Thanks 3

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.  Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Rain today.  But rain that did not depress . . . or aggravate my easily disturbed homeostasis.  It did not tightly bottle the energy of my children to the point of a water kefir explosion with permanent discoloration upon their souls. 

They . . . they delighted in learning.  Swift hugs.  Air kisses.  Letter C’s.  Cuneiform.  The land of Sumer, home to paper and the Fertile Crescent.  A stick figure Elijah who had faith to call upon heaven and light afire on wet wood.

Random quotes from my husband such as, “It’s big, heavy, colors don’t match.{dramatic pause}  I wouldn’t have it.” and “I’m so tired; I think I’ll fall asleep riding my bike to work tomorrow.” 

And me, imagining my Engineer in plaid pajamas (even though I have never known him to wear such a bold covering), long cap with a fuzzy white pom pom, and Snoopy pillow . . . being towed by Jeff.  The very Jeff who wants me to write about how our food is delivered to our doorstep.  (Please tell them I sent you.)

A white sink that appeared after a long absence; discovered by my mom who is braver than I.

Romano encrusted chicken salad delivered.  Even though I haven’t lived with my mom in years, she still feeds me with her hands.

Candles that flicker to the graceful keystrokes of David Neveu.

A simple coffee shared with the Engineer . . . over a provocative discussion involving carpet tiles.

The second post . . . the third day . . . in November.  Thankful.

Visit my friend Conny to make your own list.  Don’t have a blog?  Leave a comment here . . . or there.

Thanks . . .

This marks the third year.  The third year that I have known Conny and that she has offered thanks.  In November.  For the month of November.

She really is thankful during the other 11 months.  It’s just that she is making a POINT of tell the WORLD in November that she has some things that she just wants to say thanks about. 

“You shouldn’t have God.  But You did.  Thanks from little ‘ol me.”

I’ll join her. 

November 1 and 2 . . .

Number 1:  Ya know that I attended the Relevant Conference.  I learned lots and really need to share.  It is thru writing that I process.  More on that later.  BUT because of this conference I had that chance to truly see that the Engineer . . . rocks.

I normally try and stay silent about his major rock-ness.  But I can’t.  The guy basically lactated.  Not really.  But he totally took care of Naomi.  She was even wearing pink when I returned.  (At least, I think she was.  She matched.)

Number 2: The house was picked-up.

Number 3:  And the Engineer . . . was preparing lunch.  Number 4: I was greeted by his backside.  Which I didn’t mind.

Number 5: Bonus . . . . flowers.

Number 6:  The hugs have continued from my sons even though I have been home since Sunday morning.  Love this.  I’m thinking about leaving again, just so that I can feel like a celebrity upon my arrival home again.

Number 7:  Obedience equals milk and a happily reunited mommy and nursing babe.

Number 8:  Leaves on the trees.  Still. 

I love that I encountered snow, but returned home to sunshine.

Number 9:  The dirt pile is gone!  I have a driveway again.

Number 10:  A good school day.  A nice mother-in-law who brings lunch, coffee, folds laundry, and helps with Awana verses.

Multitudes on Mondays: Bellies

I think pregnant women are beautiful. 

Especially their bellies. 

I got to rub this one . . . and take pictures. 

Amateur photos, that is.

Honored.  Thankful.  Amazed. 

Being with a laboring woman . . . to feel the power of life.  The miracle of life. 

God is a creative One.  Of that I am sure.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
   they would outnumber the grains of sand—
   when I awake, I am still with you.

Psalm 139:  13-18

So . . . not a list of multitudes.  Just one.

Life.  Powerful. 

OK . . . I can’t resist.  Here are a few more.  My journal is beside me.

