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.