from Nov. 15

Thankful…

…for my seven-year old who looked at me the other day, and said you are the greatest person ever.  I love you, Mommy.

…for my four year old who still tells me almost daily that I’m beautiful and nice and that he loves me.

…for my husband who takes the lion’s share of getting up with fussy/sick children in the middle of the night, and then still gets up early to provide for our family

…for the help my children give around the house

…for my littlest girl who still wakes up smiling many mornings.

…for the most adorable 2-year old ever.  I might be biased.

…for vegetables, and a digestive system that (I think) has finally learned to like them.

…for 20 lbs each of potatoes and carrots from our garden

…that I don’t have to put my kids on a bus every morning to take them away for long hours

…for the presence of the Lord with me, even when life is hard

…for music.  I love music.  I love singing (though some might contend that my singing does not qualify as music).  I love listening to my kids practice piano.  I love playing my clarinet.  I love hearing birds chirping.  I love listening to worship music while I do just about anything.  I love listening to other people perform almost any kind of music.

…for the sky…for blue skies and storm clouds and starry nights and dazzlingly bright sunrises and breathtakingly beautiful sunsets.

 

from November 16

thankful…

…for flannel sheets

…for the neighbor lady who prayed to receive Jesus in church this morning.  Honestly surprising, but so exciting.  I sometimes forget the amazing things God can do, and the reality that every heart is desperate for Him alone.

…warm slippers

…half a year with our littlest girl

…dressing my kids up in matching clothes.  Tim thinks it’s strange, but it is honestly fun for me, and relieving to have some guide to go by when grabbing clothes for the day.

 

from Nov. 19

Thankful…

…for the pretty snowfall this afternoon.  I’m not exactly ready for winter, but I’m glad I can at least see the beauty in it.

…for a 6 straight hours of sleep last night.  It’s been a while.

…for my kids.  They work hard and do a good job at many things.  I probably don’t tell them that enough.

…for books that direct my eyes to the Lord.  They are surprisingly few and far between, in my experience, but so helpful in getting my gaze off me.

…for my bulb syringe (nasal aspirator?) that has been extremely useful the past few days of dealing with a very congested baby girl.

…for our washer and dryer.  While I don’t love our particular washer and dryer, and often find myself unable to figure out what in the world makes people like front loaders, I am glad that we don’t have to go elsewhere to tackle our 15+ loads of laundry every week.

…for the library.  It has only been in the past year or so of homeschooling that I have made use of this resource that is literally in my backyard…I previously had some notion that I needed to purchase every book I used for school…and it has been such a stress reliever.  Even better?  Interlibrary loan and online requesting and renewal.  I almost feel like I’m cheating at something.

 

from Nov. 24

Thankful…

…for the insurance company finally agreeing to reimburse for the money we paid the midwife for prenatal care

…for peace about my mother-in-law moving here.  Still not excitement.  Still not joy.  Still not expectation for it to be free of conflict.  But peace.  I’ll take it.

…for a rearranged hallway upstairs (it’s a big hallway).  I like it much better now.

…for warm weather.

…for fresh eggs.

 

from Dec. 15

Thankful…

…for long, hot showers

…for internet recipes

…for a baby that has finally stopped wiggling and fussing and pulling my hair, and is now snuggled close, asleep

…for a two-year old that did not fight me at nap-time today

…for Tim’s interview tomorrow

…for pretty Christmas mugs

…that tomorrow is another day to try again