250.  Mountain biking with my sons and experiencing “danger” with them prayerfully.

251.  Bagels roasted over an open fire.

252.  A computer box in the hands of a UPS man, just before we left for vacation.

253.  Grimy bathrooms that house gentle showers and refreshment at a campground.

257.  A meal filled with ingredients from our garden.

258.  A night of delivering essential oils like St. Nicholas.

262.  My mother-in-law and her Kerug . . . while camping.  Thank you electric campsites.

263.  Electric dog training collars.

264.  A 7 year old boy who wanted to make sure his brothers received presents on HIS birthday.

265.  Fellowship and feasts . . . miles from home.

Visitors

As I folded up our bedroom window, paper, accordion shades this morning (no, I haven’t bought blinds for our bedroom yet . . . we’ve only lived here a year!) Ezra spotted a rare treat.

 

Something I NEVER expected to see in our neighborhood – or rather in the city. 

 

I’ve prayed for it.  Really.  But I seriously doubted to ever see an answer to this particular prayer.

But we did. 

 

And I am thankful. 

Gratitude in Canada

I am so thankful . . . so thankful.

I was going to write about yogurt today.  But it seems more fitting to say thank you. 

Please help me do that. 

Go visit the blog Bytes of Memory.  You see, the blogger there – Lindsay . . . recovered ALL of our vacation pictures (and then some from two years ago!)

So I cried.

This trip was important to me for many reasons -- this trip to Canada.

 

The Engineer encouraged me to go . . . fully knowing he was giving up companionship and that he would miss out on all the fun and rest. 

He knows that this particular spot in Canada . . . holds a unique place in my heart that even Colorado doesn’t rival.

 

And you all know how much I adore and miss our Fort Collins, Colorado.

The trip was important to me because I drove it. 

Canada is a place for my boys to practice danger and do . . . well . . . boy things. (Girls do canoe, too. I am proof of it.)

 

It was a concentrated time for my kids to be with their Nana and Mops.

 

 

This trip was important to me because this is the very vacation spot I went to when I was my children’s age(s).  A place I have rich, fond memories of.  A place where I got caught up in family stories . . . weird family secrets about a turtle named Joe Bamigishid . . . or was it a lake?  A place where the adults talked while the kids played alongside.  

 

This trip was important to me . . . because it is a tangible way I pass a heritage and legacy on to my children. And remember my grandma and grandpa and cousin.

Not to mention, Gabe got potty trained;

Ezra drove a boat;

Asher caught 4 fish;

and Naomi got a tooth.

 

I got to hang out with my aunt and uncle and . . . did I mention that I saw an eagle?  Well . . . we all did. 

 

Lindsay, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Now . . . go visit her.

The Thanks Continues . . .

• stumps in the middle of a beach

• and grateful that the Engineer took an even better picture.

• climbing a very tall sand dune . . . and not being a wimp . . . making my boys think that I am strong and cool.

See?

 

 

• a funny Engineer . . . can we have every day be a vacation?

• Mama’s (grandma) who wears their granddaughters

 

• the perfect view for a quiet time

 

So much more . . . but the beauty of motherhood calls . . . and for that I can be thankful . . . since I wasn’t supposed to have any children.

Multitudes on Monday’s . . . 

Though it is not Monday

It’s not Monday.  But a girl can still be thankful.

 

171.  It’s not Monday.  It’s Tuesday!  What a great day to start the week on!  I seriously am loving this.  It’s not Monday.

172.  Baptisms.

173.  Seeing my Dad’s profile from behind as he held my daughter.  It was like seeing a tiny reflection of my Grandpa.

174.  Having my dad come up to me at church, asking to hold Naomi.

175.  My parents coming to church with us.  (OK  . . . there is a theme running here.)

176.  A viewing of the movie, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, over Bravo’s Almond Encrusted Chicken Salad and sitting beside the handsome man who picked our dinner up.

177.  Reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe with our children each night – knowing that it was worth saving my childhood set JUST to read to my children one day.

178.  A three day weekend.

179.  Naomi’s jean skirt.

180.  Friends who send me honest emails and amazing books.

181.  A renewed passion to study my Bible.

182.  Chalk notes to read from my bedroom window.

183.  Antlers.  To chew.  For Ruth.

184.  Knowing where our milk comes from.  Knowing our farmer.  And reading his sometimes funny tweets.

186.  An insane amount of scrumptious time with the Engineer this past weekend.

187.  Countless peonies sans ants!  (Compliments of Asher.)

188.  a quiet afternoon with the windows open, an open Bible, 2 children sleeping, and an Engineer playing at church with his sons . . . being dangerous and wild.

