somewhat unwittingly, learning how to tackle many home improvement projects.  From installing a sump pump, to plastering a wall (with real plaster, not drywall compound), to putting up ceiling joists, to insulating walls, to starting on scraping and painting our garage, he has learned a lot of new skills, just this past year alone.

Caedmon is an avid writer.  He has written both a juvenile fiction chapter book, which I’ve read and honestly think is great, and a novel-length young adult book that he is still revising.  He is looking into publishing options and preparing to do what he needs to do to see his books in print.

Caedmon is someone I consider a good friend.  Odd for me, as I still have to occasionally engage in disciplining, lecturing and (hopefully not harsh) taskmaster-ing(?), but I genuinely enjoy his company, and hearing his thoughts, and goofing around with him.  I might be biased, but I think he’s a phenomenal young man.  To say I’m thankful for him doesn’t begin to describe how grateful I am that God made me Caedmon’s mom.  I truly so excited to be able to celebrate this oldest son of mine on his seventeenth birthday, and I hope and pray for many, many more.