189.  Getting to go to spin class for the first time.

190.  Spin class being OVER!

191.  Yogurt made with half-n-half.  Wow.

1000 Gifts

So, I go to write this post – just so that you know there is more to me and my blog than reviews . . .

And I find myself disappointed.

I haven’t written anything down in my journal that I am thankful for since I last updated my 1000 gifts. 

Maybe that’s my problem. 

Not really.  I know what my problem is and it is getting fixed.  It feels so good.  Thank you , Jesus.

Looking through my pictures . . . I came up with an impromptu list of which I am quite proud.

~~~~~~~~~

153.  A new resolve to spend time in the Word.  Really In. The. Word.  not just a topical study.  A book of the Bible.  With Kay.  MacKenzie.  Sarah.  Inductive.  Like a gentle spring rain to a freshly planted garden, is this Bible study to my soul. 

154.  A thirst to date Jesus again.  Finally.  To be won over by Him.  To desire to live for Him.  Dying to myself.  Such a good feeling.  Such assurance.

155.  Finding my favorite colored pencils after having been lost for as long as I took my vacation from my Bible. 

156.  A birthday date with the Engineer.

157.  Asher placing birthday cards all over my bedroom for me to discover after our perfect date.  He has learned well.  Of course, he has a good teacher. 

158.  Two Mother’s Day quiches turning out perfectly.  And yes, I do plan on sharing the recipe one of these days.

159.  A little boy who learned how to swing . . . for my birthday gift.

160.  That same little boy who demonstrate bravery and had his tooth pulled without tears or timidity.

 

161.    Her smiles.

 

162.  His curls.   And concentration.  (PS. Gabe’s turning 3 tomorrow!)

163.  Awana (is over . . . we just need a break from activity.  Nothing against Awana.)  Having all the grandparents there for the Awards Ceremony this year was priceless. 

  

164.  Dinner with Nicole while our Engineer’s went to play in the woods.

165.  Answers to prayer and a little boy name Lukas being restored to health.

166.  Using behavioral issues as learning lessons and opportunities to disciple.  Thank you Sally Clarkson, The Ministry of Motherhood.

167.  Grace bestowed upon me through Jolanthe.

168.  Talks of skirts with Melanie.

169.  Restorative comments from Michelle.

170.  A sweet gift from my mom that she left for me prior to her vacation.

1000 Gifts

Continuing my list of things that I am thankful for . . .

44.  Pink poke-a-dot gauze curtains billowing from a spring breeze as I nurse my baby.

45.  open windows

46.  noses that stop running like a leaky faucet

47.  meeting an email Young Living  friend after several years of correspondence

48.  that same friend giving me an amazing neck massage that I had prayed for earlier that morning, unbeknownst to her

49.  smelling new essential oils, like rose . . .

50.  breakfast in bed on a morning I don’t feel so well . . . by my son and complete with a napkin

51.  Naomi in sunglasses

52.  Spring weather that unveils baby feet.

53.  Costco samples

54.  Soooooooooo thankful that the Engineer doesn’t like danger and adventure nearly as much as the man in the movie, 127 Hours, that we watched on date night.

55.  a little boy who wore a clip-on tie with a Thomas the Train shirt and camouflage shorts, complete with orange crocks, a jean hat, and sunglasses while he played in the sand table.  I wish I  had a picture.

56.  a blooming rhododendron that hopefully I won’t kill (I killed two at our old house.)

57.  packages ready to be mailed

58.  a slight sunburn that implies that I actually rested on Sabbath

60.  no gate in our kitchen, which means Ruthie can be trusted a smidgen more

61.  externally, mind you, a cleaned and organized kitchen

61.  smelling the essential oil, rose.

Have you been thankful for any of these things?